Friday, July 6, 2012

Lunch

Had lunch with my fellow Lockheed Blanketeers at Palio's Pizza. had a great lunch with Rachel, Virginia, Chris, Sheila and new blanketeer Beth. Beth brought along a donation baby/child blanket she has finished and had quilted. So cute. Little lamb quilt with square in a square in a square, and actually had little lambs quilted in the center of the middle square. Chris brought along another one of her beautiful knitted afghans in a cobalt blue. Such talented women and so willing to share their abilities with those who have so little and with those who fight for our country. Our quilting group makes quilts for the USO Reading Room at DFW airport. We also hold book drives to collect children's books for the same place. Soldier passing through can choose a book to read and record for their children so they have their parent reading to them. The military personnel can also choose a baby/child quilt (or if more children, more than one) to send to their child/children. We also make and donate baby/child quilts to the Union Gospel Mission for children who have nothing. Sometimes the colorful quilts may be all the child or children have to hold on to...something of their very own.

Dinner

Oh, my. We splurged big time. We went to Pappadeaux for dinner. Good seafood. Ken had, of all things, a Bloody Mary to start, and I had a strawberry pina colada. Then Ken had a 1/2 order of oysters (yuck!) and I had a cup of lobster bisque. For his main course, Ken had shrimp ettufee (definitely spelled phonetically, because I do not know how to spell it). I had grilled hallibut with chunk crab meat and lemon topping and potatoes. THANKFULLY they were out of bread pudding or we would have brought some of that home with us. This was our first "date" night in a long time - that Ken got to pay for. It was nice. But it certainly won't happen again for a LONG time...way too expensive.

Forgiveness

Today I listened to a Gaither video on Youtube called, "This is My Story". I expected it to be the old time gospel song, but it was so much more than that; and I experienced a revival in my soul that I haven't known in a long time. One of the wonderful singers is Janet Paschal. Janet has gone thru some real trials, with cancer, but she is alive and keeping on keeping on. Needing just a little more uplifting to go along with all the wonderful music, I chose to go to Janet's blog. It is surprising what the Lord will lead us to if we just let him. The following is her writing about forgiveness, and I definitely needed to read this today. I am sharing this here, but this is Janet Paschal, not me, writing this.

"THE POISON CUP

"It was an ordinary day in February, 1987, when Gary Wright parked his vehicle at his family’s Salt Lake City computer business. Nearby, he noticed what appeared to be a piece of lumber with nails in it. Fearing that it might flatten a tire, he kicked it away from the parking area. That is when he heard a soft click.

"He does not remember the explosion.

"He came to consciousness twenty feet away, as fragments of Ted Kaczynski’s homemade bomb continued to rain down. Shrapnel severed his nerves and arteries, and a nail ripped through his chin and lips, barely missing an eye. Multiple surgeries would follow to reconstruct his face and reconnect his nerves and tendons.
The FBI determined that this was the work of an unidentified serial terrorist they nicknamed the Unabomber. It would be nine more years before Ted’s brother, David, and his wife would read the published manifesto of the Unabomber and recognize the rantings as those of his brilliant but mentally ill brother. David Kaczynski called the FBI and his brother was arrested the following year.

"Gary Wright used counseling and his Christian faith to arrive at his resolve: “I was never going to be the same person I was, but I could still be happy. I had to forgive this guy.”

"Following his brother’s arrest, David felt the need to focus on the victim’s pain and not his own. He called each one to apologize on behalf of the Kaczynski family. Gary’s response was, “But you didn’t do this. It’s not your fault.”

The trial was held in Sacramento. During a break in the proceedings, Dave called Gary and told him he’d like to talk. The two men met and talked for hours. They became best friends and, in a providential turn of events, Gary began to help Dave reconcile what his brother had done and to move past his own pain.

"It was a wizened old landscaper in Nashville, Tennessee who first shared with John and me about pruning the dead branches from our beloved trees. Not only would this help ensure that they would not fall and harm someone, but it also removed risk from the living branches; in the event of a storm, they were more likely to be damaged due to the drag of the dead limbs. He also suggested that we remove dead leaves when possible; as long as they are attached, he explained, they rob nutrients from the healthy parts of a plant.

"Years ago I read a quote that I have always remembered: ‘Not forgiving someone is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.’ Corrie Ten Boom, having lost everything dear to a maniacal regime, resolved, “Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to realize the prisoner was you.”

"I remember a distant relative from childhood. He carried in his heart past offenses from other people and nursed them, rehearsing the events at every opportunity. He spoke as though the infractions had just occurred, even after the offenders were long deceased. What a shame that the drag of past events robbed him of the riches of his life going forward. What a shame that he lived his life trudging through pockets of history that he could never change. What a shame that he never stopped drinking the poison.

"Some scholars feel that Moses’ mountaintop commandments had come full circle when Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. Listen to the only section that addresses our involvement: “Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors…” In offering a pattern for praying, Jesus emphasized one prerequisite: that we forgive each other. He knew that we would be prisoners, otherwise. He knew there was risk and damage in the unhealthy branches.

"Theodore Kaczynski did not apologize to his victims. When Gary Wright stood to address him in court, he looked him in the eye and said, “I do not hate you. I learned to forgive and heal a long time ago. Without this ability, I would have become kindling for your cause.” What insight from one who could have spewed venom and contempt. What wisdom he demonstrated when he measured the consequences of unforgiveness and found them far more damaging than the schrapnel. Gary Wright took a long look, made a permanent resolve, and lived the Lord’s prayer. And, once again, God’s kingdom came in the heart of man."

End of a Good Day

Great day. Tomorrow have lots to do, but for now I'm going to go to bed with a new book I bought out of the discount bin at Albertson's. Hope it's good enough to hold my attention. Lately few have been. Goodbye to another Friday, and goodnight to everyone out there.