joyful2beeblogs

Growing up in the 50’s, I wasn’t around black kids much since sadly they went to separate schools, churches, and lived in different neighborhoods then. But I lived part of my childhood on the edge of black folks’ neighborhood. We always spoke to our neighbors and smiled when we knew them. Then I learned in Sunday School:

“Jesus loves the little children,

All the children of the world.

Red and yellow, black and white,

They are precious in His sight.

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Well, I find it shocking that so many claim to be Christians but hate people of other races, cultures, or lifestyles. Even if we don’t agree with everything that some others believe, can’t we find a way to see those “others” as children of the Creator? Don’t they think the Creator, who started the “ball” of creation rolling, might just love the creation they made? Don’t they think that some people are just unique unto themselves; not fitting into the expectations we sometimes impose on them or expect them to have.

Did anyone ever think about how everyone’s life has different experiences, different responses to problems, people, challenges, cultures, lifestyles, careers, family upbringings, parents who were good ones, some were not, yet they grew up and them decided on their lifestyles.

I grew up in a loving home, with two parents who loved each other and us four kids so very much. We each had different experiences, variations in our religious or Christian experiences. We each had some of the same feelings and ideas but some of us varied some from the others. Yet we still love each other and stay in touch with each other, even though now we are almost all there is left of our families and extended families. Some of my siblings I haven’t seen in several years due to distances. But we still love each other and stay in touch. Even though we are different we still love each other and enjoy visiting, talking with and sharing our lives with each other.

Do you ever interact with people around you in safe environments? I find that I feel love for those around me most of the time. In the condominium that I live in, we have a small sampling of “the world.”

We have a Muslim couple who are kind and friendly. They care for their grandchildren when their son and his wife are working. When the couple goes to the grocery store, they bring in the groceries together. Several times, I came home from shopping and found them still bringing in their groceries.

The wife or husband has seen me or knocked on my door after their grocery trip and would give me a gallon jug of spring water, candied figs, chocolates, or offer me a sample of some dish that I never heard of. The woman has such a giving and loving heart to share like that.

Her husband, for a long time, didn’t have any male friends that we saw. Then I noticed the husband was walking with a man, who is a Hindu doctor from India. They walk and talk together when the weather is nice. They converse and seem to enjoy their conversations with each other from different cultures and countries. Why must it be so “difficult” to like someone? The wife of the Hindu doctor is also a doctor and loves her family and grandchildren just as much as anyone could.

We also have an elderly Irish couple, and one lady of two Irish parents in my condo who are devout Catholics. I do not judge them. I do not criticize them. I love them as they are and see the Creator’s love coming through them.

God loves us, especially when we are trying to follow what Christian or other faiths we use to become who we should become. Their faith and dedication to the Creator has made them kind, gentle, and loving people. Don’t you think that maybe the One who started creation might just love all people regardless of what they do or believe? There is so much we can all learn from others. People of different countries offer many interesting beliefs, manners, cultures, knowledge, origins, values, foods, and more. But we all came from the same Creator, who loves all of us.

One sweet German lady here was raised by her German parents but grew up in the United States of America. She is the kindest, most devoted Christian you could meet. She is involved with activities at her church and other causes. I believe Creator looks at these people and smiles lovingly. We are all His children. Some of us just hasn’t had a chance to grow up yet. Try to give others a chance at being themselves, believing in what they were raised to believe in, try to see the other person as a member of the same Created family you came from.