Tag: father

This Memorial Day

Jennifred Jones

We are free today because of another’s loss on this Memorial Day.

Let’s not let our veterans’ loss, who willingly gave their lives so we could be free, go in vain.

Yes, we mourn the loss of those lives, they were our own flesh and blood, brother, sister, father, mother, aunt and uncle, neighbor and friend.

Yet I don’t believe they want us stuck in a state of mourning over them, they would want us living daily in the victory they fought and gave their lives for us to have.

Today and always let us remember to keep the hard fought-for freedoms our ancestors died so we could have.

They were looking ahead toward future generations and their well-being of life, of liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

What is one thing I can be thankful today because of their loss for my gain?

What is one thing I can do going forward to continue this freedom for my family and future generations?

Does it Really Matter?

Jennifred Jones

Does it really matter what I think?

Does it really matter what I say?

Does it really matter what I do?

Someone once told me, “Whatever I do has no effect on you.”

Is that really true?

When the kids were small, I read them a story about the boy and his dog… this is my recollection of it.

One morning, a father woke up and spoke sharply to his wife while the kids were getting ready for school, she then spoke unkindly to the daughter, who then yelled at her brother. The boy in turn kicked the dog. It was a long hard day for that family.

The next morning, father woke up and told his wife he loved her, she spoke kindly to their daughter, who was kind to her little brother. The boy in turned hugged the dog. It was a better day for their family.

What thoughts are we allowing to repeat inside ourselves even though no one else can hear them?

What words are we choosing to speak, whether out-loud or online for others to hear and see?

What am I doing because of what I choose to think or speak about?

Is another person lifted higher because of me?

Or pushed down because of me?

I want to encourage others to go higher, be better, do better.

I believe inside everyone of us is the desire to help others do their best.

Other people need our help….there’s work to be done.

I’ll go first!

I will think about my thoughts.

The Little Boy

Jennifred Jones

A little boy comes up to the counter where I work with his mom and dad.

He’s probably 5 and has the sweetest smile. His parents and their parents and grandparents have all lived hard lives and are still struggling, yet this little boy seems so full of energy and happiness.

So I thought, ‘What can I do to help him find a different path arriving at a different destination than his parents’…because the childhood often determines the adulthood.

I give fun colorful stickers to girls and boys who come in and several times he has gotten a race-car sticker which really excited him.

The other day I gave him a shiny silver trophy sticker and told him I was giving it to him because he was a winner, and a good little boy.

I don’t know what his home life is like but his father made some comment to him after I said that. I thought, ‘I hope the little boy can remember the words I spoke over him.’

As he left with his parents, I spoke again to him, ‘Tell people, you are a winner!’

I haven’t seen him for a while now, I hope all is well with him and my words settled inside him somewhere.

I want to use my words to encourage as many little people as possible. Growing up, the good words by adults spoken to me are still remembered and cherished.

How can our words bring life to the children we cross paths with today?