Fixing fence is the one of the hardest jobs on a ranch. I no longer live on a ranch, but I do know what hard work is. Fences are everyone's concern, but nowadays,the "hole" is always your neighbor's side not your own. It used to be that you would respect your neighbor and mend the fence together. If their cows got in your field, a simple phone call resolved the problem. You might even saddle up your own horse and help them gather them up. We need more people who are willing to roll their sleeves up and fix the fence regardless of who your neighbor is. There are people in this country who need to be reminded that a fence is like the way you should conduct your life. Your posts should be straight and neat. The wire needs to be stretched tight and your gate might be closed, but can still be easily opened. And most of all, we can all saddle up together and ride the range, it won't matter if you have an Appaloosa, Quarter Horse or Thoroughbred. The cows still have to be gathered, fences have to be fixed, and the range is a wide open space of opportunity for us all.

What Really Matters

Posted Friday, July 15, 2011, at 2:53 AM

Our Children And Grandchildren should make us want to be better people.

Last night, I said goodbye to a very dear friend. I am hoping that it was a short goodbye, but in my heart, I think it was a final one.

I have written about Susan in a prior blog but this should be considered-Part Two. "The Aftermath."

What I have learned since 2001--- Families are important. People are important. Life can change in an instant. Words cannot be unsaid. Some conversations should cease when they bring discord and anger.

We have been living in fear because our worlds are falling apart. Our churches, homes and grocery stores and back-yards are no longer a haven of safety or peace.

So, What really matters in this world? Being right? Or is it digging into your bag of tricks to see what truth can be manipulated to suit your point of view?

When we wound each other with senseless rhetoric, we wound more than just an unknown person on the internet. When we witness the crumbling walls of respect and humility, are we sad or are we the ones who are holding the hammer and the chisel?

What matters most today and every day is how you conduct your affairs. Can you go to bed at night and say to yourself," My behavior was above reproach"

This is no longer about political parties or how to "fix" anything wrong with the world. It is about how we treat people and how they treat us.

The internet is a great way to take out your anger and aggressions because you are so "sure" that you will never come across the person that you just wounded with your typed words. Or so you think.

There are two kinds of endings in this world, the good ones where everyone rides off into the sunset and the horror films where the bad guy gets a sequel.

When we choose to buy into the sequel, the bad guy gets another gig. If we prefer the good ending where everyone lives, we can walk out of that movie feeling as though we have gotten our money's worth.

The world can be a kinder and gentler place, but it begins with looking at yourself in the mirror and seeing your image looking back at you. Will you be Snow White or the Wicked Stepmother?

In just a short week, people's lives have been turned upside down. We don't want to let go of our loved ones, but sometimes they have to let go of us.

We can recognize differences with our peers without agreeing with their lifestyle choices or political leanings. Why? Because what matters most is the heart of the person standing in front of you.

When we choose to allow some "faction" to dictate what the definition of tolerance and fairness should be. Or bully us into some kind of submission for the sake of political correctness, we are being cheated out of our own agency.

We should choose to be kind, generous and loving. EVERY DAY!!! When we fail this simple rule, we are just as guilty of adding to the real deficit in this country today.

The deficit is the lack of empathy; good manners, respect, honor, integrity and humility. They have been marked in red instead of black. The Black has now become the surplus of Anger, Lies, Deceit, Greed, and Indifference.

Today what matter most, was that I had to say goodbye to a dear friend. Her life made a difference to many on all levels of life. Her family and friends are heartbroken and stunned as the abrupt ending of their every day lives.

Are you making each day count for something besides poking the bear or hitting the hornets nest with a stick?

The Aftermath of What Really Matters Consists of two choices. Loving your God with all of your might, mind and strength and loving your neighbor as yourself or Escalating the War of Words into something nuclear where no one wins.

Comments

View 9 comments

Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

I am sorry, but I think that you missed the point.

-- Posted by KH Gal on Fri, Jul 15, 2011, at 8:27 AM
Bonnie I am so sorry for you pain your feeling right now. Its hard when we loose or are near loosing a loved one. (Hugs) coming your way from Idaho.........

I believe we should treat others the way we want to be treated ! A little love and understanding goes a long way......

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Fri, Jul 15, 2011, at 11:13 AM
p.s. you got some cute little Grand Kids :)

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Fri, Jul 15, 2011, at 11:29 AM
Thank you, only the little girl is mine. The twins are my sisters and the other little boy belongs to my brother Jody.

here is a blogspot about Susan that you might appreciate.

susan-mauck.blogspot.com

I didn't have access to her pictures to post one of her for myself.

-- Posted by KH Gal on Fri, Jul 15, 2011, at 11:33 AM
She is an amazing woman and its way to soon for her to take that Journey..... Thank you for sharing her blogspot with me..... Reading the blog about her and what her friends shared made me tear up.....

Maybe a miracle will happen and she will pull through..........

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Fri, Jul 15, 2011, at 1:08 PM
I have been reading various blogs here for a while now and this is the first one I have responded to.

First, I'm sorry for your loss, I can't even imagine the pain.

Second, and this is the reason I bothered to respond in the first place.

I am in my 60's now and never in my lifetime have I ever seen such hatred and lack of common decency in politics. This goes from the national level down to small town politics. Today we as a nation are at a crossroad. Which way we turn will have a lasting impact. One road will lead us, hopefully,

down a path towards a country that will survive and be the better for what we have been through.

The second path will be one of a great deal of destruction all in the name of " I'm right and your wrong and the consequences be damned." This situation has existed since the founding of our great country. If the demands of either side of any particular argument had been met, we would have much different country today than we we have now. We might not even have a country, but a slew of minor squabbling republics whose impact on the the world would matter not one iota. Today the issue at hand is the budget and deficit, yesterday

it was another issue, and tomorrow it will be a different issue. How we decide to interact will have a lasting impact. Go back and really read your history. Compromise is what has held this nation together from the earliest days. Try and remember that when responding to each other. In the long run hateful and hurtful speech gains us nothing. Truly listening and considering another's point of view is truly the American way. Thanks for listening.

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Sun, Jul 17, 2011, at 5:51 AM
I think that you got the point Roy. I lost my friend on Friday She always reminded me of what really mattered in life.

We cannot continue to point out the obvious, but instead we all need to roll up our sleeves and get to work on the necessary things in life.

People do matter, there good people in all walks of life. But it is the bad ones who made the headlines or are so filled with pride, that they will not bend or honor the office that they have been called to.

This is not a fight between two political parties, it is a warfare that most people do not understand. When you are able to get your own little abode in order, you can move on to help the next one do the same.

Susan went peacefully on Friday Afternoon with her family at her side. there is a huge hole in my heart right now, because of her leaving us so soon. But I celebrate that she has received the reward that was promised to her by God.

-- Posted by KH Gal on Sun, Jul 17, 2011, at 2:40 PM
Bonnie:

I am very sorry for the loss of your dear friend. She sounds like a very special lady who had a great love for not only people but animals too (from the comments on her blog). While there is going to be a hole in your heart and it will seem like part of you is missing, try to remember all of the good times, the things she taught you and the time you shared. You were blessed to have someone like that in your life. She is now in a better place with no pain. I bet if you really listen you will hear a bell ring as I am sure she has her wings and will be watching over all the people in her life.

You have some hard days ahead. Hang in there. She is around you. People like that never leave our lives. Bless you and sorry for your loss.

-- Posted by OpinionMissy on Sun, Jul 17, 2011, at 4:24 PM
Thank you all for your support. Susan loved life and and made all of us happier for being her friend.

Blessings sometimes are bittersweet, but never unwelcome and this was one of those.

-- Posted by KH Gal on Mon, Jul 18, 2011, at 7:33 AM

Respond to this blog

Posting a comment requires free registration:

If you already have an account, follow this link to login
Otherwise, follow this link to register