First FORGIVENESS Friday of 2019

I’m writing this Blog Post inspired by Debbie Roth of Forgiving Fridays. Her Blog Posts cause me to think about my words and actions.

It’s the Last Forgiving Fridays of 2018! Today’s topic is Gratitude and Forgiveness

I’m also including a Podcast featuring Bishop TD Jakes. Bishop Jakes made this for 2018 but it’s a lesson for every year. For some Strange reason the videos visuals don’t go with the teaching sermon but just listen as though it was a Podcast.

The Power of Life and death is in the tongue. Proverbs 18:21

Growing up my parents used to tell me, Don’t put your Business out in the Street.

Nowadays the Street not only includes folks who like to gossip, lie, act a fool, Showboating or what Millennials call Flossing and Carry tales but those who feel the need to share all their personal and private information on Facebook, Twitter and Blogs. Then wonder why nothing is working out in their lives or worse yet the consequences of running the mouth has come back to bite them in the ass.

End diarrhea of the Mouth!

SHUT UP!!

If you say or do something wrong be an Adult, go back and Apologize.

When I was in the United States Army back in the late 1970s we had to answer the phone, 569th Personnel Service Company. This Line is Not Secure.

Silence is Golden.

Especially when the temptation to react and say something that you will regret is at the tip of your tongue.

You don’t have to attend every fight to which you are invited.

I retired in August 2018. During the ten years that I was at that job many things happened both good and bad. There were some extremely difficult times but I knew that when I left I had to leave all the ugliness and nastiness behind. Pain, loss, sorrow and anxiety prepared me. Sometimes you must go through. There’s a Blessing in the Lesson. Not that I want to repeat the last ten years but I’m definitely more appreciative and grateful having come through the Fire.

Some of my former colleagues wanted me to return for an Exit Interview specifically to badmouth the Junior managers who had caused me harm. I declined. I spoke up for a staff person who was being bullied via emails to the appropriate person but as for myself my time in Purgatory was over.

You can’t move onto the next Phase of your Life if you are stuck in the Past.

To quote Author L.P. Hartley, The Past is a Foreign Country; they do things differently there.

God honored my Silence. By the end of September I learned that the building I was working in would be leased to another Museum. Therefore only the Union staff will be absorbed by the Main building. The Nonunion employees including the evil Junior managers better start looking for New jobs. No. I’m not rejoicing that anyone loses their jobs but to quote another one of my parents sayings, God don’t like Ugly.

Shortly after that my housemate and I were having a meal at the Daily Press coffee shop and we had a pleasant conversation with the Founders of A Creator’s Collection.

My Season had arrived. If you follow my Photography Blog Roaming Urban Gypsy you’re aware of all the Art Shows I’ve been in since then. My artwork has also been on display at The Shinnyo-en Meditation Center.

One cannot forget the past but you can control how it affects you. I’ve also learned to be very cautious and selective about what I share Online. There’s absolutely No Reason to write about or complain about my health issues or finances. By doing that you give People ammunition to manipulate you. Abuse you and make a Fool of you.

Only discuss those challenges with your spouse if you are married, a trusted family member, doctor, dentist or your minister or Pastor. Whining, moaning and groaning accomplishes absolutely Nothing.

As my girlfriend says, Handle Your Business!

Does this mean that we don’t have compassion for others who are going through? Of course Not! Every one Needs a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. This was illustrated in a previous Blog Post, Pause for Thoughts where a chance meeting in the local laundromat gave me an opportunity to be there for a Mother whose 15 year old Son has Autism. God put me in the right place at the right time because the Lord knew out of all the People washing clothes that day I would understand Her pain and frustration because I’ve been there.

We Need More Compassion and Loving kindness in this World.

It’s the Last Forgiving Fridays of 2018! Today’s topic is Gratitude and Forgiveness

As my Dad Edward Palmer used to say, To Know Better is to Do Better.