Tuesday Tidbits and Teasers

Coffee, warm house, family near-by; I have no complaints and would sound surly if I did. Thank You, God.

Just wondering why, when the English language contains a plethora of beautiful, gracious uplifting words from which to choose, sometimes we use the grungiest, foulest, most hateful ones in speaking or writing.

I remember the days when we children were taught by example not to use “bad” words. Our parents didn’t and if one p0pped out unexpectedly, the taste of a soapy washcloth reminded us not to do that again.

We didn’t use the word “ain’t” either. I remember a long-ago teacher drawing an Ain’t Bug on the chalk board and telling us it would bite if we used it. Anybody remember that?

To my way of thinking, God gave us eyes to see, ears to hear, a voice with which to speak and if we refuse to see or hear or speak truth, we are denying those gifts.

Remember the old hymn (another reason not to discard that hymnal) Open My Eyes? Open my eyes that I may see glimpses of truth Thou has for me…Open my ears that I may hear voices of truth Thou sendest clear,,,Open my mouth that I may bear tidings of mercy everywhere…Open my mind that I may read more of thy love in word and deed.

Another mental tidbit: When there is already so much grungy stuff in the world, why exalt those who live in it? I think shock value wore off a long time ago. Realism, yes, but also hope and truth and belief in a better world. “An instinct within us that reaches and towers…”  (What is So Rare As a Day in June?)