Blessing In the Storm by Kirk Franklin

Oh, ah, oh, ah, oh, ah

Oh, ah, oh, ah, oh, ah

Oh, ah, oh, ah, oh, ah

Oh, ah, oh, ah, oh, ah

When I cannot hear the sparrow sing

And I cannot feel the melody

There's a secret place that's full of grace

There's a blessing in the storm

Help me sing it

There's a blessing in the storm

When the sickness won't leave my body

And the pain just won't leave my soul

I get on my knees and say, "Jesus please"

There's a blessing in the storm

Help me sing it

There's a blessing in the storm

When I cannot seem to love again

And the raindrops won't ever end

If you just hold on

Those clouds will soon be gone

There's a blessing in the storm

Help me sing it

There's a blessing in the storm

Sweet, sweet, the storm, sweet

When I cannot seem to love again

And the raindrops won't ever end

If you just hold on

Those clouds will soon be gone

There's a blessing in the storm

Help me sing it

There's a blessing in the storm

Importance and the not so important

The anxiety is not here.  I am glad.  Anxiety is about having overactive nerves.  Mine is to the extreme at times.  It can be nerve wracking so to speak.  I realize that there are things that are far more important than what I should watch on television and who I have a crush on.  They are integrity, morals, faith, family, and most of all, God.  I have come to realize that the way to deal with anxiety is to be honest, true, and to understand that despite the ups and mostly downs of anxiety, I am not alone. I believe that as of right now, I will be okay.

Nice quote and "Be Thankful"

 “Gratitude should not be just a reaction to getting what you want, but an all-the-time gratitude, the kind where you notice the little things and where you constantly look for the good, even in unpleasant situations. Start bringing gratitude to your experiences, instead of waiting for a positive experience in order to feel grateful.” — Marelisa Fábrega

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

Author Unknown

Thoughts on how kids should be disciplined

Should kids who disobey or at least do things a parent disagrees with, or do wrong be publicly shamed? How should kids be disciplined in at least this situation? I'm risking it here, but I am 41 years old. When I was a kid, I got beatings just like many kids, but I don't call it abuse. I in short, turned out okay. What are your thoughts on corporal punishment as compared to publicly shaming a disobedient kid or one that needs to be corrected? I believe that public shaming and posting things online is counterproductive. I personally rather discipline my kids at home, not online for the world to see, but that is just me. I just cannot imagine my mom, or dad, shame me like this in public (unless I was running from them and they had a switch or belt in their hands). Anyways, I believe that how one disciplines our youth has changed way too much, and in my opinion, not in a good way.

I was partially referring to those on YouTube, Facebook, and even the news. There was a Caribbean woman who beat the crap out of her daughter for her posts online. Wow, that must have been embarrassing for the kid, not only for the mom to get beaten like that with a belt, but to add the humiliation of the whole world knowing that you got beat by your mom all over the internet. I also recall when I was a kid, there were mothers who would hit or beat their kids whenever they acted up in the grocery store. I was a kid so I felt bad watching that. I have noticed that kids, especially little kids don't get beatings in the store for others to see anymore. I am just talking about five year olds getting spanked. 

My guess is also because we live in an age of time-outs and other form of punishments like publicly humiliation, which I still think would be, and is counterproductive. I guess I am more into disciplining a child privately (according to age, of course). For instance, I would not spank a kid with a belt when the child is two or three. If I were a parent (and I would like to be one day), I would spank my kid when the kid is more "mature" or at least "old enough" to be spanked such as someone who is ten or eleven, at least with a hand to the bottom, but not so hard that a kid would get a bruise there. 

Usually by 12-16, spankings seem to have less of an effect on the kid or kids, unless it is spanking and public humiliation, especially online. I recall however, the video of the teenager who was missing for several days and not only did the dad "put the belt" to her for being that, but for dressing more adult. Now what was even worse was it was posted online and not to mention, the girl was called names while she was being spanked.

Did this mom go too far?

I was watching this video on Facebook. To me, it was just random. Anyways, this mom was beating the crap out of her daughter I guess because she had a rather bad or rather, promiscuous reputation. To me, I guess the mom went too far. I also guess she was the one who posted this beating on the internet. The website is called World Star, where people will post just about anything just to get an audience. (Sadly, I am guilty of watching these videos. Yes, many of them are vile and disgusting, not to mention degrading. They even have XXX videos on another site of theirs.) Anyways, I was wondering what is the best punishment for kids who have a rather, bad reputation or engage in rather promiscuous behavior. At the risk of coming across at being hypocritical, I will post this video and read what you think? What should she have done?

GOOD OR BAD PARENTING?? MOM WHOOPS HER DAUGHTER WITH A HARD STICK FOR BEING A THOT!

Sadly the source I got the video from isn't much better I am afraid. My other question is is it okay to post even the most demeaning of videos just to prove a point. For those who have no clue what a THOT is, here is a definition: That hoe over there.

This past week

Right now, I am playing "Amazing Grace" online and it has come to mind what has happened over the past week.  Today I have discussed the tragedies going on in our country today.  I would not be surprised if the viewpoints of others within families, workplaces, and schools become more heated. We want it all to stop, whether or not it is the killings or the division.  I too want it to stop.  I want black lives to matter.  I want blue lives to matter.  I want all lives to matter, like it should be.  I don't want for history to repeat itself.  However, I have a feeling that another shooting will take place of another person or persons to take hold of this country like it has this past week.  I have a sinking feeling that worse is yet to come.  Maybe we should integrate ourselves instead of allowing ourselves to be divided in this nation.  United we stand, divided we ALL fall.  Hate, fear, and more loss of life will continue to exist because many are not taking a stand or allowing ourselves to fall for anything.

Acceptance and suitability

What can I find that is suitable or accepted about obsessive thoughts?  I have been anxious thoughts or rather, full blown anxiety for a number of years now.  I have learned a lot about those thoughts and about myself over the years.  I wonder if it is even possible to accept the whole thing.  I can accept that I have crushes and obsessions.  So I can accept parts of it.  Acceptance seems like I have to deal with it for the rest of my life.  Maybe acceptance is about attitude towards one thought at a time. Maybe it is about having a more realistic attitude about having obsessive thoughts or just specific thoughts in general.  These obsessive thoughts have been controlling my life and what I can do for so long that my hope is that I have not gotten used to it.  My major concern however, is if I were to accept it, then what will happen next?

Acceptance is a difficult thing to do

I have wondered if it is in the cards for me to embrace having this disorder.  I have had to deal with this issue for many years now and that has been the biggest struggle of them all.  I have never been able to do so for the simple fact that I just hate having OCD and all that it comes with.  OCD comes with a lot of baggage and it has caused me a lot of stress over the years.  I guess with acceptance comes patience.  I want to get rid of it once and for all.  However, I must not forget that I do live on the Lord's timing.

God is there...and speaking

Wow, my letter to the Lord was heartfelt and intense to say the least.  I wrote about my mental health issues and God showed me that we all live on His time.  He has been there for me all along.  I guess that is what it is meant by waiting on the Lord.  It is not just realizing that we are all living on His time, but that we are to fully trust Him.  God wants our full attention, not just our fully "divided" attention.  There is no division with God in that regard.  He also wanted me to see that He indeed does heal and that He does care.  I know now that love and care go hand in hand, but also with a deep appreciation, and respect.  God is more real to me now than ever and I thank Him for revealing that to me.  No matter how tough things are right now, I finally know that God is truly there.  I thank Him for realizing that taking things for granted is not only counterproductive, it is also foolish.  There is nothing worse to me right now than being ungrateful, thoughtless, and short-sighted.  I am thankful for His clarity and His answered prayer.

Too much..not enough

I am okay, but maybe not.  I have had not an obsessive thought in a while.  Okay, I did.  But that is only beside the point.

"Walk on by" by Sybil

Walk on, walk, walk, walk on, walk on by

Walk on, walk, walk, walk on
Wa-wa-walk on, walk on, walk on

If you see me walking down the street
And I start to cry each time we meet
Walk on by, walk on by
Make believe that you don't see the tears
Just let me grieve in private
'Cause each time I see you I break down and cry
Walk on by, walk on by
Walk on by

I just can't get over losing you
And so if I seem broken and blue
Walk on by, walk on by
Foolish pride, that's all that I have left
So let me hide the tears and the sadness
You gave me when you said goodbye
Walk on by, walk on by
Walk on by

Walk on by, walk on by

Ooh ooh, ooh ooh
Walk on by, walk on by
Walk on by

I just can't, I just can't
I-I-I just can't, I just can't
I-I-I just can't get over losing you
And so if I seem broken and blue
Walk on by, walk on by
Foolish pride, that's all that I have left
So let me hide the tears and the sadness
You gave me when you said goodbye
Walk on by (walk on, walk on)
Walk on by (walk on, walk, walk, walk on)
Walk on by, walk on by