Sunday, February 14, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Why God?
Whatever God's plan may be, I am committed to make my little corner of this world a place of Peace and Serenity.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
200 dancers delight surprised commuters at Central Station Antwerp
200 individuals volunteered their time to rehearse and make this performance without any compensation. All that the dancers received was the joy of bringing joy to others. Isn't that wonderful?
Saturday, January 23, 2010
God's little creatures need a helping hand...
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
I used to see Bill at the Cancer Center. He was a very friendly man who kept me company as we waited in the lobby. He was in his 80s when he died just a few weeks ago. For the first time in over sixty years, his wife will be spending the holidays alone. I can't imagine how difficult it will be for her. Eating meals alone. Sleeping alone. No longer anyone to be her constant companion. No one to talk to, to laugh with, to hold.
Should she put up the Christmas tree or just leave it in the box? Christmas will never be the same without Bill's kind smile. All those wonderful days of love and friendship are now in the past. How many wives have lost their husbands in recent years? How many husbands have lost their wives? The holidays will be very difficult for those who have lost their life-long partners. I just hope their kids and other family members will remember them. No one should be alone at this festive (and often painfully sad) time of year.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Is it Evil to be Merciful?
Is it Evil to be merciful?
Is it Good to ignore those in Hellish pain?
Years ago, on March 31, 2005, I wrote...
"Is it kind to starve the teminally ill to death? Is it kind to let the terminally ill suffer in agony? Horses with broken legs are shot. Dogs and cats who are seriously ill and in pain are put to sleep. Murderers, convicted of capital crimes, are given a lethal dose, so that their death is not considered cruel by the federal courts. Yet, the terminally ill are often "sentenced" to a slow and horrific death without remedy or relief. This is a matter of compassion and mercy. Do we love enough to care?"
No one, not one child of God, should be forced to spend the last days of life in pain and suffering.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
For the first time in my life, I am no longer able to work for a living. I managed to work a full year while being terminally ill, but I just don't have the strength to do it anymore. I closed my business and warehouse in August, 2009. But the bills are still coming in and I don't have any way to pay them. This weighs heavy on my heart, but there is noting I can do about it. I don't have any kind of savings or retirement fund. No stocks or bonds or real estate. I didn't expect to get sick. I cerainly never expected to become disabled.
If you would like to contact me, write me at: Glenn4kindness@yahoo.com. Put in the subject heading: DO NOT DELETE so that I know it is a personal message and not spam. My snail mail address is: Glenn Friedman, P O Box 1112, Bourbonnais, IL 60914. I rarely ever use my phone in an effort to save minutes and money. Click here for information about Myelodysplastic Syndrome posted on Wikipedia.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
What we can do is to live out our lives as best we can with purpose, and love, and joy. We can use each day to show those who are closest to us how much we care about them, and treat others with the kindness and respect that we wish for ourselves. We can learn from our mistakes and grow from our failures.
And we can strive at all costs to make a better world, so that someday, if we are blessed with the chance to look back on our time here, we can know that we spent it well; that we made a difference; that our fleeting presence had a lasting impact on the lives of other human beings.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
God cannot build a happy home unless husband and wife work with Him by bringing to it a spirit of sharing, mutual respect, a binding loyalty, constancy and compassion. - Sidney Greenberg
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Today is the Day
Monday, June 29, 2009
I am one of the lucky few. I am afflicted with a terminal disease, but there hasn't been any pain or suffering. Unfortunately, many who are facing death have to endure agonizing torment as they deal with unmanageable pain. Sometimes, the meds only "take the edge off" or give little relief to the pain. It seems to be a horrendous way spend the last few days of one's life. We are kinder to murderers on death row than we are to our own loved ones. We show more compassion to cats, dogs and horses. This is madness. Our sense of morality is so off kilter. Mercy killing is not murder. Showing compassion is not criminal. Our laws which do not allow for death with mercy are immoral, unjust and incredibly unkind. Perhaps, most Americans can't relate to what I am saying, because they haven't experienced constant pain and agony. Perhaps only those who have watched a terminally ill suffer beyond reason will understand the need for more options for the terminally ill.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
There is one thing that is very clear and without equivocation. I am the beneficiary of the kindness of an indeterminate number of total strangers during a total of 35 transfusions since July 30, 2008.
I wish I could thank all those kind souls who have kept me from death's door. They are my unseen angels of mercy and love.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Glen will be alone on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. He saw his kids a couple of weeks ago. Maybe, he'll clean his office or work on his motorcycle - just to keep busy.
Pat lost her husband over 14 years ago. Time is supposed to heal all wounds, but at Christmas-time, it's still hurts. It's a pain that just doesn't go away.
Fred's son and grandson lost their jobs on the very same day. How are they going to pay their bills? In this economy, how are they going to find new jobs?
Nancy, a 59 year-old Kindergarten teacher in the Chicago suburbs, was told on December 10th that she has pancreatic cancer. That is certainly not the type of Christmas present she ever wanted.
Tammy is still languishing in prison for a crime she committed 21 years ago. Her family lives many hours away and she expects to spend the holidays alone.
At Christmas-time, we can't see the pain and suffering that's all around us. We can't hear the hushed cries of the heart. We can't feel their loneliness. Bankruptcy, foreclosures, lay-offs, pay-cuts, illness, death seem dim and barely noticeable under the bright and festive holiday lights.
There really isn't much that most of us can do to ease the pain of family, friends or neighbors who are suffering at this time of the year, but perhaps, we can pick up the phone, mail a card, send an e-mail or give a big hug. We can let them know that they are not alone; that we care. In these difficult times, it helps to have the support of loved ones and friends.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Let our young people learn from their mistakes...
as they do from personal experience.
A major part of learning and growth is through trial and error.
Most kids and young adults, who get into trouble with the law,
are usually acting on impulse without any criminal forethought.
Perhaps, we can say they are "good kids gone stupid!"
Ofttimes, they foolishly ignored the serious nature of their actions.
Since most people learn best from their mistakes,
let's allow our young people to learn and to grow
without, whenever possible, the heavy hand of the judicial system.
Let's be tolerant of their mistakes
and let's be generous with our guidance and our mercy.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Jesus, the Great Teacher, admonished us to forgive 70 times 70! That's a hell-of-alot of forgiving! It's certainly not at all easy to do. But it really has its benefits. I don't harbor any resentments or hatred. Therefore, I am more at peace with every one I meet. I try to be quick to forgive others and I try to be just as quick to ask for forgiveness when I have offended someone. I feel that this compassionate understanding and tolerance of others brings me closer to the Divine Desire for "Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward men."
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Time reports: Violent crimes have dropped 25% since '87, but harsher sentencing for lesser crimes has caused overcrowding and fueled a thriving private-prisons industry.
Pew Report: 1 in 100 Adults in Prison. Click here for details:
http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/news_room_detail.aspx?id=35912
“For all the money spent on corrections today, there hasn’t been a clear and convincing return for public safety,” said Adam Gelb, director of the Public Safety Performance Project.
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2008/02/one-in-100-us-adults-in-prison-pew.php
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
I feed the birds quite alot in winter when they need it the most. During the rest of the year, I limit the amount of bird feed so that birds do not become solely dependent on the feeders. There's just enough so they get a treat during the day, but then, I let them go empty - especially during the Summer.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
This humanitarian crisis began when Bush invaded Iraq - supposedly because of Saddam Hussein's non-existent weapons of mass destruction. Now there is mass misery. America should not be making war. We should be making peace and rendering aid.