Two Definitions:

A group of one or more parents and their children living together.

Family means the love or common interests that bind people together.

The first definition is the traditional one.

The second allows for the fact that we may be members of other families too.

The necessary ingredient in both is love and caring for one another.

Sometimes, unfortunately, although traditional family members are related, there may not be much love.

If we use the second definition, there are many possibilities: Your church group, your soccer team, your co-workers, the soldiers in your unit or the fellow crew members on a racing yacht.

Many times, families are formed not from common interests, but common suffering.

I’m tired of hearing how divided we are as Americans!

Every day I experience kindness from total strangers, whether its road courtesy while driving or just holding a door open.

You and I are MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN FAMILY!!!!

LET’S ACT LIKE IT!!!!

If not today, when?

Definition: A state of mental and emotional balance and calm, free of worries, fears or stress.

These instances are not as rare as you might think.

How can I get peace of mind? (lifehack.org)

1. Listen to music
2. Deep breathing
3. Go for a walk.
4. Enjoy nature.
5. Play with a pet.
6. Declutter.
7. Practice acceptance.
8. Practice Mindfulness.
9. Self love
10. Be true to you.
11. Have a sense of humor.
12. Love unconditionally
13. Worry less.
14. Be assertive
15. Have regular health checkups.
16. Take stock of your life.
17. Live in the moment.
18. Have goals.
19. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
20. Let it go

Officer Eric Talley was 51 and the father of seven children.

Talley, 51, had been a member of the force since 2010, according to Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold.

“Didn’t surprise me he was the first one there,” Talley’s father, Homer Talley, told CNN affiliate KUSA.

He is survived by his wife and seven children, the oldest of whom is 20, according to his father.

“He loved his family more than anything,” Homer Talley said.

He described his son as a prankster with a “great sense of humor.”

In 2013, Talley was among a small group of Boulder officers who made headlines after a duckling rescue from a drainage ditch.

The officer had “waded into the calf-deep water to try to round up the ducks” and save them, the Daily Camera newspaper in Boulder had reported. (CNN)

People like Officer Eric Talley STAND ON THE WALL between GOOD and EVIL, between a CIVIL SOCIETY and CHAOS every day!

He put himself in HARMS WAY to protect YOU and ME!

Freedom is not free! Pray for his family!

If not today, when?

Yes, you have 18 years to raise your children before they step out of high school and into the world.

What system of values will they have been exposed to in your home?

And which of those values will they absorb and practice in their lives as adults?

Of course, we must also ask which of your strongly felt values will they choose to ignore?

This is the dilemma faced by all parents.

Unfortunately, it’s also possible that they may duplicate some of your shortcomings.

So, how well equipped will they be to cope with the world as it exists in 2021?

You may not know until it’s too late.

They will have already flown the coop.

Every parent must compete with peer pressure when forming their kids values.

Regardless of what you have stressed, the big question is, “What do they believe?”

I think for all the reasons just stated, you must stay close to your kids while they’re growing up so you can maintain a healthy dialogue with them.

If not today, when?

One of our family members is facing a recurrence of cancer.

The first bout with the disease was all new to her.

So, she didn’t know what to expect.

This time, however, it has come back with a vengeance and she is all too familiar with what lies ahead.

We love and admire her greatly!

Many people deal with afflictions all their lives and still try every day in every way to cope and make the best of it.

I also must put in a word about their caretakers.

In this case, her husband is extremely supportive and is on top of of all the medical details and her schedule of appointments.

He is a life saver.

And how about all those doctors and nurses who rise each morning to care for complete strangers?

With Covid-19 everywhere, let’s not overlook their bravery either!

If not today, when?

Many wise people say that true joy is found by those who participate in a cause greater than themselves.

Senator John McCain was a Navy pilot shot down over Hanoi, North Vietnam. He was badly injured and spent many years in a prison camp.

He said, “Patriotism is another way of saying service to a cause greater than self-interest. If you find faults with our country, make it a better one.”

Have you ever felt the passion working for a worthwhile cause of which you are just a small part?

It is usually the high point of one’s life.

I’m sure you have some strong opinions about various issues.

How about putting those strong opinions into action?

It doesn’t take long to look around and find some wrongs that need righting!

More than ever before, a huge percentage of our fellow citizens are in need.

Think about getting into something greater.

If not today, when?

Do you feel that loved ones are not on the same page?

The pandemic brought its own unique kind of stress into our lives in addition to the other stresses that may exist in our important relationships.

Good communications can be a big part of the solution.

The most necessary ingredient in building or rebuilding trust and understanding is GOOD LISTENING!

We know our point-of-view, but often miss theirs.

In order for us to be better understood, we must make a sincere attempt to hear what their perceptions are of us.

You may not want to hear them out, but it is the primary building block of a relationship.

We are often unaware of how we come across to others.

We may have certain mannerisms that are a hindrance to the closeness we all want.

In our hectic world, strong relationships don’t always get the time and attention they deserve.

If not today, when?

Hard to do, but necessary.

We can’t fret over yesterday while also worrying about tomorrow.

That doesn’t leave much room for TODAY!

And TODAY needs our undivided attention.

If you can devote your attention to the present moment and give it all you’ve got, your yesterdays and all your tomorrows will be better than they are now.

I know someone who has taught me to live in today.

She gets a lot done because she doesn’t carry the self-imposed burdens of yesterday and tomorrow.

Tomorrows become easier because today was more effective without distractions.

Like most other realities of our lives, you most control your thoughts so you can have a bigger impact on your results.

That thought control means, “LIVE ONLY IN TODAY!”

If not today, when?

Yes, our Democracy is under attack from without and within.

The latest intelligence report released yesterday states that certain well-known public officials were working with Russian agents to spread misinformation in the 2020 election.

Now, there is a big move underway in many states aimed at limiting voting rights which is the singular defining characteristic of a Democracy.

As much as we are primarily focused on raising our children and earning a living, let’s not ignore what some fellow-citizens are doing to undermine our precious, hard fought for Democracy!

If not today, when?

Was it so people with wealth could remember those not so fortunate?

Was it so spouses could love and be patient with one another?

Was it so people with dark skin could have access to good schools and equal employment opportunities?

Was it so women would have equal opportunities to advance in the corporate world?

Was it so we could use our free will knowing that many of us would use it for our benefit and the benefit of others?

Was it so that we enjoy all the miracles of this world and thank God for them?

I think that’s what God had in mind!