Livin' life

   When loved ones and friends pass,the meaning becomes more profound as you get older. You begin to ponder and I just returned from the funeral of our old friend Delois,I find myself thinking of my own life and what mark I have made in this life,if any. I never had great ambitions or dreams of wealth and fame,I only wanted to be a good person,not a perfect person,just a hard working person that would always be there for someone if they really needed me.I like things, simple.
   I have faults that I do admit to,my lack of patience with ignorance,which comes by watching my dad and his family come to Illinois from the backwoods of Arkansas,with barely an education and poor but they did not lack determination. I saw them struggle to survive in an environment that was totally foreign to them. They worked hard,they did not look to the government for a hand out,they trusted God and with help from each other they made a life. I saw them work regardless of their health issues,and sometimes two jobs just to make a good life for there families. They did not sit back and wait for a hand out and as tough as it was for them I admired the fact that they all managed to make a life for themselves based on their raw determination. That is something we rarely see anymore. I see so many young people these days that are just lazy and are raised by lazy parents that don't teach them that hard work and effort are rewarded with satisfaction of knowing you did your best.
This world has become a generation of selfish,greedy,uninspired,undisiplined people that are breeding another generation of future chaos. The few good,upstanding people left are greatly out-numbered and are a dying breed I am afraid.
   I am proud that my family have lived their lives still carrying on those values that our parents and grandparents instilled in us and I am thankful that we will be the generation that can hold our heads proud and say we gave it our best. So I may not be a scholar,a minister,a great orator or anyone of great importance on this earth but if I gave you something to talk about or laugh about or have a fond (or not so fond) memory about and I have lived my life doing the best I could then I am content with that.Some people are meant for greatness in this life and some are not.If you fall in that catergory there is nothing to be ashamed of,God made us all and we are equal in his eyes and our individual lives are what we make them. We wouldn't be the people we are today if the people before us had been lazy,uncaring and undetermined so be grateful for that legacy. So I say goofy stuff and embarrass my kid,I laugh at silly things with my brothers and sisters,and cousins at least I can! Some families don't even speak to each other! I have a few GOOD friends,I never was one that could socialize well so if you are my friend then you are a rare find in my life.
   Delois was a special friend on this earth that I respected and thought of as a mother figure in my life. She left this earth knowing she had lived a good life and walked with God.You don't have to have riches,high education,or anything else this world offers as long as you have been a good person with a caring heart just as God intended. I can't leave you any wealth or riches when I leave but know that I loved you and prayed for you and I only wish the best for you on this earth.
  Don't let another day go by without expressing your love,let go of the self righteousness that has made you too critical of someone because you think they aren't as smart as you think you are,stop looking down on someone else because they don't have the kind of job that you think is admirable (at least they work), don't look down on someone because they don't dress the way you think they should (maybe they aren't as vain as you).Don't carry past hurts around and pass them on to your children. If someone was less than perfect,imagine that!  Be a good person and love the ones your with. We don't get second chances so make this life count.