Maybe when Jesus returns He supernaturally makes EVERYONE children again. And we forget all the bad things that we learned from grown ups. ❤️ just a thought
Patricia, I'm so sorry you experienced that as a child. I'm hopeful/sure you realize it wasn't your fault that your mom was verbally abusive to you. Nothing YOU did caused your mom to do that; THAT'S ON HER!! She dealt poorly, bless her heart, with whatever stress she was under. You are STRONG, Patricia. You CAN get better. Be gentle with yourself by.....attempting to forgive your mama, especially if she's already gone. You will be happier, I'm thinking. 🤔. If she's still around and you simply choose not to be around her if she hasn't changed, brush yourself off and simply avoid her. If she asks why, simply level with her. Good luck on changing that dynamic!! You got it
My sister was born the year before me but only lived an hour. I was born the next year. She often told me “if the baby had lived, you would not be here.” That’s not something any child should hear. She’s gone so I’ll never know why.
Sounds to me like your mom never accepted your older sister’s passing and her pain was released on you, probably when she was stressed. Keep in mind that your mom was a human. We all have weaknesses. Forgive her for the pain she caused you. Know that she suffered mental anguish and probably never got properly treated or recovered from her loss. ❤️🩹
That's probably a good read on what Patricia's mom was going thru, but who knows. It would definitely be helpful to Patricia's emotional health she could find the grace to forgive her mama, tho not an easy thing to do, for sure.❤️ That might just help heal her hurting, emotional wounds.
Forgiving my parents lifted me. So I spoke from experience. They were both mentally ill and needed help… we all did. It just wasn’t available when it was needed. I’ve been fortunate since to get the help I need to get better. It feels good to share what I feel. Thanks for contributing to the “let’s get better” cause. ❤️👍🏻
Ed, I remember back when you told us you had a lot of problems mentally. I remember a few things you wrote and they're so different from what you write now. You've dropped the silly platitudes that help no one (hopefully, others here will take the hint that platitudes are all they are), and maybe they will learn, through reading your entries, of what REAL HEALING feels and looks like. You also have the gift of conveyance, not unlike our Seaner. Fortunate YOU!!! ❤️❤️👍💪
My hope in web publishing and with my comments is help others feel better. Platitudes are not a bad thing. Talking down to others is. We are a happier person when we nurture others. Allowing them to be themselves, especially when they’re hurting no one.
I deleted my Substack account a short while back because I didn’t start it on purpose. I hoped my comments would remain but was willing to take the chance that they wouldn’t. Actually it makes more sense that deleting an account deletes everything.
My mental illness doesn’t nurture me. It talks down to me always finding fault. I have written to others what I wanted others to write to me so I could feel better about myself. Self loathing is bad. Forgiving myself for not being perfect is good. In a nutshell, that’s been my web publishing and commenting goal all along. Jesus Christ is the healing boss of me… I’m an ongoing work in progress.
Wow, Patricia. That seems like such a bizarre, strange and cruel thing to say to a child. No telling WHY she would say such a thing to you. You must believe, because it's true, that what she said had NOTHING to do with you. Please don't let this sad person make you feel bad. This comment she made to you had to do with HER problems, which were NOT your problems. I think you will be all right once you realize this. 👍💪😌
From my experience, emotional scaring cannot be overcome only dealt with. Surround yourself with others who care about you. If you haven’t already, Jesus Christ is a very special and good start. He will help you find those nurturing “others”. You’ve already found one in God’s servant, Sean Dietrich. ❤️ Just keep in mind that ALL of us carry some level of scars. The scars are badges we wear when we’re most vulnerable. Try your best to not to lose sight of the light and love that God has given us, especially for healing. He knows fully well our plight. ❤️🩹
My story is I had a little girl in kindergarten. She told me should could not play with Dayshia. I knew why. I knew her parents. By fifth grade Dayshia was her best friend. She unlearned hate and ignorance. Thank you Sean for illustrating what is right and decent and human.
At age 7, my granddaughter was asked by her racist uncle if she had any black children in her class at school. She hesitated a moment, then responded, "No, but there is a brown girl." I was SO VERY GLAD to be there to hear her response. Yes, prejudice is taught!
When I was growing up way back in the 1950s, I lived in Memphis, Tennessee, and attended a well known Baptist church. In that time the young children met in a small white house for Sunday School while the adults were in the Sunday service. We sang. A lot. One of the first songs every Sunday morning and every morning of Bible School in the summer was:
Red and Yellow
Black and White
They are precious in his sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world
I never forgot that song. In those days, when the parishioners would squabble about who was worthy to walk through those church doors, I would wonder if they ever sang that song. My dad was thrown out of a church when he was a young boy because his dad was an alcoholic and they had the audacity to come to church one day when his dad had decided to give up alcohol. They were told to leave because my dad was barefooted and because they did not want an alcoholic in their church. I heard that story and wondered if they had ever sung that song. My grandfather remained an alcoholic and my father never set foot in a church until the last years of his life, and then only to please my mother.
Every day now I wonder if anyone but me remembers that song and how many times it has been dishonored. I have never forgotten that song. It reminds me often of what God is about. I find myself sharing my memory of that song more and more frequently.
Wanda, thank you for sharing this painful story. I am so sorry that those bigots treated your Daddy and Granddaddy so horribly. They apparently didn’t know Jesus at all, and they hadn’t read the Bible.
Wanda, it truly is a sad thing when that is not what most religions teach (well at least not to my knowledge.) My youngest son went to cathecism classes for his sacraments, but he hadn't given me the paper for his first communion, and so I thought it was going to be several months later. Then we went of vacation. I only found out upon our return that we had missed the date. We were told that we would have to wait until the following year. So by then my son wasn't sure he wanted to continue. Then about a year later he decided that he did want to continue. When we contacted the church, we were discouraged because of the run around and attitude of the priest. And that is when my son decided that he didn't want to have anything more to do with the church, any church. Religion he said was man-made, not Jesus or God-made. Jesus and God are about love, not hate. I remember this song too!
Folks ask me what church I attend. If I tell them then I am labeled, "One of those" So, I tell them I am the church, "Called out ones" There's over a thousand different Baptist churches...Many are called but only a few are chosen. the rest wouldn't be happy in heaven anyway...
Too true, Karrie!! If people are going to follow like sheep, it NEEDS to be a good shepherd leading them. It saddens me so much! I cry for our country.
Children are the best example of how we should all love and include everyone. They see friends and playmates, classmates and teammates. Let us all learn from their example.
If you're attending a church that doesn't teach the love of Christ, it's time to *leave* that church.
"...but Jesus said, 'Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.'" Matthew 19:14.
It’s happening daily, all over the country. Not necessarily churches, but people who are members of those churches and who call themselves Christians. I never thought I’d live in such a cruel America. I knew some of our sordid history of mistreating immigrants and those who might be considered “other,” and of course I lived through the segregationist South of the 1960s. I’ve never seen our country descend to the level of cruelty we’re seeing daily, though.
What a sad legacy that would be to leave to their children and grandchildren, because, DON'T DOUBT that SOMEONE WILL write the TRUE history. REMEMBER, THE TRUTH ALWAYS COMES OUT..... AND SADLY, SOMETIMES TOO LATE.
Joanne, then quit watching what's happening and instead become an activist to help save the country you say you love. If you don't say or do anything about it, you are complicit with it. Become an activist like so many now. Grassroots groups are all over the country now, SO JOIN ONE. IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU WILL BE HELPING THE COUNTRY. 👍. FOR ANYONE NOT AWARE OF THESE GROUPS, YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING THE WRONG NEWS. PAST TIME TO WISE UP.
I'm sorry, Joann, if I offended you. Many people DO just watch, so I'm basically talking to those people. I do certainly hope you are one of those who does her due diligence and is an engaged citizen of this country. Kudos to you, Joann, if you are one of the informed citizenry.....and thank you!! 🤗
A building with four walls and a roof has no feelings. Just like a home, that building is brought to life by the love and actions of the people. I feel closer to the Almighty on His terms and through his direction, wherever and whenever that may be.
This is one way nefarious autocratic leaders take a hold of a country. Look at what they're trying to do to the educational system, including universities.
Autocrats don't want people to learn to use CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS. PEOPLE WHO LEARN CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS IN SCHOOL ARE MUCH HARDER TO FOOL; that is,THEY DON'T SWALLOW CRAP. FIRST THEY TASTE IT, MIGHT EVEN CHEW ON IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT THEN THEY HAVE THE COMMON SENSE TO SPIT IT OUT!!
This is reminiscent of Hitler's times, of course, for those who know their history. What's happening now basically follows his playbook. Sick people make a sick country.
You started my day off with a profound thought. Like my grandfather used to say. "I'm going to ponder on that for a while". Wasn't ever sure what that meant till now.
WAY too many Christ-followers forget to view our neighbors through the eyes of Jesus. Christ is no longer here with us in human form so we have to remember that WE are the carriers of His message--the message of ALL great religions in the world, that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
I had a very dear friend who was much like you Sean. He was a singer/songwriter story telling troubadour who traveled the world sharing his songs. He became especially well known with schools, churches and coffee houses around the world. Many of his concerts were intimate but he performed to larger crowds as well. Many others also sang his songs and I think this one is especially pertinent to your message today Bill Staines passes away a few years ago, this is his song A Place In The Choir sung by Celtic Thunder. You should look him up, I think you would like my folk singing friend. I hope this comes through for you.
Back in the 60’s we were in Boston, Massachusetts, I managed a coffee house where he and a woman named Renee used to play together. We all became friends and I knew he would have a successful career. He was so good even then and he was a fabulous guitar player and yodeler if that’s a word. He could yodel.
This was back in the 60’s. I waitresses at Sword In The Stone, owner was Mark Edward’s, I managed the Turks Head owned by Josette Benzaquin Funny how I can remember those names but forget what I was told yesterday lol. Both were on Charles Street.
Harvard Square was more my stomping grounds in the ‘60s. My sister and I were reminiscing and could not remember the name of our favorite one — it was in a basement, kind of cavernous (in our memories) and there was an old woman who told fortunes wandering from table to table.
Coffee houses back then were where you could take in a James, Livingston or Kate Taylor performance.
I did answer this before but don’t see it now. I went to a coffee house in the Square called the Blue Parrot, it too was in a basement. Liv Taylor came in to sing a few times at the Turks Head, he sounded just like James. Never met James or Kate but I did become friends with the original J Geils Band.
Bill Staines was terrific. I saw him play in a coffee house in Minneapolis around 1977 or -78. He could yodel and play and had a lively sense of humor and real, sincere warmth. A beautiful person.
Maybe when Jesus returns He supernaturally makes EVERYONE children again. And we forget all the bad things that we learned from grown ups. ❤️ just a thought
I love this thought.
Ed, if only this could be true. I carry scars from words said to me as a little girl - words my mother repeated many times. They just don’t go away.
😘 I wish I could give you a hug. Here is a virtual one.
Very much appreciated! Thank you Jeannine 🥰
Patricia, I'm so sorry you experienced that as a child. I'm hopeful/sure you realize it wasn't your fault that your mom was verbally abusive to you. Nothing YOU did caused your mom to do that; THAT'S ON HER!! She dealt poorly, bless her heart, with whatever stress she was under. You are STRONG, Patricia. You CAN get better. Be gentle with yourself by.....attempting to forgive your mama, especially if she's already gone. You will be happier, I'm thinking. 🤔. If she's still around and you simply choose not to be around her if she hasn't changed, brush yourself off and simply avoid her. If she asks why, simply level with her. Good luck on changing that dynamic!! You got it
My sister was born the year before me but only lived an hour. I was born the next year. She often told me “if the baby had lived, you would not be here.” That’s not something any child should hear. She’s gone so I’ll never know why.
Sounds to me like your mom never accepted your older sister’s passing and her pain was released on you, probably when she was stressed. Keep in mind that your mom was a human. We all have weaknesses. Forgive her for the pain she caused you. Know that she suffered mental anguish and probably never got properly treated or recovered from her loss. ❤️🩹
That's probably a good read on what Patricia's mom was going thru, but who knows. It would definitely be helpful to Patricia's emotional health she could find the grace to forgive her mama, tho not an easy thing to do, for sure.❤️ That might just help heal her hurting, emotional wounds.
Forgiving my parents lifted me. So I spoke from experience. They were both mentally ill and needed help… we all did. It just wasn’t available when it was needed. I’ve been fortunate since to get the help I need to get better. It feels good to share what I feel. Thanks for contributing to the “let’s get better” cause. ❤️👍🏻
Ed, I remember back when you told us you had a lot of problems mentally. I remember a few things you wrote and they're so different from what you write now. You've dropped the silly platitudes that help no one (hopefully, others here will take the hint that platitudes are all they are), and maybe they will learn, through reading your entries, of what REAL HEALING feels and looks like. You also have the gift of conveyance, not unlike our Seaner. Fortunate YOU!!! ❤️❤️👍💪
My hope in web publishing and with my comments is help others feel better. Platitudes are not a bad thing. Talking down to others is. We are a happier person when we nurture others. Allowing them to be themselves, especially when they’re hurting no one.
I deleted my Substack account a short while back because I didn’t start it on purpose. I hoped my comments would remain but was willing to take the chance that they wouldn’t. Actually it makes more sense that deleting an account deletes everything.
My mental illness doesn’t nurture me. It talks down to me always finding fault. I have written to others what I wanted others to write to me so I could feel better about myself. Self loathing is bad. Forgiving myself for not being perfect is good. In a nutshell, that’s been my web publishing and commenting goal all along. Jesus Christ is the healing boss of me… I’m an ongoing work in progress.
Wow, Patricia. That seems like such a bizarre, strange and cruel thing to say to a child. No telling WHY she would say such a thing to you. You must believe, because it's true, that what she said had NOTHING to do with you. Please don't let this sad person make you feel bad. This comment she made to you had to do with HER problems, which were NOT your problems. I think you will be all right once you realize this. 👍💪😌
😞That's horrible. I'm so sorry.
From my experience, emotional scaring cannot be overcome only dealt with. Surround yourself with others who care about you. If you haven’t already, Jesus Christ is a very special and good start. He will help you find those nurturing “others”. You’ve already found one in God’s servant, Sean Dietrich. ❤️ Just keep in mind that ALL of us carry some level of scars. The scars are badges we wear when we’re most vulnerable. Try your best to not to lose sight of the light and love that God has given us, especially for healing. He knows fully well our plight. ❤️🩹
Beautifully said, Ed!!
Great thought Ed!
“But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.””
Matthew 19:14 NKJV
My story is I had a little girl in kindergarten. She told me should could not play with Dayshia. I knew why. I knew her parents. By fifth grade Dayshia was her best friend. She unlearned hate and ignorance. Thank you Sean for illustrating what is right and decent and human.
At age 7, my granddaughter was asked by her racist uncle if she had any black children in her class at school. She hesitated a moment, then responded, "No, but there is a brown girl." I was SO VERY GLAD to be there to hear her response. Yes, prejudice is taught!
When I was growing up way back in the 1950s, I lived in Memphis, Tennessee, and attended a well known Baptist church. In that time the young children met in a small white house for Sunday School while the adults were in the Sunday service. We sang. A lot. One of the first songs every Sunday morning and every morning of Bible School in the summer was:
Red and Yellow
Black and White
They are precious in his sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world
I never forgot that song. In those days, when the parishioners would squabble about who was worthy to walk through those church doors, I would wonder if they ever sang that song. My dad was thrown out of a church when he was a young boy because his dad was an alcoholic and they had the audacity to come to church one day when his dad had decided to give up alcohol. They were told to leave because my dad was barefooted and because they did not want an alcoholic in their church. I heard that story and wondered if they had ever sung that song. My grandfather remained an alcoholic and my father never set foot in a church until the last years of his life, and then only to please my mother.
Every day now I wonder if anyone but me remembers that song and how many times it has been dishonored. I have never forgotten that song. It reminds me often of what God is about. I find myself sharing my memory of that song more and more frequently.
Wanda, thank you for sharing this painful story. I am so sorry that those bigots treated your Daddy and Granddaddy so horribly. They apparently didn’t know Jesus at all, and they hadn’t read the Bible.
Wanda, it truly is a sad thing when that is not what most religions teach (well at least not to my knowledge.) My youngest son went to cathecism classes for his sacraments, but he hadn't given me the paper for his first communion, and so I thought it was going to be several months later. Then we went of vacation. I only found out upon our return that we had missed the date. We were told that we would have to wait until the following year. So by then my son wasn't sure he wanted to continue. Then about a year later he decided that he did want to continue. When we contacted the church, we were discouraged because of the run around and attitude of the priest. And that is when my son decided that he didn't want to have anything more to do with the church, any church. Religion he said was man-made, not Jesus or God-made. Jesus and God are about love, not hate. I remember this song too!
Jeannine, I agree with your son
I agree with your son as well. He will find a place for his Spirit and Soul!
Folks ask me what church I attend. If I tell them then I am labeled, "One of those" So, I tell them I am the church, "Called out ones" There's over a thousand different Baptist churches...Many are called but only a few are chosen. the rest wouldn't be happy in heaven anyway...
I’ve never heard the history of this song before! Thank you!
The perfect answer to the denigration of the church body in many “Christian” congregations today.
Too true, Karrie!! If people are going to follow like sheep, it NEEDS to be a good shepherd leading them. It saddens me so much! I cry for our country.
Carrie, it's almost like these Christians have never heard the saying "a wolf in sheep's clothing." Talk about naive. 😩
Sean is the “Poster Child” for learning something new (practically) every day.
Like you, Kerrie, I never knew the history of “Jesus loves the little children” until now.
Me either and I love it! ❤️
Children are the best example of how we should all love and include everyone. They see friends and playmates, classmates and teammates. Let us all learn from their example.
This one gut-punched me.
If you're attending a church that doesn't teach the love of Christ, it's time to *leave* that church.
"...but Jesus said, 'Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.'" Matthew 19:14.
Yes! Jesus does love the little children of the world. Why can’t we?
We can and will. A higher power tells us to.
Why would a Christian church turn away anyone, much less a child?
It’s happening daily, all over the country. Not necessarily churches, but people who are members of those churches and who call themselves Christians. I never thought I’d live in such a cruel America. I knew some of our sordid history of mistreating immigrants and those who might be considered “other,” and of course I lived through the segregationist South of the 1960s. I’ve never seen our country descend to the level of cruelty we’re seeing daily, though.
I’m afraid you’re right. It’s so hard to watch the country I love become a country that hates.
What a sad legacy that would be to leave to their children and grandchildren, because, DON'T DOUBT that SOMEONE WILL write the TRUE history. REMEMBER, THE TRUTH ALWAYS COMES OUT..... AND SADLY, SOMETIMES TOO LATE.
Joanne, then quit watching what's happening and instead become an activist to help save the country you say you love. If you don't say or do anything about it, you are complicit with it. Become an activist like so many now. Grassroots groups are all over the country now, SO JOIN ONE. IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU WILL BE HELPING THE COUNTRY. 👍. FOR ANYONE NOT AWARE OF THESE GROUPS, YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING THE WRONG NEWS. PAST TIME TO WISE UP.
What makes you think that I don't know about and participate in activism? Also, shouting in capitol letters is really rude.
I'm sorry, Joann, if I offended you. Many people DO just watch, so I'm basically talking to those people. I do certainly hope you are one of those who does her due diligence and is an engaged citizen of this country. Kudos to you, Joann, if you are one of the informed citizenry.....and thank you!! 🤗
A building with four walls and a roof has no feelings. Just like a home, that building is brought to life by the love and actions of the people. I feel closer to the Almighty on His terms and through his direction, wherever and whenever that may be.
And, Sharon, it will only get worse if people don't stand up for their rights. They will have no one to blame but themselves.
Sharon, I hate to say it, but I'm a realist and I think it's many cases of "monkey see, monkey do". Some people are easily fooled.
They sure seem to be!
This is one way nefarious autocratic leaders take a hold of a country. Look at what they're trying to do to the educational system, including universities.
Autocrats don't want people to learn to use CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS. PEOPLE WHO LEARN CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS IN SCHOOL ARE MUCH HARDER TO FOOL; that is,THEY DON'T SWALLOW CRAP. FIRST THEY TASTE IT, MIGHT EVEN CHEW ON IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT THEN THEY HAVE THE COMMON SENSE TO SPIT IT OUT!!
It wasn’t the church, it was the narrow minded congregation.
Umm, that IS the church. The congregation is the church of God.
Lots of narrowmindedness in some churches.
If you mean, upholding the Ten Commandments, then yes I agree. Do you go to church?
.... Zelda, the narrow-minded co
congregation IS THAT church!! How are the people NOT the church?? 🧐😏
Some out of fear of raids by ICE. Traumatic for everyone, children and adults, red and yellow, black and white.
This is reminiscent of Hitler's times, of course, for those who know their history. What's happening now basically follows his playbook. Sick people make a sick country.
😥
I never knew the story behind this song most of us learned as children. It’s beautiful and so profound. Thank you for sharing it.
Most times, the story behind is awesome!
Thank you for the history lesson and the timely sentiment behind it.
Perfect! Absolutely perfect, now if the whole country could just live that song!
AMEN!
You started my day off with a profound thought. Like my grandfather used to say. "I'm going to ponder on that for a while". Wasn't ever sure what that meant till now.
wow! how humbling….. yet, Jesus always is , isn’t he?
Yes, when our hearts are open to receive.
WAY too many Christ-followers forget to view our neighbors through the eyes of Jesus. Christ is no longer here with us in human form so we have to remember that WE are the carriers of His message--the message of ALL great religions in the world, that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
Profound comment!
Too bad it's nothing like that now in this country, Toni.
I had a very dear friend who was much like you Sean. He was a singer/songwriter story telling troubadour who traveled the world sharing his songs. He became especially well known with schools, churches and coffee houses around the world. Many of his concerts were intimate but he performed to larger crowds as well. Many others also sang his songs and I think this one is especially pertinent to your message today Bill Staines passes away a few years ago, this is his song A Place In The Choir sung by Celtic Thunder. You should look him up, I think you would like my folk singing friend. I hope this comes through for you.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8ns5v9
Oh! I’ve heard them sing that so many times and just LOVE it. Once again, the story behind is the ultimate 💖 Thank you, Zelda, for sharing!
Back in the 60’s we were in Boston, Massachusetts, I managed a coffee house where he and a woman named Renee used to play together. We all became friends and I knew he would have a successful career. He was so good even then and he was a fabulous guitar player and yodeler if that’s a word. He could yodel.
I’m from the Boston suburbs. Which coffee house?
This was back in the 60’s. I waitresses at Sword In The Stone, owner was Mark Edward’s, I managed the Turks Head owned by Josette Benzaquin Funny how I can remember those names but forget what I was told yesterday lol. Both were on Charles Street.
Just listened to the song. Lovely!
Harvard Square was more my stomping grounds in the ‘60s. My sister and I were reminiscing and could not remember the name of our favorite one — it was in a basement, kind of cavernous (in our memories) and there was an old woman who told fortunes wandering from table to table.
Coffee houses back then were where you could take in a James, Livingston or Kate Taylor performance.
Good times.
I did answer this before but don’t see it now. I went to a coffee house in the Square called the Blue Parrot, it too was in a basement. Liv Taylor came in to sing a few times at the Turks Head, he sounded just like James. Never met James or Kate but I did become friends with the original J Geils Band.
Thank you, Zelda!!!! That was wonderful. Thank you for sharing!!!
So glad you enjoyed it Ann.
Bill Staines was terrific. I saw him play in a coffee house in Minneapolis around 1977 or -78. He could yodel and play and had a lively sense of humor and real, sincere warmth. A beautiful person.