In my mind today, I’ve had so much going on since January. All of it hasn’t been pleasant. I know you have been thinking Ms. Alley must be on a sabbatical. I promise I’m going to try to write more using the new technology. I’ve been avoiding it because of my lack of strength in my arms and hands.
With the new year lots of pros and cons have come to Sal the ALS Gal. I’ve had more doctor trips that I care to mention and my other systems are trying to act up. Hey, that’s the way it goes. Something is going to come to usher me to the other side. It could be ALS but it also might be some of these other issues. You know what I say? Bring it on! But oh there have been so, so many blessings for the Alley family. We’ve had a wonderful birthday celebrating 80 years of life for Dot. Our Vanderbilt appointment showed us teetering along with little change. Yes my beloved Ken drags oxygen tanks and works every day. He’s strongest man I know. We have a new grandchild to boot. I’m not going to lie I have had some very dark times but I think this is common to a lot of people during the winter months. I so love spring, summer, and fall. I love winter but it’s just tougher I think because of the starkness and the long, dark nights. I was coming home the other day from a lot of errands and celebrating a birthday with my mother-in-law and her sepogterian and octogenarian friends aka the daily mass praying pillars of our church, and I saw the green sprouts all over the weeping willow trees. The sight of this gave me such a warm feeling that I was yet again going to see another spring. God is so good.
So with another season students springs more lessons. Did you get that pun? I think the message or objective today should be about faithful friends. Saturday, I had Bunco at my house. Now students Bunco is when women get together and play a game with dice, they eat, and they make merry. After making a lot of merry with these wonderful apple sangria’s that one of my faithful friends made, I was not a very faithful friend. I found my mouth running out of control talking about how I had an encounter with a curmudgeon.
That evening I reflected on the Bible readings for Sunday. I was creating my lesson for my high school religious students. The readings we were to cover talked about the wooden beam that’s in your eye. If you don’t know about this verse, then I’ll share it with you. Luke 6:42 Remove the wooden beam from your eye first. Basically when you’re running your tongue about others their faults are baby splinters but you have a whole beam of wood in your eye so really should I be talking about them? The next readings said if you really want to know someone listen to them because their mouth will reveal their heart, Sirah 27:7 Praise no one before he speaks. I can’t tell you how shaken I felt. The whole lesson was about being a hypocrite. I was totally flabbergasted and whenever I taught the students the next morning I shared with them how I had let my friends down. I told them I let the cat out of the bag by opening my mouth making ugly comments. It was so very humbling and I needed that dose of humility.
Students we have Lent coming up. Some of you may be saying what is Lent? Lent is the 40 days before Easter. It is a huge deal for me. As a Catholic Christian you look at yourself and you make a plan for 40 days. What will you do to make yourself better? Many people want to give up lattes and frappes or chocolate. I think we should go a little deeper. Quit growling back row because I know you hate it when we have to think out-of-the-box. But let’s really think about what could we do for 40 days that would bring more light to the world and a healthier place and be grateful for the lives that we have been given.
Last night as I lay awake, I thought about this. I wake up often and I can’t go back to sleep. I started praying. l thought of all the people that I need to pray for I and said extra prayers and then it hit me. I haven’t been writing enough lately. So I’m going to try to write a blog for 40 days straight. You may get sick of me; you may turn off the notifications, and think she’s really lost it. I’m going to try to communicate and put things out there for us to think about for 40 days. And yes there will probably be homework.
Today’s objective was about being a better friend so stop running your mouth about others and to do what you have been called to do. We all have warts. So you’re a lesson today is to think about the Bible verses that struck me so strongly last Saturday. Can you relate? Is there something you could do to rectify your wagging tongue? Your constant judging of others? I want you to make a plan. I want you to think before you talk. I need to do that as well.
Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. If you have a chance attend to church. Get your ashes. And think about the next chapter of your life. Those ashes on Wednesday get me everytime and I hope they help you reflect on your path. If you don’t have a church you can come to my church. I will go tomorrow at noon to receive my ashes. I will think of my little journey. We will have several services: 8 AM, 12 noon, 6 PM, and 7:30 PM (Spanish.)
Get ready students! We are going on a ride for 40 days. I can’t wait to torture you. Just kidding!
Sarah Anderson Alley
Sal the Tongue Wagging Gal
Proud Youth Minister and Teacher of Holy Angels Catholic Church
Quote of the day:
The only thing worse than a liar is a liar that’s also a hypocrite!
Tennessee Williams
showtunessal 