Christmas In July, or The Stranger Da Betta!!

             

When I was growing up, mom wanted us out of the house, period! If it was hot as hell, she would say, " Let the heat, beat the meanness out of you." or " Go blow some stink off of you." We were going to be outside, rain or shine, hot or cold and those were the rules.
               If anyone was acting up, too much energy, dad would blame the heat. He would say, " Beware, its a hot one today!" ( you know we lived in Florida, chances of it being hot were pretty good) During the race riots of the sixties, dad said, " Its the heat." So I grew up thinking, the heat would cure me or make me crazy!
            These past few weeks, I have blamed the heat! Such toxic turmoil in the country and around the globe. Heat, humidity and assault rifles, not a good combo. ( I can hear daddy, loud and clear) The political climate is off the scale of heat induced circus behavior. It is embarrassing, both sides of the coin.
            Terror in all nooks and crannies, I don't understand such hatred, surely it is the heat.
            The only thing I can do, as one person, is teach my children how to be good humans and put up a tree! Yes, a Christmas tree in July! So that is what I did on this past Saturday. A small white, lights a glow, tree in my den!! I think we need to be reminded of the baby in the manger, and who doesn't need some twinkling lights, now and then? It was peaceful and caused us, to reflect, quiet our minds for a minute. I thought about gifts, so I did some retail therapy also, UPS is my friend, Happy Christmas in July! I only kept it up for a day, I felt better the next morning, it had served it purpose. Pure Joy, finding it, is a full time job. Life is a beast, a true giant troll, that you either embrace or fight every step of the way. There are bad people, places and things, that we spend a life time, trying to fix, change or stay away from. Some times, you just have to throw up your hands, and put up a tree!!
          Or crank up some music, Hozier blasting, and the New Lumineers song Ophelia, perks up every cell in my body!!
          My teaching family lost a friend, this week, another friends child is in the battle of his life, My girl is moving out (that is a good thing but..), My parents celebrate turning 85 this year, there is pain and joy, running through all my people, such is life. This wonderful life, that test us, inch by inch, day after day.
         Lord, I may have to drag out that tree again, just leave it up!!!
         I think its the heat!
         Anything above 90, stirs the pot! and it is at boiling stage!!
         I don't even know what to say? We, the people, are in dire need of a drink from the well of love and kindness, and I think Jesus, you may be holding the ladle! Help us, help ourselves. I don't think I can pray anymore about this mess, I release it all to you Baby Jesus, and put up a tree!