God | Carmela Snelbaker

Tag: God

Send This Grandmother Back To Sunday School!

Posted at 4:23 PM by carmelasnelbaker

Aug 23rd

Unconditional Love… The World Needs More Of This!

This post is being made in response to the daily prompt http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/08/23/daily-prompt-fake/

The other day I wrote a post about situations that I have been in because of my line of work where lies are a common event in each day. They sometimes are small and seem to be pretty insignificant, and other times grand beyond imagination!

Many times the person may have a diagnosable condition related to mental health. I am not totally clear on what the complete professional explanation in each case is, so I am not claiming to speak about, or give advice on whether or not a lie is an “expectation” or “excuse” of a mental health diagnosis. I can tell you though, working for many years within the mental health environment, it is a very common experience.

My experience is limited to the adult community. Sadly some of the incidents that I have witnessed appear to be, as simple as, someone feeling that they are inadequate and the response to that feeling is to portray themselves as adequate by telling a lie.

What makes a person not comfortable with who they are?

What is perfection in humanity? Where does it start? Is it truly attainable?

Could my 7 year old granddaughter have answered all of these questions?

When I was chatting with my 7 year old granddaughter one day as we were discussing the fact that she only likes peanut butter on a sandwich and no jelly. I commented that this surprised me “I thought all children liked jelly!” Her reply was very simple and matter of fact. She commented, very confidently and without question or concern about this difference, “That’s just how God made me.”

That says a lot! Doesn’t it?

I hope she continues to grow up confident in who she is, and never allows a simple comparison to others make her feel different or less than others!

I also believe as adults we truly need to make sure we encourage individuality and differences instead of pointing them out as a difference!

What is that popular game show now…. Are you smarter than a 5th grader?

I truly think this grandmother failed at the game…. Are you smarter than a seven year old! 🙂 Send this grandmother back to Sunday School!

My granddaughters’ store raising money for a cure for Mitochondrial Disease.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/help4brothernothers?ref=shop_sugg

Posted in About the Author, Family Stories, Meditative Writings | Tagged adult, children, Curch, God, inspiration, lesson in life, lies, love, Mental health, mental illness, Sunday School, Unconditional love

Celebrate Differences

Posted at 7:49 PM by carmelasnelbaker

Jul 30th

Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Each one of us is totally unique. As I am writing this I am remembering a pair of silly socks one of my children had growing up. It had a little stick figure hanging upside down with the quote “Normal Is Boaring”, and I truly believe the world is certainly a more beautiful place because of our differences.

Why then are there so many people who spend so much time and energy forming “hate groups” showing great animosity, hostility, and malice against people who act differently, or believe differently than they do? I can’t help but wonder what is behind that? Could it be because they are that insecure in their own lives that they fear differences are contagious? Do they think that living beside someone who believes or acts differently then they do, may cause them to one day wake up mysteriously acting like and following the beliefs of their neighbors? Or are they so inclined to influence and rule the lives of their children and grandchildren that they feel the need to make everyone else in the world act and believe as they do so there is never a possibility that their child will ever stray from what they feel is the proper way of life?

I sometimes like to ponder things such as this in other areas of our lives to get a different view. I live near the Amish community. I often will park near the buggy hitch and go over and pet the horses and talk with the Amish individuals. One day as I was talking to a friend we began to wonder, when they all meet and go to church do they ever come out and take the wrong buggy home? What if the world we live in required that we all drive exactly the same vehicle? I truly do not think I would do well with this. I recently was driving a white rental vehicle. My day was quite busy and a little stressful. I came out of the store and tried to get into two wrong vehicles before I finally found the one I came in!

What if we all had to where the same outfit, or if we wanted a pet and the only pet we could get was a Black Labrador? I choose to believe that we all were created with beautiful unique qualities, physical abilities, and likes and dislikes. We need to celebrate our differences and learn to accept and respect each other.

Most certainly the world would be a better place if we all began understanding each other. We need to move beyond simple tolerance and embrace and celebrate the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.

With respect, hope, joy, and love,

Carmela

Posted in Meditative Writings | Tagged Amish, Christianity, community, diversity. uniqueness, God, hope, joy, love, Pennsylvania, people, Religion and Spirituality, respect, understanding, United States