'We Declare that Mothers are Heroes'

That was The Washington's Post's headline yesterday. Other comments from other news organizations said, "In a pivotal year in the legal battle over abortion, crowds estimated at over 100,000 of anti-abortion activists gathered in Washington, D.C., on Friday for the annual March for Life that featured President Donald Trump as the first sitting president to appear in person at the event in its 47-year history." I heard the sound of a heavenly army of angels singing "Glory to God in the highest!" Calling it a “profound honor" to be the first president to attend, he said that "unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House," citing his own actions. Of course the other side sites his words are for politcal gain, I wouldn't care if he was. He's putting his words to action.

My post today is dedicated to heroes of a different kind. They are the ones who put actions to their words. They, “literally” walk-the-walk, NOT, just talk-the-talk. I can’t begin to thank God enough for being alive to see God's love-in-action like I saw in those supporting the right to life yesterday. Lovers love by fearless, uncompromising love-in-action actions. Can’t you see what love looks like in these marchers? And, our President? Well, his actions are speaking for themselves. Who would want to be on a side that doesn't defend life? I can’t put it into better words than what Tulsa’s Bishop David Konderla says here:

“You are my heroes! You inspire me and make me proud! You are young and old, but mostly young, carrying the future in your pockets. You come from all over the country enduring long bus rides and trips in cars and sleepless nights. You brave freezing cold and possible rain or snow, standing and walking for hours. Many call you the Pro-Life Generation; I call you heroes. You come to witness and to celebrate and to mourn and pray.

Witness to the dignity of every human life from conception to natural death. Celebrate the turning of the tide of our nation as we grow in numbers and move ever closer to overturning the stain that is Roe v Wade. Mourn for the lives lost and the hearts of parents broken because of a choice they wish they could take back. Pray for the healing of all and the conversion of those who still cling to the tired, old propaganda of choice. How sad for them, growing old and facing the end of their lives or political careers trying to defend the indefensible. How could anyone plan to explain to God that to the end of their life they clung stubbornly to the idea that freedom means being able to take the innocent lives of those He loves?

You are going to win! But you won’t win through marches. Marches are for witness and celebration and mourning and prayer. You will win through lives committed to God, the giver of life. You will win through the timeless beauty of modesty and chastity which prepare the heart and the soul for faithful marriage open to the gift of all the children that God desires to give. These children raised to know and love God and coming in ever greater numbers will be heroes too and will take their faith and their place in the public square and will win our nation for life. So march, heroes of life, and live Godly lives and receive the blessings of God and the thanks of a grateful nation.”

Perspective: It's the Way SEE Things

Day 302 of Photo Inspirations -- Perspective: It's the Way We SEE Things
I'm not posting this as yet another selfie, but I was inspired for the eye glasses clerk to take my photo because I had a "photo inspiration" moment.  While my eyes were dilated from my eye exam, I had about 20 minutes to kill before the optometrist could examine my eyes.  I went next door to check out the new glasses they had in the store.  Sure enough, I found a pair that I really liked.  They had a little rhinestone bling on the sides that really attracted me.  I had the clerk to hold them for me.

I went back to the optometrist and found out that my eyesight had not changed.(Thanks be to God.) My eyes were good and I didn't need to get new glasses.  I said to the eye doctor:   "I really liked some cute glasses I saw next door, but I guess I don't need them."   And the eye doctor replied:  "Let me change your PERSPECTIVE. Ladies spend a lot of money on shoes or purses or clothes that they wear just every now and then, but you wear your glasses everyday.  Why wouldn't you want a pair that you'd really like to be wearing?  Sweet music to my ears.  I got a new perspective.  I'm wearing those stylin' glasses in this photo.

How many times do we have a "less is best" mentality and miss out on some of the BEST things. Another example is buying an extended warranty on a new appliance.  I bought a new refrigerator 4 years ago and though I didn't want to pay the extra $129.95 for an extended 5-year warranty on it.....I did.  Just yesterday, I walked into my kitchen and there was water all over my kitchen floor (from the ice holder that had defrosted) because my refrigerator stopped working.  That $129.95 was the best investment for my future.

Honestly, some of our perceptions and perspectives really block clear vision.  Not long ago, a man at a metro station in Washington DC started to play the violin.  He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes.  During that time, thousands of people went through the station. The first person who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother pushed him along and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. In the 45 minutes the musician played, only the children, it seemed, wanted to stop and listen.  When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it.  No one applauded, nor was there any recognition. No one knew it, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world.  He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars. Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats averaged $100.00.

Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment. Because he was playing in a subway station, people assumed he was a street musician playing for handouts and paid no attention to his music. They saw and heard what they expected to see and hear from a street musician. Thumbs up to the children who had the awareness they were listening to extraordinary music.

What perspectives could be keeping us from the joys of life that make us feel better, experience less stress and panic, and cause us to be aware of the beautiful music that is playing all around us?   When we change our perspective.....we might just be changing our life!