Thoughts from the Heart

Music has such a powerful affect on the soul.  I have been trying to listen to uplifting music along with read more scriptures on my own and I feel more at peace than I have in a long time.  My trials are still the same but I can handle what is thrown at me much better.  The music makes a big difference. I tried it at the office where I work every Friday and it makes a difference there too.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ” from Romans 1:16 has a powerful message.  As Christians we are to proclaim the gospel to those unbelievers in a meek and pleasing way. We shouldn’t annoy others if they do not listen but with gentleness, kindness and by good example, we should treat others as they would like to be treated.  Turn the other cheek when an enemy strikes.  Return a quiet answer when angry words are spoken. These are difficult tasks sometimes; especially if we are overly tired, already angry or annoyed by another person.

I read a quote the other day that said we should leave the earth a better place than how we found it.  If only everyone felt this way.  Wake up every morning so that Lucifer will think: oh no, she’s awake.  It’s a great life……

Defending Ourselves Against Rumored Falsehoods

Valerie J. Steimle

After hearing so much venom hurled last week between Sarah Palin and the media about the Tuscan shootings, I am convinced there is no winning in defending yourself against any falsehoods. I know that Sarah Palin isn’t afraid to shoot back what is hurled at her, but does it really help her cause? Some political commentators have asked this question. The fact that Ms. Palin was responsible for the shootings of those people stressed in the media was ridiculous and we all know it. It’s just a difficult situation to sit back and let others lie about our true intentions. It is a tough act to be thick skinned. Visions of Dan Quayle dance in my head.

I have also been the center of much venom hurled at me unsuspectingly in my life time and I can tell you, sometimes it just doesn’t help to defend yourself. The more you try to explain the truth, the more others look at you through disapproving glasses. Unfortunately people tend to believe the trash about a person more than not. Although with Sarah Palin, all that is hurled at her from other sources seems to be strengthening her cause instead of making her weaker. That’s because we can sympathize knowing whatever ridiculous comment is said about her from a certain viewpoint, is false.

Throughout our lives, we hear gossip about others and tend to believe it. Why is that? A close friend is accused of being a lesbian by her jealous roommates and everyone around her believes the rumor. How can she defend herself? Another is falsely accused of moral infidelity and there is no convincing others of its falsehood. It’s a lose-lose situation for everyone. We feel our self-esteem falling deeper into a Grand Canyon hole and the false speakers feel better about themselves thinking they have convinced others we are bad people. It’s not pretty.

Sarah Palin has a lot going for her: she appeals to most voters who are sick and tired of watching their political leaders just lay down and accept a beating from the loudest of the minority. She is a common person with no royal bloodline, pedigree or Ivy League credentials. Sarah is intelligent, quick witted and stands up and defends herself well. She speaks for us all in the political arena and we won’t believe those ridiculously false accusations. It’s just not going to work.

I don’t know if the venom will ever stop being hurled at Ms. Palin, but I think she should be allowed to defend herself. Maybe picking her battles of what to hurl back may help but you can’t blame her for defending her true self. It is a sad day when a person gets ribbed for doing so.

So next time we hear of some vicious gossip whether about ourselves or other people, we might be wise in knowing that all that is said is false. Just don’t believe it or pass it on. You will be much better for it.

Small Acts of Kindness: A Good Way to Start the New Year

Valerie J. Steimle

After a nice break from work and school in the last two weeks, we are returning to our real life. It’s back to business this week but it’s a new year and a new beginning. Of course we are patiently awaiting the Auburn/Oregon confrontation…..War eagle is heard loud and clear from our house. Other than that, we are finding ourselves facing another week of back to what is our normal operating procedure: get up, eat breakfast, go to work, come home, relax, eat dinner and go to bed. We might have a few bumps in the road we follow but this is basically the norm. I wonder what can put the zing back into our life after a month of preparation and partying?

Over the weekend, I have been reading interesting stories from a Christian magazine of what people have done to put that good feeling back into their life. What makes life exciting and how can we feel better about ourselves? The stories I read were simple in nature and warmed my heart because all that these people did was help someone else in need. It is amazing how when we think about others and act on that thought how much better we feel in our own life.

A good example of acting on a thought to help others is the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In just a few short years, this foundation has helped thousands of people all over the world on every continent. From agriculture improvements for farmers in growing food to donating medicine in wiping out polio, setting up libraries and funding education in third world countries, they are the largest philanthropic organization in the world. It is truly amazing what they have done.

Of course we aren’t all in a position to do all of that. Our own community needs every day people to do small acts of kindness for neighbors and friends. How many times have you seen a need somewhere and followed up on it? It does leave a great feeling of acceptance and warmth in our hearts. It’s actually the payback for helping other people.

So, whether you are a patriot and want to contribute to bettering the country (like me) or like to attend church to find service in the community or just know your neighbors, small acts of kindness is the way to go for a better year.

The True Meaning of Christmas

Valerie Steimle

The Christmas lights are glowing everywhere and people are still driving with trees on tops of cars. The thoughts of those pecan pies from Thanksgiving are still in our heads but we press forward as we are in full swing in the Christmas season.

Black Friday has past with little or no fan fair but as you remember a couple of years ago the news reported that a 34-year old man was trampled to death by Wal-mart shoppers trying to get into the store. I have heard only good reports of kindness to others on that day. Maybe we have improved our behavior. Maybe we can remember the true meaning of this time of the year.

This year for Christmas many people have lost their jobs. This year there may not be the material Christmas many have experienced in the past. This year those who have been more fortunate to have employment will hopefully remember those who have not been so lucky. Giving to others who don’t have much always leaves us with a great feeling in our own lives.

As Christmas has at times lost its meaning in years before maybe as a people we can realize that the number and cost of gifts isn’t as important as being with their family. Maybe we can remember that a few gifts to our friends and family are the tokens of what is really the true meaning of Christmas.

There are so many wonderful events that are fun and do not cost much to help us remember the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas concerts and parties, festivals in the park, parades, night excursions to Christmas lights and baking Christmas cookies at home are just some of the memories we can create for our children.

Agnes Pharo says it well: What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, and hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.

We are alive on this earth and can do good for others. If we all had a glimpse of what George Bailey saw in the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life”, we would appreciate what we have so much more.

This is the season of love and giving to others. We should all learn what it truly means in giving of ourselves to others. Not just in buying material possessions but in spending time and using our talents to share with our friends and family. That is the true meaning of the Christmas season.

Homeschooling Children has Positive Advantages

Valerie Steimle

There is a certain group of people who live in our country, who have gone unnoticed for what they have done in their home. Mothers are the unsung heroes of a great country, this is true but there is another group that I would like to highlight in my writing today. Those are the mothers who homeschool their children. For a while, this topic was controversial and misunderstood at best but now homeschooling is so common, most people know at least one family in their circle of friends and family who do. Educating your own children definitely has its advantages. Here are a few:

1. Parents have the control of what their children learn. They don’t have to depend upon the public or private school arena to educate their children. They can add extra learning in certain areas that are important to the parents without worrying about government intervention.

2. Homeschooled children can speed up or slow down their progress depending upon ability. A child who has challenges in certain areas can practice as much as time allows in accomplishing a new skill. Time is so flexible in finishing a year’s work, you can do it anywhere.

3. Homeschooled children do not have the peer pressure of other students calling them names or belittling them. There is a worry free environment at home that is relaxing and much can be learned there.

4. There are more field trips open to children at home during the day. Parents can take their children in smaller groups and stay longer than other field trips sponsored by public schools because there is more time and parents are right there observing.

5. If you are worried about college, this is another advantage. Colleges and Universities love homeschooled students. They do well in their studies and get along with others. They are generally self-motivated and involve themselves in their community. There isn’t a lot of burn out from the time they finish their high school grades until they start college courses as well and most homeschooled students make learning a life long endeavor.

The only disadvantage to homeschooling a child is the parents’ own time. The time spent in schooling children takes away from the parents’ time to do other things but the sacrifice is well worth the effort.

I have homeschooled all nine of my children at different times of their life. Some stayed at home until after high school and some finished at a local high school. But, the blessings of having your child at home is that you can instill your values long enough that once your child leaves home to be on his/her own, you know you have done all you could to teach him/her to be a contributing member of society…..and in this troubled world that is a great advantage.

More Time With Family Helps with Stress

Valerie Steimle

I woke up this morning in a panic. There is so much to catch up on every day. That feeling of dread spreads as I listen and read to what is going on in the world. I’ve been reading a lot of news clips, watching news on the internet and deleting emails about the news.

Our American way of life seems to be changing. It is stressful to watch the news, read the newspaper, or open emails. We are overwhelmed with what the future might bring. We are overwhelmed with all that we are expected to do and have to do. We are frustrated from stress at work and whether we will have a job to go to every day. We are frustrated many times from being overly tired from the lack of a goodnight’s sleep. Apathy occurs and then we lose hope.

From the website www.stress.org it is written: “Stress is an unavoidable consequence of life. As Hans Selye (who coined the term as it is currently used) noted, ‘Without stress, there would be no life’. However, just as distress can cause disease, it seems plausible that there are good stresses that promote wellness. Stress is not always necessarily harmful. Winning a race or election can be just as stressful as losing, or more so, but may trigger very different biological responses. Increased stress results in increased productivity; up to a point. However, this level differs for each of us. It's very much like the stress on a violin string. Not enough tension produces a dull, raspy sound. Too much tension makes a shrill, annoying noise or snaps the string. Just the right degree can create a magnificent tone. Similarly, we all need to find the proper level of stress that allows us to perform optimally and make melodious music as we go through life.”

So how can you find the balance you need to survive? Plan for more time with your family. It is no secret that the time with your family helps deal with the stresses of life even though we might wonder as a family how we all got to where we are now.
Erma Bombeck says it well: “We were a strange little band of characters, trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another’s desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.”

Make your important time, your family time. Life is much easier to deal with when you have the support of your family. As the old Chinese proverb says: “A family in harmony will prosper in everything”. I couldn’t agree more.

Life’s Lessons Learned at Summer Camp

Valerie Steimle

Having just returned from summer camp, I am encouraged and invigorated. Any time an organization puts youth together for a week out in nature, good things happen. Campers all learn to get along with each other as well as learn to appreciate nature; especially when they have to live without all the comforts of home. No television or video games. Even for the adult leaders, a bond is developed as we sit around the camp fire and talk.

Collecting firewood, keeping the campfire going, cooking over a fire, setting up tents, morning flag ceremony and hiking through the woods all contribute to lessons learned in life.

Collecting enough of the right kind of firewood and covering it with a tarp to keep dry helps us to think ahead in life and be more prepared for any emergency. Making goals for what we want to accomplish keeps us on target. If we forget to cover the firewood, dew or rain will wet the wood and you have a problem. Thinking ahead is always a smart way to go.

Keeping the fires going for a campfire can help you to understand the nurturing of a relationship. Staying in a long term relationship needs emotional support during the good and the bad and it teaches you patience. Just like being patient enough to stick around to keep the fire going at night, relationships will have the same benefit and it pays off in the end.

Cooking over a fire keeps you on your toes. You watch to make sure the fire doesn’t get too hot and not burn anything. It’s the way children are by the time they are teenagers. They certainly keep you on your toes.

Securing the tent stakes can remind us that we should keep ourselves grounded in life from the wicked ways of the world. It’s too easy to be swayed by what is popular. We can see the blessings of keeping ourselves unspotted against what comes along in life. Those stakes keep us anchored to one place just like we would keep our tent.

Having flag ceremony every morning reminds us that we should be thankful for our soldiers in arms from the first gun shot during the Revolutionary war to the bombs dropping on Baghdad. We are so blessed in this country for the many men who fought to keep us free and safe from the rest of the world.

Keeping on the path during the hike can remind us to focus on what is important in life. Stopping to smell the flowers and keeping on the straight and narrow even when the path is difficult are life lessons that stay with us. Some of those hills we climbed walking through the hot sun were brutal, but we kept going. We did not give up and go back. We did not stray from off the path we were to walk on.

Yes, living out in the wilderness has its insights and we can remember what we learned from our experiences at summer camp.