THE POWER OF FOREGIVENESS

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be left in a dark, foreboding cave? Or worse? In this essay I am going to explore the power of forgiveness.

This word is only simple on the surface. But it goes beyond a mere expression or word. It is so much more. 

Richard in The Little Duke, is a young boy, not yet a teenager. A boy still enjoying the fun and joy of childhood when his father passes leaving him with the responsibility of the Duke of Normandy, whether he likes it or not.  

As one can imagine, a boy of such a tender age would have a temper, quickly provoked to anger. 

As he begins his life as Duke of Normandy, he gets to do as he pleases. So, naturally, if commanded to do something by an elder why wouldn’t he question their authority. He is the duke, after all. No one can tell him what to do. 

But when the Count of Harcourt sees him yawning during ceremonies and such he quickly changes the duke's lack of attention by giving a stern look. Of course, the duke doesn’t like this, wanting to send the man back to his own court once he had the power to do so. 

Now we can look upon such situations as these and wonder which is better. To get angry and hold a grudge or to forgive? 

If we hold a grudge and get angry what would the result be? 

I think we all have experience in matters such as this and we know what we should do versus what we usually do. 

When someone tries to help or correct us even that small thing can provoke us to anger or resentment. Or maybe they really do something wrong. It’s still our duty to forgive. But we always do the opposite. At least in most cases. 

Now when we do get “coached” if you will, or get wronged, it is almost our instinct to explode in anger. 

But what does this do? It only hurts the other person and you. You don’t realize what you’re doing because you don’t think first, but instead act, maybe even yelling at the other person. Then you’ll only feel guilty afterwards, knowing you shouldn’t have acted so. 

And too, even if someone is just giving us a few tips when we’re doing something wrong, it’s in our prideful nature to get angry and turn up our chin because we think we’re better and are perfect at everything. It doesn't make it right.

Now let us take a look at the contrary. 

First let’s start off with getting “coached” about some matter or other. Someone tells us how to improve. Let us, instead of flaring in anger, acknowledge our imperfection and have humility, kindly thanking the “coach” for helping out. 

Okay, what about if someone actually does something wrong against us, though? The answer is (and always has been and always will be) forgiveness. 

It is such a simple word but a lot more goes into forgiveness. Acknowledge that we aren't perfect when we’re trespassed against and realize the Lord is always ready to forgive no matter what. 

We get forgiven by Him so many times, falling again and again back into sin. What if the Lord acted as we and turned His back on us saying, “You don’t deserve forgiveness, you’ve really done it this time,” 

But does he say this? 

No, he willingly forgives us countless times. Day after day. Week after week. Year after year. 

Now, when people trespass against us, don't refuse to forgive. This is what the evil one wants of us. He wants hate. He wants division. He wants anything and everything evil. 

We will only find happiness in situations like this when we forgive.  

It makes no sense when we expect forgiveness from God and refuse to forgive others ourselves. We have to forgive. 

When we forgive, we feel better and the other feels better. 

Forgiveness feels good. It lifts our spirits and it feels as though a weight has been lifted off our shoulders too. When we hear those words of forgiveness it should be music to our ears. 

In The Little Duke Richard learns to forgive despite being a child where he gets the opportunity to give orders. In Chapter 10, for reference, in referring to King Louis’s unkind son he says, “But…I will say nothing unkind of Lothaire, if I can help it.”

And in the same chapter he says, “Ah! but we must be kind to those who are unkind to us."

And again he tells his friend to look at the crucifix in explaining, saying, “that was for them that hated Him. And don’t you know what our Pater Noster says?”

The French prince Lothaire hated Richard. And yet Richard still tried to make friends with him.

Even when a friend tells Richard that he can have anything he wants he replies that he wants Lothaire set free. Then the other points out how unkind Lothaire was to him. How he had burned a scar on his face. But still, Richard wants Lothaire set free.   

So, as we take this into consideration, let us always be ready to forgive. Instead of turning away in anger let us reconcile with each other, saying, “I forgive you.” 

God sent his only Son to suffer and die a painful death for our sake. 

For our sake. 

Jesus suffered greatly so that we might be saved. 

We have to think about this. 

God is always willing to forgive no matter what, and so should we. 

Is it really going to do us any good if someone breaks our favorite mug and we yell at them and hold a grudge against them for a week? 

What will that do? 

Nothing. 

You’ll only regret getting angry and wish you hadn’t acted like a big baby. 

What will it do instead if we just laugh about it and forgive them?

It will lighten the mood and everybody will be happier.

So let us always remember to forgive. Forgive, forgive and forgive. 

Chapter one

 Hello everyone, 

Right now am working on a book called, "Thomas Nansen: Sequel to the Mission," and below I will share chapter one. Please comment and critique as I look to strengthen this draft of chapter one. Thanks everyone!

Chapter One: Outlaw

“Hey, stop!” The voice penetrated the thick darkness but got lost in the clamor of the break-in. Blue and red lights flashed as sirens wailed and footsteps pounded the sidewalk.

The chief of police, Sergeant Johnson ran ahead, pursuing the criminal but stopped. Where had he gone? The officer looked left and right, the flashing lights revealing nothing. The criminal had disappeared in the blanket of night. 

“Rats!” The police chief slapped his forehead and turned back to his car. He waved to the rest of his officers nodding his head. “The thief has escaped. Spread out and find this man.” He shook his head in anger, gritting his teeth and narrowing his eyes. “We must catch him.” 

His officers dispersed each going to his own car, their boots pounding the sidewalk. Sergeant Johnson watched for a moment, slapping a fist into his palm. This was going to be impossible. The intruder's car was unknown to the police. 

They must look anyway. The chief took one last look at the house which had fallen victim to the thief's last robbery. The door hung on one hinge, the glass shattered, leaving jagged edges and smoke billowed up from the roof. 

A rush of anger swelled inside him and he clenched his fist, running toward his sedan.

The chief stared for a long moment, his eyes blazing. His determination to find this criminal had no bounds–no matter the cost. 

Justice must prevail.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Longfellow's Quote

I know we all enjoy Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poems. One of my favorites is "The Children's Hour."

Longfellow was a successful poet as we well know and today I'd like to look at one of his quotes. It goes as follows,

"What would we see in the secret history of our enemies if we were able?" Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s quote answers the question. “If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.”

If one were to see the secret history of their enemies they would indeed see sorrow and suffering. A whole lot of it. 

Yes, even in our enemies, our worst enemies, we would see in them suffering and sorrow. No matter how mean or evil they are, it will be the same nevertheless. Every man has to suffer, whether he likes it or not. He can accept these crosses or the contrary, but the suffering will be the same. 

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow also had to suffer, though he was not an enemy by any means. Although he was a successful poet and writer he still had heavy crosses to bear like the rest of us. His wife, Mary, died when they were traveling abroad, and, as you can imagine, this caused much grief and pain.

He married again in a later year to a girl named Fanny. Later she would die tragically. It was these crosses and more that Longfellow had to bear and it wasn’t easy. 

If indeed we could see the secret history of our enemies maybe we would think differently of them and have pity on them. 

One has to experience crosses in life, maybe not so hard of ones and hard ones. Longfellow’s quote is true. One would see a great deal of suffering and sorrow in the secret history of our enemies.

And it is not a question of, will a man have to bear hardships in his life, but rather it is a matter of how he will endure them. 

Novel in a month?????

Novel November

As we approach the new month I wanted to announce my intention of undertaking "Novel November." 

This challenge to write 50000 words in one month isn't too much out of the questions, as it is. Unless, perhaps you're not a full-time writer. 

So, with school on, I've decided to do my own version of Novel November. A modified version, if you will. 

I have decided to try and write half of a novel, or, 25000 words in November. This version, "Half a novel November," if you will, means, on average, I'll have to write about 833 words per day. Not too hard right?

I have, in the past, as I work on my manuscript, written over 1000 in a day but the key to "Half a Novel November," is to be consistent. Usually I get excited to write, and do get quite a few words. Then I don't look at my manuscript for days. Weeks. 

Yup...that's how it usually goes. 

But with the coming of "Half a Novel November," I'll have plenty of inspiration. Hopefully it'll last. 

Let me know if you're going to undertake this challenge as well! I'll try to keep you updated on how it's going!

 How to Improve Your Relationship with a Family Member

Does your family never get along? Are the siblings always fighting? Are they outrageous with their ear-piercing screams and yells to stop doing this, and to stop doing that?

It is a very important thing to have a good relationship with your family members and to have happiness in the home.

Below are some ways that you may find helpful to improve your relationship with one or more of your family members. 

1: Spend more time with the Family Member. 

For example you could bring the family member on a bicycle ride, pull him or her in the sled, read him or her a good book, or something along those lines. This could be a great help to you if you are seeking an improved relationship with your family member. But do remember whatever you do to spend more time with the family member, don’t be grumpy and unhappy about it. 

How would it help the family member if you left him or her in the dust on a bicycle ride and kept yelling at the family member to “hurry up!” He or she would not be having a whole lot of fun.

So remember to be joyful and grateful when you are spending time with your family. It will make a difference you can count on.

2: Don’t make the Family Member Angry.

That is a good one to bear in mind when (and when not) improving a relationship with a family member. Do the complete opposite of making the family member angry. Be nice and do good to him or her, such as: make the family member’s bed, and/or help him or her learn a new skill and so on.

A way which will Help. Example A: Correct

Todd watched the clock and calculated the time it would take in order for his lunch to be done in the air fryer exactly at twelve noon. As soon as he started putting his food into the fryer Pat walked in. “Hey, I was gonna use the air fryer first!”

“Alright, alright. No need to get all shook up about it. You can go first.” 

Example B: A bad way which will go against You.

Todd watched the clock and calculated the time it would take in order for his lunch to be done in the air fryer exactly at twelve noon. As soon as he started putting his food into the fryer Pat walked in. “Hey, I was gonna use the air fryer!”

“Well too bad! You don’t always have to go first!” 

3: Help the Family Member with Schoolwork.

Help him or her with something that he or she is struggling with. A good thing to help with is schoolwork. Helping the family member with schoolwork is another great way to improve your relationship with the family member. Although be careful to avoid helping with reluctance. Help the family member with a want to do so. Don’t get impatient with them either. Instead of blowing your top, help the family member to understand the schoolwork better so that he or she will not get the problem wrong again. 

When your brother/sister wants help. Example A: Correct.

“Hey Todd help me with this math equation will you?” 

“Sure Pat, I can spare a few minutes to help you.”

 Todd watches and sees the problem, then he chuckles a bit. “No, no Pat, you’ve got to expand the brackets first.” 

“Oh yeah, I completely forgot. Thanks a lot Todd.”

“Sure thing. Glad to be of assistance.”

Example B: Incorrect. 

“Hey Todd, help me with this math equation will you?” 

Todd frowned. “Why? I have a life too.”

“Please Todd,” the brother pleaded in vain. 

“I’m busy Pat, can’t you see? Now leave me be.” 

Example C: Incorrect #2: 

“Hey Todd, help me with this math equation will you?” 

“Fine,” Todd grumbled. He watched his brother do the equation until he found the problem. “No, no, Pat!” Todd hollered at the top of his lungs. "Don't you know you have to expand the brackets first? Weren't you listening in class?” 

4: Key Advantage: Don't be Lazy.

How much time do you waste throughout the day? Start putting that time to use, for laziness is worse than time used wisely. (Obviously).

What would it benefit you to lay on the couch watching TV or simply doing nothing other than lying there when you could be playing with your siblings? 

The time wasted will add up against you, and by the end of one year you may have wasted a whole day, likely more. 

Stop lying around and being lazy. Start spending more time with your family and improving your relationships with them. Next time when you slap the snooze button on your alarm clock remember: “A day wasted is a day squandered.”

Use your time wisely and you shall be better off than a weasel in a haystack. (Not that weasels in haystacks are bad-off). 

Stop wasting time. Example A: Correct.

“Hey Todd. Stop lying around and wasting time. Can’t you come and play catch with me? Anyway, what's the point in doing nothing?”

“Alright Pat I guess you're right. I shouldn’t just lay here. I’ll come and play catch with you.” 

Stop wasting time. Example B: Incorrect.

“Hey Todd. Stop lying around and wasting time. Can’t you come and play catch with me? 

“Why Todd? I don't wanna.” 

“Why not? You’re just being lazy. What’s the point in that?”

“Just leave me alone Pat. I’ve had a busy day.”

5: Conclusion 

Following the ways written above you should find yourself in a better relationship with your family member. Remember when you are playing with the family member make sure you're having fun too. Recall in the section titled: Spend more time with the Family Member, where it states, ‘Don’t be grumpy and unhappy about it.’ So as your brother or sister is begging you to pull him or her in the sled don’t answer with a grumpy: “Fine. I guess I can pull you for a little bit.” Reply in a much nicer way such as: “Yeah I’ll pull you in the sled.” 

Or when you're just being a bump on a log, respond: “Sure thing. What else do I have to do anyway?” 

Thank you for reading this week's post! Let me know if you have anything else you want me to write about or any questions you want me to answer!

Until next time,

The Writer

Perseverance

 Perseverance

I have gained many insights involving music since picking up the alto saxophone starting just before fifth grade. I have learned many things since that day way back then. If one looks back to my early days of playing he would notice how much improvement I have made (with great help) since I first started playing the saxophone. He may also notice, as he probably already knows, that mastery is not made in a day. And of course I, after five years, have not reached perfection. 

One may learn, though he may know it already, you cannot reach perfection just like that. You’ve got to try, to struggle, and to learn from your mistakes in order to become good at whatever skill you are learning. 

Too often one tells himself that he couldn’t do this or that without even lifting a finger to try whatever it is. He gives up before he even tries or he only tries a little before giving up. He does not persevere in trying to learn whatever skill it may be. 

I have messed up, struggled, but that doesn’t mean I can’t do this or that just because I messed up and struggled.

I have learned how to, not only play the saxophone, but also how to read music, and these insights have helped me whether it be in band class or writing music itself such as “The New Santa."

Had I never picked up the saxophone or any instrument for that matter, The New Santa would’ve never been written, at least in music. 

 I likely would have never gained the insights to write music if I had not picked up the saxophone and where

would the songs I have written be? Such as “The New Santa,” and “Get up! Get up! It's almost nine!?"

I have pasted links to me song below. Click to listen!

The New Santa

Get Up! Get Up! It's Almost Nine!

More songs

Thank you for reading. If you have anything else you want me to write about or any questions you want answered just let me know!

Until next week,

The Writer

Can you get Benefits from learning to Juggle?

The Benefits Of Juggling

Would you like to improve your hand-eye coordination, focused concentration, and have a great experience? Try learning to juggle. Start with the three ball cascade. It is one of the easiest tricks to learn. Once you’ve mastered some fun patterns with three balls, try four, then five. Maybe you will even get to six and seven. While you're learning that, get some other juggling items, such as clubs and rings. Maybe even juggling torches. It will help you greatly with many skills and you will have fun once you can juggle with dexterity. There are many benefits you can get from juggling that you probably never knew about. 

"Juggling improves hand-eye coordination, focused concentration, goal setting skills, and learning to juggle may even cause some areas of your brain to grow.” “Learning to Juggle helps with brain development, movement and vision as well.” “And yes juggling is a workout. Juggling works your shoulders, arms, upper back and more.”  “While juggling you can burn almost 300 calories per hour, just about the same as walking." Just think if you juggle and walk at the same time!

"Juggling builds hand-eye coordination that improves reaction time, reflexes, strategic thinking, and concentration. Hand-eye coordination also builds catching ability, that could improve your athletic performances in many sports." If juggling improves hand-eye coordination and hand-eye coordination improves strategic thinking, does strategic thinking help you with chess?

It likely does!

“Focused concentration is another benefit you can get from juggling.” "Focusing on multiple objects in the air and the pattern at the same time works both sides of the brain." Thus helping focused concentration. 

Does juggling actually make your brain bigger? A study in the journal Nature found “that learning to juggle may cause certain areas of your brain to grow. With each new trick you learn in juggling changes your brain structure even more. Juggling is shown to increase gray matter density in the brain, helping you to think faster and in new ways!” “Some people say juggling may help with reading skills as well.” 

There was a certain boy who learned to juggle about seven years ago. His brother had taken up the skill and he was teaching him how to juggle. First the boy learned to juggle three balls then four then five. So far that's as many as he's gotten. But, his brother has a greater skill at juggling and can juggle an astonishing seven balls at the same time.

It has been fun over the years for the two brothers, they even have juggling records kept on paper for their house. If one of them gets a record the other tries to beat it. Sometimes he succeeds, other times he does not. Sometimes a record can go back and forth quite a bit. 

They have performed in some talent shows as well, including this year (2023) where they took second place at the county fair. The brothers, known as the Dexterous Duo when performing, went on to perform at the State Fair. So not a month passed before they were wandering about the fairgrounds, awaiting the time for "showtime." When it was almost time for the Dexterous Duo to perform they went backstage. They practiced some before it was time to start performing.

He had made signs for the show instructing the audience what to do. He calls it: "audience control." After they  had finished the final act, he held up two signs. One read: Stand up the other Clap. 

That was the first year the Dexterous Duo had done a talent show for some years. Unfortunately, they didn’t win but it was a great experience them. 

The boy didn’t learn to juggle because of the benefits, but after seven years of juggling you can probably imagine how much his hand-eye coordination has improved. It not only has helped him catch juggling balls, but footballs and baseballs too. Imagine what juggling could do for you! Imagine how good your hand-eye coordination would be. Imagine all the benefits you could get. Don’t let your chance go by!

Truly juggling has great benefits. "Estimates say only about 21 percent of the general public can juggle." And you could add to that. Juggling is a great and fun experience. You can even make your own juggling balls; find instructions online.

If you learned how to juggle just think of all the benefits you could earn. Maybe you don’t want to take the time out of your day to learn to master juggling. But if you do learn, it will be worth it. Not only will you get many benefits but you will have fun while you're learning; juggling for hours on end trying to beat a world record, or just a personal record of your own.

Just remember if and when you learn to juggle, it will be beneficial. You can find the time that is required. Try practicing fifteen minutes a day. But DON'T give up on the first day or the first week or month. What would have happened if the boy had given up? All of his great experiences that he has had in juggling would never have happened. Not only that, all the benefits that he has gotten from juggling would have been wasted. You don’t want to waste those benefits, do you? What benefits are you going to get from wasting time during your day? Next time when you don’t have anything to do, remember you could be learning to juggle and earning numerous benefits. The boy and his brother were more than willing to give juggling a try. The question is “Are you?” 

    Works Cited

Juggling Benefits for Students. City of  Lakes Waldorf School.

Journal Nature study.

Iowa State University. Use it or lose it: Juggling to Sharpen your Mind (and Body). 

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Thank you for reading this week's post. Let me know what you think! Anything I missed? If you have anything else I should write about or any questions you want me to answer just let me know!                

Thanks again,

The Writer