JDC America's Heartland: From the melodious voices of the Oak Ridge Boys rises a greater musical understanding: "We all are part of the story of an American family." with all that makes or breaks our relationships, influenced by imperfections and our "silly ole pride."
Like the echo of soft whispering winds, I still hear mother's gentle matriarchal voice: "Life is short-lived 'dumpling' glutted with agitation in need of the blossom of compassion; and my dear, the only road to peace and reconciliation."
"Ya sure mom." How many times before had I heard this lady with a sophisticated flair basically tell me I would be sorry someday if I threw "compassion" out the window just to satisfy the state of my hurt feelings.
Stephono and I grew up to understand: Compassion is a road to be traveled, which develops from within the vine of family love. Sprouting its shoots as we travel down the different streets of life, we hope to gain the inner strengths that build our character of humility, long-suffering, endurance, spiritual goodness and a mildness of speech. Stephono and I were a continuous work in progress often waylaid by our emotional state and a vain enemy. . ."justifiable pride."
Our mother's love helped us to translate compassion and concern for others into concrete action, and to not have an "I don't care" ideology in life. She gave us the warmth of her love lifting us up with motherly compassion, showing us one of the secrets of life. . .happiness and joy.
When trouble wiggled its way into our sibling lives mother could be heard In a sweet yet authoritative voice: "Life isn't fair children even when you are compassionate and try hard." How true rings the echo from days gone by as Stephono and I have allowed a breakdown and fracture of compassion for each other to be made brittle by time and distance.
Ridiculous how we allowed a waterfall of misunderstandings and hurt feelings to be fired by our pride and a larva of building anger. Neither of us willing to give into the other, neither of us willing to give of the compassion from our childhood, we had given so freely to others.
My brother Stephono was always a laid-back gentle soul, of soft-spoken wisdom and heart. I on the other-hand to this day, feel the fire in my belly, grabbing life by its tail ready for a roller-coaster ride. Both of us have been nurtured by the one person who can explicate the art of "caring," an emotionally sensitive mother, a counselor of love, of altruistic values and support, who if anything, gave too much of herself to so many.
So how did Stephono and I get side tracked off the balanced road of life onto the side-street of broken compassion? Pure stubbornness.
Most of us preach a good talk, but when it comes down to enduring, we fall short. So it is before Stephono's passing our heartfelt childhood compassion flowered once again into moments of laughter, and days filled with the joy of living. Barriers melted away by a brother and sister's return to their childhood roots overriding the foolishness of the heart and adulthood.
Our children have seen our division and rebirth. They have learned sometimes with difficulty, to climb out of their own skin into other's, channeling . . ."I see your need" into an unselfish act of moral awareness to impact the world and themselves.
I would like to believe Stephono and I have given our children the gift of being able to forgive themselves and others and not waste precious moments of life. Whenever we give, we always feel its reward somewhere along the way, as "compassion road" curves, zig-zags and cuts into the road of life.
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CeCe Day Hill, Copyright (c) 2009 - Jane Doe Chronicles, All Rights Reserved - 349 West Circle Dr., New Lenox, IL 60451 - (815) 485-4871 - Email: janedoechronicles@comcast.net
To view other articles and Author Profile visit: http://www.janedoechronicles.typepad.com
Inside the Raw Nature of a Man: "Do All Men Cheat"?
JDC Commentary: Over 6,200 people have clicked their way to find out about the self-inflicted act of cheating and "Do All Men Cheat." Whether one is curious, caught up in the web of cheating, or in a state of hurt and pain these are some of the reasons given why we run amok with our relationships. And, yes, it is a two-way street.
Sadly, when a man cheats, he is temporarily getting away with something, but he is losing an integral part of himself and his character, that which makes him possess in a high degree, the qualities distinctive of manhood: courage - enduring strength - moral fiber - integrity, and warmth of heart.
An ABC News poll and survey indicates, between 55-70 percent cheat at least once in a relationship. Some are habitual cheaters. The cheating act becomes a game of variety or arousal fueled by an interchange of promiscuous attitudes, ideas, dress, and unresolved baggage from the past.
More than one man has stated: Men cheat because they are inflamed with a sexual desire. -- Stimulated by their own inadequacies, the fantasy challenge before them, the pure joy of the chase, revenge, or because they can. When the ebb-tide of emotion is great they do not think rationally and become vulnerable to flattery and attention and buy into a romantic fling in order to feel alive again.
Cheating makes us a commodity, liken to a disposable paper plate. One is used, enjoyed as a convenience of the moment, and then discarded. We have served our temporary purpose. Too often, realizing how comforting that moment of sensual gratification was, the cycle is perpetuated and one is on the prowl for a new plate of more addictive pleasures to quench a new palatable lust.
What has happened to love, fidelity and commitment? A shameful loss of morals and family values have been trampled by a self-centered societal attitude, lacking self-discipline, good judgment and high character traits.
Without excuses, we have to face the demon of our inner selves and misconstrued perceptions for the answer. Many fall by the wayside because it's popular: Everybody's doing it. Others never learned to fully trust in order to understand what it means to be in love. Many don't know how to maintain a loving relationship, while others do not have the "guts."
It's easier to cut and run into the unreal enticing destructive world of cheating. . .into a grown up play-land of human toys. A world free of responsibility and pressure. A world short-lived with serious consequences that only fuels the fires of discontent, making commitment more difficult with each indiscretion.
Somewhere along the way the piper must be paid! What will be the price for sensual nights beneath the sheets? Only a cheater can say. Perhaps a "saga of guilt and pain and a lifetime of discontent." And, that's the way it is.
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CeCe Day Hill, Copyright (c) 2007 - Jane Doe Chronicles, All Rights Reserved - 349 West Circle Dr., New Lenox, IL 60451 - (815) 485-4871 - Email: janedoechronicles@comcast.net
To view Author profile and other articles visit: http://www.janedoechronicles.typepad.com
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