Saturday, March 26, 2011

The Other Fellow's Shoes

This week as the boys have been on Spring Break I have immensely enjoyed a Staycation! I have sorted through things--though not nearly enough. Today when working in the Utility Room pile, I came across this poem. I have made copies for our boys, but thought it went along with a recent blog on Perspective.

The Other Fellow's Shoes

Pray, find no fault with the man who limps
Or stumbles along the road,
Unless you have worn the shoes he wears,
Or struggled beneath his load.
There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt,
Though hidden away from view.
Or the burden he bears, placed on your back,
Might cause you to sumble, too.
Don't sneer at the man who is down today,
Unless you have felt the blow
That caused his fall, or felt the shame
That only the fallen know.
You may be strong, but still the blows
That were his, if dealt to you
In the selfsame way at the selfsame time,
Might cause you to stagger, too.
Don't be too harsh with the man who sins,
Or pelt him with words or stones,
Unless you are sure, yes, doubly sure
That you have not sins of your own.
For you know, perhaps, if the tempter's voice
Should whisper as soft to you
As it did to him when he went astry,
"Twould cause you to falter, too.
--Selected

Thursday, March 24, 2011

OUR YOUNGEST TURNS 17!!



Seventeen years ago today we were blessed with our 3rd son--Thomas Christopher Wiesner. His older brothers Tim 3 1/2 and Tad age 2 welcomed him into our family! They visited him the night of his birth and almost tipped the bassinette over trying to get a look at him. Tom is a wonderful son. He is almost always happy, so willing to help around the house, and keeps his room and his truck so very neat. He wants to live for the Lord and his very honoring to his parents. He loves basketball and KU is his favorite team. Maybe they will win this week-end just for him. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOM! We love you so very much.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

PERSPECTIVE!

This time of year I love all the basketball games! Yes, I have filled out my brackets, and yes, there are many "red marks" of correction in my incorrect guesses of who would win. (But, I am also following the Wall Street Journals sophisticated approach to bracketology and their "guesses" almost have as many red marks as mine do.) But there is something more important that I would like to blog about and that is the perspective on the refs' calls in a game. The same game event occurs and yet half the crowd is cheering the ref and the other side is angry and yes, booing. What's the difference? It is the perspective or the "frame of reference" that each side has. The same game event has elicited "polar opposite" reactions.
Possibly, there is something further that could be gained from this sport's observation. This is played out frequently in "real life" situations that happen in the work force, at churches, schools, competitions, politics, and families. The same situation can elicit "polar opposite" responses--some are happy and some are "otherwise". Possibly, if we (I) could learn to reasonably try to understand the perspective of the other side/person there could be communication and reasonable exchange that has potential to accomplish more than we see demonstrated at some athletic events.
Hopefully, I can learn to model this for our 3 sons and possibly convey this to them. For now, GO WSU in the NIT and KU in the SWEET 16!