Sunday, June 17, 2012

Happy Father’s Day!

I lost my dad to brain cancer August 17, 2010.  It’s been almost two years, but I feel like I know more about him now than when he was alive.  My stepmother gave my brother and I some of dad’s belongings earlier this week, and I went through some of them yesterday.  There were old pictures including him with his beloved Studebaker (which he named Zelda Q), his first grade report card, his US Navy momentos, etc.  Going through these things brought his spirit back alive!  I miss my dad, but it will only be a matter of time before he is holding my hands again… while I stand on his toes …and we dance….      

How about we chug on over to Mamby-Pamby Land?


Have you ever seen the Geiko commercial with the drill sergeant as a therapist?  He gets really irritated with a patient and throws a box of tissues at him – that is after he suggested that the patient chug on over to Mamby-Pamby Land for some self-confidence.  I am afraid that if I were a therapist, I may be just like that drill sergeant.

I tend to lack compassion at times.  Lots of times.  Here’s the deal though – I lack compassion when (in MY opinion) I feel the person should be emotionally stronger or simply just try harder to get over “whatever/whoever” and move on.  Who am I to make this judgement though?  We all have issues, myself included, but perhaps my expectations are too high for others in getting past their issues.  Maybe not everyone can see a way out.  Maybe there are lots of people around me whose patience has been tested because of me and some irritating behavior that I have.    

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

My sister-in-law pointed out to me that my job (sales) forces me to be a little NOT compassionate – which is very true.  If I let myself get too emotional at work about work stuff, It would be impossible to do my job.  She also reminded me that I need to turn that off for people who don’t operate like me.  I need to turn my work attitude off  when the occasion calls for it.  She is so right.  But it’s hard because I am there most of my waking hours (or so it seems). 
I need to consciously be more Christlike in my compassion.  I’m working harder on that starting NOW.