I'm reading blogs, and websites that are filled with so many wonderful and interesting poems, and articles with phrases, and prose that take my breath and make my pulse race. Some of the things I've read are painful, shocking and even mind-blowing. I wish I had twenty more hours a day to read everything in them. Blogging is something new to me, and I'm still not sure where it's going to go here. My hope is to do something worthwhile. As I've said, my passion is for those less fortunate, and to do my part in stopping child abuse.

There is so much more to life than just ourselves. We've all had our low points, but most of us can learn from our mistakes and move on.

And yet, even on this day of thanks I want to leave you with this thought: There are those out there who are so unhappy, so lost and miserable that they are thinking of killing themselves. If we say to them: “Think about all the good things in life. Don’t dwell on the past. Everything will be okay.” That’s like telling a person who just had both his/her legs chopped off to get up and walk.

My heart has been very heavy these last few months since I lost my kitty, Kidders. Anyone who has lost an animal knows how devastating that is. Thank God, time does heal all wounds. We never forget though.

And then came Hurricane Sandy. The loss of life is devastating, the damage, and loss of personal items, heartbreaking. We who weren't physically or personally affected can’t really know the struggles, but we can help in our own way and let them know our hearts and prayers are with them.

It’s been said that when a person holds a baby, hugs their grandchild, or snuggles with a pet, or even holds a loved one’s hand, their blood pressure goes down, and their spirits are lifted. Each day, we should take the time for things that bring us peace and happiness. We should make a point of being around people that care, and love us.

Still, we can’t forget those who need our love and support. I ask God all the time to fill my heart with love. He does that. We in our human state probably don’t have the capability to give a complete unselfish love, even to our enemies. Although when we truly feel that way, it too lifts our hearts.

For those of you who follow through my website, you will see where my heart is. I pray each day that we will find a way to stop child abuse. Somehow, we have to reach the abuser. We can’t break down doors, we surely won’t, and don’t want to wrongly accuse. But we can’t forget that each hour of every single day, a child is abused.

Through our smiles
We can’t forget
Those tear-stained eyes
Of a child
Who knows not love

They count on us
Whom else do they have
But for the hearts
Wide open
Ready with love

September 21, 2012

Good afternoon everyone. Hope your day is going well.

Sometimes I think our days are far too short, and way too busy. But then I think back to the days of mill-grinding, and water-hauling, when they made their own clothes, and I think... no, maybe not so bad.

I want to wish the best of luck to my fellow writers. And to my future readers, a huge thank you.

J