Ch. 21 - The Big Picture

In this chapter which is very short (only reason I got it read this week) talks about how we are all part of one body. Humans in general and Christians in particular. Michelle then again uses her two little dogs to explain that even though they are not much in the retrieving or running categories they are what they were designed to be cute and cuddly. In talking about a knee injury she talked about how when a part of the body other parts help that injured part. In this train of thought she equate the way the body diverts blood away from other parts of the body to the injured part. She stated that it would be wonderful if human beings would rush to the aid of others who are injured in that manner. Instead "humans have the reputation for killing their wounded instead of nurturing them back to health."
She ends the chapter with the statement that even though we are different "ther is no excuse for not loving and respecting one another." She also makes the statement that the fact that animals often get it better than we humans do as being a sign of God's sense of humor.

One of my assignments yesterday in The Daily Writer

One of the assignments for The Daily Writer yesterday was to rewrite "The Night Before Christmas" in contemporary terms. So here is my rendition.

The Night Before Christmas

as rewritten by Sharon Abbott Cowan

Was the night before Christmas, and all through the house,

Nothing was moving, not even a mouse.

On the mantle hun a sway and fairy lights strung with care,

In hopes that Santa Claus would soon be there.

The children were all tucked in their beds,

With visions of Wiis and Ipods dancing in their heads.

Ma in her Victoria Secret and I in my old flannels

Has just settled in to watch the Pay for View Channels.

When out on the lawn there came such a clatter,

I jumped out of bed to see what was the matter.

"What the h_ _l was that?", I cried.

I rushed to the window and peered outside,

The street lights on the crest of the snow

Gave an eeriy light to the scene below.

When, what to my amazed eys should appear,

But a sleigh and eight reindeer.

The little old driver was so lively and quick,

I knew in an instance that it was St. Nick.

Quick as a wind the reindeer came,

And he whistled and shouted, and called tem by name;

On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer and Vixen,

On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen

To the top of the porch, to the top of the roof

Hurry up, hurry up and shake a hoof.

So up to the house-top the reindeer flew,

With that sleigh full of stuff and Santa Claus too.

And in less than a wink, I heard on the roof.

The prancing and dancing of each tiny hoof.

As I shook my head and was turning around,

Down the chimney Santa Claus came with a bound.

He was dressed all in red, from his head to his boot

And his clothes were all soiled with ashes and soot;

A bundle of electronic gadgets, he had on his back,

And he looked like a hobo just opening his pack.

His eyes they did sparkle and his dimples were merry

His cheeks were so rosy, looked like he'd been in the sherry.

His little red mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard on his chin was as white as snow.

The end of his pipe he held in his teeth,

And the smoke circled his head like a wreath.

He had a round little face and a fat belly

That shook when he laughed like a bowl of jelly.

He was chubby and plumb, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.

A wink from his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon let me know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word but went straight to his work

Placing gifts round the tree, and then turned with a jerk

And touching the side of his nose,

He gave a quick nod and up the chimney he rose.

He sprang to his sleigh and to his deer gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like a missile;

But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.

Ch. 20: The Beauty of Being Different

In this chapter Michelle discusses the difference between men and women by sharing how her male and female Shih Tzus are different. She is able to see genealized male and female behaviors in her puppies. The female being prim, proper, and fussy; and the male, protective, adventurous, and eager to embrace new experiences. She states that instead of working so hard at being the same things would be better for us personally if we would just accept and embrace our differences as God intended. I know for me personally I have always embraced the fact that men and women were different and I am very happy "I'm a girl". I love clothes, jewelry, shoes, and girly things. I not much on shopping but can occassionally embrace the experience. One of the things that I dislike about the fact that I have gained so much weight is that I can't always find the cute stylish clothes that I like, and I struggle finding shoes that I consider cute and stylish that are also comfortable.

This week's lesson from Michelle

This week Michelle's message in chapter 19 is on prejudice. In the chapter she talks about several incidents in which a whole group of people are painted in a bad light because of a few. This few then give the whole group a bad name. I know I have been guilty of the same in the past. I wished I could say it was only a few minor incidents but that is not true. It is something that I have really had to work on in the past. I have to be on guard continually so that old bad habits do not become reignited. Because of my profession I need to not have any prejudices because it colors my ability as a therapist. If I am aware of what my prejudices are then I can ask for help from colleagues in monitoring to insure that my prejudices don't effect the treatment I provide. I could actually do more harm than good if I allow my prejudices cloud my therapeutic judgments.

New blog started

Have started another blog to post the articles I am writing in more professional settings. Please feel free to read and comment. http://scowanarticles.blogspot.com.