In the last
few days we have witnessed the horror of a plane being shot down,
completely destroyed, along with the lives of hundreds of great people. To
the families and friends of those lost, we hold up our prayers for you,
and yours, in your time of mourning and for the beyond.Losing
someone to wreckage is a very difficult time as you do not have the
chance to walk with them through their journey. You don't have time to
plan beyond. And if there was unrest between you, there is no
time for a joint settlement and peace.
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| quotesvalley.com |
How easy is it, to be here today and gone tomorrow? None of us, can afford to leave the opportunity to reach out and touch the lives of others while they are still here. We must offer support and walk with
them through their journey. Not one of us is privy to the time when we will finally close our eyes. Once the window
of opportunity has closed, there is no second chance, no second take.
This is not a dress rehearsal. What we have, is what we've got! It takes very little, to show someone care and compassion. It is so
easy to touch someone and show that you are there. It's easy to let
others feel the warm breath of comfort. However, once that chance has gone, there is no turning back the clock.
Recently,
I wrote a post on the blog about following someone, as they follow you, on social media. I
spoke of heads of churches, and aid organizations, having followers by the
millions but, these people rarely follow back. I have spoken of
prevention and caring before so, I wrote to one of the agencies that
offers help to people with emotional difficulties. I asked why they
don't follow people back. The answer I received was, they don't have the
facilities nor the manning capabilities to follow back. A fair call I
guess! But, I cannot understand why that question could be answered with
such haste, while that same person could merely click the follow
button on their screen for those people, who actually follow them. The number of emails I received in agreement with my question was amazing.
There were people from all walks of life and personal
circumstances, most of whom never needed the services, but
nonetheless agreed with what I had said.
This
is where I say - that 'follow', that 'like', that 'touch' - may prevent
someone from doing something from which they cannot turn back. That 'follow', that 'like', that 'touch', allows
people the thought that someone is there. It allows the people who may
be contemplating something life changing, or God forbid, life threatening
to realize that these organizations are made up of humans. Caring people, and not robots,
who only care for numbers rather than people. People that they are
espousing should care for their fellow man.
I said that
there were people like myself, who would volunteer to press those 'follow'
buttons, so that these people would feel that someone was there with
them. The second response to this comment was that it would be passed
on to the appropriate leaders, and they would look into it.
My
problem with most people who say, 'We will look into it' are quite often,
only looking into a mirror at their own reflection. Obviously, never
contemplating the needs of those around them and the benefits, that 'follow', that 'like', that 'touch' may bring. Quite
often these same people only care how much it may effect their work
load or their lifestyle. Yes, it is ok for these people, for when and
if the time comes for one of their own, they have myriad's of helpers at
their fingertips to help 'their' needy. God help those, that may have
only needed that breath of comfort of knowing, they were being 'followed'.
All
I am asking that we who were born naked (not those that were born with
that silver spoon) reach out and touch someone else's life, before it is
indeed, too late.
Write in more and lets discuss this - maybe together we can encourage others to care more.
Cheers!
Bitchescoz
Contact: luke65mcbride@gmail.com
For the last week or so I have had a friend stay with us and she
suffers from cold urticaria (basically hives) that causes skin
irritation and gets very itchy when exposed to the cold. I only just
recently found out this condition so I read up on the prevention methods
of it. I knew she was coming into our winter and I did not want to see
her scratch away.
Google is a great
source for those who would like a basic knowledge of things so my
fingers did the clicking away. I read up on doctors forums etc and
found that one basic fix was prevention. So my partner and I decided to
hit the shops. Another past time of mine so it was no big deal. We
searched for warm clothing, boots, gloves, hot water bottles anything
that was out there for prevention we swiped our cards so as not to let
them catch this dreaded condition. Before
she arrived we ask her to check her medications etc and sure enough she
changed those and all started to correct itself. She works in air
conditioning that is set by her bosses to freeze an expression off a
Cheshire Cat. We asked her to rug up in there and to her amazement the
itches subsided.
When she arrived
here we handed her a fluffy dressing gown, warm slippers and yes she
resembled a purple Eskimo but no scratching. We cranked up the central
heating and I persuaded her (ok nagged) to follow through with our
preventative measures. Gay boys learned many years ago that covering up
was the only prevention to stopping a formidable itch so to speak. Apart
from an occasional scratch, that was borne out of stubbornness not to
conform, and not to cover her load, she came to the conclusion that we
were right. Of course, I said and would proceed in my distribution of
prevention.
This friend of mine is a
great doer but never for herself. In the past few years she has only
started to get away from her comfort zone of home and work and has had
quite a few trips to here. Other than that, she does not venture anywhere.
Her husband went on a holiday to Europe
but, alas he went with his family. She stayed
snug in her cocoon. My partner and
myself are heading for Europe at Christmas. We were hoping she would join us, and from that moment, the barriers came to the front
of conversations. Oh its cold there she would say! My response, "Buy
warmer clothes'. They do have central heating you know. We got past
that and then the truth started festering like irritations on her skin.
This woman is scared to leave her comfort zone.
Yes,
we discussed quite heatedly sometimes which is great for a person in
her condition. Stops hives before the cold even sets in. This is a
problem she wants to fix also but has never had anyone stop and help her
before. Everyone until me (oops) has let her fix their problems and
forgotten hers.
This topic bears
discussion. Do we take time for others? Do we look beyond our noses to
see others need some nurturing no matter what the age? Yes she is
somewhere between 40 and death but doesn't she deserve some excitement
of her own. Doesn't she deserve to be the receiver and not the giver?
We
all must learn to look around us. There are people out there that need
help. People in our own families, friends, children. Unless we offer
help, these people will never leave that cocoon. Yes, some people want
to live like Greta Garbo and 'want to be alone' but some have no choice
because no one has taken the time to inquire. With
some people it might take a little time to set them free, but surely
everyone is entitled to a little gentle push, a caring hand. Or you may
like to borrow my little gay nagging outfit. Either way, try the
rewards can be a win, win.
These are
my thoughts on the matter, drop us a line and give us your thoughts. I
enjoy the debate. All those who do email us know that this world is a
far better place together than being separated and it scratches your
itch too.
Let your friends and family know 'You are not alone'
Cheers!
Bitchescoz
Contact: luke65mcbride@gmail.com
Last night I was talking with my dearest friend and she had said
how she was doing a bit for a new found friend. She did not say she was
busy, she did not say she was stressed. She did not say I am needed
elsewhere so haven't got time for you. She simply said she was doing a
bit for her friend. This person is
ever humble in her concern, her help, her care for her fellow man. She
sees something needs doing and she ploughs right in and does it. There
is self sacrifice without self involved.
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Her
friend moved to the area for a new beginning, many miles from her former home. Started life anew. New
friends, new job, new goals and new dreams. Everything was moving ahead
with her life and those that gave her strength in her new start.
Suddenly from nowhere comes the news that she has a serious illness with a not so good prognosis. Every
so often I attend funerals and you hear some crying buckets of
tears, crying the loudest. They are also the ones crying, 'I had no idea
he/she was even sick'. I ask myself why? Why did they not know? When
did they last make contact? When did they stretch out their hand to
help? Why are they even attending this persons celebration of
life?
We all attend funerals and we
all mourn for that person. But can we honestly say we cared. Did we
offer support for the person or those around them. Yes it is nice to
release the tears and show others our loss. But did we have anything to
lose? When we meet in another life, will that person even recognize us
or simply pass us by. The same way we passed them by in their hour of
need.
My friend is one of these
people that no one will ever pass by in another life. My friend takes
everyone on her wing. I did not say under her wing. My friend puts
them and everyone around on her wing and gives them vision, gives them
strength, gives them faith that they can handle these difficult times.
Putting under her wing would smother them. No my friend lifts them so
they can see clearly and helps to guide them. Quite often she is seen
as pragmatist. Yes, she is, but in one of the kindest ways I could only
try to achieve. She offers help. She gives it. But if not required,
she steps back and allows that person to believe, and know, that they can
achieve without assistance. Giving everyone the knowledge that even in
weakness we can achieve. They can lead, even from behind, whatever curve
ball we have been passed.
I know what
I want to be to those around me. I don't want to be one of those
crying, when I never built a true friendship, to really know the
feeling of loss. I want to be able, in good times and in bad, to show
and share with my friends, and family, that there is dignity in every
stage of life and no one can take that dignity without our permission.
Yes
I want to strive to take my loved ones on my wing, not smother, but to
help and guide them in good times and in bad. But, when they face that
stark cold hotel room of life, I want to help them. I want to help
them make their fears empty and weightless, and deliver them into the arms
of a true angel, where they may find some comfort.
My thoughts!
Cheers!
Bitchescoz
Contact: luke65mcbride@gmail.com
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