Modern Handmade Child

Sunday, July 15, 2012

I'm Just Sayin

"My godson Chris and his wife Cali"

                                          I’m Just Sayin’”
                                                                 by Alan P. Scaglione
I am thankful to have a job. We live in a country where unemployment is at a consistent 9%.
And that’s not for the fifty somethings out there. We know…for our age…it’s a lot higher!
And my company is offering as much overtime as I can work—so, I am working it!
Putting in 2 hours OT each day—while they are offering it.
It helps my employer and…it’s helping the old savings account, too!
It’s just been one of those weeks—I take calls for a living— dealing with the public!
If you’ve ever dealt with the public…. You know what I mean.
I always try to treat everyone with respect and courtesy, empathy and understanding.
And most times, they appreciate it! I did say “most” times!
Not this week—been a week where no matter what I did…it was NOT appreciated!
So...I was ready for Friday night…just me and my girl…dinner, just a relaxing evening.
We are on our way to dinner…looking forward to it.
I see the phone ringing…yes, I “see” the phone ring. I have it on silent from work.
It’s my godson Chris. We have been missing each other’s calls all week. Due to my OT.
I take the call—apologizing for our hit and miss conversations this week.
He says he understands. He works hard at his job also. He also works long hours.
Chris has one question for me.
I love the fact that he still asks me questions.
Most 26 year olds out there… they don’t ask much from a 52 year old man…
They seem to think they know it all OR…I don’t know anything!
Not Chris—I love the fact that most of his questions are about a subject I have spent my life studying…and still do.
He asks about the Word, about God, about living the life for Christ, about relationship with Jesus.
Again…you just don’t get a lot of people, especially men, his age…searching for answers!
So he has this one question. I answer.
He says that my answer has given him two more questions.
He asks, and I answer.
That causes three more questions.
I answer…he has four more questions.
I answer…and we have spent thirty minutes talking about God, the Word, the application of the Word into our daily lives.
And I think…”Man, when’s the last time one of my three kids called me to ask about scripture, about applying it to life, about my opinion of the Word!”
And I can’t remember the last time.
And again…I am thankful.
 Not for my job this time.
But for a young married man, dealing with all the daily chores of life, married, father of two, breadwinner, supervisor at this job, financial struggles…
And he has his personal struggles, we all do…and we try to do the right thing all of the time, succeeding most of the time
And yet, still… seeking the Word, the Wisdom, the Way… to apply it to his life!
And asking ME what I think about this Word I have spent my life studying, I have applied to my life in every way I could, I have loved and hungered for…
No… you just don’t see much of that anymore.
The Word says in 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth!”
So few twenty somethings out there studying anything but the latest app on their iPhone or the latest way to work less and still make money…but I DO know a few!
But I’m glad I still do… and I will take Chris’s call anytime he wants to talk…about anything, especially about the Word.
I still get excited anytime someone wants to discuss scripture and how it applies to today—again, not a lot of that these days!
We have an election that no one wants to apply scripture to… apparently, that’s NOT the way to make a decision.
It’s still the way I make MY decisions!
And apparently, it’s still the way Chris makes his!

Until Next Time
I’m Just Sayin’…
Brother “A”
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Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Points2Ponder

"Can you find a hero in the crowd? Just waiting-- until needed!"
                                     Points2Ponder
                                                                                                       By Alan P. Scaglone
Who says all of our heroes wear uniforms?
Sometimes…they wear skirts??
My friend at work has a cousin who lives in New York City.
She works there, takes the subway, walks Manhattan every day.
For those of us who have visited several times…on business and for pleasure, you know.
It can be a scary place and definitely a place where you have to expand your peripheral vision.
Just be aware; just be observant; just be ready… for anything!
I remember my first time to The City, my coworker had given meThe Rules: no eye contact, no niceties and NO SMILING!! 
And finally, if anyone came up to you, you were to be MEAN and LOUD and tell them to BACK OFF!
I was at Rockefeller Center and a nice girl came up to me and tried to pin a flower on my jacket. I remember thinking “BACK OFF!”
I must have “thought it” out loud—my friend saw me and saw the girl take off.
Thirty minutes later, we saw what was going on—she had a big guy threatening the travelers with Rape accusations IF they didn’t turn over their money!!
Whew!! Averted that one!
POINTS2PONDER  Why do we assume that all of our heroes come in uniforms? There might be heroes among us, walking around every day, just ready to step up to the challenge…when presented! You may not be able to pick them out, but…they’re there! And, you may be one of them!
So my friend said her cousin was coming out of the subway, minding her own business, on her way to work.
All of a sudden, she hears “HELP! HELP!” coming from ahead of her!
The next thing that happens-- just happened so quickly!
She sees a young guy racing down the sidewalk, running FAST, toward her.
She did what any normal passerby would do, right?
STEP ASIDE!! I’m not getting involved—I do NOT know why he is running and do NOT want to become part of this!
Isn’t that what most people are thinking when they encounter this situation?
Probably….
But NO! She reached out her fist and clocked the guy! BAM!!!
Took him down and put him in a choke hold and  THEN PEOPLE AROUND RESPONDED!
Guess those KickBoxing/Karate Lessons DO HELP!
Several guys helped HER keep him apprehended while Police were dispatched arrest the guy.
What was he running from? Who was yelling HELP and why?
Well… here we go!
The “guy” on the ground -- was running from a robbery he had just committed.
The people calling HELP-- was the woman standing next to her husband WHOSE LEG HAD JUST BEEN SLICED by a knife so the robber could steal his wallet out of his pocket!
The guy literally ran from behind, sliced the man’s leg, pulled out the wallet, while the leg is bleeding profusely, and started running!
AND Thought he had gotten way UNTIL he meets WONDER WOMAN!!!
Oh yeah! Wonder Woman just instinctively responded to the cry for HELP!
And…after police arrived… she got on the subway, on her way to work…
Adrenaline subsided, she started shaking from fear and said, “What did I just do?? What was I thinking?? Why didn’t I just let him run past me??”
She didn’t because…she was a Hero In Waiting!!
That’s right!! In Waiting!
She had been taught that we get involved when needed, we respond to help when heard and we do the right thing even IF it’s dangerous or inconvenient!
Like most of us—that’s how we were raised!
She was just trained—never knowing WHEN she would spring into action!!
Until SHE DID!
Isn’t that just the coolest true story of unsung hero and unexpected heroism???
Madeline in NYCWe Salute your Courage, your Valor, your Heroism!
You are our Hero without a Uniform!
SALUTE!!
Anybody know a true story of heroism that you would like to share??
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Sunday, July 8, 2012

I'm Just Sayin'

"Jett's going to be a Big Brother!"
                                          I’m Just Sayin’”
                                                                 by Alan P. Scaglione
Sometimes, it’s part of the plan to be off your plan!
I normally take a break at 3:15, but the day got away from me…
And I looked down at my watch and saw…4pm!!
I better take a break before it’s time to go home!
So I walked outside for a breath of fresh air!
I highly suggest if you work in an office all day…
Take some time throughout the day…to just escape to the outside!
I walk around, check out the ponds, see the ducks, watch the birds…
Just get away from the hustle and bustle of sitting at a desk, taking calls all day!
If you work in that kind of environment—make a date with the outside and least once a day!
You will find that it recharges your battery and reminds you that—there is life outside!
So I walk out…take in a breath of fresh air!!
And bzzzzzz, bzzzzzz, bzzzzz! That’s my phone vibrating!
I look down, and it’s my daughter-in-law’s name.
I immediately think “Hope everything’s okay!”
I answer the phone, and it’s “No Pops! It’s me!” My son!
He started the conversation with…”Looks like Jett’s gonna be a Big Brother!!”
They had just found out that they were pregnant, and he wanted to let me know.
And just think?  I wasn’t supposed to be on break—but I am so glad I was.
We talked about how Jett was running around saying “When can I go pick up my little brother?”
Jett is 3 – so for him, it’s all about getting a little brother.
He has always said he wanted a little brother.
Never a sister—always a brother!
Hmmmm? Guess we won’t break it to him – he could be a she!!
As my son hung up, I told him “thank you for the good news—you made my day!”
He said, “Well I didn’t want to text you—this was just too important!”
I agree—this WAS too important for a text!
In this day and age, everyone seems to text everything.
Nice to know…apparently there IS a pecking order of things that warrant a call!
Having a baby—DEFINITELY warrants a phone call!
This next part…you will have to be a parent to understand.
See…my son is my youngest, my baby boy.
And I see him…all grown up…happily married, new beautiful home, great father.
But…he’s still my little boy! I miss that!
I was struck with two things
First: Cats In The Cradle ! Remember the song?
“Cat’s in the cradle with the silver spoon,
little boy blue and the man in the moon,
when you coming home son, I don’t know when,
 but we’ll get together then Dad, I know we’ll have a good time then!”
THAT song haunted me throughout my parenthood years—NEVER wanted to live that out…
But now—looks like that’s exactly how life has unfolded!
My boy was now a full grown Dad and Husband…busy with the cares of his life!
The same cares that consumed our lives—the custodial care years!
And he was smack dab in the middle of it all- 3 year old and baby on the way!
But he took the time to call…and let me know…baby’s on the way.
Then the second thing: My son’s theme scripture.
It’s the scripture I have prayed over him since the day he was born.
When they placed him in my arms, I breathed it under my breath.
When he was old enough to listen, I recited it to him.
When he graduated from High School, I wrote it in his Yearbook.
When he had his first father’s day, I gave him a plaque with it inscribed.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for thee, plans to prosper…”
And I did what any parent would…
I reflected on my son’s life thus far…
And I smiled because I knew…
Nothing unplanned about it!
Just like taking that break “all of a sudden” – Nah! I was meant to take that call.
I had to hear the joy in his voice…and He wanted to tell his Pops.
See? Sometimes…what you think just happened…was planned all the time!
Until Next Time
I’m Just Sayin’…
Brother “A”
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Wednesday, July 4, 2012

"Old Glory - May she always fly Unfurled!"

                                     Points2Ponder
                                                                                                       By Alan P. Scaglone
I just love to see an unfurled flag!
The majestic wave of Old Glory!
The triumphant view of our Red, White and Blue!
All of it…just makes me proud to be an American!
And it makes me want to thank those who defend our freedom—
Even our greatest freedom—the right to disagree!
We live in Our Land where we can disagree with politicians.
We can disagree with each other.
And we don’t have to fear repercussions for disagreeing.
There won’t be any military at our door to pull us out of our beds;
There won’t be any sequestering in a jail cell for indefinite periods;
There won’t be beatings, floggings, executions…
Even IF we disagree with the party in charge.
That’s OUR AMERICA!!!
POINTS2PONDER  Why do we take a simple act, the act to disagree, so lightly? Why can’t we see how others in the world are dying for this right…just to say “I disagree!” Why can’t we remember…it was the reason we fought for Liberty—so we could “Disagree in Peace”, without fear of reprisal!
And that’s one of the things that STILL MAKES AMERICA GREAT!!!
On this day…As we celebrate Our Declaration of Independence – let’s remember that we have always defended someone’s right to disagree!
Even IF it’s not our opinion – they have a right to speak freely on our land!
And that means Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom to bear arms!
As a Christian, I am so proud to be in a country where I can speak of my love for God!
I can proclaim that Jesus is my Savior and that I am bound for glory!
And…even IF someone disagrees—IT’s STILL MY RIGHT TO BELIEVE!
We live in a country that protects our right to Believe!
It’s our unalienable right to the “Pursuit of Happiness” that is defended daily!
And that pursuit may cause US to disagree with those pursuing THEIR happiness!
And I always remember…we ALL have a right to the PURSUIT!!!
So as we celebrate this GOD given right to believe, to disagree, to pursue…
Remember those who have fought to keep us free!
And remember that…many of them are coming home
And they are going to need OUR help to readjust to Life Back At Home!
They are coming home to what they left…but they are coming home different!
The reports I have heard cause me to pray harder for our returning HEROES!
They are coming home—missing limbs, PTSD, sense of loss—damaged!
Some of them need to be reminded… WE are the Land of BELIEVE!
And WE – who were “Defended” by THEM – need to step up for each of them!
On this day…when we celebrate all of our freedoms and our heroes—
Why not commit to helping our Heroes Believe Again!
You can do something to help – donate your time, your money, your things!
Remind them WHY they donated their life for our FREEDOM!!
There are programs designed to help our heroes re-acclimate to life at home!
One of those programs that I have been learning more about is:
Apparently, “GotYour6” means …
 “I’ve got your Back! You had mine, now I have yours!”
There are other worthy projects—find the one that you like the best—but lend a helping hand!
There’s no better way to celebrate our freedoms…
Than to give to those who defended them!
That’s what they fought for…our freedom to Believe!
So…why don’t WE…help OUR HEROES to Believe Again!!
There’s just no better way to celebrate Our Unfurled Flag that still flies high today!

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SELECT the link BELOW!   YOU can send me an email!   I CANT WAIT!