Beech Tree News Network

A few weeks ago, I was watching the TBS comedy Man At Work.  The main characters write for a magazine.  One of the characters wrote a story in an attempt to determine if nice guys finished last.  I found this to be an interesting premise, so I decided to do a little digging.

Do you have legacies from your grandmother or mother? As Mother’s Day approaches, I think of the things my grandmothers and mother have taught me – their legacy to me.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines legacy as “something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past.” One of the examples given was: “He left his children a legacy of love and respect” (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legacy). In this instance, the legacy was not material but was an attitude or feeling.

We lost country artist George Jones a few days ago.  Just as Roy Rogers was known in the trade as a “trick yodeler,” “The Possum” (as he was known to his friends) could have been known as a trick vocalist.  George could do circus-like acrobatics with his voice.

I worked a few days for our office manager, Jackie, at New Image Car Care this week.  I had forgotten how much I miss seeing people every day.  I had really forgotten how much I miss hearing the guy-talk that goes on around the shop, especially the hunting talk.  There’s nothing like a good turkey-hunting story.  They are so replete with detail.  Guys who can’t tell you how to get down to the local IGA can tell you every step a big gobbler made in the clover field that morning, as well as a description of the surrounding terrain, wind direction and barometric pressure.

Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” is played at every single Boston Red Sox home game. We all know that; but have you ever wondered why? The same could be asked of why Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.” is played at Lakers games.  The latter may be easily explained, but what of the Neil Diamond classic?
Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” was played post-bombing in all ballparks nationally to show unity and support for Boston. The song is clearly a Boston staple, but why? If you listen to the song, it is clear that it has absolutely nothing to do with the city or baseball. 

Despite the rain last Saturday night, many of our local teenagers attended the BCHS prom. Proms are major events: the dressing up, the pictures, the decorations, besides sharing it all with friends. Proms are memory makers.

I’m just bustin’ to tell you more isses’ and ats’ --- I hear more good stuff … what’s good stuff if you can’t share it?
 
--- Some I’m sure of my era where required to memorize poetry in school.  Back then we saw through a glass darkly.  We may have thought it was a ponderous waste of time … “What good is it … how will I ever use it.”  I heard a good definition of poetry: “Poetry enables us to use words as charms to evoke life and colors and smells; a sense of joy and awe, of compassion and well-being.”
 

A family is something I thought I would never have, could never have.  Mine was so broken when I was growing up.  For years, I believed that one day, we would all love one another and accept one another, but it never happened, so I gave up.  I resolved myself to the fact that I might find individual love, but I would never have a family of people who loved me.  I told my husband, Garey, that I didn’t want children because they would grow up to hate me like I had seen happen with my sisters and my parents.

I must admit, whoever said that knowledge and wisdom come with age…was half-right. They also come with experience.  Although, it's kind of a full circle really. The older we grow, the more experiences we will have. And the more experiences we have, the more knowledge we will receive.

The Bible has many, many lessons in it. The older, more experienced I get, the more of these lessons make much more sense to me. Opposed to when I was a child, or even a younger adult.

I continue to be amazed at how “up-to-date” the Bible is. Though it was completed some 2000 years ago, it is still as relevant as ever! Please consider a few examples in the Bible that touch our lives to this day.