We need to know if our friends and neighbours despair, and fall off the grid, into a pit of loneliness.
We need to follow social media, and read between the lines of the statements of our friends and family...and ask, "Are you OK? How can I help?"
And even if we're frightened, we need to give our brave to others who are more scared than we are.
You probably know the story about the hippie commune in Tamil Nadu, that was noted for its weird American inhabitants...well, they were once terrorized by a man-eating tiger, and lived in abject fear, until a member's Yorshire Terrier could take it no more, and one night charged the snarling beast.
The hippes, ashamed to be out-done by a four-pound dog, ran to the fight, waving ukeleles and screaming "Hey! Cool it, man! Like, PEACE!"
The tiger saw the onrush, feared for his safety and sanity, and fled.
But the hippes did not escape unscathed; they conquered their fear, but the effort turned their hair white...all of them.
They became local heroes, and Tamil Nadu's governor paid tribute to these brave Frosted Flakes:
"Theyyyy're GREAT!"
Be there for your loved ones,
and be there for your friends.
be there 'till the now becomes
the past, and this thing ends.
Be there for your nurse-neighbour,
and be there for your doc,
for they are now our saviours
working 'round the clock.
Be there for the frightened,
and give them your brave;
support the unenlightened,
it's these He came to save;
bring them hope at Holy Cross,
even as they face their loss.
Thanks to Carol Ashby, Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart is back on Kindle, and will be available in paperback soon.
Friends are everything. I couldn't have done it.
Marley, the canine waif from Afghanistan, whom WE helped save, has a Facebook page! Please drop by to see how happy he is today.
Below are my recent releases on Kindle -please excuse their presence in the body of the blog. I haven't the energy to get them up as 'buttons' in the sidebar. You can click on the covers to go to the Amazon links.
Love Love Love
ReplyDeleteLove back, Jane, and please pardon my tardy reply!
DeleteAndrew - how very good that we're both talking about being present this week. maybe one of the best gifts we can give to another soul right about now.
ReplyDeletethank God He enables and equips us to do this oft' difficult work ...
Linda, you are so absolutely right...and please excuse the lateness of my reply...
DeleteAndrew, you're talking about my One Word. Present. I love your suggestions 1) to keep up on social media and 2) to read between the lines and act on what God shows us. This poem is perfect for how to respond and the heart we should have.
ReplyDeleteI'm praying for you and Barb, my friend.
Jeanne, I'm so glad this resonated with you!
DeleteAnd we are so grateful for your presence, and your prayers.