Pink, yellow and blue

Here's kind of a poignant one from Beth that I've been meaning to share with all of you for several days now. There's a lot of truth in it. Here goes ... ...


I bumped into a stranger as he passed by.
"Oh, excuse me!" was my reply.

He said, "Please excuse me, too!
I wasn't watching out for you."

We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our separate ways after saying goodbye.


But at home a different story is told,
About how we treat our loved ones, young and old.

Later that day, while I was cooking the evening meal,
My son stood beside me -- very still.

When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
"Move out of the way!" I said with a frown.

He walked away, his little heart broken.
I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.


Later that night, while I lay awake in bed,
God's still small voice came to me and said,

"When dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you use,
But the family you love, you seem to abuse.

Go and look on the kitchen floor.
You'll find some flowers there by the door.

Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself ... pink, yellow and blue.

He stood very quietly, so as not to spoil the surprise.
You never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."


By this time I felt very small
And now my tears began to fall.

I quietly went and knelt by his bed.
"Wake up, little one, wake up!" I said.

"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"
He smiled. "I found 'em, out by the tree.

I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.
I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."


I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today.
I never should have yelled at you that way."

He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay.
I love you, anyway!"

I said, "Son, I love you, too,
And I do like the flowers, especially the blue."

The ten laws of love

I don't remember exactly where I saw these, but (imo) they are absolutely critical for any lasting relationship ... marriage included, of course. Perhaps, if I had adhered to any more than one or two of them, I would still be 'happily' married to my first husband.

Chemistry ... #1 ... it's the magic, the special energies that signal partners possess the raw materials for success. Chemistry is not optional. It provides the synergy couples need to survive the rapids of any new relationship, and keeps them high on a course to achieve their goals.

Priority ... #2 ... a couple's commitment to keep the health of their relationship front and central. It asks partners to begin to psychologically "leave the nest" of their first families - and to address any compulsions and addictions, including codependence, in order to be fully available to their second family.

Emotional integrity ... #3 ... asks partners to create an emotional "safe zone" with each other. They do this by taking responsibility for their feelings, especially by learning the difference between 'acting them out' and expressing them healthily. This law also guides partners in identifying and healing blind spots and 'hot buttons' that cause disharmony in all relationships.

Listening ... #4 ... the greatest act of love, and a (an acquired?) skill. It involves the partners' ability to hear each other's words - along with the feelings underneath - with understanding, compassion and empathy.

Equality ... #5 ... about fairness and respect. It involves acknowledging power imbalances in the relationship and helps partners see through the tyranny of unnegotiated (and often antiquated) roles, responsibilities and unconscious expectations.

Peacemaking ... #6 ... a couple's commitment to maintain their emotional safe zone through the use of anger management, conflict resolution tools and agreements.

Self-love ... #7 ... talks about landmines and unfinished business from childhood and prior relationships. (Personally, I'm having a little trouble with this one. To me, self-love has a lot to do with a myriad of other things that are not mentioned or discussed here, but I'm including it because it is important!)

Mission in life ... #8 ... true love cannot be sustained until both parties are engaged in their own true work. The discussion goes on to say that "intimates are either the mission's most powerful support or its most-feared saboteur".

Walking ... #9 ... addresses the primary insecurities that plague all partners. Emotional and financial dependencies can lead to a slow death of trust, love, respect and passion. When intimates are willing and able to leave the relationship, if need be, you can almost bet on the fact that they will not!

Transformational education ... #10 ... the 'fail-safe' mechanism. It represents partners' commitment to do whatever healing is necessary if they get stuck on any of the first nine laws.


You know what? Upon typing these and trying to assimilate all of the possible meanings, it occurred to me that these were written for "same-sexers".

But, you want to know also what? I see a whole lot of truisms there for those of us in the heterosexual world who have experienced wholesome, faltering or even failed relationships - myself included.

RIP Common Sense

This post comes directly from my Australian blogger friend, Craig, who had received an e-mail that he decided was worthy of a post, and I agree.



It's titled "The sad passing away of Common Sense."


Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair, and maybe it was my fault.


Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.

Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student only worsened his condition.


Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

He declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Panadol, sun lotion, or even a sticky plaster to students. At the same time, the schools were prohibited from informing the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.


Common Sense lost more of his will to live when the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became a business, and criminals received better treatment than their victims.


Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from burglars in your home without them suing you for assault.


Common Sense finally gave up completely after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.



Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.

He is survived by three stepbrothers ... I Know My Rights, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim.


Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.