FEBRUARY CELEBRATIONS

February Is A Busy Month

In the spirit of my new blog theme, I decided to research interesting celebrations during the month of February. Of course, we all know that February is African-American History Month and February 14 is a day set aside to appreciate love, but I thought I would look into other, more unusual February celebrations.

How about foods? 

February is Barley Month, Grapefruit Month, National Cherry Month, and Sweet Potato Month—which I celebrated by making mashed sweet potatoes for dinner last night. Yum, yum.

What groups are celebrated in February? 

I already mentioned African Americans. February is also Library Lover's Month, National Parent Leadership Month, National Women Inventor's Month, and Responsible Pet Owner's Month.

We all know February 14 is for lovers, but the month of February is also Spunky Old Broad's Month. Now that's my goal for the rest of the month, to be a Spunky Old Broad. 

  :-)

Your Crossing Guard

I've been blogging for many years now and my blog has been eclectic, to say the least. I think it is time for me to become more focused. I have been thinking long and hard about a theme for my blog, something uplifting, without being sappy. I don't know if that can be established, but I think I'll try.

Please bare with me. I'm probably ADHD, though it wasn't diagnosed back when I went to school.

Why did I decide to change routes? I am inspired by the friendliest, most vocal crossing guard I've ever known. Whenever I am assigned to a school in Millington I am greeted by this crossing guard who waves me across the intersection and always shouts a blessing to me--and everyone who passes by. She makes me smile every morning and afternoon. I usually roll down my window and call, "God bless you," in return.

It's not a big deal, but it brings a smile to my face and if she were ever absent, I would miss her calling to me as I drove into school. I would feel as though I lost something that day.

Maybe that's what I should try to be, your virtual Crossing Guard, calling "God bless you," as you drive past. I'll try to do my best.

REVIEW: THE CAT LADY'S SECRET

The Cat Lady's Secret
Linda W. Yezak

The Cat Lady's Secret is a charming story about forgiveness and new beginnings. You don't have to be a cat lover to enjoy this book.

Emily Taylor has a gift for philanthropic work until a lapse of judgement ruins her reputation. Humiliated, she returns to her hometown with Millie, an elderly woman who has a flair for wearing mismatched polyester and passes time rescuing cats.

Emily finds that running home doesn't solve her problems. She must take courage and meet, head on, the person who brought scandal to her work

The Cat Lady's Secret is an enjoyable page-turner. The reader will feel uplifted for having spent time in Ms. Yezak's world.

LEGALISM VS KINDNESS

The death of actor and comedian, Robin Williams, took most people by surprise. He was brilliant. His work touched millions.

The second surprise was the response to the suicide. I don't care how worldly people respond to such a thing. Non-Christians are not expected to have the same lens by which we view the world.

What did surprise me was that so many Christians threw out opinions without thinking about the feelings and sensitivities of others. They didn't consider that other members of Facebook or their message boards might also have known others who have committed suicide. They could have been tactful or helpful. Instead, they chose to run their mouths.

One person posted that anyone who commits suicide will go to Hell. I asked her to give me a Bible verse upon which she based this belief. Many people have said that, but no one has given me a verse. She never got back to me on that one.

There was one site where a person posted some things that made me feel that she, also, might be battling depression. I began to message her advice. She has struggled in the past but said she was presently stable.

What happened next surprised me. I received many comment that singled me out for showing a helpful, positive attitude toward someone in need. In a short time, the post received over 45 likes. I stopped checking after that.  Most people said that they were bothered by so many legalistic comments and it was refreshing to see someone show concern for another person.

This saddened me. Showing kindness. concern, and helpfulness to others should be the rule, not the exception. As Christians we are to be known for our love even when we don't understand why people do what they do.

ONE NEVER KNOWS

I saw another news report about the baby, Aniston Walker. As I wrote in my last blog post, the baby's death still haunts me. We are limited individuals. We don't know what's going on around us.

Sometimes I forget to stop, look about, and ask myself, "What's going on around me? How's the other guy's life?"

A few years ago I drove a route past one school to work at another. On my way to work, I regularly passed a particular crossing guard. She was a woman with a lot of pep, even early in the morning. Whether in the sunshine, rain, or frigid weather, she always had a smile on her face as she directed traffic.

I didn't suspect it at the time, but I later came to know that woman, and that all was not as it appeared.

That woman was a single mother raising two sons almost completely on her own. During that year I drove passed her on the way to work, her family lost their home and all their possessions in a flood. By the end of that year she was diagnosed with cancer.

--And all the while she smiled as she directed traffic before and after school.

I pray that I will be more sensitive, aware that those around me have needs. It may cause me to remember to say a prayer and offer a little kindness to those who cross my path.

Memorial on the Side of the Road

I drove by a local vegetable stand today. It was raining and as I passed by a small little memorial on the side of the road I felt particularly sad. You see, the memorial was for a baby, Aniston Walker. The baby went missing last winter. Her picture was all over social media. She looked so much like a Cabbage Patch Doll that I just fell in love with her picture. I cried and prayed that by some miracle the little baby Aniston would be found alive.

Weeks later the child was found. A motorcyclist parked on the side of the road by the vacant vegetable stand. The vegetable stand was closed for the winter and no one would be checking out the property for months. It just happened that while he waited for his friends to arrive, the motorcyclists glanced in the ditch and saw the decomposing body of the precious little girl.

I feel pensive whenever I pass that fruit stand and I drive that route regularly. What if the baby was still alive when she was tossed in the ditch like an empty Coke can? Did I drive past on the way to work and missed seeing her? Could I, or anyone else, have saved her life?

Realistically, I know she was probably dead before being tossed in that cold ditch. Had I seen her, I still couldn't have saved her.

 Still, it all makes me wonder how many people we pass in the course of a day that need our help. I hope I won't miss seeing the next one.

TV INTERVIEW--LOCAL MEMPHIS, LIVE

Here's a link to my TV interview on Local Memphis, Live, channel 24. You may need to scroll down to my name.

http://www.localmemphis.com/video/d/video/writers-worksop-toni-lamparter-mabry/5080609.