Yesterday we thought about how we should respond to others.

Today  we look at how we respond within ourselves about others.

Too many of us are volatile…have a tendency to blow up at the slightest provocation. Maybe others don’t see our reactions. Maybe we hide it inside of us, but it’s in there still. So we stew and worry and imagine all kinds of responses we could/should have done or said to correct the injustice we feel was done to us.

We can easily become too sensitive about real or perceived injustices and they will poison us on the inside and eventually will show on the outside.

Part of living a good life is learning to not let every little thing, comment or action bother us. Everyone is dealing with issues of their own and if we see everything as a personal attack on us – rather than the other person having a bad day and can’t handle one more thing so they lash out. Or maybe it’s really nothing at all. We just misread the situation. So if we can just decide to let it go and not have to figure everything out, we will remain more peaceful.

Deal with what we can deal with and let the rest go.

This is important to teach our children as they grow up. There will always be bullies. If we’re not careful we (they) can ‘put our lives on hold’, waiting for justice to be done. The wrong gets held onto and self-pity can begin to develop. The bully is not changed. He may still be bullying his way around. But maybe we (our kids) have changed…become less outgoing, more held back, more sensitive, maybe even critical. Then happiness gets lost and we’re always on guard.

These are things I’ve had to deal with in my life. To live it to its fullest, I have to do what good I can. Not worry about somebody else not doing ‘their good’…or not treating me ‘good’.

I am responsible for me. That’s enough to handle.

Do you need to free yourself in any of these areas?

Odd times, many meanings, what exactly does good mean? How can I know?

Contrasts help …especially from the me vs. them viewpoint.

Many people speak of good in terms of fun, exciting, new, popular. These are all okay if they don’t cause harm to another’s person, property, or reputation.

A simple equation to consider:

• Is what I am about to think, say or do, something I’d like somebody else to think, say or do about me?
• Is what I am hearing another person say or do (that they might consider good and fun) something I’d like somebody else to think say or do about me?
• Is this ‘good something’ what I’d want thought, said or done to a member of my family?

And if I’m not sure…probably better to just remain silent or not do anything.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s episode of ‘What is Good #2?’

Everywhere we look, where there is life, there is color and movement. There is a freshness, a vibrancy, a cleanness.

Yes, life has a color. It could be any color, but you will notice it.

The clouded dark stormy gray days in spring show off the yellow daffodils and green grass in an unforgettable way!

After spring flooding where silt has covered the flood plains, it’s not long until a single green shoot of grass pokes through…and then another.

Birds begin early laying every color of egg attempting to hatch as many fledglings as possible before the cold of fall strikes again.

Flowers bloom non stop, their sole purpose besides their beauty is to go to seed to produce more plants that will make more flowers.

An ugly weed has a purpose to life. Some have a deep tap root, designed to penetrate hard barren soils so water can trickle down and begin to break up the dirt that other plants will grow. Amazing!

Livestock and wildlife eat grasses and scatter their seeds wherever they wander while fertilizing the soil they tread on. It’s a miracle how everything created has a useful purpose necessary to another created thing.

Have you been to a shell museum to look at all the different shapes, styles, colors of gorgeous ocean life…each unique in itself and found in its own portion of the sea.

Every where we look we see life in all its colors! Abundant life! All part of God’s show and tell. His proof that He really does exist. He really does care. He really will provide. He holds it all together, and He made it for us – us people – to enjoy. Wow!!!

What are some of life’s colors you like best?