Our medical professionals tell us to expect an avalanche of new Covid-19 cases.

Pressure is building on Congress to pass another “Stimulus Bill” to relieve all the suffering.

Small business owners are going out of business.

Millions are going hungry & facing eviction.

It’s time for prayer! Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy O Divine Master, grant that I may
Not so much seek to be consoled as to console
To be understood, as to understand
To be loved, as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
And it’s in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it’s in dying that we are born to Eternal Life
Amen

Because of all the discord and uncertainty these days, have your good manners slipped?

It’s understandable that we are not on our best behavior when under stress.

We can, however, make a conscious decision to treat everyone with respect.

One of the most respectful things we can say is, “Thank You.”

The healing of society begins with you and me. There is no time like the present.

The irony is that we are often more polite to strangers than to our loved ones.

You might say that your family members don’t need to hear you thank them because they know you appreciate their kindnesses.

WRONG!

Good manners with loved ones helps everyone have a better day!

And that’s what we’re here for, to love one another and appreciate every family member.

Please and thank you are the building blocks of love!

If not today, when?

Or 1/2 empty?

Another way of asking the question is: “Are you an optimist or a pessimist?”

The irony is that both personalities can be successful.

Another irony is that both personality types can be a worry to loved ones.

IMPACT OF THE OPTIMIST Because the optimist always believes things will turn out well, he/she may get too caught up in all the positive thinking that hidden obstacles may go unnoticed.

Loved ones, who know of the positive approach to everything, feel an obligation to try to point out obstacles not being given their proper consideration.

IMPACT OF THE PESSIMIST This personality takes the opposite approach to opportunities. He/she takes a good, hard look at why things could go wrong.

This is not such a bad way of looking at it as long as a good opportunity is not discarded without considering its true potential.

Which are you?

Well, do you?

Think about it.

You might respond to my question by answering: “He/She knows how I feel!”

Oh really.

Our lives are broken up into nice little chapters we call “days.”

Every day is different from every other day.

So, someone, who didn’t need a compliment yesterday, sure needs one today.

Self-doubt is common with all of us in varying degrees.

We have good days and bad days and so do the ones we love!

A sincere compliment is a great gift to one another if it is sincere.

Don’t be a phony by going through the motions of a compliment.

That will do more harm than good.

In times like these, with health and financial threats rampant, lift someone up with a well-deserved compliment!

If not today, when?

Yes, these are stressful times.

For millions of Americans without a source of income, it means facing eviction with no way forward.

Also, more people are visiting food banks than ever before in our history.

So, stress abounds!

Stress, of course, causes anxiety and this anxiety can cause us to lose our temper which brings about more anxiety to others.

We have a very severe situation of haves and have nots which is stirred up by hopelessness.

Two words come to mind: KINDNESS & CHARITY!

We need lots of both. Be a part of the solution.

Who can you lift up today?

There are so many highly focused charities who are ready to cure the hurting millions.

Google the word, “charities” and send money today.

That’s the best way to celebrate Thanksgiving!

If not today, when?

Let’s begin with you. Will you forgive yourself?

Many of us won’t.

We allow our past mistakes and bad decisions to weigh us down..

Yes, I understand that some of your mistakes continue to affect your chance for happiness.

That’s unfortunate, but you must think of them as a learning experience and turn the page!

And how about forgiving others?

Long held grudges can have long held consequences.

Go ahead and disagree, but you never know when a situation may arise in which that person could block something you want to accomplish.

If you are inclined to forgive someone, it better be genuine or don’t do it.

Forgiveness benefits both parties. It’s a win-win!

If not today, when?

What a question to ask!

I’m not referring to this event or that event.

I’m asking if you are satisfied with the course of YOUR LIFE to this point.

We all have things happen which are beyond our control. Don’t include those.

Let’s talk about those things you can control.

Are you a good decision maker? Do you rush into decisions?

Or, do you consider the pros and cons before acting?

Decisions are your lifelong learning instrument!

You learn from those decisions that have a good outcome.

You, hopefully, also learn from those decisions that have a bad outcome.

Do you?

Or, do you repeat those bad decisions?

Some people repeat them all through their lives.

Your life is, to a large degree, what you make of it.

I hope you make yours BETTER!

If not today, when?

Our sins are broken into two categories: “What we have done and what we have failed to do.”

Let’s talk about those things we should do for others, but don’t!

Did you ever think it’s against God’s law to ignore the plight of our fellow citizens?

“For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” (Luke 12:48)

Yes, we are our brother’s keeper.

There has never been so many millions and millions of Americans in dire distress as right now!

They are suffering physically, financially and emotionally.

For those of us who have time and resources, we must do something.

Even a kind gesture can make a positive difference in someone’s day.

Do you give to a charity? There must be a few charities whose mission appeals to you.

Just go to the internet and search for those charities.

If not today, when?

If not, you’re part of the problem.

People are hurting everywhere in many ways for many reasons.

That’s the bad news!

Here’s the GOOD news: Opportunities to spread love are everywhere and obvious.

The easiest thing we can do to spread love is to call or call upon the lonely.

Another powerful act of love is to forgive some past transgression.

The irony of forgiveness is that it benefits the the giver more than the receiver. Carrying a grudge is such a burden.

How often do you verbally say, “I love you” to loved ones?

You probably have family members who are in troubled and uncertain times.

It’s time to think less about you and more on others!

How about strangers who have been laid off caused by the pandemic or have been evicted?

Opportunities to spread love have never been so plentiful!

If not today, when?

We are living in a time when misinformation is widespread.

… and the sources are many people who have access to various media.

In my 79 years, I’ve never known a time in America when so many people are deliberately spreading false information.

It makes it difficult for us to know fact from fiction because many of these same sources would, in the past, be considered reliable sources of the truth.

The primary motive seems to be self serving.

This is a tough time to be raising a family because children have many sources of information through their cell phones.

Misinformation causes incorrect conclusions in the minds of the recipients. Their actions then are caused as the result of false information.

So, we have a society who increasingly doesn’t know the truth.

You and I must be the truth tellers!

If not today, when?