health and yooga

Looking at the alarm clock by my bedside, it clearly read 2:37 a.m. The loud buzzing sound was not in my head after all. Who in the world could be calling me at this hour of the night?

I grumbled to myself, sat straight up in bed and gasped. An emergency! Someone's in the hospital! Someone has died!

All kinds of such thoughts danced through my sluggish brain as I reached for the telephone.

Pastors are on call 24/7 and never know when an emergency will summon to duty. It may be in the middle of the day, or in this case, in the middle of the night.

Many telephone calls I'm not so anxious to get.

Mr. Alexander Graham Bell has a lot of answering to do for this contraption of his.

Among telephone calls I'm not too thrilled about are those infernal automatic political calls advising me to vote for some candidate - them in particular. Like most politicians, these calls never give me an opportunity to answer them.

They unleash their spiel and then hang up, probably to go to the next phone number.

What I want to know is, why don't these aspiring politicians ever call me when they're not running for some office? Why don't they call me on my birthday and sing happy birthday to me?

Why don't they give me their home phone number so I can call them and give them a piece of my mind?

I would like to get my hands on the person who taught these politicians how to dial phone numbers.

Another category of phone calls I am not too enthralled with are telemarketers. I have a difficult time hanging up on people. As long as they want to talk I can't, or I don't have the heart to hang up on them.

I know they are just people doing their job. I know much of what is sold via the telephone is excellent and useful, but I do not like anyone telling me what I should be buying, especially when I have just put on the feedbag.

The only thing I have been able to do is take the conversation in hand from the very beginning. As soon as the person on the other end of the phone begins talking, I start engaging them in chitchat.

I ask about their family, about the kind of day they are having and what they plan to do on the weekend. I ask for their home phone number so I can call them back.

It has become a sport for me and I am anxious for the next phone call to come so I can tell them about my day and my plans for the weekend. After all, they called me, it is my turf.

This telephone call at 2:37 a.m. was not from a politician or a telemarketer.

When I answered the telephone, I heard a raspy voice on the other end say, "Is the reverend home? I need to ask him a question 'bout the Bible."

By this time, every fiber of my being stood at attention, ready to serve. Someone needed me, which was all I had to know to fly full-speed into action.

"Yes, this is the reverend" I responded, "how may I help you?"

"I have a biblical question for 'ya, and I need to know right away. It's something that has been a-bothering me and I was a-wondering if you could help me?"

"Sure," I said, trying to figure out what the emergency could possibly be at 2:37 in the morning. What could be so important that a person could not wait a few more hours to call?

"Well," the man stammered and hiccupped. I began to be a little suspicious of the whole matter, "I just can't believe that Jonah and the whale story. Do 'ya really think it's possible for a fish to swallow a man? And, how come that fish didn't chew Jonah up before swallowing?"

The whole picture became clear at that moment. His problem was not with the whale swallowing Jonah, but with him swallowing a tank full of libations. His pick-me-up at 2:37 in the morning got me down, if you know what I mean.

I suppose that if you want to drink alcoholic beverages, I can't stop you. Personally, I think it is the scourge of our country and has done more damage to our society than any other single thing. However, that is your decision, bad though it may be.

I do not mind if you telephone me at 2:37 in the morning. I do not mind answering biblical questions. The truth is, I enjoy such employment whenever I can find it and I work rather cheap.

What I do mind is, when you drink and then phone me at 2:37 in the morning from a local bar. I do not discuss biblical enquiries with someone tanked, regardless of the time of night or day.

Call me crazy, call me quirky but please, do not call me drunk. Some people ask questions, not because they want information. They just want to waste someone's time.

As a Christian, I have an obligation to give answers. The Bible says, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." (1 Peter 3:15 KJV)

For the sincere inquirer there are answers. More importantly, there is hope - in Jesus Chris

Those young whippersnappers.

Getting old seems to be a long and slow process. The longer it goes the older you get.

I didn't really think I was getting old until a few weeks ago I was visiting with some friends from high school. You know those old high school friends that you had fun with when you were young enough to have fun? And oh boy, what fun we had.

A sharp difference exists between being young and being old. You have to get old to really understand the difference because when you are young you do not have enough time to think. That's the problem with young people today. So many things to do and so much technology they do not have any time left over to think.

There is a huge difference between being young and being old.

When you are young, you enjoy having lots of fun.

When you are old, you enjoy remembering all the fun you had when you were young.

The best thing about being old and remembering those good old days is that you can exaggerate about how good they really were. Even when you are exaggerating with friends that shared the same fun, they go along with you.

Whether it is the absence of memory or just wanting to enjoy fun to its fullest extent, I do not really know.

As my friends and I were talking about the good old days, I happened to notice wrinkles on their faces. I did not say anything at the time, but they sure looked old to me. Also, I did not quite remember how grey their hair was when we were young.

When I was young and having all that fun, I never gave a thought about how young I was or that I was getting older. My whole focus was on the fun element of life and I thought that would carry me through the rest of my life.

I remember my 20th birthday very well. I was celebrating getting out of those teenage years and becoming an adult. For some reason I thought you became an adult at 20. Little did I know that it takes many years to become an adult and some do not really make it. I simply assume that the older you get, the more fun you can have. Boy, was I ever surprised!

Celebrating the good old days is quite remarkable. Because in it all, I noticed my friends were getting older. One of my friends repeated a story three times and not to embarrass him, I laughed all three times.

After the meeting and driving home, I began to think about myself. Am I as old as they look?

I was afraid to look in the mirror when I got home because I did not know who would be staring back at me. Whoever invented mirrors ought to be shot and then sent to the moon. A mirror never tells you the correct story and never tells you how old you really are. It just makes a funny face at you.

My friends may be getting old, but I have put my foot down and I have refused to get old.

One friend was using a cane and I did not have the heart to ask him why he was using a cane. He hobbled around and I am not sure if he hurt himself or if he was just getting too old to walk on his own.

I must admit there are some days that I feel old, whatever that means. Some days I am a little slower than I was the day before. Overall, I am not as old as some of my friends look.

There is an old saying that says you are only as old as you feel, and I'm not sure what old feels like. I would like to ask my wife, but you know the trouble I would be in then!

I did enjoy my visit with those friends, but it did start me thinking about things I have never thought about before. Someone said that the 70 is the new 20. I will keep that in mind when I hit that magical mark called 70.

When I got home, I shared some of my thoughts with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage who just listen very patiently. I went on and on about how old my friends looked.

When I settled back in my chair and sipped some coffee, she looked at me and said something that rather startled me. "I wonder," she said rather thoughtfully, "if your friends are saying the same thing about you!"

That was a thought stopper for sure. What if they were? What if I looked old to them?

Is it really that bad to get old? I thought about that for a moment and then realized if you stop getting older, you're dead.

"I have been young," David said rather thoughtfully, "and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (Psalm 37:25).

The one I like is, "They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing" (Psalm 92:14). This one fits me to a T.

Not only are my friends getting old, but I'm getting old and my goal is to get as old as I possibly can



A

Norway was just named the happiest country in the world. Why are they so darn happy and what exactly is hygge?

My interest in the word was peaked after reading the latest World Happiness Report, a survey of 155 countries, that was released just last week.

Once again, despite frigid arctic temperatures and months of darkness, the happiest people on the planet apparently live in Nordic countries.

As mentioned, Norway jumped up three spots to claim the title of "world's happiest country" for the first time. Denmark, the previous winner for three years in a row dropped to second. These countries were followed by Iceland, Switzerland, Finland, Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Sweden.

In case you're wondering, the U.S. came in 14th place, dropping down one spot from last year. Europe didn't fare so well either. Germany was ranked 16, the United Kingdom 19, France 31 and Italy 48. Not surprisingly, people in the Central African Republic are unhappiest with their lives, according to the survey, followed by Burundi, Tanzania, Syria, and Rwanda.

In the end, as in past years, Norwegian countries took most the top spots. Could the reason they are so darn happy have to do with the Danish term hygge?

If you're from or have visited a Scandinavian country, maybe you know about this funny word that's hard to pronounce. To say the word, try puckering your lips and aim for a throaty word somewhere between hoo-gah and hue-guh. Kind of like the beginning of the song, Hooked on a Feeling. The good news is, it's easier to embrace hygge than to pronounce.

Hygge is also difficult to define, but is translated loosely into the English word coziness and is associated with relaxation, indulgence, and gratitude. However, Norwegians would probably argue there's much more to the word. Hygge requires being present in a moment - whether it be simple, soothing, or special - that brings you comfort, contentment, or pleasure.

The word refers to the ability to enjoy the simple and good things in life with people you love. Hygge can describe soft candlelight, comfort foods like a pork roast or home-made cinnamon pastries, sitting by the fire on a cold night with fuzzy socks, or simply being kinder to yourself and others. It's about transforming an afternoon cup of tea into an event with friends. Some people translate the word as coziness of the soul.

So, let's get back to this year's happiness report and see what hygge has to do with the results.

The report looks at several happiness indicators, including a nation's per capita GDP (gross domestic product, often used to measure a country's economic growth) social programs, life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and corruption.

It should be noted that although people in Nordic countries are comparatively well off financially, the report proved that money does not equal happiness. This is shown by the surprising fact that Costa Ricans are apparently happier than much wealthier Americans. Another economic powerhouse, Japan ranked poorly at 51. Mexicans and Guatemalans scored happier than the Japanese, even though they are much poorer.

Some would argue that Norwegians are better able to appreciate the small but comforting things in life - or hygge - because they already have all their basic necessities in place. That includes free university education, social security, universal health care, paid family leave, and at least a month of vacation time a year. With their basic needs met, Nordic countries can focus on their well-being and what truly brings them a better quality of life.

Maybe that's true, but I think we can learn a few lessons from the Norwegians and the way they live.

The idea of practicing hygge is carried over into their work as well as recreational activities. Working overtime and on weekends? Unheard of in Nordic countries! Most businesses shut down before 5:00 p.m. In addition, Norwegians have proven to be less materialistic than other cultures, appreciating low-cost activities and the more simple things in life. In other words, they focus on experiences instead of stuff.

A strong emphasis is put on quality time and sharing meals together as a family in a cozy atmosphere. Priority is given to maintaining cherished relationships and supporting their communities.

Yes, these countries have harsh weather, but these people are a hearty bunch who show their appreciation for nature and the great outdoors year round. In winter, most Norwegians aren't sitting in their houses all depressed. They can be found skiing, dog-sledding, snowboarding, snow-shoeing, and enjoying the spectacular northern lights. During summer months, they take advantage of the warmer weather to hike, swim, cycle, and sail.

In the end, I think the report confirms that happiness has less to do with money and success and more to do with spirituality, our relationship with others, gratitude, a giving attitude, and being present and mindful.

And maybe adding a little more hygge to our lives.

So, go ahead. Eat that pastry guilt-free, invite friends over for a glass of wine by the fire, or luxuriate in a candlelit bath. Savor the moment and let the warm, fuzzy feelings flow.

Julie Gorges is an author, freelance writer, and blogger. During the past 20 years of professional writing, she has authored three books, had hundreds of article published in national and regional magazines, and won three journalism awards while working as a newspaper reporter. You can vi

At times, it seems as if there is absolutely no justice in this world, and then something wonderful happens making up for almost everything. This past week I was fortunate enough to experience one of those rare jewels of life.

I must say not all weeks are like this. My weeks usually range from bad to worse to when will this ever stop?

A normal week for me is when I take two steps forward and get run over by a car. Or, just when I think I'm caught up, I discover I've been working on last week's to-do list.

Not that I'm complaining because complaining never gets anywhere in life. At least, no place I want to go.

A man who complains aloud is a man who is not married. Wives have a way of turning their husband's complaining into "Well, its your own fault." It's amazing how this one phrase can cover a multitude of sins.

So, I'm not complaining, I'm just musing on my life and celebrating a great event this week.

I got home on Tuesday and the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage was not there. I made myself a cup of coffee and got comfortable in my easy chair to rest from the labors of the day.

A good cup of Joe goes a long way to smooth the rough edges of any day. No sooner was I settled than the telephone rang. It was my wife.

"Are you home yet?" she said in a very meek and quiet voice. From the tone of her voice, I knew something wasn't exactly right.

For a moment, I was tempted to answer her question in the negative. But then I do value my life. I knew the question was rhetorical and was not the reason for her calling. Something was up.

"Could you come over to the church right now?" she asked.

I had just settled in my easy chair and was a little reluctant to extricate myself from my comfort zone. I could, but I wondered why she wanted me to come over.

It wasn't my birthday so I knew it was not a surprise party. It wasn't our anniversary. And as far as I knew I was not in any trouble, which in itself does not rule out my being in trouble.

"Why," I queried.

"I just need you to come over here right now, pleeease."

When my wife says "pleeease," I know there's a very good reason for it. Namely, she is in trouble and needs my assistance. Granted, this is a rare occurrence.

"Is there something wrong? Are you all right?" I asked.

"Well," she hesitated, "I think I locked my keys in the car."

Life does not get any better than this.

Often this situation has been reversed. I cannot tell how many times when I called home the first thing she says to me is, "Did you run out of gas?" Or, "Did you lock yourself out of your car?"

It's not so much what she says as how sarcastically she says it.

Out of every 100 calls I make home I would say 95 of them fit into either one of those categories very nicely. It has come to the point where I dread calling home. Then she usually concludes the telephone conversation with, "I can't see how anybody can run out of gas or lock their keys in the car as often as you do."

Now the sock was on the other foot. My Beloved, who chides me so often about losing my keys or locking my keys in the car, has now done the same thing herself. Isn't life great?

"Let me see if I understand this," I said as sarcastically as I possibly could without bursting into hysterical laughter, "you locked your keys in the car?"

A hushed "yes," drifted through the phone line.

"Excuse me," I said rather haughtily, "I didn't quite hear you."

The responsive "yes" pierced the telephone and almost knocked me on my seat. "I locked my keys in the car... are you happy?" she snapped.

I was.

Whether it was my imagination or not, somehow I felt her eyes bore into my soul and I knew even though it was her mistake, I was in trouble. This is just the way life is.

However, such trouble is more delicious than two scoops of raisins in every box.

It has been a long time since I have enjoyed an errand as much as I did going over to the church and unlocking my wife's car door for her.

Being the gentleman I am, I didn't say anything but I sure did smile a lot. She, being the gracious lady she is, didn't say anything but glared a lot.

I enjoyed it all.

That evening during supper, and after supper, she was rather quiet. I was sporting a snickering smile all evening.

Finally, she said, "All right, go ahead have your laugh."

And I did.

As a Christian, I have discovered not every day is what you might call a good day. God has a marvelous way of keeping tabs on all of this.

The verse that brings comfort and encouragement in this area is Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Occasionally, life gives you a moment that compensates for every other moment in your life.

Quandaries come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. As someone who is somewhat of a connoisseur in this area, I can readily attest to this. However, many do not realize quandaries come in two categories.

First are those quandaries that come about through no fault of the person in said quandary. For all practical purposes (and those in a quandary are usually not practical), it is impossible to adequately prepare for such an event in life.

Second are self-imposed quandaries. This, unfortunately, is the area where I flounder the most. To be perfectly honest, and I'm not suggesting that I'm perfect; I have created most of the havoc in my life.

Believe me, I would like to put the blame on someone other than myself in many of these situations but, alas, I am to blame. What I am about to relate belongs to the first category.

I found myself in a quandary recently through no fault of mine. And yet, I'm not able to prove it. This is the most discouraging thing. I know it was not my fault, but nobody will believe me.

Through the years, I have adopted a certain nocturnal procedure. When I get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom I keep my eyes closed. There is a very simple reason for this.

One, I know exactly where I am going, so I don't need to open my eyes.

Two, I do not want my body to know that I'm awake. I want to fool my body into believing I'm asleep.

I used to do what everybody else does. Get up, open my eyes and go to the bathroom. However, whenever I did, my body thought I was up for the night and try as I might, I could not convince my body to go back to sleep until I made one trip to the kitchen, and you know what that meant. Exactly... the refrigerator.

This kitchen appliance holds no appeal for me, but I do enjoy the contents. Moreover, my body knows this only too well. So, I devised a plan to outwit my body.

Some people would let their body dictate to them, but I am not of that breed. When I have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I am careful not to open my eyes.

With this strategy, I am able to get up, go to the bathroom and return without my body being aware of what is going on. My plan worked quite well without a quandary in sight for years, until one night recently.

About 2:37 a.m., according to the digital clock by my bedside, the urge to go the bathroom came upon me like a roaring lion. Being careful not to arouse my body, I slunk out of bed, wary to keep both eyes closed.

Everything chugged along quite well and then, all of a sudden there was a resounding "whack," a flash of blinding light and a twinge that danced from my right eye all the way down to the soles of my feet, only to return.

Quickly following this, a loud squawk emitted from my mouth. All this commotion completely aroused my body to a state of full awakeness. By this time, my body, my wife and I were wide-awake.

As it turned out, someone, and I'm not mentioning any names, left the bathroom door open. It opens into our bedroom and I had run smack, dab into it. The result was a black eye to beat all black eyes.

There are worse things in this world than running into a door - like explaining to your devoted public how you got that black eye.

While my right eye was throbbing, I never gave any thought to how I would explain it. However, it was a quandary and it was not of my doing.

"How did you get that black eye?" A friend asked me the next day. It was a perfectly innocent question so I cheerfully (if you can be cheerful with a black eye) said, "I ran into a door last night."

I thought this would be the end of the matter. Boy, was I ever in for a shock.

"Sure, you did," my friend replied sarcastically. Then he winked. I soon realized I was in for some trouble. You can only do so much to hide a black eye.

Another friend: "What happened to your eye? You talked back to your wife or something?" This is usually followed by that insidious laugh, "Tee, hee, hee."

Why is it that when a person gets a black eye from running into a door nobody believes him? After all, I'm not in the habit of telling outright lies. I may exaggerate or rearrange the facts, but I never would outright lie about anything. Especially if related to my wife.

While feeling a little blue over my black eye, I discovered something in my Bible. David knew of quandaries and wrote many Psalms celebrating this fact of life.

"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me" (Psalms 138:7).

It is inevitable that quandaries will come. Some from out of the blue and some of my own creation. The comforting truth is, God will always "revive me" in His own special way.

There are many a tale to tell about the bail bond business, at least 101 by my account. This is one such tale. So, let's set the stage.

On the West coast it was Saturday night nearly 10 pm, while on the East coast it was approaching 1 am Sunday morning. I received a text from a long-time friend, which read:

"Need your advice now, please respond."

I responded, "Take two aspirin and get a good night's sleep."

I knew there was tension, when the next text from my East coast friend was, "Not funny!"

"Well, what's the problem?"

It struck me as very serious when he texted, "Can I call you?"

"Of course you can," was my next text back, but I feared that I would be informed about a death or serious accident.

The news was family business. My friend's son had been arrested for pulling a knife in an argument with the son's landlord. I have to assume that the argument had to have become a bit heated if a weapon was pulled.

As you could have guessed, the local law enforcement agency showed up after receiving a call from a neighbor and my friend's son was cuffed and taken into custody. The charge was aggravated assault with intent to do bodily harm. Luckily, the knife wasn't used, just flashed.

On the downside, the young man has a criminal record and served time in the "big house" for his previous unlawful activities. Now, it's a new chapter and the law will take its course.

The reason for the text was to ask me, after getting a call from his son begging for bail to be posted, if he should post the bail and what the real risk is.

On the upside, bail in that part of the country is very low for such a serious offense. The father, my friend, asked if I could explain the scenarios.

I gave him my opinion based on having been a licensed bail agent. You can put up the cash or use a credit card and post the bail, however, if "junior" misses a court date from sleeping in as a result of partying the night before, you will forfeit your money and a warrant would probably be issued for your son's arrest and you're back to square one, with more than likely a higher bail amount, or a no bail hold. The bail company wants your signature on a piece of paper as the Indemnitor, so the risk is on your shoulders. "Do you trust your son enough to do that," was my question.

There was silence on the phone and then the reply, "What are the other options?"

Further probing lead to the discovery that the son had called a bail bond company and gave the bail bondsman his father's name and number. I explained that the bail company would require just ten percent of the bail amount, but there was a downside to this less expensive approach.

"What's that," he muttered.

You're going to sign a lot of paperwork that essentially boils down to your agreement that you will assume the full obligation of the bail amount and other costs associated with, including pursuit and capture of "junior" if your son decides to bolt and disappear. My friend didn't like that possibility. He was also uncomfortable with disclosing personal finances, his social security information, and the fine print of the bail agreement.

My East coast friend told me that he loved his son, but his son, over the years of raising him and witnessing him having scrapes with the law in the past, left him with an uneasy feeling.

Another option is to do nothing. Let your son sit in jail and contemplate his actions and await arraignment. There is the possibility that he would be released on his own recognizance, due to the fact that he served his time for his past "hiccup" in life and was not on probation and was employed.

Think about it was my conclusion. Put up all the money and if it all goes well and is resolved, you'll get your money back a few weeks after the case is closed or, put up ten percent, which is a premium that you will not get back, and assume all the risk in either scenario. Or, let him sit and do nothing.

"Thank you for your time. I'm sorry it's so late on a Saturday night. After talking with you, I've decided to keep my money in my pocket and let my son, who I love very much, face the consequences of his actions on his own."

As you can see, love of family doesn't always triumph in a tough situation, but common sense and strict parenting has definitely played a part.

Lazz Laszlo is a former California licensed bail bond agent with many entrepreneurial endeavors to his credit. He spends his time, energy, and money on b

Family is the most important and valuable gift that god has given us. It is the first lesson in relationships with others. Family is really an important word. It means to feel secure, to have someone who you can count on, whom you can share your problems with. But it also means to have respect for each other and responsibility.

What family means to me is love and someone that will always be there for you through the good times and the bad. It is about encouragement, understanding, hope, comfort, advice, values, morals, ideals, and faith. These things are all important to me because it makes me feel secure and happy inside regardless of what is going on in my life. This is one of the main reasons why the family is important in our life. Here in this article it is important to emphasize on the importance of family in our everyday life.

Utmost Protection and Security

Family is important because it provides love, support and a framework of values to each of its members. Family members teach each other, serve one another and share life's joys and sorrows. Families provide a setting for personal growth. Family is the single most important influence in a child's life. From their first moments of life, children depend on parents and family to protect them and provide for their needs. Parents and family form a child's first relationships. Family provides all members with security, identity and values, regardless of age. When a member of the family feels insecure or unsafe, he turns to his family for help. He learns about his sense of self and gains a foundation for the rest of his life. This foundation includes the family's values which provide the basis for his own moral code. Spending time with family shows individuals the value of love, appreciation and open communication.

Following family traditions showcases the importance of family, as well. Family traditions are experiences that families create together on a regular basis, whether these involve holidays, vacations or even attending religious services together. Not only do these experiences create memories for years to come, they also give family members a stronger sense of belonging. Families bond together and make each member feel important.

First step of receiving basic values of life

A family is the first school in which a child receives the basic values of life. He learns good manners in the family. The morals and values learnt in family become our guiding force. They make our character. They lay the foundation of our thinking. I feel fortunate to be born in a family where values are inculcated in early childhood. Family is an important and strongest unit of society. It holds great importance in social life. A society is made up of families. Our family has been known for discipline and values. We give great importance to values and morals in life. Since our early childhood we are taught to respect the elders and love the children. We learnt the lesson of punctuality and honesty from our grandfather. It is due to the good education of our grandparents that we could excel both in sports and education. Since our childhood we have been put into the habit of rising early in the morning. This has a natural effect on our health and physical fitness.

Making a right choice in choosing the right life partner family values influences each walk of our life. It is high time that family values be protected and be treated as a tool to eliminate corruption, hunger, inequality, and crime and hatred in our society.

To shape a child's future

The family is your blood and they are the people who accept you for who you are, who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what. The family is one and only place where your life begins and love never end. You may have lots of people in your life, but you won't find a single person who cares the most exactly same as your parents. Some of you may not agree with me, but this is the truth that one day you will realize this by your own. A family is the only place where children study a lot after school. In school, teachers teach children about the subjects which will help them to find a good job in future. But in the home, Family teaches children about habits, discipline which not only help them to find a job but also help them to live a perfect life in future. So the family is very important for kids. When babies come out from mother's womb, they see their parents first and thereafter they spent most of the time with their family until go to school. During that 3 or 4 years is really important for babies to get to know some basic habits from parents, sisters or brothers. So on that period, they get to know many things from family. None of you going to teach bad habits for your baby, I believe. Parents have to be careful in actions in front of their babies because your baby learns habits and discipline from you only.

This is one of the main reasons why the family is important in our life. This is one of the great advantages of family and none of us ever realize this at any time. You may have lots of friends or relations or office mates. They will definitely be with you in your happy times or any successful achievements. But, your parents or sisters or brothers are the only ones will stay with you in your hard and difficult times. Your parents are the only one who understands you much more than any other people do in the world. Because they are your creators and they are the only ones traveling with you from the beginning. So they understand your feelings and always there for you whenever you need someone abundantly. This is the power of family. There are many people can help you, but the family will help you whenever you are alone.

Helps building an ideal society

A perfect family is a great example of the whole society. Father, Mother, children all of them have to work in order to build a perfect family. If any one of them failed then the whole family collapsed. This happens very much nowadays. The good name of the whole family ruined by a single member of the family. That is really sad but nothing to do for that. But if every family member works hard and builds an optimal family, then they are a good example of that whole society. Family impacts very much in society and society impacts very much in the country. So an ideal country not only builds by the government but also each and every family member. So each family is the principal key to the society. This is why the family is important in our life.

Family values are a set of unwritten rules and codes that creates and helps build our perception, vision towards society and many things that we face in our day to day life. Strong family values can instill greater clarity in decision making regarding our life and leads to a relatively easier and more balanced life. Giving strong values as a parent not only protects a child but also create a civilized conscious citizen and help move society towards a more harmless tomorrow. Strong family values can help check all the moral and ethical corruption in various walks of life which otherwise ultimately contributes to inequality poverty crime and what not.

In today's hard and fast world the most successful person are those who can take quick decisions about what they want from life. Family value that helps you distinguish what is morally correct and what suits your value system. Today the single largest task in hands of parents is protecting their children from outside influence which are majorly negative in nature. Injecting strong family values in child since childhood is one such measure that can ensure their safety in a time when direct supervision of child has become near impossible...

Strong source of spreading Love and Shelter

A family is like a nest. In it one can share laughter, joy, tears, successes, failures and problems. Everything becomes easier when you have someone to share. It is how we identify with others and how we view ourselves. It's where most of us learn to trust or be trusted. It's the longest and often times most valuable lessons on love and sacrifice, responsibility and organization of managing ourselves to meet the needs of others important to us. It is putting others before us. Family is not only about blood ties but about the love bond that exists whether friends colleagues, biological or adopted. It is respect and unconditional love No matter what. A family is the person who makes you smile when you feel sad. Your parents are like God, they always love you. The other thing is that a family is a very strong force that nobody can explain. Your parents are the ones that make you mad, but they always love you in the inside. If we didn't have family, then who will care for the children? Nobody. A family is a forever thing that will be always on your side. Remember, there is always love, always.

Thanks a lot... Now I understand the importance of the family, but not all family are friendly to each family members. I don't think all members will support each other since one person get married with the couple and is likely to change... Family should be our first priority, and love them with all our heart, as our choice, but getting good parents and siblings is a choice that is made by God and you can never demand it!

Thanks a lot for having a look at this article. The article is interesting to read and, in my opinion, a good way to remind people that they are people, not animals and realize the mere fact that we live in a society created by people brought up in families, not in caves or jungl

From the moment you were born, I have loved you more than life itself. In fact, I didn't know I was capable of loving something so much that didn't even belong to me. You've taught me time and time again what love really is. I have had the opportunity to watch you grown into the kind, loving little boy you are today. You still have some growing up to do, but here are some things I hope you learn along the way.

I hope you never forget how much your family loves you. You brightened our worlds the moment you entered them. Let's start with your Mom and dad, they love you more than anything in this world. I've watched your dad go from a tough guy to the dad who sneaks you candy after mommy says no. You always get so mad at mommy but she does it because she loves you so much. She is trying to teach you that we don't always get everything we want in life, but that it's okay. Oh, your brother. He picks on you so much, but that's just what brothers do. I grew up with your daddy and uncles who picked on me just as much.. It is a brother's way of telling you they love you. You two won't always see eye to eye, but he will always have your back. Your whole family is a little bit crazy, but we do have one thing in common. We all love you so much.

I want you to know that I will always be there for you, no matter what. There will be times when you don't want to tell your mom and dad things, and in those times I want you to know that you can come to me. I will always have an ear to listen. You will always be able to depend on me. I'm not perfect and I will make mistakes but I will do the best that I can for you. Never, ever forget that.

Always be a stand up guy. You have such a sweet heart and even at the age of two, you would do anything for anyone. Never grow out of that, no matter what anyone says. You are so kind, show people kindness in everything you do. Always be the man, walk away from fights (and you will have plenty in high school). Be a friend to anyone who needs it. Give second chances and love with all you have. People like you will change the world someday, I'm sure of it.

Last but not least, I don't want you to ever settle. Never settle for less than you deserve. Life is short and you will learn just how quickly it goes by. Always believe in yourself. Do well in school, go to the college of your dreams. Apply for that job. Travel the world, go on amazing adventures! Take risks, even if they seem scary. You deserve the world, never let anyone tell you otherwise.

You are one amazing kid, I hope you get everything you have ever wanted in life.

Family is the most important and valuable gift that god has given us. It is the first lesson in relationships with others. Family is really an important word. It means to feel secure, to have someone who you can count on, whom you can share your problems with. But it also means to have respect for each other and responsibility.

What family means to me is love and someone that will always be there for you through the good times and the bad. It is about encouragement, understanding, hope, comfort, advice, values, morals, ideals, and faith. These things are all important to me because it makes me feel secure and happy inside regardless of what is going on in my life. This is one of the main reasons why the family is important in our life. Here in this article it is important to emphasize on the importance of family in our everyday life.

Utmost Protection and Security

Family is important because it provides love, support and a framework of values to each of its members. Family members teach each other, serve one another and share life's joys and sorrows. Families provide a setting for personal growth. Family is the single most important influence in a child's life. From their first moments of life, children depend on parents and family to protect them and provide for their needs. Parents and family form a child's first relationships. Family provides all members with security, identity and values, regardless of age. When a member of the family feels insecure or unsafe, he turns to his family for help. He learns about his sense of self and gains a foundation for the rest of his life. This foundation includes the family's values which provide the basis for his own moral code. Spending time with family shows individuals the value of love, appreciation and open communication.

Following family traditions showcases the importance of family, as well. Family traditions are experiences that families create together on a regular basis, whether these involve holidays, vacations or even attending religious services together. Not only do these experiences create memories for years to come, they also give family members a stronger sense of belonging. Families bond together and make each member feel important.

First step of receiving basic values of life

A family is the first school in which a child receives the basic values of life. He learns good manners in the family. The morals and values learnt in family become our guiding force. They make our character. They lay the foundation of our thinking. I feel fortunate to be born in a family where values are inculcated in early childhood. Family is an important and strongest unit of society. It holds great importance in social life. A society is made up of families. Our family has been known for discipline and values. We give great importance to values and morals in life. Since our early childhood we are taught to respect the elders and love the children. We learnt the lesson of punctuality and honesty from our grandfather. It is due to the good education of our grandparents that we could excel both in sports and education. Since our childhood we have been put into the habit of rising early in the morning. This has a natural effect on our health and physical fitness.

Making a right choice in choosing the right life partner family values influences each walk of our life. It is high time that family values be protected and be treated as a tool to eliminate corruption, hunger, inequality, and crime and hatred in our society.

To shape a child's future

The family is your blood and they are the people who accept you for who you are, who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what. The family is one and only place where your life begins and love never end. You may have lots of people in your life, but you won't find a single person who cares the most exactly same as your parents. Some of you may not agree with me, but this is the truth that one day you will realize this by your own. A family is the only place where children study a lot after school. In school, teachers teach children about the subjects which will help them to find a good job in future. But in the home, Family teaches children about habits, discipline which not only help them to find a job but also help them to live a perfect life in future. So the family is very important for kids. When babies come out from mother's womb, they see their parents first and thereafter they spent most of the time with their family until go to school. During that 3 or 4 years is really important for babies to get to know some basic habits from parents, sisters or brothers. So on that period, they get to know many things from family. None of you going to teach bad habits for your baby, I believe. Parents have to be careful in actions in front of their babies because your baby learns habits and discipline from you only.

This is one of the main reasons why the family is important in our life. This is one of the great advantages of family and none of us ever realize this at any time. You may have lots of friends or relations or office mates. They will definitely be with you in your happy times or any successful achievements. But, your parents or sisters or brothers are the only ones will stay with you in your hard and difficult times. Your parents are the only one who understands you much more than any other people do in the world. Because they are your creators and they are the only ones traveling with you from the beginning. So they understand your feelings and always there for you whenever you need someone abundantly. This is the power of family. There are many people can help you, but the family will help you whenever you are alone.

Helps building an ideal society

A perfect family is a great example of the whole society. Father, Mother, children all of them have to work in order to build a perfect family. If any one of them failed then the whole family collapsed. This happens very much nowadays. The good name of the whole family ruined by a single member of the family. That is really sad but nothing to do for that. But if every family member works hard and builds an optimal family, then they are a good example of that whole society. Family impacts very much in society and society impacts very much in the country. So an ideal country not only builds by the government but also each and every family member. So each family is the principal key to the society. This is why the family is important in our life.

Family values are a set of unwritten rules and codes that creates and helps build our perception, vision towards society and many things that we face in our day to day life. Strong family values can instill greater clarity in decision making regarding our life and leads to a relatively easier and more balanced life. Giving strong values as a parent not only protects a child but also create a civilized conscious citizen and help move society towards a more harmless tomorrow. Strong family values can help check all the moral and ethical corruption in various walks of life which otherwise ultimately contributes to inequality poverty crime and what not.

In today's hard and fast world the most successful person are those who can take quick decisions about what they want from life. Family value that helps you distinguish what is morally correct and what suits your value system. Today the single largest task in hands of parents is protecting their children from outside influence which are majorly negative in nature. Injecting strong family values in child since childhood is one such measure that can ensure their safety in a time when direct supervision of child has become near impossible...

Strong source of spreading Love and Shelter

A family is like a nest. In it one can share laughter, joy, tears, successes, failures and problems. Everything becomes easier when you have someone to share. It is how we identify with others and how we view ourselves. It's where most of us learn to trust or be trusted. It's the longest and often times most valuable lessons on love and sacrifice, responsibility and organization of managing ourselves to meet the needs of others important to us. It is putting others before us. Family is not only about blood ties but about the love bond that exists whether friends colleagues, biological or adopted. It is respect and unconditional love No matter what. A family is the person who makes you smile when you feel sad. Your parents are like God, they always love you. The other thing is that a family is a very strong force that nobody can explain. Your parents are the ones that make you mad, but they always love you in the inside. If we didn't have family, then who will care for the children? Nobody. A family is a forever thing that will be always on your side. Remember, there is always love, always.

Thanks a lot... Now I understand the importance of the family, but not all family are friendly to each family members. I don't think all members will support each other since one person get married with the couple and is likely to change... Family should be our first priority, and love them with all our heart, as our choice, but getting good parents and siblings is a choice that is made by God and you can never demand it!

Thanks a lot for having a look at this article. The article is interesting to read and, in my opinion, a good way to remind people that they are people, not animals and realize the mere fact that we live in a society created by people brought up in families, not in caves or jungle

While you are reading this, I will be in the mountains of Idaho. (At least that's the plan).

As you likely know already, I have a strong interest in genealogy. There are over 6200 people on my family tree! But I am not the only person in our lineage who is passionate about this.
Melvin Echelberger, my mother's first cousin, has been not only gathering information about our relatives, but also has contact with many of those who are still living.

Over the years, Mel and I have consulted with each other by email, FAX and once by telephone when he lived in California. Facebook has expanded our opportunities to chat and share information.

Recently Mel and his wife, Charlotte, purchased property north of Orofino Idaho. He is now 85 years old but continues to amaze me with his pursuits - like building fence, riding his new motorcycle and caring for the animals on their farm. I decided that it would be a good idea for us to meet face-to-face despite the fact that I have a little concern that I might not be able to keep up with him!

So, the plan is that I will leave Medicine Hat on June 28th and we will celebrate Canada Day and Independence Day together at their place.

I was wondering what to take for a host gift. Because this is a big birthday year for our country, I purchased all things Canadian for them - maple syrup, a 1000 piece puzzle of our symbols, a flag the hang outdoors, maple leaf cookies, Moose droppings, a 150 Birthday blanket in red and white, as well as other Canadian trinkets.

It is interesting how relationships develop. Mel and I have three things in common. We are from the same family tree so are connected genetically. We share a passion for genealogy and have communicated about that for years. Our careers also have parallels. Mel was a paratrooper medic who worked with mental health cases and I am a psychologist who sees Veterans and military personnel.

When my granddaughter, Mikaeli, who is also interested in history, heard about this, she said "Grandma, make sure that you take along a pen and lots of paper to write everything down". When I return home she will want to hear about what I did and learned about.

It is going to be ten hours of driving each way but Mel sent me a map of the best route to take and it looks like there will be beautiful scenery along the way.

Did you have plans for Canada Day? Or Independence Day? Do you have relatives who you have been meaning to visit for some time but never get around to making the trip?

Sometimes you just have to make a decision, set out a plan and follow through. Each of us has the opportunity to set goals. If you never take a chance you won't experience interesting adventures!

Life is a series of choices - hope you are making good ones

For older generations, it was standard to just allow kids to watch TV. In today's world, parents are more cautious about how kids spend their time. Today, trends are pointing toward more intentional parenting, a strong awareness of present dangers and a desire to make play serve a role in improving a child's chance of success in the world. Together, these trends mean that casual child care arrangements are a thing of the past, while the need for on-demand, reliable care has not lessened at all.

Sometimes, it's simpler to just stay home than to find a sitter who fits your budget and lifestyle. Like any service that straddles both the informal and formal economy, the variation in quality and cost is too confusing to navigate. You don't want to be overcharged, but you don't want to shortchange the person charged with watching your child. Anyway, how do you really know if this person is a good fit for your family?

Luckily, it is possible, and the right tools make it easier. But before you begin interviewing potential sitters, make sure you know what you can afford to pay and how much your future sitter likely expects.

Market Considerations

Child care costs vary according to the local market. As you would expect, the expense tracks with the cost of living, making New York City the most expensive city to hire a sitter in, followed by San Francisco and then Los Angeles. Of course, in those cities, you are more likely to hire a caregiver who can speak a second language or has other expertise and experience that may benefit your child. Washington, D.C. follows close behind, and then cities in the Midwest range $3-4 less and often price in below the living wage. Outside the major cities, prices vary greatly depending on local conditions and other factors.

When you think about how much a workshop or camp costs, hiring a sitter with experience who can give your child a unique adventure can really be worth it. Paying at the upper end doesn't cost that much more, especially if the sitter drives, can take kids to activities and is a person your children look forward to spending time with. These relationships can be mutually enriching and bring other benefits that you can't put a price tag on.

What's a Fair Rate for Your Area?

It's a good idea to browse the classified, check-out postings on Craigslist and ask around to see what kind of rate caregivers in your area are charging. If you have a neighborhood message board or belong to a local parenting group on social media, ask community members about best practices and fair rates.

Use the living wage calculator to get a rough idea of the low and high end of theoretical wage range in your area. If you're struggling to earn a living wage, you might end up paying more than 18 percent, which is what an average family pays for child care. Be persistent. Patience pays off. Not every sitter needs or expects a living wage, and with diligence, you can find a sitter that fits your budget and needs. Sitters are typically more flexible than full-time caregivers.

Age and Experience

If your wallet feels a little constricted, be more flexible about your sitter's age and experience. For example, you may want to take a chance on a younger, less experienced caregiver if there is plenty of support nearby in case of an emergency, such as a close family member or trusted neighbor. Often, a new sitter has experience working with kids under adult supervision or can help your favorite sitter out with a group of children to gain experience.

Likewise, an older caregiver may have plenty of experience but be unable to perform some of the more physically demanding tasks required. Older sisters are better for the very young or for children old enough to perform basic self-care. Take into consideration the time span that needs to be covered or the situations where the parents are still in the house but can't devote attention to child care.

Remember, very few families find the best sitter right away. This is a process that will take some trial and error. When you do find a great fit, use rate increases, perks and bonuses to show your appreciation. Even if you can't afford to pay a top rate every time, an occasional tip lets your sitter know what they mean to you. It's always easier to keep a great sitter than to find a new one. Having a back-up isn't a bad idea, either. Great sitters eventually move on to other things. Sooner or later, most families have to find a new one.

Know Your Limits

Knowing the top rate you can afford and the lowest rate you would feel good about paying will help you find the perfect sitter. Be confident and set the right tone for clear communications. If you and your sitter don't see eye to eye, no hard feelings. Settle on a rate that makes both you and your sitter feels good about the arrangement. Happy sitters offer you greater freedom and give your kids plenty of stories to tell when you come

Crickets chirping in the weeds, lightning bugs flickering in the nighttime sky and the always present moths gathered around porch lights all combined with whispers, giggles and childish pranks to get attention. This was summer in America, when time slowed and children stared at fluffy clouds imagining what they could become. This was summer before computers or video games; children played ball across the neighbors yards, helped with the lawn and eagerly planned bike trips and visits to the community pool. Front porches were an important part of American history then. It's where parents stood to call the children in, best friends huddled and families shouted greetings from.

Childhood was a time of innocence; our children had dreams. They dreamed of being a teenager, getting a driving license, an innocent date and what they might one day be able to rise to and achieve. Hopeful dreams frequently had to be tamped down by teachers to entice the children to pay attention. They were excited about life and eager to live it.

Something has happened to our children. Their minds are filled with 'stinkin thinkin'. They have traded ball games and bike trips for video games and solitary meals that enable them to continue their games. They have 'virtual' friends they may never meet. They are jaded, with little expectation of greatness; their hopes and dreams traded for the simple things we used to take for granted. They are far more excited about winning the video game than catching a lightning bug or discerning what the fluffy clouds could be. They have lost their innocence.

Today our children are seeking something to be angry about, some imagined insult that provides the opportunity to take to the streets to demonstrate or even riot. They seem barely aware of the sacrifices made to allow them to carry those signs and certainly to achieve their dreams. Good breeding and manners that defined earlier generations have been traded for a correctness they accept that smothers their right to think or talk big or otherwise. Our children have become anesthetized to the idea of embracing personal hopes and dreams. They seek to be the same as every other country, unaware of the opportunity for exceptionalism instilled in being born an American.

This is 'stinkin thinkin.' It happens when minds are filled with negativity, when one becomes ashamed of their roots and imagines they have no right to dream or to rise beyond what others have done. We are a nation of dreamers. It is essential to 'wake up' the children and encourage them to dream again, to live with a respect for others that automatically transfers to self-respect. We need to remind them what being an American really is... it is being born to dream, born ble

After about a million days of toil, sweat and aggravation, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I decided to take a few days off and relax.

I am not a real expert when it comes to relaxing. I have not pursued a PhD in relaxing and therefore it is a foreign theme to me.

Of course, I have advised many people to chill out, relax a little bit and not get so excited about things. What doctor do you know who takes his own medicine? Or, what pastor do you know that listens to his own sermon?

I could preach a sermon to beat all sermons on relaxing and not getting so uptight about things. You would think after listening to some of these sermons that I was an expert in this area. My expertise is only in telling other people what they should be doing. I do not have time to listen to my own sermons.

My wife and I realized a month or so ago that we have not taken a day off in over six months. Actually, we were trying to figure out the last time we did take a day off.

"I think," my wife said most reflectively, "that we should take a day off and relax."

It has been my policy throughout my marital life to not disagree with my wife. This was one of those times when I was in full agreement with her statement. It doesn't happen often, when it does, it is time to celebrate.

For us, a couple days off takes a couple months of planning and when I say planning, I mean planning.

We had to coordinate the date with the rest of our family, and with the church schedule.

I fully understand that the church will run quite well without me, but I have conned myself into believing that it can't. That means, I have to make special plans for when I take a day off.

It did not take me long to rearrange my schedule, but it was a different story with my wife.

She had to coordinate her schedule for a couple days off with both of the daughter's schedule because she watched the grandchildren while the parents were working. It took several months for her to coordinate all of the schedules and finally, voilà, we arranged a time that we could "leave Dodge," and head to St. Augustine for a couple days off.

We left after the Sunday evening service and our plan was to return Wednesday before the Wednesday night service. If you plan something right, it all comes together.

We left that Sunday night and headed for our motel to settle down for several days of rest and frivolity. I do admit that I have a PhD in frivolity and so I was ready to frivole. (Pardon my French).

When we woke up Monday morning, I began to realize that my definition of rest was not exactly the definition my wife embraced.

For me rest is staying in bed with a cup of coffee in one hand and a good book in the other hand. Actually, in my hand was my tablet, which had my Kindle app, which contains over 300 books. The hardest decision I had was to choose which book I was going to read first.

I had recently purchased the Kindle edition of The Complete Father Brown Mysteries by G. K. Chesterton. Oh, that Father Brown. What an interesting character he is.

I had just got into the first story when I heard from my wife, "Well, are you ready to go?"

It was then I discovered her definition of rest is not my definition of rest.

Her definition of rest is to visit all the thrift stores in the St. Augustine area. Unfortunately for me, she knows every one of them.

With a little bit of persuasion on her part I got out of bed, dressed and walked with her to the car so she could drive us to the first thrift store.

It has been a long time since I have been in a thrift store and so I had forgotten pretty much what it was all about. I walked in the first one and that thrift store aroma smacked me right in the face.

"Doesn't that," my wife said with a giggle in her throat, "smell wonderful?"

Obviously, we have noses from different resources and my nose said, "Yuck, what stinks?" I was afraid to give the information to my nose in fear that it would start a sneezing fit.

After five minutes I had seen everything in that thrift store I wanted to see. So, I said to my wife, "Could I borrow the car keys?"

"You're not done shopping?" she said quizzically.

I nodded my head and with a great deal of hesitation, she handed over the car keys and I exited the thrift store and three steps out of the door my nose said to me, "Thanks."

I must say that my wife and I are good partners in just about everything except in this area of relaxation. However, every good relationship has its opposites. The important thing is to recognize the opposite and not allow that to define the relationship.

I like what the prophet Amos said, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3).

The best part of a relationship is walking togeth

There are all kinds of questions in this world of ours. Most are rather annoying. It would not surprise me in the least if there were a gang of hooligans somewhere hired to make up silly questions. If I could find this gang, I would disperse them immediately, without a question.

Of course, there is the fact that the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage is in cahoots with these question-maker-uppers. Every once in a while she comes up with questions for Yours Truly.

It is not the questions I object to but rather the answers I am supposed to give in connection to the questions. My wife has a silly notion that the answers I give should be in direct correlation to the questions she asked. Who made up this rule? Oops, that was a question. Sorry about that.

It is my opinion, and mine alone, especially in my home, that if I am asked a question I should have the option to give the answer I want to give whether it relates to the question or not. My wife insists my answer should be a response to her question.

More times than I care to admit, when my wife is asking her second question, I am still thinking about her first question. By the time she had gotten to her sixth question, I have formed an answer for that first question. And when she asks her tenth question, I am answering her first question.

It is all very confusing to me because she always says, ''That was not what I asked you?'' It was but she was so far ahead of me that it is virtually impossible for me to catch up. So, if I cannot catch up, I catch flak.

Last week, for example, she put to me a very penetrating question. ''What is that awful smell?''

I would not have taken offense to the question so much, but she was looking straight at me when she posed it. What I took from the question was that I, for some reason unbeknownst to me, smelled pretty bad. Even though it was not Saturday night, I took the hint and marched my raunchy body to the bathroom for a bath.

I just took for granted that there was an odor around. I do have a nose, but the primary function of my nose is to be a resting place for my spectacles. Something has to be awful for me to smell it. My wife, on the other hand, has superhuman smelling properties. She can smell a rotten apple while it is still a blossom on the apple tree.

I thought the question of ''What stinks?'' had been thoroughly answered. So, I dressed and got in my car to go to the office. On the drive to the office, I noticed something rather peculiar. My car stank. There was some terrible odor in my car that I could not identify. I knew it could not be me since I had just come from a fresh bath only a few moments ago. But there was an unmistakable stench in the car.

I arrived at my office, got seated behind my desk and began some work when I noticed something peculiar. My office stank. It smelled as if some old alley cat had found its way into my office, crawled behind a bookcase, and died... two weeks ago. I began searching the office for the decaying carcass creating such a disgusting odor in my office.

Finally I gave up and went home. Before I could tell my wife about the problem at the office and in the car, she surprised me with another question.

''What is that awful smell?'' She was looking straight at me with the obvious conclusion that the smell was coming from my direction.

By this time, I too was noticing the smell so it must have been something rather awful. I just knew it could not have been me because only two hours ago I immersed myself in the bubbly and vigorously scrubbed off any odor that might have been lodged on my body. I even threatened my body with a Brillo pad. I knew the odor was not on me.

''Where is that smell coming from?'' my wife demanded as she approached me with her nostrils flaring. The closer she got to me the more her nose wrinkled in agony. It was then she made a startling conclusion.

''That odor is coming from you. You stink.''

Well, if words could kill you would be reading a very nice obituary in the newspaper this morning. I was deeply offended by this observation.

When she got close to me, she examined my person very carefully and then looked down at my shoes. ''How long have you had those shoes?''

They were my favorite shoes so I had them quite a long time. I mumbled something like about five years.

''Aha, it is your shoes that stink. Those shoes are rotten and you will have to throw them out. I do not want to see those shoes in this house ever again.''

I was reminded of a verse in the Bible. ''For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.'' (Jeremiah 2:22 KJV).

You can clean up all you want to but if you are still wearing rotten shoes you still stink

Thinking is not my strong suit by any stretch of the imagination. Every time I start thinking, I either get a headache or get into trouble. I'm not sure which is worse, the headache or the trouble.

In my normal pursuit of life, thinking sits in the backseat. If there is an emergency, thinking may come forward and help out. However, in the meantime, thinking is not something I like to do on a regular basis.

That is my side. On the other side, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage is always thinking. Most of the time, she is thinking about jobs I should be doing. I don't know how she does it, but she can come up with a list of "honey-do's" that will occupy all my time. Of course, I must confess, while I am doing these "honey-do's" I am thinking, but not thoughts I would like to come out into the public arena.

I do not really have to think that much because my wife thinks for me. How she does it is beyond me, but she knows what I am thinking three days before that thought enters my head. At least, that's what she tells me and she would not lie to me.

I have learned through the years that there are several questions that I should never ask my wife. One is, "Honey, what are you doing?"

You would think after decades of interaction with her I would know what to say and what not to say. Because I don't give much to thinking, I usually speak without thinking, which always gets me into trouble. If I could think through something, I just might escape the trouble that I get into.

Just the other day I came home from working at the office and my wife was sitting in the chair and I asked "the" question. "Honey, what are you doing?"

My wife knows how to ask questions and is very skillful at asking the right question. The other side is that she knows how to answer questions to such a degree that gets me into difficulty. How she manages this is beyond my wildest imagination. Of course, if I would think about it, maybe I could come up with an answer, but who has time to think these days?

Without any delay, she responded to my inquiry by saying, "I was just thinking... "

As soon as she said that, I knew I was in trouble. Why don't I keep my questions to myself? Why must I always fall into that trap she lays for me?

"I was just thinking," she said without giving me any opportunity to respond, "that we ought to go to the mall this afternoon and do a little bit of shopping."

Her "little bit of shopping" has nothing to do with the word "little," but a lot to do with the word, "cash." She has the idea that if you buy something with a credit card, no cash is involved.

The last place on earth I want to go to is the shopping mall. I must confess that I have a little bit of a drug problem here. When I go to the mall with my wife, I am drug from one store to another store to another store until I have completely lost any sense of reality.

I am not sure if there is a solution to this kind of a drug problem. If there is, I would like to know about it.

"Well," I said as hesitatingly as possible, "we might not have enough time to go this afternoon to the shopping mall."

"I was just thinking," she responded, "that we could go to the shopping mall this afternoon and then stop by a restaurant and have supper out together. Wouldn't that be wonderful? What do you think?"

If I had just the energy to think through this kind of thing, I would have guessed that she had an ulterior motive in going to the shopping mall.

"If we go out for supper tonight," she explained, "we will have plenty of time to go to the mall this afternoon." With that, she smiled one of those contagious smiles that I have not yet been able to resist.

Driving to the mall that afternoon I had a variety of thoughts jingling through my mind. One predominant thought was, "How much is this going to cost?"

Although my wife thinks a lot, this is one area where her thinking never penetrates. I suppose that is my responsibility to think about the money aspect of everything. The problem is, the more I think about it, the less I really like it.

As we were coming home after supper at the restaurant my wife said, "I was just thinking what a wonderful afternoon this was. I'm glad you came up with this idea."

I pondered about that for a while and could not remember when I came up with this idea. I thought it would be better for me just to go along with her thought, which would make everybody in the car happy.

As we were driving home, I happened to think of a passage in the Old Testament. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord" (Isaiah 55:8).

I may not be big on thinking, but I take comfort in the fact that God thinks about me all the ti

This month I celebrate another birthday. At my age, I cannot remember exactly which one but that does not really matter. The number of the birthday, in my point of view, does not influence the celebration of the birthday.

Life has been rather good to me in many respects. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I are a wonderful team and have been for so many years; I'm not allowed to say how many.

As a team, she can fix anything and I can break anything. That certainly goes hand-in-hand with life. No matter what I can break, she can fix. This has made life rather good.

Throughout life, I have gone under the ruse that when it comes to fixing things I am all thumbs and no fingers. I cannot seem to fix anything. Of course, if it can be fixed with a hammer I might try. When anything goes wrong in our house, I offer to fix it and my wife steps in most gallantly and retires me to my easy chair.

When I try to fix something it usually turns out worse than when I started.

I am not sure if I have created this ruse or if I really am "all thumbs."

Regardless of the situation, as long as she can fix it, I'm comfortable in breaking it.

Don't get me wrong, I don't break things on purpose. At least, I do not think I do. At my age, what's thinking got to do with anything? It just happens that I have the knack of breaking things.

Nobody has ever created anything that I cannot in some way break.

So, life has been wonderful and I hope it continues to be wonderful and it will be as long as both of us stay to our role in the marriage. When I try to take over her spot or she tries to take over my spot, there is trouble a' stirring.

Everything was going wonderfully until something happened this past week.

One thing my wife enjoys is mowing the lawn. I am not allowed to ride the lawnmower and I am not quite sure why at this point. However, if it makes her happy, it makes me happy. She spends many happy hours mowing the grass.

It is not so much that I don't like to mow, but she likes to mow much better than I do and of course, she does a much better job at it. She knows how to keep that lawnmower running and if the engine sounds a little off key, she knows exactly what's wrong and how to fix it and she does.

My responsibility is to give her a hand whenever I can. When she passes the front porch, I stand up and applaud as she goes by. It's the least I can do.

Then this past week brought in a new picture. She was mowing the grass when, unbeknownst to her, she ran over a long dog chain the neighbor had somehow got into our lawn. By the time she realized what had happened, the chain had twisted all over the blades of that mower.

She pulled the mower up to the house, turned it off and began repairing it. The wire was all twisted very tightly around one of the blades under the mower. She pulled, yanked and twisted, but nothing happened.

I walked up to her and said, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Without even looking at me she said, "No, I got everything under control."

What I have learned throughout life is never contradict your wife. That's the recipe for a cooked goose.

I let her go and about a half-hour later, I noticed the lawnmower was not running. I went around to see what was happening and found her still trying to untwist that wire from the mower blades.

I could see she was rather frustrated and had gotten nowhere with unraveling that wire.

"Why don't you let me look at it?" I asked as calmly as possible.

"You can look at it," she said kind of exasperated, "but I don't think there's anything you can do."

I try to help whenever I can and I know that my "help" is rather limited compared to hers. I thought I owed it to her to look at it and exclaim, "Wow, that sure is twisted."

I looked at it for a while, began juggling with some of the wires and discovered one wire that seemed to be a little looser than any of the other wires. I tugged and pulled at it and within about five minutes, I had all of the wire unraveled from the mower blade.

"There," I said as calmly as possible. "I think I got it all fixed for you."

She looked at me rather quizzically; she got down to look at the blade and exclaimed, "My goodness. You really did fix it. This must be a first."

When she said that a light went off inside my darkened mind and I thought to myself, "This better not be the beginning of anything!"

A verse of Scripture started scampering through my mind. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest" (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

From now on, I'm going to try to keep my hands to m

Today I find myself thinking how blessed I am and that my children are an inexplicable gift from God. I remember a lot of little things about my enchanting daughter, which I am afraid will fade away like sand through my fingers if too much time passes. Haven't you ever loved someone so much that every minute that has passed with them is like a wisp of smoke in the air that you can see but cannot bring back?

When she was but a little child with ringlets caught behind her ear, I would often find her reading oblivious to everything around her. She would curl up on the carpet with her knees tucked up behind her and a book open in front of her with her little fingers twiddling each page delicately as if to not disrupt the fibers. Neil Armstrong could scarcely have felt more wonder on the moon than my little girl felt through the pages of those new books which she bought in the little shops all over town holding my hand.

There were times when I took her to the beach to swim and play in the sand like children her own age but she preferred to seek the shade and enjoy her book!. Her love for the written word always arose from an innate place within her and I could never seek credit for it. When I think about both of my children, they are vastly different. My son likes to create things and be in the outdoors and has no interest in reading but for the life of me I do not want them to be the same. I am glad God sought to make them apart in every way.

On this seemingly silent contemplative afternoon, I do not pretend that I can understand the complexity of God. How he can create immense capabilities for species in the small strands of DNA within us and how from one couple of human beings or animals, countless different kinds of traits can emerge. Think about when two hummingbirds mate, they do not just create one hummingbird; they can create up to three hundred different kinds over the centuries. It does not take an artist to appreciate the beauty that lies in all these creations, all you have to do is be looking for them.

Often I have seated myself in places where I can just watch people walk by. It is hard to explain my exact purpose except that I find it so surprisingly calming.

Many of those people are mixed race or of mixed ethnicities but the union of their parents has created something which can only be described as artistic. Some of them have dusky skin with bright ocean blue eyes and there is a certain synchronicity which you never imagined till you have actually seen it.

Nowadays sexual intimacy has been made into something which must be discouraged or despised when it is love in its most basic sense and an act which makes such indescribable beauty possible.

But it is true that it must arise from the right place within; from a place of true affection. Embrace this level of intimacy, all the while holding it in high esteem as something that you have been given but not something that belongs to you.

Children's book and cookbook author Litsa Bolontzakis is an expert on Greek cooking and that culture's easy, simple way of life. Her desire is to help other families learn from her culture how to appreciate the simple things in life and grow to enjoy the seasons and the gifts they bring.

I don't think it was in the mind of Dr. Bell when he invented the telephone for people like me to be harassed by people who are only after my money. Don't get me wrong here. The telephone has been a great blessing to many people. But lately, the wrong people have my number.

It finally came to a head this past week. At least as far as I was concerned.

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I had a very busy week and by Thursday we had accomplished a lot, or at least we thought we had. We had lunch with a very good friend and enjoyed ourselves tremendously.

On our way home from lunch I mentioned the fact to my wife that I was feeling very tired and I probably could do with a Power Nap, as they call them today. She just looked at me and said, "Go ahead and get your nap in."

Being the husband that I am, I always obey my wife. And so, off to the parsonage I headed to get in a well-deserved, at least I thought it was, Power Nap to rejuvenate what little energy I had left.

Nothing feels better to me than stretching out on my easy chair, closing my eyes and drifting off into Lala land, of which I am a frequent visitor.

I am not quite sure how long I was sleeping, but suddenly I heard a weird noise that awakened me. That weird noise was the telephone ringing. I never know who's calling and I never know if it might be important, so I answered the phone.

I am so tired of getting telephone calls that just interrupts my day. I get calls from somebody who has a solution for my student loan and how to pay it off. I never went to college and therefore I don't have a student loan. At my age, if I had a student loan it would be a tragic situation.

The call was from some health agency that had a deep concern about my health. More particularly, they had solutions for pains that I was experiencing.

"I understand," the person on the other end of the telephone said very businesslike, "that you are having problems with pain in your body."

I do not know where he got that understanding or why he would be interested in any of my pain.

"No, sir," I said with a healthy yawn, "there ain't no pain here."

"Is there someone in your house," he went on to say, "that has some back pain?"

Without giving me time to respond, he continued, "I believe you qualify for one of our back braces to help manage your back pain."

"No, sir," I said most pathetically, "nobody here has that kind of pain."

Not hindered in his salesman pitch, he said, "Is there someone in your home that has an ankle pain? I have a wonderful solution that I would like to send you to deal with that pain?"

I still was a little dizzy because of being awakened from my Power Nap that I was not quite able to comprehend what he was talking about. He just kept on talking.

Finally, he said, "What kind of pain does anybody in your household have that we could address today?"

Obviously, he had solutions for pain, but the problem was I did not have any pain for him to address.

I was about to hang up on him when a few gray cells woke up from their Power Nap and nudged me with a thought.

"Now that you mentioned it," I said as seriously as possible, "there is a pain here that perhaps you could help me with."

"Yes, sir," he said most enthusiastically, "we want to help you with all the pain that you might have. How can we help you today? What is your pain?"

"Well, sir," I said rather slowly, "I have this throbbing pain in my neck. How in the world can you help me with that?"

I noticed his pause at the other end of the telephone. Then I heard the question I was waiting for.

"Where did you get this pain in the neck? And how in the world can I help?"

Without any pause, I jumped in and said, "My pain in the neck is from people like you calling me and disturbing me in my nap. The only way you can help me is to quit calling me!"

[Click]

With that click, he cured my pain in the neck. If all pain could be solved that quickly this world would be a much better place I am sure.

A little while later my wife came into the parsonage, took one look at me and said, "Why do you look so happy? Did your nap work for you today?"

"No," I said with a little giggle, "I just got rid of a pain in the neck."

I could not help but think of one of my favorite Proverbs. "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones" (Proverbs 17:22).

With all the agitation in the world, a person is sometimes tempted to get all caught up with bitterness and anger. I have learned the hard way, that the best way to deal with agitation is to make fun of it so that somebody laughs, particular