Month: January 2009

Super Fan or Super Fanatic?

Posted on by Susan Panzica

Well, unless you’re living in a cave, you’ve heard that the Super Bowl is this Sunday. Whether you love football or not, chances are you are aware that this is the biggest one-day sporting event of the year. I just saw a news clip that reporters from around the globe will be at the Super Bowl broadcasting in 34 languages! The word “touchdown” is said “touchdown” in every language! Across the country, even the world, people will gather for Super Bowl parties. They’ll eat, cheer, scream, cry, laugh. (By the way, do you know that more avocados are sold at this time than any other time of the year? Guacamole Time!!) Even if you normally don’t follow either team in the game, a ticket to this event is in high demand, despite its extremely high price.

People proudly bear the “badge of honor” – FAN. Recently, my son has complimented me on my “fanhood”! Is that even a word? Ok, I admit it – I am a football fan. And this year, I’m rooting for the underdog Cardinals. If you haven’t heard of quarterback Kurt Warner, you must check out his testimony even if you don’t know the difference between football and cricket (that’s a trick question – in England, football is cricket, and soccer is football. Go figure!) Click here to read about Kurt’s testimony.

People who are fans are followers of various things – sports, celebrities, authors, movies, tv shows, hobbies, etc. Fans know information and statistics about the object of their choice. They spend significant amounts of time engaged in activities relating to these interests.

As a Christian, I am follower of Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, a “fan” of the Lord Most High! Some might (and do) say a “fanatic”. So why is it okay to be a “fan” of earthly activities, yet followers of Jesus are considered “fanatics”? But, that’s besides the point. My point is this – as a Christian, we ought to be engaged in activities that draw us closer to Him with the same (or greater) zeal that fans show to their earthly interests.

In a book I was reading, Henry Blackaby says, “The result of the Holy Spirit coming upon the disciples was earthshaking. No, it extended much further than that – these Spirit-filled believers literally shook the gates of hell. So dramatic was the Spirit’s coming upon them that onlookers could not help but be in awe: ‘They were all amazed and marveled’; ‘they were all amazed and perplexed’; ‘they were filled with wonder and amazement’; ‘they marveled’. (Acts 2:7, 12, 3:10, 4:13) Does the world marvel at the church today? Unfortunately, much of what happens in the contemporary church is little more than a reflection of the values and the reasoning of the surrounding culture, instead of a clear demonstration of God’s power.”
He says that we must stop asking, “What can I do for God?” which is self-centered. Rather ask, “What does God want to do through me?” Making that subtle shift in thinking will have dramatic results in your life, for what you’ll witness will be God’s power to transform lives, not just your own ability to help people in need. … You’ll discover that merely watching the activity of God from a distance could never compare with the thrill of being fully involved in the Spirit’s active work.”

I love that last sentence – instead of being a fan on the sidelines, get in the game!! Be a part of the greatest show on earth, so to speak. Partner with God to participate in securing victory for His kingdom! Huddle with God to get His game plan, then go defeat the enemy in His strength!

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. Rom.1:16

I am suffering, yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. 2 Tim. 1:12

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13

May you truly have a super Sunday as you worship the Lord Almighty!
Susan

Coffee Filters, Anyone?

Posted on by Susan Panzica

Want to hear something funny? At least, I found it funny. On Sunday, my sister gave me her old coffeemaker. I figured I could make a pot of regular and decaf when I have people over. This coffeepot uses flat bottom coffee filters. I only had the cone type, so today I purchased the flat ones. Well, the package of 200 was on sale for the price of 100, so of course, I bought 200 even though we don’t even drink coffee. I was looking at the package wondering what I could do with all those filters. Several minutes later, I checked my email and my friend, Donna, sent me the following email. She thought I might want to share it on the blog (said she “saw a story brewing, no pun intended!”). I would have found it worth sharing anyway, but the timing just made me laugh out loud. As my daughter says, “God cracks me up!”

Coffee filters…who knew! And you can buy 1,000 at the discount store for almost nothing. COFFEE FILTERS: Not just for making coffee…

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
2. Clean windows and mirrors. Coffee filters are lint-free so they’ll leave windows sparkling.
3. Protect China. Separate your good dishes by putting a coffee filter between dishes.
4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.
5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.
7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.
8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.
9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.
11. Prevent a popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.
12. Put a few on a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc. on them. They soak out all the grease.

I knew that you can make angels out of them, too. Saw it in a children’s Sunday School craft book. But now I have so many practical uses for coffee filters! Who knew?

Susan

Miracle Worker

Posted on by Susan Panzica

I received this in an email (thanks Kim!).
This image put a lump in my throat.
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Let’s be sure to thank God the for miracles, big and small, that He does every day.
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Today, my daughter had a pressure-cooker day. In the “hi!” message she left on my home machine, her voice wavered, a sign of the stress she was feeling. When I arrived home and checked the mailbox, I sent her a text message that the schoolbooks she ordered had come. Later she called and said with a laugh, “God cracks me up!” She shared part of what her struggles had been that day, and at the very moment she was lamenting to herself that she really needed those books for her class, she received my text message that they had arrived. It was like releasing the lid of the pressure-cooker. God’s fingerprints were all over the timing in that small matter.
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I sometimes have trouble grasping the fact that the God of the universe, who sets planets in orbit and galaxies in motion, is just as concerned about our individual trials and tribulations. They are not small matters to Him. And I think that is what is so astounding to me! I could possibly grasp that He is the Creator of this vast universe. Or I could possibly grasp that He is my Friend or that He loves me as His precious child. But to be both just boggles my mind! You may have heard it said: He is so big the universe cannot contain Him, yet He is so small He fits inside our hearts. Close your eyes and imagine the far reaches of the universe. He is there. Close your eyes and take a slow deep breath – inhaling the very Spirit of God. He is there. What an awesome, unfathomable, loving, caring God we serve!! Won’t you ask Him to reveal Himself to you more, show you something new today?
Susan

Hello Love – Part 2

Posted on by Susan Panzica

Okay, let me say I’m sorry. I don’t want to go on and on about Friday night’s Chris Tomlin concert, but I have just a couple more things to share, and then I’ll be done with this topic! I promise!

For the first time EVER that I know of, an artist did a callout to those in the audience who canNOT sing!! Halleluia! Raise the roof! We bad singers are never appreciated! I’ve actually been told to sing tenor – ten or twenty feet away. Yes, it’s true. And I was really asked to sing solo once – so low you can’t hear me. I love to sing, and I do sing my heart out – in the shower – in the car. I sing all day long (as long as no one is around to hear me). Should my husband walk in the room, he’ll say softly out of the corner of his mouth, “Don’t sing.” Having the rest of my family be so talented musically makes me even more aware of my lack of singing abilities. But let me say this – nowhere in the Bible does it speak about singing on key. Singing is not included in any of the lists of spiritual gifts. In fact, musical talent is barely referred to at all. What the Bible does say is “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.” Now, those who have the misfortune of standing next to me in church may not be joyful hearing my “noise”, but my heart is filled with joy when I praise the Lord, and I think He appreciates that! So, let’s all make a joyful noise!! Can I hear an “Amen”?

The other thing I wanted to mention is this. I was seated in front of a “old” friend of mine. Not that she’s old, just that our friendship has lasted nearly 30 years. We don’t see each other much, but when we do, it’s just like no time has passed. I love that! Anyway, she was at the concert with her daughter, her son-in-law and his mother, who I met for the first time. She was from Kentucky and said that she was amazed to see so many Christians at the concert. She didn’t think there were that many Christians in all of New Jersey. Sure not like Kentucky! I responded that there are just so many more people in this area in general. Because there are so few Christians compared to the population, it is all the more important to let our light shine. In my last post, I shared about the single light bulb and how it illuminated the darkness. The very nature of light extinguishes the darkness. So just think if more and more and more light bulbs were added to that one. What an impact it would make. Friends, let us let our lights shine brightly. Let our good works glorify our Father in heaven. Let us make known His name among the people. Let us not hide our light under a bushel. When light is present, darkness cannot exist. So let us shine His light in us for the world to see.

Susan

Hello, Love!!

Posted on by Susan Panzica

I am still basking in the glow of the worship experience I had last night at the Chris Tomlin concert – his “Hello Love” CD tour. About 15,000 people and I worshipped together giving me a tiny taste of what heaven might be like – “the multitudes of heaven worship you.” Neh. 9:6

The music was awesome, so worshipful. But I was also impressed by a few other things that occurred during the night that I want to share with you.

***

At one point, Chris Tomlin was singing the song “Forever” and forgot the words. Well, it had been a long night, on a long tour. The band continued to play… the other singers kept singing. And when Chris began singing again, it was the words … “by the grace of God, we will carry on… His love endures forever…” And it hit me that there are times in our lives when we lose track of where we should be. Maybe we go through the motions, but not sensing the strength and peace and presence of God. Maybe it’s something else we are struggling with – a relationship, a work situation, depression, health or financial worries – something that causes us to trudge through life unaware of the joy and freedom that Christ brings. And we find ourselves just “carrying on” not even realizing that it is by the grace of God we do so. Other times, we find ourselves in a difficult time or situation, and do know that it is only the grace of God that is carrying us through. Still other times, all seems well, and yet even then it is still only by the grace of God that we carry on. Chris said, “You don’t have it all together, I don’t have it all together but God holds it all together.” So:

Give thanks to the Lord … Our God and King …
His love endures forever
For He is good, He is above all things … His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
With a mighty hand and outstretched arm His love endures forever
For the life that’s been reborn His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Forever God is faithful … Forever God is strong …
Forever God is with us
Forever
From the rising to the setting sun His love endures forever
By the grace of God We will carry on His love endures forever
Forever God is faithful … Forever God is strong …
Forever God is with us
Forever

***

Chris shared a challenge to get involved with onemillioncan.com. Starting at a Passion conference in Atlanta, this movement has been raising money to help poor people in the name of Christ all over the world. He said, “Our worship has to get some legs and do something. It has to take action.” This week, my Sunday School homework focused on Romans 12:1 where Paul says, “Therefore I urge you, brethren (and sisters!), by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” Our service and our worship is inseparable.
***
As one person, we can do a little. Many together can do a lot. At the Passion conference, the students were encouraged to share financially with those a round the worldwho have so little and need so much. It was a shock to the leaders when 20,000 student raised $1,000,000! And that began onemillioncan.com. To illustrate his point, all the lights were turned off on the stage except for one bare bulb. This little bulb was clearly visible throughout the arena. And Chris shared, “The darker it is – the brighter that 50 watt bulb shines!” Even one shining in the darkness provides enough light to overcome that darkness. Imagine what hundreds of lights will do! We sang, “A light shines in the darkness” to the tune of “O Come All Ye Faithful”. Isaiah 9:2 says, “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.” That’s the focus of onemillioncan.com. Check it out by clicking here.
***
This next point my kids urged me not to share, but maybe you are as corny as I am, so here goes: The concert was at the Prudential Center in Newark where the NJ Devils hockey team plays. We were sitting on the “floor seats” where it was cool as the ice was below the floor. At one point as we sang, I became aware that below me was ice where Devils skate. Above me were banners praising Devils, but in between the music was rising and the presence of heaven was so strong and we were singing “rising up all around is the anthem of the Lord reknown …” and “I will rise … and I hear the voice of many angels sing…worthy is the Lamb”. The angels defeated the devils that night! (Sorry if that was too corny!)
***
And my last point (although there were so many more) is this: Near the end of the concert, Chris Tomlin invited Israel Houghton (the opening act) to come out and join him for the last songs. Previously, I have seen Chris in concert opening for Steven Curtis Chapman who did the same thing for him. The blessings and opportunities that Chris had received earlier in his career, he was now passing on to another. And so should we. As God has taught us, so we should teach others. As He has blessed us, so we should bless others.
***
And that is the purpose of this blog. Whatever I have received from God, I want to share with you that you also would be blessed or taught. God does not want us to be like a cup that He fills. He wants us to be like a hose, a conduit, sharing and passing along whatever He has given us. That includes words of comfort, of wisdom, of blessing. It includes money, talents, gifts. May whatever He has shared with you be a blessing to others through you.
Susan

Getting Sick?

Posted on by Susan Panzica

My blessed friend, Joanne, posted this on her blog, and I just had to share it with you.

Are you getting sick?
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Cold and flu season is just getting started and already I feel a sinus infection coming on. Once I feel the symptoms of an achy head, burning throat, or stuffed sinuses, I get my armor on, ready for battle. With a few years under my belt, thankfully, I have gained a little bit of wisdom. I work quickly to try and stop any ailment in its tracks. Taking vitamin C, Airborne, and Zicam, I arm myself to beat it down before it starts. I know just how miserable it is to be sick and I will do everything in my power to not let my enemy advance.

So, why don’t I react the same way when my spiritual health is at risk? Spiritual illnesses such as anger, discontentment, pride,and fear, just like a cold or flu to our physical bodies, cause our spiritual bodies to come to a stop for awhile-holding us back from whatever service the Lord has purposed us for. Just like my achy head and burning throat, there are symptoms to warn us of their coming visit. The infection of anger usually begins with small irritations and annoyances. Discontentment begins with an ungrateful heart. Pride’s symptoms are selfishness, while the symptoms of worry and anxiety can become a full blown illness called fear.

Just like the treatment of vitamin C helps my body to defeat my oncoming infection, the greatest elixir for any spiritual illness is the Word of God It never ceases to amaze me that when I am suffering from a spiritual illness, how fast these symptoms flee in the face of His word. When I feel symptoms coming on, I fight them by looking up all that God’s word says about that specific ailment. If I am suffering from anxiety I will looking up all that God has to say about them. If I am worrying or anxious, scriptures about anxiety, worry and fear speak straight to my heart, Phil. 4:6a “Do not be anxious for anything…” Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you…” Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Friends, are you suffering from anything today? Do you feel an illness coming on? Protect yourselves with the battle gear that God has given you. His Word is alive and active, sharper than any two-edged sword to defend ourselves from anything that gets in our way. Check your heart for symptoms before they become full blown illnesses.
Remember friends, when we get into God’s Word, God’s Word gets into us!

Believing God!
Joanne

Impossible is Nothing!

Posted on by Susan Panzica

Breezing past the Athletic Department today, a pink t-shirt splashed with Dating Game style letters caught my eye. The groovy letters stated “Impossible is Nothing”.
It put a new spin on Luke 1:37 “For nothing is impossible with God.” When I say those words, I say NOTHING is impossible with God. My focus is on the problem which is huge to me, but is nothing for God.
But with this switch of words, I picture God looking at the problem saying, “Impossible?? Ha! It’s nuthin’!” The focus is on Him, not the problem.
I found that this is the new slogan for Adidas. Soon, there’ll be ads and commercials galore. When you see them, remember God in heaven for whom all things really are possible!
Susan

Will the real miracle please stand up!

Posted on by Susan Panzica
Miracle on the Hudson
I’m sure you heard about the “splash crash” of US Airways flight 1549 to Charlotte, NC yesterday. Taking off, a flock of geese were caught in the engines, and the plane went down in the Hudson River. Thankfully, the pilot’s skillful maneuvering averted greater disaster, and the quick response by ferry and boat operators helped to rescue the passengers. The newscasts cited people testifying that, during this ordeal, many prayers were uttered throughout the cabin. Some, maybe many, of these prayers were spoken by people by who have never prayed before, but this desperate situation brought them to their knees. An old saying goes, “Nothing improves your prayer life like big trouble!” And, unfortunately, that is true. We often amble through life without any communication with the One who gave us life. That is – until trouble hits.
The real miracle here, I think, is not so much that people were spared death. The miracle is prayer itself. That the Creator of the entire universe would deem to hear our feeble cries for help is amazing. That He who set stars and planets into orbits is concerned with our baby’s fever, our financial woes, our relationship problems, even our parking spaces! (Don’t even tell me you’ve never prayed for a parking spot!) He is intimately aquainted with all our ways, and He greatly desires to spend time with us as a mother loves to spend time with her child. What if we never heard from our child unless he or she was in trouble? Wouldn’t that be so sad? We love to celebrate their joys, their sorrows and their everyday experiences. And so does our heavenly Father. It’s not that He doesn’t know about what’s happening. It’s about relationship! He wants to hear about it from us, and prayer will build that relationship on our part. It will help us to know Him better the more we speak with Him.

Miracle in Charlotte
When I heard that the plane was destined for Charlotte, I felt the impact profoundly. Charlotte holds a very special place in my heart, having visited there last June for what has become a turning point of my life. I plan to share more on this in the future, but God’s miracles were present at the She Speaks conference in Charlotte. The fact that I was even there was a miracle in itself. It was a conference for speakers and writers and women in Christian ministry. I have kept secret a desire to write a book for about 8 years when I found myself at this conference. At the end of the first day, I cried myself to sleep, “There is NO way that I am up to this task.” My thoughts as I drifted off to sleep were that I would pay attention to the sessions the next day and glean what I could from the various speakers, but forget about my book dream. When I woke up the following morning, a single thought pushed through the haze. “Do not bury your talent. “ I had one talent, and I did NOT want to be compared to the wicked and lazy servant who buried his one talent rather than invest it. I didn’t give this much more thought, but my spirit felt lighter as I made my way to the sessions that day. The first speaker shared an uplifting devotion, and then I proceeded to a session I had previously selected called “Pathway to Publication.” This presentation was a nuts & bolts, point by point, systematic discussion about pursuing publication. Since I had decided that I wasn’t going to pursue publication, I wondered what I was doing there. Near the end of the session, the speaker said, “Now, don’t forget. You have to give an account to God. Do not bury your talent.” She continued on with her factual helpful information, but sitting there, I could barely breathe. Did I hear correctly? Indeed I did. Later on, we spoke and she (again very matter-of-factly) repeated, “Yes, you have to give an account… Do not bury your talent.” This was a confirmation to me to do what I believe God has called me to do.
I purchased the keychain pictured to the right in Charlotte Airport waiting for my delayed flight back to NY. It is a daily reminder to me that God works even in the smallest details of my life.
There were many other doors that opened in 2008, but I share this one today because it confirms the miracle that our all-knowing, all-powerful God cares about our concerns, no matter how tiny they seem in comparison to His vastness, and He wants us to share our burdens with Him. He desires relationship with us, and to me, that’s a miracle!!
Miracle at your place
Prayer ought not to be a laundry list of requests to God. It’s not even just pleasant conversation with God. I am reminded of what Corrie ten Boom shared in “The Hiding Place”. She was being taken out of her barrack at the concentration camp by Nazi guards. Her friend ran past her and whispered, “I’m storming the gates of heaven for you.” That’s what prayer is – entering a spiritual dimension where God dwells. And we’re invited! My friend, Lisa, sent me an email that said: “Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders and says, “Oh no, she’s awake!”
Susan

Great Expectations … NOT

Posted on by Susan Panzica

If you know me, you know I’m mourning the playoff loss Sunday by my beloved NY Giants. Sniff, sniff. And, of course, I’m not alone. The Giants entered the season as the reigning Super Bowl champs, and had the best record in team history (11-1) before they lost the next 4 out of 5 games, and the playoff game. You might call it a GIANT disappointment! Why? Because there were high expectations for this team that were not met.

Like so many others, my husband has been trying to figure out what’s going on with the stock market. And like so many others, he’s completely baffled. But there is one occurrence that is particularly astonishing to him: A report is published showing that the company performed better than the previous quarter, yet that stock value goes down! Why? Because the financial community expected an even higher gain than the actual gain. So here is a company doing well, making a profit in tough times, and because some financial fortune-teller predicted an even larger profit, the stock in that fine company dips. To avoid this, some companies are intentionally leaking fake poor reports. The problem – unrealistic expectations.

This is a problem for us, too. Disappointment is due to our expectations not being met. Our expectations often are too high or unrealistic. We hope, hope, hope for different circumstances or relationships, failing to recognize the blessings that we already have.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t be hopeful. Not at all. Hope is one of 3 things that Scripture says will endure forever – “Three things will last forever: faith, hope, and love…” 1 Cor. 13:13. Hope is a necessary part of our faith – “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for ….” Heb. 11:1. Hope is what keeps us going during difficult times and are part of God’s plan – “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jer. 29:11 I have a lot more to say about hope, but will save that for a future post.

What is on my heart is this – sometimes we place expectations on someone else’s performance that are just unrealistic, and our disappointment stems from our error, not theirs. We expect those who serve in ministry to be perfect, yet they are as human as we are. We expect our loved ones to behave in the way that we want them to, sometimes even completely contrary to their nature. We want our husbands to purchase the perfect Christmas gift by reading our minds, supernaturally knowing our secret wish. Or perhaps we want him to say just the right thing, or pick up a dishtowel or put the kids to bed. That list goes on and on (by the way – is there anything sexier than a husband vacuuming? Oops – I digress.) We want our children to never embarrass us by saying or doing the “wrong” thing. We want our relatives to gather together as warmly as an idyllic Hallmark Christmas special. Frankly, we want people to remove the speck in their eye, while totally ignoring the beam in our eye. We want people to satisfy our needs in a way that only a perfect God can. Ouch. I’m sorry, I don’t want to be a finger pointer – I am speaking to myself first here. And I absolutely don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. What I do want is to spare you the disappointment that is sure to come if you place an expectation on someone that they cannot possibly live up to.

So…
Let us look for and list the positive qualities in people, rather than focus on the negatives, especially with family members. Oh, why is it so easy to let those irritations be our focus?
Let us try to see people as God sees them, and extend grace to them as He does to us.

Let us count our blessings instead of our disappointments. Or better yet, turn a disappointment into an appointment to meet with God. Share your frustration with without becoming a gripe session, and ask to view the situation through His eyes.

Here’s an excerpt from an email I received a while back, that puts a new perspective on some old annoyances:

Be Thankful
I AM THANKFUL:
FOR THE WIFE WHO SAYS IT’S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.
FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.
FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED .
FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.
FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.
FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME
FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.
FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY (you mean me??)
BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.
FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.
FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.
FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.
Susan