[recluse1]

Friends are people who reach for our hand and touch our hearts!

[SeptemberMorn]

I know from whence you speak!

Welcome back! I was afraid you were letting the thread die!

[recluse1]

In all we do, we should totally give God thanks and our blessings will continue to multiply.

[recluse1]

KEEP SMILING.....it is one of the best advertisements for God. It makes people wonder what you have.........

[KathyM]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
recluse1 said:
KEEP SMILING.....it is one of the best advertisements for God. It makes people wonder what you have.........

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">Hey, that's aint fair. My face is mostly paralyzed, so when I smile it looks like I'm trying to imitate a lizard or make a "monster face." It scares children, so I try not to smile too much in public. After a while my face will look like a bloodhound, so people will assume I'm just a freak. Oh well, if it has to be - I choose to be a "Super Freak." Will I still qualify as an advertisement for God?

It's true though. When my son was in preschool, I noticed one of his friends had that smile on his face. Before I left, I asked him what he was smiling about. He pulled his hand out of his pocket and showed me a hard broken piece of plastic. He whispered to me proudly "I have a dangerous!"

I assume his mom saw him playing with it and said "Throw that away - it's dangerous." I explained to him there are much better toys at the school, so he agreed to hand it over to me.

Living in Chicago, I don't question too deeply why people are smiling. You never know when they might have a dangerous up their sleeve.

[SeptemberMorn]

{{{{{{{{{Kathy}}}}}}}}}} The best smiles are the ones that can be seen in your eyes.

You can have a smile on your face but it's fake if the eyes don't reflect it.

[recluse1]

Every smile counts! And like SeptemberMorn said, smile with your eyes if you'd rather. It will only make people more suspicious, LOL!

[recluse1]

Love the seemingly unloveable! Show them love and affection and see the joy rise in their eyes!

Know that you can make a difference in someone's day. Just by sharing a little TLC.

[KathyM]

Ahem...have you ever seen a bloodhound? You're gonna have to lift my forehead off my eyes if you want to look into them and see if I'm smiling.

Then again, you might not recognize what you are seeing. One doc thinks my eyes look like the surface of the moon. Another one says they are beauuuuuuuutiful, but only for research purposes - he quickly apologized for calling me beautiful after he realized he was looking into the eyes of a live human being.

[nowheretorun]

its the inner spirit which matters most..

[SeptemberMorn]

Kathy, you're thinking too much about the physical, Hon. It's what glows from within that is seen in the eyes or felt as an aura. Stop being so hard on yourself.

[SeptemberMorn]

Yeah, smiles in the eyes can make people suspicious. Even if your face is angry but your eyes are smiling, you've been exposed! My mom did that to me quite often. She'd try to look so angry with me but her eyes were smiling all the time. I'd laugh then she'd laugh and the discipline was all over with.

[KathyM]

SM - Stop beating me over the head! (jk) I don't mind looking like a freak - it's just a little sad to know strangers won't be smiling at me in admiration like they used to when they saw me alone on the streets.

LMAO - My aunt (mom's sister) is the same way. She could get the meanest look on her face. When I was little, she'd catch me doing something and it seemed she appeared out of nowhere. I'd turn around and she'd be standing there with her hands on her hips, feet planted firmly, and in a very low and menacing voice she would slowly say "What..are..you...doing?" It scared the heck out of me, but then I saw that twinkle in her eye. She does not have my disease though.

My relatives in Finland who had this disease terrified me as a kid. I've been told they were just as loving, but I only saw monsters when I looked into their eyes. They didn't look human to me - they looked like vicious junkyard dogs. No one knew about this disease when I was a kid, and for the most part no one knows about it now. Only immediate family and a handful of aging doctors.

[SeptemberMorn]

{{{{{{{{{{{Kathy}}}}}}}}}}}}}} I'll stop if you'll stop!

[recluse1]

Something to remember when times get rough:
"The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us!"
:th_smiley_pray:

[SeptemberMorn]

Thanks for the gentle reminder, Re. I have a task ahead of me and I know that the Power behind me will help me through. :Heart:

I can use your prayers, Girlfriend.

[KathyM]

Originally Posted by recluse1

We all matter and we all have something of value to share here.

Do poor, sick, and ugly people matter - or are they just to be used for someone else's pet project or entertainment, then thrown away? What is our value?

I am permanently disabled from a terminal illness, so I don't matter to mainstream society and the business world. I'm just a burden to them.

I ventured out into public the other day and sat on some bleachers. When I became ill and needed to get down, no one would move - they just gave me dirty looks, even though I tried my best to be polite. Two little kids tried to push me off, then giggled. When I managed to get back on solid ground, my legs and balance had given out due to the neuropathy, and I couldn't see where I was going. I became the spectacle behind the bleachers because people thought I was lost and drunk.

I don't feel like I matter to anyone anymore in society. I don't feel like my family matters to anyone either. It feels like people just want us to go away and disappear.

I matter to my husband, but caring, worrying and trying to provide for me all by himself is killing him too. He's not well either. He faces tremendous pressure out on the streets because no one cares about him either - they see him as "ugly" too. No one wants to hire him or help him fix our house. It rained in two rooms last night due to leaky roof, and a window is about to fall out (our home is old). It is no longer creaking, it's cracking. It's supposed to be a very cold winter, and we have no insulation.

I matter to our son, but apparently he's not allowed to have any contact with us until he comes home from deployment overseas - IF he comes home. He still hasn't read an email I sent to him several weeks ago.

What will happen to my son if he comes home to find his parents, his dog, and his home have been destroyed? Will he matter to anyone, or will they turn their backs and hope he disappears too?

I know I matter to God - but do I matter to people? If yes, to whom do I matter? Who can I trust in society to care for me as a person?

I'm really feeling down and without hope. Thanks for listening.

[sabby]

(((((((((((( KathyM ))))))))))))

I'm sorry you are feeling so down today and had that lousy experience at the bleachers. There is no accounting for the bad behavior of some people, children included. Judgements are too easily made....it stinks and it's not fair but it happens more times than not.

There are good people out there...people who truly care about others and can look past what seems to be obvious, when truly it isn't.

There are plenty of people here that care about you and your family. While we may not be able to see you or help you in your life's struggles, we do send out caring thoughts and prayers for you and your family.

I know that it's like looking for a needle in a haystack when it comes to finding the ones who truly care. They are sometimes hidden from sight behind those who have no ability to see the truth. As long as you know the truth and God knows the truth....that is all that matters at the end of the day.

I do hope you are feeling better soon and that your son is safe. You are in my thoughts and prayers.


sabby

((((kathyM))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
you matter to me and so many here at pc.
I am so very sorry that happened to you.
My thoughts and prayers are always with you and your son
and your husband now too...
Please know you are a good person. Please know I care
Muffy

[nowheretorun]

you matter Kathy, you have many parts of me in you in many ways.. your fear is my fear, your pain is my pain... i hear you (((KathyM))))))

[recluse1]

(((((KathyM))))))))) You most certainly matter! Not just to those of us here but also to those you love or are close to IRL. And of course, you matter to God.

Sorry to hear you have been so down. I will keep you with me in thought and prayer, you are not alone, you do matter!

[recluse1]

This was sent to me and I wanted to post it here to share.

This prayer is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive.
There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue to pray for one another.

The prayer:

God, I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and those that I care deeply for, who are reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through your grace. Where there is need, I ask you to fulfill their needs. Bless their homes, families, finances, their goings and their comings. Amen.

[recluse1]

SHARE:

We were taught to share when we were only two years old. When did we forget? That rule still applies. Share with those that are less fortunate than you. Share your joy with those who need encouragement. Share your laughter with those who haven't heard any in such a long time. Share your tears with those who have forgotten how to cry. Share your faith with those who have none.

[SeptemberMorn]

AMEN, Sistah!

[multipixie9]

KathyM,

I am sorry for the casual cruelty that has been happening to you it must hurt your heart and discourage you. I don't know you, but I know pain and cruelty. I wish I knew words to lift your heart and inspire your faith and courage. Please know that in here today I am not ignoring you and you matter. It's such a small thing in the face of big needs. You are in my thoughts and prayers also today. Hug

Leslie/Pixies