MR. GRUMPY

I play an imaginary character for my grandkids, Mr. Grumpy. He comes out with these funny translucent eyeglasses and yells, “Hey you snot-nosed kids!’ (Refer to photo).  One of his favorite phrases is, “That makes me really mad!” He reminds me of Mr. Wilson in Dennis the Menace. He’s the neighbor who can’t stand Dennis, on the outside. But deep inside he really cares for him. My kids love Mr. Grumpy, sometimes more than me (well, maybe not). Sometimes, when Mr. Grumpy heads to another room to become Grandpa again, my five-year-old- granddaughter grabs me and says, “No. Don’t go!”

Mr. Grumpy

One day, granddaughter Lucia was talking to me (Grandpa). She said, “You know Grandpa, Mr. Grumpy is grumpy on the outside, but on the inside he really likes kids. He just does that because he doesn’t want anyone to know how nice he really is.” Well said, if I don’t say so myself.  I wonder who she inherited that from?  Any guesses? :)

I wonder what the world would be like if we loved the Mr. Grumpys of the world. We use our exteriors to hide our interiors. Sometimes that is the safe thing to do. Perhaps we’ve conditioned ourselves to rarely show our insides when it would be valuable to us and others if we let them take a peek.  

For most of my life, I’ve hidden behind a facade to survive while I was growing up. It gets really tiring to always keep your guard up. You miss so much, and so do the people around you. You may get misunderstood from time-to-time, but the benefits of disclosure usually outweigh the liabilities.

If we love Mr. Grumpys the world, we will survive the pandemic and any other difficulty that comes our way. So go out there and find a Mr. or Mrs. Grumpy. Look for those good qualities in them. If you don’t, it will “Really make me mad!” 

THE POTENTIAL OF KINDNESS

 

“Mighty oaks –from little acorns grow.” That is a 14^th century English proverb. Probably the younger generation, you know those younger than dirt, never heard it before. It speaks of big things coming from small beginnings.

My wife’s family can from Russia about the time of the Bolshevik Revolution. They were Germans who lived near the border with China. The Russians had a reason to place the Germans there, they served as a buffer between themselves and the Chinese. Often, there would be Chinese raiding parties that would steal from the German farmers. One time, Mr. Miller saw and chased after them. One of the border raiders fell and was injured. He was fearful to see Miller coming. Instead of showing retribution, he showed kindness to the Chinese. They took him in, bandaged his wounds, and helped him recover, after which, he returned to his family. Would you believe it? The Millers no longer had raids on their property. Their act of kindness built bridges to those opposed to themselves.

I like that story. It reminds me of the Good Samaritan who helped an injured Jew recover from his attackers along the Jericho road. Though the two were cultural enemies, kindness made a new friend. You can read more about that in the New Testament book of Luke, chapter 10, verses 30 – 37.

WHAT ARE SOME WAYS WE CAN PAY IT FORWARD during this trying time? 

 I would love to hear your stories and ideas. Simply “reply” below.

(c) Wally Johnston 2021

THE EASY GIVE

 

In the hunt for things to do during this plague, people have come up with some creative ideas, including game nights, crafts, dance, vacation board (cut out articles and photos to make a collage of your dream vacation, and even a squirrel restaurant. That last one is where you make a little dining area with furniture for your yard squirrels. I’m just going to say it, that sounds squirrely but is probably fun.

Here is a great resource of ideas on USA Today for other ideas:

https://cutt.ly/akySBb3

If you are brave enough, you can take on all the stuff you’ve accumulated over the years and toss or give it away.

If you have lived as long as I have, there is a tendency to collect things over the years. I was at a meeting in a circle during polyester days. I looked down and saw a bunch of stuff stuck to my pants via static electricity. I announced to the group, “If you have lost anything, come see me, it’s probably stuck to my pants!”

With time on our hands, this might be the opportunity to clear out that accumulated stuff and pass it along to our favorite charity. There is a potential problem if you are married. We find it easier to toss out things that belong to the other person. My friend, Donna, is a widow. One day she was cleaning out a room and came across a stack of papers clipped together. The note said, “This is stuff Donna threw out.” It was a note from her late husband.

Some of the things we hold onto seem silly; that rock you’ve been hauling with each move that Dad once threw at a tree and broke his car window instead (admit it, that brings a smile to your face). My wife has many units of those little plastic parts trays full of color swaths she used to help customers find the clothes that best enhanced their eye colors. She then made a color pallet of swathes for each client. The last time she used them was, oh, let’s see, 40 years ago! Now when someone comes into my garage and sees the number of parts drawers, they are impressed, until I show them the contents. How embarrassing.

My wife is always more than ready to toss my stuff. Of course, I can always justify all of my sacred belongings. And when that rare occasion comes that I can fix something for her because of one of those possessions, I usually say, “See, I was able to make or fix this because of that thing you wanted me to throw away.” It doesn’t bring a smile to her face so I shouldn’t suggest it, but I just have to. I think we are going to need a mediator to come in and start tossing things for us. That sounds too painful, so I guess we’ll leave all this stuff for the kids to deal with when we kick the bucket! To summarize, it’s always easier to give someone else's stuff away than your own. Remember, “You can’t take it with you.” I told that to my neighbor and he said, “Then I’m not going.” He gone now, and so should be a lot of our junk!

Let's hear from you. What are you doing to keep yourself occupied?

(c) Wally Johnston 2021

WHAT OUR KIDS NEED TO HEAR

 What words, directed towards you, would you like to hear often? How often do you hear them? These are so important questions, especially during a pandemic. Words can be like a construction company or a demolition company. It’s true, words can build up or tear down.

We know that kids are greatly affected by this virus. Every time my 5-year-old granddaughter prays, she always includes, “And please help this virus stop.” To the rest of us, she has said, “This virus is kicking my butt!” 
 Children need to hear positive affirmations from the adults in their lives. Check out this chart below for some ideas:

Graphic credit: http://raising-independent-kids.com

These are awesome affirmations. I want to encourage all of us to use some of these every day, not only on our kids but the other adults in our lives.

WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER!

(c) 2021 Wally Johnston

WHAT NEW THING?

 We are facing a new year. Most of us are glad to see 2020 become history, maybe a dark history. We have struggled with boredom that has even brought about mental health issues. 2021 doesn’t have to be that way.

WHAT NEW THING CAN WE DO in the new year? Here are three cans:

1. We CAN exercise our minds. There is always something new to learn. Some may consider me an “old dog” or “senior dog.” I prefer to call myself a seasoned dog. It sounds better, don’t you agree? The VCA points out: Even though young pups may be more actively curious, dogs never stop learning. In fact, adult dogs are often easier to train than their younger canine friends specifically because they aren’t as active. Older dogs aren’t as easily distracted as pups and can focus for longer periods of time. This ability to concentrate helps them learn new routines more easily. (taken from https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/can-old-dogs-learn-new-tricks I’ve been around the block a few times, well so many times I get vertigo! I say one is never too old to learn. When you stop learning, you start to die, much like the shark has to keep moving or ends up a paperweight at the bottom of the ocean.

2. We CAN cultivate a new perspective. The Bible (Proverbs 23:7) tells us that as a man "thinks in his heart so is he." Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (121-180 AD) concluded, "We become what we think about. If we focus on Covid and the other bad news of the day, it will put a negative spin on our thoughts. Perhaps one should stop watching or reading the news, or at least have some periods to take a break. When police officers are assigned to investigate sexual abuse cases, many times they are only allowed to work the job for a couple of years. They see so much daily that it can affect their boundaries and even cross the line. They need a break.”Whatever is good, lovely, think on those things.” (set a timer for 10 min to think and feel bad, then stop and get on with the day.)

3. We CAN serve others. There have been several creative ideas on helping others during the pandemic. They can include:

• Volunteering:       

• Offer your services to Meals-On-Wheels. If you feel uncomfortable dropping off meals, you can give your time as a volunteer making meals.

• Donate blood or volunteer withd the Red Cross to get the word out.

• Daily Touch Program. Learn who elderly or physically challenged neighbors are and organize other neighbors to make a “daily touch’ with those neighbors. It will be good for the receivers and the callers.

• Activities –Organize a neighborhood scavenger hunt...Covid safe. Pick a shape (hearts or stars are great!) and encourage your friends and neighbors to participate by putting out items in that shape, crafting and hanging in the window, sidewalk chalking, etc. Then take a walk around the neighborhood and see how many you can spot! Just be sure to look, not touch, the items

• Draw inspirational chalk-art on the sidewalks to encourage others.Have fun making some interesting masks. Of course, wear them!

• Thank healthcare and public service employees for their sacrificial services. Send them cards, or even banners!

(c) Wally Johnston 2021

Image by Pixabay

(c) Wally Johnston 2021

I'll be back next week!

FIX YOU

      

It’s Christmas Eve. This year it is a very different Christmas. I’ve been around a long time (don’t ask, trust me), and I’ve never experienced a pandemic Christmas. I don’t recommend it to anyone.

Around here, I’m known as Mr. Slow Wrench (to be more accurate, Mr. Good and Slow). I’m good at fixing things and I get a lot of projects because the people I work for, my wife, granddaughter, etc., don’t pay me. Maybe I should be called Mr. Poor Wrench. It’s true, I can fix many things. By the time you get it back you will have grown older, sometimes much older, but eventually you get it back fixed. You may not recognize it, but it will work, probably. One of my favorite TV characters is Canadian Red Green, who fixes everything with duct tape. Sometimes he comes up with some pretty good inventions that probably can’t be mass produced.

I HAVE SOME BREAKING NEWS, there are some things in life that cannot be fixed because we live in a broken world. Relationships break, things break, people get sick, and some die. Nations go to war, parents battle each other, abuse and family estrangement happens. If you want to see other examples, turn on the news.

I don’t know what you have faced during 2020, but we all have two common experiences, the pandemic, and we are broken.

The Bible is referred to as the Good News—the Gospel. Because we have too many things we can’t fix, God came down as a human baby, born in Bethlehem. It was as if God were saying, “I’ve got this covered,” and in fact Jesus does have it covered. He has covered our brokenness, and if we let Him, he will fix us.

(c) Wally Johnston 2020

The following are the lyrics to a song. The author says, “I’ll try to fix you.” Jesus says, “I’ll fix you.”

Click here to listen to the song on YouTube.

FIX YOU.

When you try your best, but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something, you can't replace
When you love someone, but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try, you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something, you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face and I
Tears stream down your face
I promise you, I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face and I

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Songwriters: Christopher Anthony John Martin / Guy Rupert Berryman / William Champion / Jonathan Mark Buckland

Fix You lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Mgb Ltd.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

 

https://www.facebook.com/dianereighardphotography/

You probably remember at least one gift you got for Christmas as a child. Santa brought me a toy service station (for the younger crowd, a service station actually provided service instead of just gas. They always washed your windows, checked the air in your tires, and checked your oil and it had a full car repair garage), with a ramp to a parking loft above the business. It worked great with my matchbox cars. I don’t remember what other gifts I got that year because it didn’t matter, I had MY garage.

That night I placed it by my bed before I went to sleep. The first thing I looked for in the morning was the station. Overnight it sank! Did I mention, my brother and I had bunk beds and he was on the bottom? Yep, during the night he rolled off his bed and my garage broke his fall, and in the process, my beautiful new, shiny service station! Want to know how I felt? Don’t ask!

Let’s move on to something more pleasant. The last few months of my mother’s life were spent at our house. Because she was bound to a wheelchair she remained home while we went to church (it was an old church with a gazillion stairs). When we got home and entered the living room, we found our Christmas tree horizontal on the floor. My Mom sat there and smiled from her wheelchair. We blamed her for speeding in her wheelchair and knocking it over! She just LAUGHED!

My most memorable Christmas was the time my mother got to come home for Christmas. She had been hospitalized for some time and we weren’t sure she would be released in time to join us. My dad worked different shifts at the steel mill so I was left to care for my younger brother. I really missed her! I can’t remember if it was Christmas Eve or Day, but as I looked out the living room window, I saw our pastor’s car pull into our driveway. From the passenger side, my mother stepped out of the car! She was home for Christmas. It was the best gift I ever received.

I can go on-and-on about my memories, but I want to hear about YOUR MEMORIES. Are you willing to share them with us? I look forward to reading your replies below.

ANNOUNCEMENT...I hope to have a special Christmas post for you next Thursday or Friday. Come back to see it!

(c) Wally Johnston 2020

“There are two kinds of people in this world, those who like Dr. Pepper, and those who don’t”