Tag: Bloggers

RESTLESS

~ Patricia Fagan ~ Leave a comment

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He was no more than ten years old as he pranced restlessly around the department store. His mother and sister were shopping for a new handbag and his patience was wearing thin. Mom promised to take him out to  dinner when she finished making her purchase. But he just couldn’t stop moving.

I observed them as they approached the register to make their purchase. His mom and sister were talking about the color of their handbag and whether or not they made the right decision. Still restless and uncontrollable, his mother tried to get his attention in order to calm him down. Then out of no where, he blurted out, “I wish I had never been born.”

What on earth would posses a child so young to make such a negative statement? His life experience is only at the beginning stages. Yet, I was totally surprised at his words. Apparently, his poor mother was so shocked, she was speechless. As she continued to make her purchase, you could tell from her expression, her heart was broken. She told her son, she no longer wanted to go out to dinner and they would go home.

I intervened and talked to him about his statement. I also asked him whether or not God would approve of this behavior. After we spoke briefly to one another, I asked him to ask for forgiveness. He was so eager to make things right because he really wanted to make peace with mom and go out to dinner.

I wondered, what was going on in the mind of this child which would cause him to feel this way? Restless, but not enough to go so deep spiritually, cutting to the core of his soul. It bothered me and I continued to think about him all day. We will never know, but God Knows.

Life is so short and everyday it seems like it’s getting shorter. He has so much to live for and yet without thinking, his words got the best of him.

He is a child, but I think about grownups whose life is impacted due to the life they are living. Unfortunately, they’ve seen another side of life, that most of us don’t see everyday. That’s why, it’s so important to pray for others who are suffering through hardships.

We are blessed in so many ways, and yet it takes a small child unknowingly to remind us of the hurts other people are experiencing. It’s so easy to be comfortable in our own life while forgetting to counsel and lift others up who so desperately need our help.

Nugget of Truth: not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interest of the others.

Philippians 2:4

 

My Mother Dearest

~ Patricia Fagan ~ Leave a comment

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I almost lost my mother recently. After being rushed to the hospital, she was diagnosed with a stroke. Mom’s been battling her illnesses for many years, and little by little its been taking a toll on her body. My mom is a fighter and thank God for it, as she is slowly pulling through this last bombardment to her body. We take so much in life for granted. What if mom didn’t survive this incident? Continue reading “My Mother Dearest” →

HERO TO ZERO

~ Patricia Fagan ~ 2 Comments

mother and child

Life is beautiful when you are considered a hero in someone’s eyes. It could be a child, a boss, a girlfriend or boyfriend. A husband or wife, married or single, being a hero can relate to just about anyone in this world. One day life changes and that child becomes a teen, your boss has found another star, and friendships are broken. In a short period of time, you go from hero to zero.

What is a hero by society’s standard? It is someone who is admired for their courage, achievements,  or other qualities, like showing courage through life’s difficulties. A hero can also be an object of extreme admiration.

Do you remember when your kids were younger? Well I do, and they looked up to you like you were a king or queen? Well as most parents know, when they become teenagers, they believe they know everything and you know nothing. The glow in their eyes and admiration diminishes. They no longer feel like you’re their hero.  You’re just mom and dad, who are imperfect beings. In today’s world, kids have learned so much through the internet that they begin to correct you even before high school.

How about working for a company for years where  you are considered one of the best employees. Year after year, you are commended and given awards. Your associates look at you with admiration and intrigue. Then one day things begin to shift in another direction.  Age becomes a factor and there is a new challenger that is being admired. There is always someone younger with more energy who may run cartwheels around you. Then one day your best isn’t good enough as someone else have taken your place. In a short period of time, you go from a hero to zero.

Friendships come and go. You can have a best friend today and sometimes foolishness crushes those relationships. In their eyes whether it is a love relationships or friendships, you can go from a hero to a zero.

These experiences could be a real life changer impacting your life in many ways if you allow it to become a thorn in your side. When you dwell upon where you are instead of where you are going, it will take over your life.

What is required is a new way of thinking. Transforming yourself and your ability to see these experiences in a positive light, will allow you to grow and develop new skills and characteristics. This will promote positive changes in order to move ahead towards the future. Maybe you needed a shift or a prompt to move in another direction. It’s easy to get stuck in one’s world while not growing mentally or spiritually. Sometimes I believe God has to give us a little nudge in order to wake us up from our mindlessness.

Nuggets of Truth: “We sometimes need a shakeup in order to wake up.”

                                       Pat Fagan

 

 

 

Free To Choose

~ Patricia Fagan ~ 2 Comments

clerk-18915_1280If you had the ability to choose whatever you wanted to do with your life today, what would you do without any boundaries? Where would you go and how would you live? What choices would you make if you had absolute freedom?

These are questions I sometime ask myself, because I realize in the world we live in, with all the responsibilities we have on our shoulders, it’s not always possible to choose. We live in a so called free world, but are we really free?

I remember when I was younger, a teenager growing up in long Island, life was a breeze. My whole life was ahead of me and I couldn’t wait until I was 21 to embark on my journey of discovery. Well, life was much simpler then and as I look back I realize how sweet life was with no real responsibility. As a grown up I have the freedom to choose, however, that freedom comes with a price.

Am I really free to choose? Well, if you are poor or middleclass, you have quite a few limitations. Unlike the rich who have more opportunities, a lot of us are living paycheck to paycheck as noted by recent statistics. A lot of people are working jobs they’re unhappy with, however it pays the bills. Relationships are complicated and sometimes cause undue stress. So, are we really living a life of freedom?

Imagine a world where freedom of choice really existed. Money was not an object you chased after for survival. It’s like chasing the wind but you can never quite grasp it because it’s always moving. Imagine living your purpose and passions with no restrictions. How about getting up everyday to do something you love rather than focusing on a paycheck. Imagine living to give to others because of your abundance.Think about how you would feel without the pressures of your current life.

Being free to choose is not an illusion. In your current state, making a move towards your new goals and striving towards a different lifestyle is attainable. Examine where you are right now and figure out where you want to be years from now. If you are happy where you are, make some small changes in order to make things better. If you are like me, I’m looking forward to a different future. One that is much lighter and freer than where I am presently. This also comes with a price and that’s the ability think smarter and make some tough choices in order to achieve your desired outcome. Time and patience is also a factor to consider when embarking on a new journey. Stay the course and eventually you will arrive at your planned destination.

Nuggets of truth: When you lose sight of your goal, you will loose sight of your dreams if you don’t stay on your path.