I have a very dear friend who has devoted the last six years of her life to helping, and then taking care of, her grandfather. Gramps was in hospice care for a little over a month before crossing the rainbow bridge a little over a week ago.
While I've always admired her ability to juggle Gramps, finances, children, a hundred other things and time on the computer so she could tell those of us who don't live near enough to her to know what's going on, I always thought of her as a caregiver first. I knew she had children. I knew she loved them dearly, but I never thought about them unless we were having particular discussions about either.
The night Gramps left this earth, I found her status on facebook. In it I read peace, grief, rest, and confusion, but most importantly, I read love. Love, not only for her departed, but for her children.
I read how they helped both her and Gramps. I read the pride that shone in their mother's eyes as she wrote. Her fingertips sent glowing streaks of joy and utter amazement at her children's actions through the internet to shine in the computer screens of her friends around the world.
I was stunned. Not by the actions of her children, I knew they would be wonderful, but by her reaction to them. She seemed so overwhelmed at their actions. So amazed that these young adults were her children. That she was fortunate enough, not only to know them, but to have the blessing of them calling her, "Mom".
That's the kind of mother I pray to be. One who knows her children are gifts. One who loves them and makes them a priority no matter what else is going on around her. And one who not only is proud of them, but stands in awe as they exceed her expectations. It's been said that children are the most accurate reflection of their parents, and I pray that my child will reflect Christ's love as strongly as her's did that night, and every night.
God bless and see you soon,
Joelle
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
The Side You SHOULD Show.
Yesterday, I posted a note on facebook about some disturbing pictures that have been floating around regarding abused animals (If you missed it you can find it here). While I stand by everything I stated in it, I've thought about it and have decided I missed something, and that there is a side of animal abuse that everyone can and should show.
Yours.
It resonates far more intensely than anything else. Positive images, notes, and discussions about what you do to help dispel abuse in your area will make people want to help and do what they can far more than a horrific picture with a no name organization you're supposed to donate to.
If you wish to help, local is always better. Even local shelters under the larger names of ASPCA and Humane Society do not receive all that they need from the parent organization. Call or visit to find out how you can lift up your local shelter best. Our local shelter has an amazing staff and the animals that are brought in there thrive both in the shelter and when they leave it. We adopted Monty last March and have been nothing but impressed with the staff and shelter. They're tiny, but take in all they can and the animals fly out of there so fast they can almost always take more in. We support them when we can, and they will be our first stop when next we decide it's time for another animal.
When we adopted Montgomery, they had very little information about his past. All we knew is he was a little dog with a big personality. Soon we discovered our pom mix, full of salt and vinegar, was actually abused before he found himself in the shelter. He didn't bear any marks. Most abused and rescued animals do not, but physical scars are only found in the worst treated animals.
Nothing scares this dog. He loves being 'thrown' into the air during playtime. He attacks the vacuum cleaner. He tried to tear an American bulldog mix to pieces the first time they met. He's fearless. He can face any challenge in his way and laugh in its face.
Except a broom.
The first time I pulled it out of the closet, he was nowhere to be seen for over half an hour. Nine months later, he still hides when it's first pulled out. When I sweep, he now wanders to the edge of the room I'm working in, cocks his head, and watches with the most intrigued look on his face. A cross of, "You're doing it wrong." and, "Is that really what that's for?" He will not come into the house when one is in view. When Charlie goes near the broom- an act he's liable to do, I think he likes being nudged out of the way- Monty either runs for cover, or pulls on ears and tail on side opposite the sweeper to try to keep his brother from being beaten.
We still know little of his past, and we most likely never will understand exactly what happened to him for the first year and a half of his life, but we do have hope. Hope that he will one day, not only be safe from being hit, learn that being nudged out of the way while sweeping isn't such a terrible thing after all.
So, please, show your side of abuse. Prevent it. Not for all animals, this is an impossible task to take on your shoulders, but for the ones in your own home. It might not seem like much, but they'll think it's everything.
God bless and see you soon,
Joelle
Yours.
It resonates far more intensely than anything else. Positive images, notes, and discussions about what you do to help dispel abuse in your area will make people want to help and do what they can far more than a horrific picture with a no name organization you're supposed to donate to.
If you wish to help, local is always better. Even local shelters under the larger names of ASPCA and Humane Society do not receive all that they need from the parent organization. Call or visit to find out how you can lift up your local shelter best. Our local shelter has an amazing staff and the animals that are brought in there thrive both in the shelter and when they leave it. We adopted Monty last March and have been nothing but impressed with the staff and shelter. They're tiny, but take in all they can and the animals fly out of there so fast they can almost always take more in. We support them when we can, and they will be our first stop when next we decide it's time for another animal.
When we adopted Montgomery, they had very little information about his past. All we knew is he was a little dog with a big personality. Soon we discovered our pom mix, full of salt and vinegar, was actually abused before he found himself in the shelter. He didn't bear any marks. Most abused and rescued animals do not, but physical scars are only found in the worst treated animals.
Nothing scares this dog. He loves being 'thrown' into the air during playtime. He attacks the vacuum cleaner. He tried to tear an American bulldog mix to pieces the first time they met. He's fearless. He can face any challenge in his way and laugh in its face.
Except a broom.
The first time I pulled it out of the closet, he was nowhere to be seen for over half an hour. Nine months later, he still hides when it's first pulled out. When I sweep, he now wanders to the edge of the room I'm working in, cocks his head, and watches with the most intrigued look on his face. A cross of, "You're doing it wrong." and, "Is that really what that's for?" He will not come into the house when one is in view. When Charlie goes near the broom- an act he's liable to do, I think he likes being nudged out of the way- Monty either runs for cover, or pulls on ears and tail on side opposite the sweeper to try to keep his brother from being beaten.
We still know little of his past, and we most likely never will understand exactly what happened to him for the first year and a half of his life, but we do have hope. Hope that he will one day, not only be safe from being hit, learn that being nudged out of the way while sweeping isn't such a terrible thing after all.
So, please, show your side of abuse. Prevent it. Not for all animals, this is an impossible task to take on your shoulders, but for the ones in your own home. It might not seem like much, but they'll think it's everything.
God bless and see you soon,
Joelle
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