Dance With My Father

By Luther Vandross

I certainly wouldn't want my kids to sing this song, very sad and touching song for children of broken homes.

Back when I was a child
Before life removed all the innocence
My father would lift me high
And dance with my mother and me and then
Spin me around till I fell asleep
Then up the stairs he would carry me
And I know for sure I was loved

If I could get another chance
Another walk, another dance with him
I'd play a song that would never ever end
How I'd love, love, love to dance with my father again, ooh

When I and my mother disagree
To get my way I would run from her to him
He'd make me laugh just to comfort me, yeah yeah
Then finally make me do just what my momma said
Later that night when I was asleep
He left a dollar under my sheet
Never dreamed that he would be gone from me

If I could steal one final glance, one final step
One final dance with him
I'd play a song that would never ever end
'Cause I'd love, love love to dance with my father again

Sometimes I'd listen outside her door
And I'd hear how my mother cried for him
I pray for her even more than me
I pray for her even more than me

I know I'm praying for much too much
But could you send back the only man she loved?
I know you don't do it usually
But dear Lord she's dying to dance with my father again

Every night I fall asleep and this is all I ever dream

Rise Up Right Away

Mario and Jun were out cutting wood, and Jun accidentally cut his arm off. Mario wrapped the arm in a plastic bag and brought Jun and his arm to a surgeon. The surgeon said, “Nothing to fear, I’ve done this a hundred times before.” After two hours, Jun walked out of the hospital with his arm reattached. And a few days later, Jun was playing badminton.

Two weeks later, Mario and Jun were cutting wood again, and Jun accidentally cut off his leg. Very calmly, Mario wrapped the leg in a plastic bag and brought Jun to a surgeon again. “It may take a little longer but I can do this,” the doctor said. True enough, after four hours, Jun walked out of the hospital using his two legs. And a few days later, Jun was doing his daily 10-kilometer morning jog.

Two weeks later, Mario and Jun were cutting wood again, and Jun accidentally cut his head off. Very calmly, Mario wrapped the head in a plastic bag and brought Jun to the surgeon. “This is very difficult but let me see what I can do,” the doctor said. But after six hours, the doctor went out of the operating room and told Mario,

“I’m sorry, your friend Jun died.”

Mario nodded. “I understand, doc. It’s very difficult to reattach a cut head.” The surgeon said, “Oh, reattaching is easy. But Jun suffocated in the plastic bag.” I read this crazy story and thought of making it a parable.

The lesson? Our life goes on even if we lose a part of it, as long as we rise up right away and move on.

• If we lose our jobs, it’s not the end of the world. We can get another one, perhaps a better one. Or we’ll be forced to become an entrepreneur. As long as we rise up right away, and not stay inactive for too long, we’ll survive and win over our loss.
• If we lose our health, it’s not the end of the world. As long as we rise up right away, we can recover, recuperate, change our lifestyle and be even healthier than before. (My friend who had cancer told me, “The Big C was the best thing that happened to me. It changed my life. I didn’t know how to live. Now I know how.”
• If we lose a loved one, or if you suffer a failed marriage, or if your own parents break up, it’s not the end of the world either. It’s devastating, and we will always have a wound in our hearts, but we can heal, move on and create a new beginning. If we lose our relationship with God, we can reconcile with Him. As long as we rise up right away, we can repent and rebuild that relationship.

Our fall can teach us many lessons and make us even spiritually stronger. The key is to rise up right away! Don’t stay on the dirt, licking your wounds for eternity.

Don’t wallow in your guilt and let it eat you up forever.

And yes: Don’t let your sadness kill you by putting your cut head in a plastic bag. Even if it’s cut, it still needs to breathe the oxygen of hope.

Friend, rise up right away. (Bo Sanchez)

When Fun Is Not Fun At All

For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. – Romans 8:13

Year after year, talking to the OB-Gyne for my annual pap smear test is such an ordeal. Here’s how it normally goes:

OB-Gyne : Age?

My answer : Thirty-six.

OB-Gyne : Married?

My answer : Single.

OB-Gyne : Sexually active?

My answer : No.

Then I’d hear this sarcastic comment again. “What have you been doing with your life? You’re missing all the fun!”

Promiscuity has become an acceptable norm in our society. How sad that what is meant to be the expression of deep love between a man and woman joined forever in marriage can be trivialized as merely a way of enjoyment. What could have been a gift of oneself to another has led to the cravings of the flesh. No wonder, serious illnesses related to sexual activities are becoming more prevalent.

However we define promiscuity, it is one of the most destructive sins. It will always take us further than we intended to play, keep us longer than we intended to stay and cost us more than we’re willing to pay. - Jane Gonzales

REFLECTION:

Remember, what we feed ourselves may control us..

Father, forgive us for feeding the cravings of our sinful flesh. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

A Beautiful Prayer to start the day....

"Lord, when I lose hope because my plans have come to nothing, help me to remember that Your love is always greater than my disappointments and Your plans for my life are always better than my dreams. Amen"