Life is a salad, I’ve concluded

by Jennie McGhan
Okay, so I was looking at a salad the other day, thinking of the items I needed to remove from it and what items that I would savor.
I love eating a Southwest Salad from one of the fast food restaurants near the freeway. The salad has corn, black beans, cherry tomatoes, red onion, pepperjack cheese and grilled chicken in it.
Each of the items is neatly placed in its own section atop the variety of lettuces used by the restaurant.
I always remove the cherry tomatoes. I either don’t want them at all or will eat just a few of them before pouring the unique salad dressing and Frank’s hot sauce on the rest of the ingredients.
It isn’t that I don’t like cherry tomatoes. I actually do. I used to eat them by the handful. However, as I have grown older, I just don’t consume as many because my tastes and cravings have changed.
Well, it dawned on me that life, for me, is much like that salad.
I have a variety of tasks and experiences that I truly savor and some that I sometimes enjoy. There are other tasks and experiences, which I would much rather forget altogether.
I like to mix the ingredients of my life up after covering it with prayer on a daily basis (the dressing).
Some days I will pick and choose which item of the day I want to take in first and foremost. Other days, I can multi-task and take in more than one issue at a time.
Sometimes I feel as though I might just be the salad, all mixed up and tossed about.
And the hot sauce in my salad is that spicy part of life that either kicks me in the rear or perks things up.
But, everything about the salad that I consume and the salad I call life provides me with nutrition.
Afterall, God doesn’t ever give me more than I can handle, and He certainly wants me to stay fit, growing from my experiences, regardless of how mundane or overwhelming they may be.
Each item in the salad I consume is food that helps me to stay fit physically, or it would not be included in the meal.

Display of poor sportsmanship burns me

by Jennie McGhan
This week I had the experience of traveling to another swimming pool with my son for a swim meet and observed something that unnerved me.
The Grandview Neptunes is a small team. They are accustomed to swimming in a 40-yard pool but do very well in the 50-meter pools when faced with the competition.
This week, I witnessed something I have never seen at any of the more than 10 meets I have been to this year.
I looked into the pool during a relay event and saw two boys from the opposing team stop in the middle of their event to slap each other a high-five.
These two boys were far ahead of all the Neptunes.
It bothered me because I wondered what message these boys were sending to their opponents.
Hey! Look at us! We’re so good, we can stop in the middle of our event and still smoke you?
Whatever the message was, I did not, and still cannot, understand the purpose of this behavior.
The purpose of the local swim meets is to create a positive environment in which the children of our communities can participate in a fun, safe activity.
I did not view this as a positive. I can’t think this was positive in any way.
Yet, those watching and cheering for the opposing team, including the parents, could be heard clapping and cheering when these two boys performed this act of poor sportsmanship.
If indeed this was not intended as a display of braggadocio, perhaps the coaches and parents of the boys should think about how it might be interpreted. From where I was standing, the action of the two swimmers turned what should have been a positive experience into a night where our youngsters not only lost the meet, but had their noses rubbed in it.
If the tables were turned, I would never condone such conduct from my child.

Procrastination isn’t good when it comes to our health

by Jennie McGhan
Okay, so we women, and men for that matter, often times have a tendency to allow our medical needs slide until absolutely necessary.
We dread going to the doctor. We don’t want to hear bad news or find out we are eating the wrong things or hear the doctor say we need to change habits with which we have grown comfortable.
I am one who has procrastinated for five years on getting the annual physical. I have gone in for an ear infection or something that needed immediate attention. But, I had failed to schedule the dreaded physical exam.
Well, I finally "bit the bullet." I went in for the exam this week. It went better than I anticipated. I found out my blood pressure is lower than I remember it ever being and I now know my weight. My doctor scolded me slightly about the time lapse between physical exams, citing that I should schedule them on my birthday.
Unfortunately, I am getting old enough now that I need to have other health issues tested that I haven’t needed before. So, I had the wonderful experience of taking a trip to the lab at our local hospital for blood work. Needles … Need I say more?
My doctor also noted that with my increasing age, I am not far from needing another test suggested for women. We will explore that in just three years. And, I am not excited about it.
It is a fact of life that we need to keep up the maintenance of our health. Without the check-ups, something could go drastically wrong before we realize it, and our health may be in jeopardy.
I know this. Do I like this fact? Certainly not, however I don’t wish to have my health deteriorate. I don’t relish the idea of getting older. After all, I still feel like I am invincible.
I am still young. Many point out that I am a "baby" in comparison to themselves. But, I am not as young as I may look. I am not as young as my age suggests. There are certain changes that begin now. And, that is a fact.
Perhaps denial is good in some instances, however our health is not something to take lightly. A trip to the doctor can wake one up to reality.
I am just happy that I am still relatively healthy and can look forward to a few more years, God willing, on this earth.
Hopefully, I will be courageous enough to set aside all procrastination in the years to come.

Growing up with character

Okay, I don't often like to "brag" on my children because some times I feel that it is too much. My children are not always obedient and they aren't geniuses, but I love them dearly and believe they are perfect in God's eyes. So, I am hoping this comes across as bragging because of who I have "trained up" my eldest child to become in Christ.

I went shopping with my three darlings, whom too many people think are so adorable. I would like to ask them to spend a week with these little angels because they can be awfully ornery and stubborn.

On this particular trip, B insisted he bring his allowance because his little brother was going to have a birthday in just a few days. I thought that was wonderful of him to think of his little brother, not expecting him to truly follow through at the age of 10. I figured he would find something he would like and buy that under the guise of his brother's birthday present.

So, we shop and he asks me to let him know a good time to sneak off to purchase the present he KNOWS his brother will like. I tell him just before I am getting to the meat to go find the present and go to a register to make his purchase. I would meet him at the vehicle.

Low and behold! The child spent approximately half of his money on a Lightning McQueen toy that his brother really did end up loving.

To me, this showed so much character. He could have left all the gift purchases up to me. But, he did this and I am so proud of him.

The youngest child's birthday was this past Saturday, June 9. One of his "most favoritest toys" is the one his Bubba bought him.

I let my son know how proud I am of him. I am proud that he has a heart for the Lord and occasionally forgets to be selfish. At 10, I hardly believe he is capable of being so selfless and mature. But, he is growing up and with the Lord's help, he will become quite a wonderful young man.

In-Law Question

Okay, so there are bad stories about in-laws out there. I just don't get it! I don't understand in-laws that can't embrace one another and love one another. Heck! I can't understand families who can stop talking to one another completely.

I have some in-laws who believe rumors and have outright told my husband they wish he had never married me. After the fact, they have advised him to divorce me. He recently told me one of his sisters would like to beat me up.

I am no saint. But, I certainly am not EVIL. That is how I feel they think of me.

He is the "baby" of five with his closest sibling being six years older than him. And, all the siblings are female. So, mom is very protective and since he has already experience heartache from someone else leaving, she is even more protective.

But, I have tried to be my true self. They didn't like that I am so "open" about my feelings, opinions or whatever. So, I began guarding myself. Part of the reason I guarded myself to friendships is because our small town ... Well, the grapevine here is much like the old game. I would say something and it would be repeated and twisted until it was the exact opposite of what was really stated. NO friends in town!!! That became my cardinal rule. This family is in too deep with too many people whom I don't know to trust.

But, the hurt I feel over all of this runs pretty deep. I have lived here more than nine years. I have been married to my husband more than eight years. I don't feel like much more than an outsider in the town I live in. Fortunately, I work primarily in another town. But, some of my news stories are in this one and I have had one interview (unknown which one exactly) bite me.

Then, my in-laws think I say these nasty things and I have no way of defending myself.

Is it worth a defense? Or, should I just keep my guard up at all times?

Favorite poem

From a book called Poems That Touch The Heart

This, Too, Shall Pass Away

From an old Indian legend in which a king who suffered many hours of discouragement urged his courtiers to devise a motto, short enough to be engraved on a ring, which should be suitable alike in prosperiety and in adversity. After many suggestions, had been rejected his daughter offered an emerald bearing the inscription in Arabic, "This, too, will pass."
Said the poet:

Whate'er thou art, where'er thy footsteps stray,
Heed these wise words: This, too, shall pass away.
Oh, jewel sentence from the mine of truth!
What riches it contains for age or youth.
No stately epic, measured and sublime,
So comforts, or so counsels, for all time
As these few words. Go write them on your heart
And make them of your daily life a part.
Art thou in misery, brother? Then I pray
Be comforted! Thy grief shall pass away.
Art thou elated? Ah, be not too gay;
Temper thy joy; this, too, shall pass away.
Fame, glory, place and power,
They are but little baubles of the hour.
Thus, be not o'er proud,
Nor yet cast down; judge thou aright;
When skies are clear, expect the cloud;
In darkness, wait the coming light;
Whatever by thy fate today,
Remember, even this, shall pass away!

Adapted by Mr. Alexander from sources including Paul Hamilton Hayne, John Godfrey Saxe, Ella Wheeler Wilcox.

The reason this has stayed with me throughout many years is that I can wallow in my sorrows or I can pick myself up. I can turn to the Lord in times of trouble and pain. Not everything lasts forever, but His love. But, we can be overjoyous and become blindsided when trouble makes its way to our lives. So, there is caution to be had in both the pain and joy. It is all but a moment in our lives and nothing compared to eternity.

The Living Bible says
O my soul, don't be discouraged. Don't be upset. Expect God to act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise him for all that he will do. His is my help! He is my God! - Psalm 42:11

So, God is the One we praise in times of joy. He will help us through our times of need. He may use others in our lives to help us. But, it is Him who helps us.

So many times I have tried to rely on my own strength, only to fall further than I already was. When I turned to the Savior, I found myself getting up. He may not have brought me to the "up" that I wanted or desired. He may have done it slower than I wanted Him to. But, He knew what I needed to learn along the way and He knew how long it would take to get to where He wanted me to be.

Today, I reflect on these thoughts and feel renewed in my spirit. I am in awe at His power and His wisdom. I hope others might feel the same. Because if He can use these words for any others to gain hope, He has used me to His glory. How awesome that would be.

Glamour of the Dairy

One wonderful part of working as a reporter is that I work in dairy country. We get to get out and sniff the money in the air, often called "dairy air" or "derriere." Smelling it almost weekly is one thing. I am not squeemish, nor do I mind getting dirty if it is absolutely necessary. But, today, I had the personal experience of being on a dairy, and I feel for the people who live or work there daily. I was interviewing a bovine vet. He was checking the reproductive health of cows that had given birth in the last 60 days, the progress of pregnant cows and the status of cows that have recently been inseminated. NOT a glamour job.

Sparing details, it was enlightening (for lack of a better word). But, that is like life! Some times we just have to get in the muck and manure to get to what is best for us. In this case, the muck and manure brought about a good interview (on which I get to expand tomorrow during further experience with the same vet checking his report card on post surgery cows). And, I have a greater appreciation for what dairy farmers deal with in order to provide the population with milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and the rest of the dairy family on which we so desperately depend. Those precious nutrients in our dairy products are the result of a lot of hard work and someone getting into the muck and manure for us.

So, we have to sometimes do the same, figuratively speaking, to gain the necessary nutrients for our spiritual lives. It isn't always pleasant. We may not even wish to "go there." But, what we deprive ourselves of is enrichment by avoiding it. An example of this may be visiting a homeless shelter nearby. It might not be a pleasant environment. But, our lives might be enriched by helping those who need that shelter like the vet needs to help the cows who live in the muck.

There are other environments or situations that may not be pleasant. But, facing them may help us to become better people and more of what God wants us to become. Perhaps we may not gain from the experience as much as someone else might through our witness.

Something to think about anyway ...