Bad week. Prayers needed.

This past week has been one for lots of prayer. I am a former news producer and purposely do not watch the news on a regular basis. I scan my phone when I get up and the house is quiet. Lately I have been appalled by the stories I have seen such as a mother who dropped her three-year-old and seven-year-old children off at a beach and drove off, and another who dumped her four-year-old by the side of the highway. There seems to be too many stories about those who have beaten their kids to death or let others do it. Honestly, I just get sick to my stomach and think about my son who I would have changed places with or given everything I owned to keep him safe and healthy.Lord, bless the children and keep them safe from bad parents.

My heart breaks over the little ones and those murdered in Ukraine and Israel and Gaza. Lord, please stop the killing. The gun violence all over our country. Lord, stop the NRA and the greedy politicians who take money from them. The ugliness is overwhelming at times. I see really nice posts on FB and other sites only to notice truly horrible comments. Matthew Perry R.I.P., died this week, and all of a sudden there were conspiracy crap stories, and rude comments. What has happened to our society? Lord, please stop the hate. Stop the proliferation of guns, drugs, and ugly behavior.

I signed up for a group on FB about children and reincarnation. I noticed that there were more folks curious about it than who had experienced it. So, I wrote a quick account about Cory and his first mention of a previous lifetime when he was a toddler. And that my grandson also talked about it when he could barely talk. There were too many stories to share so I mentioned that I wrote a book about him. Anyway, I said my grandson is now in his 20’s. Well, some jack hole commented in a snarky condescending way that I had written a book but didn’t know the proper use of an apostrophe. So I wrote back that prior to 1980 when designating age or year an apostrophe was called for. It has since changed but either way is correct.This just made the guy double down. Needless to say, he was set upon by about 100 people calling him out for being rude. I just shook my head and wondered why he felt the need to be superior. Lord, stop the jack holes of the world from thinking it is okay to show their lack of self-esteem and lack of decency.

I have been wrapping up insurance business for our Lahaina house and it has been heart wrenching. Danyelle went to the remains when our zone opened up. The photos and videos tell the story of destruction. Yesterday, Brie took ministers with her to cleanse and bless the aina (land) and it was worse than she anticipated.She felt the pain and grief for Jean who died there and for Jean’s ‘ohana (family). We will rebuild but it is projected to take years. We are all sad. Lord, give strength to the displaced, the grievers, and those losing hope. There wasn’t enough housing to begin with. Lord, inspire the Governor, the Mayor and the country council to figure out how to permanently house folks until Lahaina can be rebuilt. Lord, please cleanse the water and be with those hired to remove the burn debris and bury it at Olowalu. Keep them safe from the toxicity.

I just want to live in peace and enjoy the time I have left on this planet.Lord, let it be so.

Be well,

Shirley

PS-Mahalo Danyelle Cedar for the photo go Buddha in our driveway.