When the phone rings at 1.30 am, you know it's not good news, so when my phone jarred me awake at that time one night this week, I stumbled fearfully out of bed to answer it.
Its amazing how many thoughts can pass through your mind in a split second!
When I answered the phone, I heard my son say "Please ask Dad to come and fetch me." My immediate fear was replaced with one of relief. He was talking to me on the phone, so at least he must be ok.
His next words were "They've broken into my car again and taken everything!"
My relief was immediate. Far from being upset that the car had been broken into yet again, I was just happy to know that my son was alive, well, and unhurt. I was more concerned with how upset he sounded than at the loss of some property and the collateral damage.
Yes, its an annoyance and, to be quite honest, it seems to happen with monotonous regularity, but at the end of the day, these are all material things, and replaceable. People are not!
So, some of the things I am most grateful for: I am grateful that the people I love most are all fit and well, that they are healthy and that they are here, in my life. I am gratful that I can hold them and hug them and love them and let them know how much they mean to me.
I am grateful for a lot of other things too, both material and non-material, but that's the subject for another post!
For now, let me just close by inviting you to look for the silver lining in every cloud. It's there if you look hard enough. I invite you to choose to focus on all the things you have to be happy and grateful for. I guarantee it's a lot! Probably more than you realise!
One more thing I am grateful for, is the opportunity to share with you, by means of this blog. Keep watching! I'm planning to post more regularly, and I look forward to receiving your comments.
Best wishes
Karen
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Teach Our Children Well!
Crime in South Africa has reached epidemic proportions.
This week, a grandmother and 5 children (her grandchildren and her neighbours children) were brutally murdered, by strangling or drowning, apparently by a bitter, family member who had been ostracized by his family because of his criminal habits.
This tragic event has had the local (Zwide, Port Elizabeth) and national community up in arms. And rightly so! Even to the extent that a group of St Albans prisoners have come out in support of reinstating the death penalty!
My question is, where is it going to end? Crime is escalating at an alarming rate, and unless we, as South Africans come together to do something about it, it is going to continue.
It is my personal belief, that what we focus on increases. So I am suggesting lets not focus on crime (the problem), but let's start focussing on the solutions. (This is why my blog is called "People for Peace" not People Against Crime.
Let's start with our children!
The children of South Africa today are growing up in a country where crime is accepted as a norm and life is cheap.
If we want our children to grow up in a world of peace and harmony, then these are the values we should be teaching them.
If we want our children to value life and to uphold a strong moral and ethical code, then these are the values we should be teaching them.
If we want our children to promote tolerance and acceptance of different races, cultures and religions, then this is what we should be teaching them.
If we want our children to condemn crime and condone lawfulness, then this is what we should be teaching them.
Where do we begin?
Children learn by example. They look to the world around them for their role models. So let us be their role models. Let us stand up for the values, morals, and codes of behaviour that we want for our children.
What kind of world do you want to live in? What kind of country do you want to live in? What kind of world do you want our children to live in? What kind of country do you want our children to live in?
It is up to us! We are busy now, creating our future. Let's stand together to make South Africa great.
It is up to you and me. We can make South Africa great, one person at a time, one day at a time. Let's start today!
This week, a grandmother and 5 children (her grandchildren and her neighbours children) were brutally murdered, by strangling or drowning, apparently by a bitter, family member who had been ostracized by his family because of his criminal habits.
This tragic event has had the local (Zwide, Port Elizabeth) and national community up in arms. And rightly so! Even to the extent that a group of St Albans prisoners have come out in support of reinstating the death penalty!
My question is, where is it going to end? Crime is escalating at an alarming rate, and unless we, as South Africans come together to do something about it, it is going to continue.
It is my personal belief, that what we focus on increases. So I am suggesting lets not focus on crime (the problem), but let's start focussing on the solutions. (This is why my blog is called "People for Peace" not People Against Crime.
Let's start with our children!
The children of South Africa today are growing up in a country where crime is accepted as a norm and life is cheap.
If we want our children to grow up in a world of peace and harmony, then these are the values we should be teaching them.
If we want our children to value life and to uphold a strong moral and ethical code, then these are the values we should be teaching them.
If we want our children to promote tolerance and acceptance of different races, cultures and religions, then this is what we should be teaching them.
If we want our children to condemn crime and condone lawfulness, then this is what we should be teaching them.
Where do we begin?
Children learn by example. They look to the world around them for their role models. So let us be their role models. Let us stand up for the values, morals, and codes of behaviour that we want for our children.
What kind of world do you want to live in? What kind of country do you want to live in? What kind of world do you want our children to live in? What kind of country do you want our children to live in?
It is up to us! We are busy now, creating our future. Let's stand together to make South Africa great.
It is up to you and me. We can make South Africa great, one person at a time, one day at a time. Let's start today!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Crime & Security
I got a phone call this morning, from a company selling security, and it got me to thinking...
What is security? For me it is safety, comfort, the sure knowledge that I can deal with whatever life throws at me. The bottomline is it's Peace of Mind.
Does that mean that I will never have to deal with life's uncertainties? Certainly not! Does it mean that if I install a security system I wont have to worry about crime? No!
What it does mean, is that, whatever life throws at me, I'll handle it! I may not like it, but I am equal to it. I may not enjoy it, but I can overcome it. Whatever happens, The Power is within me.
If that's the case, then I have to ask, what is the best way to combat crime?
Instead of spending money to put up bars, and alarm systems that fence us in and limit our freedom, wouldn't we be better served focussing our time, money and efforts on eliminating crime and the motivation behind it?
If everyone who bought a security system invested their time, money and efforts in creating an anti-crime strategy, what would happen?
Do I have the answers? No!
Do I have a point worth considering? I think so! What are your thoughts?
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