Birthdays

This is my first grandchild on the day he was born. He is fast approaching his first birthday. Of course I loved him before he was born, but the relationship between a child and his grandmother is special. Grandmas have the years of experience of raising their children in loving to use when loving their grandchildren. The old saying people don't know what they have until it's gone is most true when raising children. By the time you know what you have and what to do with them, they're gone! Flew the coop! There are no do-overs in childrearing. Children and grandchildren are special relationships that need special attention with a hearty serving of love mixed in there.

Every once in a while someone comes into your life which under normal circumstances you wouldn't even notice them, or be noticed by the other person. But like your child or grandchild, you instantly like them and quickly love them. From the very beginning it's a special relationship. Finding people like that is a rare gift in life. The relationship should be fostered and made stronger. There are no do-overs in friendships and romances. What you put into these relationships is just as important as what you put in to your family relationships.

What if people would apply as much love to all relationships as they do to their grandchildren? We would soon find there is less discontent among the people around us. Treat your boss with the respect and give your employer an honest day's work for the wages you agreed upon. Yes, you agreed for those wages when you accepted the job. That means doing your best at all times, be on time, and don't lie to him. The people who work with you deserve fairness too. That means you don't gossip at the water cooler about anyone. If you know a juicy bit of gossip, keep it to yourself. "If you can't say something nice, don't say it at all" works everywhere you go. Make sure to implement it at work!

There is no such thing as harmless gossip or idle conversation. One never knows how much they hurt people with the words they say. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never...." Something is wrong with that statement. The right way to say it would be, "Sticks and stones may break my bones and they will heal, but words cut again every time I remember them".

At the end of the day, when you practice treating all the people you encounter with love, respect and integrity, you will realize you are becoming a better person. You will become what you practiced. You will learn to love yourself. When that happens you will have a never ending supply of love to give.