She was the only child of Timothy and Ann Dillon, two immigrants from Ireland. He was a fireman from County Cork who rose to become a battalion chief in the Chicago fire department. Her mother had an exceedingly hard life beginning when she was yanked out of the third grade and sent to care for distant, dying relatives.

Their marriage was not a happy one. Timothy died of stomach cancer when mom was 22 years old. She always regretted that she wasn’t as kind to her dad as she should have been.

To make amends, mom vowed that her own marriage would be filled with love. Her marriage to dad lasted 62 years until his death in 2002. I never saw them argue.

Do you also have regrets? Can you still make amends in some way?

If not today, when?

 

Because we’re all in this together, we have an opportunity to glue our society back together. Divisive behavior of all kinds must be put behind us in order to successively defeat this virus.

Medical workers, first responders, grocery employees, pharmacy employees, bank employees are putting themselves in harms way for us. They are members of different races, religions, nationalities, sexual orientations and political persuasions.

Despite how they may differ from you, they are working to save your life and your way of life while putting theirs at risk. Isn’t this proof enough that we should exercise kindness with every person?

“Two roads diverged in a wood and I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference.” (Robert Frost)

Take the road less traveled. It will make all the difference!

If not today, when?

We heard something at a wedding years ago.”Marriage is like a wagon being pulled by two horses. If one of the horses becomes weary, the other horse must pull for both.”

You and your spouse are committed to a lifelong partnership. That is best accomplished when both horses are pulling your wagon together.

It must not be an on again, off again gesture. No, it must be every day in every way.

As we become married year after year, we realize that the physical aspect of marriage, although wonderful, must also be accompanied by a loving interpersonal relationship by both parties. This relationship can only survive and grow with mutual effort.

During these stressful times especially, we must not add to our spouse’s worries. We must be the soft pillow of his or her daily life.

If not today, when?

Yes, in these difficult times, love is evident everywhere!

We have a common dilemma now that we all share. This allows us to realize how much we have in common despite our unique characteristics. So, even in the midst of everything, we are coming together.

The most obvious example of love on a large scale is the huge commitment of all our medical professionals who rise to the challenge every day. Our police and fire personnel are putting themselves in harms way to protect all of us.

Grocery store and drug store employees are also our heroes. Also, in our large family, we feel love from children, spouses and grand children.

I recently saw this quote, “When the world falls apart, people come together.” So true!

Reach out in love!

If not today, when?

Easy to say, but hard to do.

It will require a collective effort to right the ship. Many of our mayors and governors have taken it upon themselves to use their authority to try to minimize the effects of Covid 19. Many individual restaurant owners have decided to remain open with carryout.

The only way, however, to eliminate this virus from our lives is for each of us to make good decisions. This will require that we make logical not emotional choices. So, we need COOL HEADS to lessen the dangers and not add to them.

We will also be required to think of the well being of others more than we ever have before. Yes, we can not think only of ourselves.

Remember that we’re in this together and we must solve this together!

If not today, when?

We will come out of this virus with a different society. Some changes will be good and some not so much. What changes in your life would you like to see?

Maybe, you would want the exact life you had before the  pandemic. I don’t believe that’s possible. Millions and millions of people have been and are going to be laid off.

Some businesses you once frequented will be gone. Perhaps financial problems might force friends to pack up and move elsewhere.

While you are spending much more time at home, it may be a good idea to make contingency plans to address different possible outcomes. Or, you might deliberately use this extra personal time to explore going on a long dreamed of new adventure.

If not today, when?

During WWII, millions of women left their homes and entered factories to perform the tasks vacated by the men drafted into the military. They built bombers and every kind of weaponry required to win on the battlefield. A total of 405,000 Americans lost their lives in that war.

Today, we are in another kind of war that has the potential to take the lives of a million or more. Our country and its citizens had to adjust to a new way of living in the 1940’s. ..And we also must adjust to a new way of living until Covid 19 disappears from our shores.

Please follow the guidelines of social distancing during these times so that this dreaded disease doesn’t continue to sicken your family, friends and neighbors.

If not today, when?

Yes, it’s that time!

I heard a quote yesterday that says, “When the world falls apart, people come together!” As much as we Americans love our life of independence, we will probably become more dependent on each other.

The military has a motto, “Leave no one behind!” That must now become the motto for each of us to put into practice. Please become more aware of the vulnerable people in your life.

Part of the prayer of St. Francis says, “It is in giving that we receive.” You will find this to be true in your life as you reach out to the vulnerable. Millions and millions of our friends and neighbors are being laid off as their employers shut down their businesses.

Be aware! Be prudent! Be kind! Be helpful! Be the solution, not the problem!

If not today, when?

We all live within our unique body. As long as our body is alive, we have the opportunity to experience all the wonders of living on this earth. So, it is appropriate to celebrate this vessel which is our true home.

The best way to celebrate is to take care of ourselves so our body shows its true potential. The healthier and stronger our body is, the more we can enjoy each day.

How are you doing as the ultimate caretaker of your body? If you were to give yourself a grade on a report card of stewardship, what grade would you give? if you’ve not been a good steward, it may not be too late to correct it.

Celebrate your body and it will celebrate you!

If not today, when?

So, I walk out into the garage and just before I enter the car, I hear some kind of a rustling sound that I’ve never heard before. It seems to be coming from a large rubber trash barrel that is filled about 1/4 with leaves. As I gaze down into the barrel, I see that the leaves are constantly moving, but no animal in sight.

Because my wife is the daughter of a police chief, I thought she was better equipped for an emergency. So, I yell for her. She comes on the run like a good first responder should.

She looks into the barrel, looks at me with disgust, grabs the barrel and drags it to the back yard. She tilts the barrel. Out pops a chipmunk.

It’s obvious that I MARRIED WELL!

If not today, when?