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The Divorced Son: Part Twelve | Reflections

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                      My Brother.   I remember pulling him around in the red wagon in Sherwood, Ohio. He was my greatest joy.   I always wanted him to be my best friend. But that was not meant to be.   I still love my brother deeply, but there is resentment now, on both sides.                   I remember our days in Ohio. We went everywhere together.   I was always protective of him.   I wanted him to be happy. I even remember one time we filled an empty 2-liter bottle with water and packed some bologna.   We walked together down to the train yard.   There was a small wooden overlook that we got up on. I don’t think anyone knew we went there.   It was a special memory to me. All of the Ohio memories were good, until the Divorce.                 When the divorce happened, we split from our Dad and our Mom’s boyfriend stepped in quickly. I knew in my heart that things were not good.   We stayed with Dad for awhile until we would move to Arizona.   I was so confused and full of anger

Come in from the Cold Day | JOY for Today

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It's not the coldness that brings us joy. No, joy is the warming up process that follows the bitter cold. Come in from the cold; know JOY. Come in from the Cold Day | January 22nd Annually JOY for Today Offerings: Did You Know...  Facts about keeping warm. Wolfe Stew Connects  To sharing warmth. Bible Verses and Quotes  Related to the cold. Activity Suggestions  Appropriate attire, outdoor activities, writing prompts, discussion questions, and family challenge. UPCOMING HOLIDAYS:   Library Shelfie Day (January's 4th Wednesday) Spouses' Day (January 26th Annually) National Inspire Your Heart with Art Day (January 31st Annually) Did You Know: Our body temperatures are not stable? They fluctuate throughout the day, usually starting lower in the morning and reach a peak in the evening. Younger people are usually warmer than older people. Women are usually warmer than men but seem colder because their bodies focus on keeping their cores, not their extremities, warm.  ( W ebMD

The Divorced Son: Part Eleven | Reflections

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                    Porn is an addiction.   It’s kinda like those alcoholics movies where the guy makes it 90 days and gets recognition he made it that far.   Porn is a sin of the flesh.   I know of all of this because I have been dealing with it since I was 11.   I have learned that the Devil attacks me through the flesh, constantly.   He never gives up, and the only place you can find solace is in God’s hands.   Turn to him, always.                   My addiction to porn started with a suitcase full of porn in our garage.   My stepfather owned it, and left it out there easy to be found.   I don’t really remember how we found it, just that we did.   My brother and I.   The images blazed in my mind, turned my flesh to tingling.   It made me feel exhilarated, especially when I felt down.   I never thought any girl would ever want me.   So I found myself drawn to women who would give me everything, and my desire took over.   Whenever I was angry or sad, I became driven to porn.   It

National Milk Day | JOY for Today

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Milk and I do not have a happy history. Due to lactose intolerance in childhood, I never really developed the taste for milk. The Mr., on the other hand, loves milk. At nearly every meal, he drinks a full glass of whole milk. Regardless of your preference, there is no denying the nutritional qualities of milk. So, for those of us who are able, let's sport those milk mustaches as we JOYfully toast God's provision using this nutritionally robust drink of His creation. National Milk Day | January 11th Annually JOY for Today Offerings: Did You Know...  Facts about milk. Wolfe Stew Connects  To milk and honey. Bible Verses and Quotes  Related to milk. Activity Suggestions  Field trip, comparing milk, milk transformations, discussion questions, and family challenge. UPCOMING HOLIDAYS:   Make Your Dreams Come True Day (January 13th Annually) National Vision Board Day (January's Second Saturday) Martin Luther King, Jr Day (January's Third Monday) Did You Know: A single cup o

The Divorced Son: Part Ten | Reflections

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Envy is called the ‘green-eyed monster’, and boy was I.   I lost my dad, really, my family… I was so angry. So very, very angry…. I looked at other people that had their dad, and I envied.   I wanted what they had.   Even though I knew nothing about them and their life.   I wanted my full family. My Dad, My Mom, My Brother, and me.   I didn’t realize the gift God gave to me.   He gave me the gift of sight.   I could see how precious a whole family is.   I could see everything I never got from my Dad, that I wanted.   I kept looking for fathers.                   There really is only one Father that won’t disappoint.   He has everything you could want.   He protects you every single day.   I have seen it.   He kept me from going down deep dark paths, ones you don’t come back from easily.   I know He loves me.   He took me down paths I needed to know, in order to stand up for the Divorced Sons and Divorced Daughters out there. I am put into the paths of lives He wants me to touch.

The Divorced Son: Part Nine | Reflections

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  I wanted to write these statements to help you understand me.  We all have a ‘Divorced Son’ in us.  We are all hurting.  I found God when I was young, then I turned away from him for actually answering my prayers.  I asked for God to save my grandfather, from my father’s side.  God claimed him that night.   He allowed my grandfather a peaceful entrance into His arms.  I didn’t see it, because what I wanted was my grandfather to stay.  It was selfish.  It took me a long time to recognize that God had done what I asked, but in His way.  I had no right to be angry.  None of us do.  God will answer you in His manner. I am not ever trying to preach to you.  I would never think I was able.  I just want to share what God has done in my life.  There are so many times He has saved me from myself.  He has used people that were absolute scum in my life, and He made them keep the sin away.  It is miraculous.  I don’t know why it took me so long to get to this point.  The point of hearing the

The Divorced Son: Part Eight | Reflections

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                 My Grandfather from my mother’s side was like a father to me.  My father left, because he was defeated.  My mother was there but she wasn’t.  She pursued Randy and a life of barhopping.  When I was 12, I was pretty much in charge of my brother and myself.  I didn’t want to be.  I have always looked for a father figure.  Even in my older age.  Everyone wants a father figure.                  My Grandpa Weber was the father figure as I grew from 8 years old up through college.  You see, my brother and I listened to the lectures he would tell us.  They were full of knowledge.  He told us stories of when he was in the Army in 1944.  He gave us wisdom that the Army gave to him.  They told him in the cafeteria that you could take what you want, but eat all you take.  He talked about his favorite 6 letter word, THINK.  I told him it was 5 letters, he told me T-H-I-N-K-!.  Even though the exclamation mark isn’t a letter, it still sunk in.  He also always told us to work smar

The Divorced Son: Part Seven | Reflections

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     So, I can’t really talk about my grandpa on my mother’s side until I talk about my dad. He is a good guy, and I can’t really explain how good, because of all the complexities that have happened.      When I was growing up my dad was super sweet to me. He was everything to me. I looked up to him, literally and figuratively. One reason I became a teacher is because of him, probably the biggest reason. My dad was a vice principal at a juvenile facility. Yes, the one where if the kids ran off, they sent dogs out to help find them. I was taken to work sometimes. I watched these older kids say “Hi Mr. Wolfe.” And I heard respect and honor toward him. He always knew how to talk to tough kids.      I knew he loved me and did not want to punish me, so I grew up a little spoiled… okay a lot. I would ‘run away’ and he would come try to find me outside, I never ran far. My mom on the other hand would give me a clear bag with flowers o

Pledge of Allegiance Day | JOY for Today

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The Pledge of Allegiance is a promise. When we say it, we connect as citizens. When we mean it, our country is strengthened. Loyal citizens solemnly committed to work together toward a moral cause under a God who is only good and always faithful builds a strong framework for enduring JOY. Pledge of Allegiance Day | September 8th Annually JOY for Today Offerings: Did You Know...  Five Pledge of Allegiance facts we didn't. Wolfe Stew Connects  with commitments. Bible Verses and Quotes  inspired by promises. Activity Suggestions  Pledge of Allegiance comprehension; Classroom pledge creation; Discussion questions; Family pledge UPCOMING HOLIDAYS:   Patriot Day (September 11th Annually) Fall Equinox (Late September, when the Sun crosses the celestial equator going south) Johnny Appleseed Day (September 26th Annually) Did You Know: We are on the third revision of the Pledge of Allegiance?  The first, written by Francis Bellamy in 1892, was written for use in any country. It excluded the