Better than Riding Donkey Back by alophoto

Better than Riding Donkey Back

Here was a memorial statue found in Arlington National Cemetery a week ago.

After visiting the cemetery and reading a Bible story this week, I've been thinking a lot. Here are some thoughts:

I read an interesting story in the Bible this week. One that stood out to me and rather smacked me in the face. It’s funny how things speak to you, touch you, sometimes.

I’ve read the Bible probably 3-4 times and had no recollection of this story. It’s easy to get lost in what seem to be meaningless details, but these little details spoke to me this week.

The story was from the book of Judges and could really apply to anyone, a follower of God or not. It’s just a good life perspective, if you will.

Here it is: Judges 10:1-5

10 After the time of Abimelek, a man of Issachar named Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim. 2 He led Israel twenty-three years; then he died, and was buried in Shamir.

Jair
3 He was followed by Jair of Gilead, who led Israel twenty-two years. 4 He had thirty sons, who rode thirty donkeys. They controlled thirty towns in Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth Jair. 5 When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon.

Ok, so there you go. Two leaders of Israel, leaders who led the people for 23 and 22 years respectively, and they are summed up in a few short verses. Led for 23 years, died and was buried. The other led and had 30 sons who rode 30 donkeys and controlled 30 towns. And then he died and was buried. What the heck did they do with their lives? Nothing really notable or interesting in what was written. Who wants to be remembered for their sons and their donkeys?!

And that makes me think…what do I DO?!

Ok, little mini rabbit trail here: The question: What do you DO? has been a little joke of mine for the past almost 12 years since I’ve been a parent. When my son was born, I decided to stay home with him full time, to give up my career and become a stay at home mom. This was my plan from the get go and probably effected my course of college studies. I went to college planning on studying law, but then when I imagined my future, I saw myself eventually becoming a mom and didn’t want to have a demanding career that would require much of me or pay for so many years of law school to eventually give it up.

Anywho, as new parents we met some great friends who had a son around the same time as ours. In their family both parents worked and the infant baby was in day care. We hung out with them occasionally and I will never forget the man asking me about what it was like to stay home. “What do you DO all day? Do you watch soap operas?” He just couldn’t fathom what I did sitting around with a baby all day. I found it rather condescending, but I do realize that staying home with a child is not for everyone. I explained to him that I took care of my child…read to him, comforted him, I parented him. I am so glad that I chose to do what I did and wouldn’t have had it any other way. Who is better to raise and parent my child than me?

But I digress…
Back to the Bible story and message…
What is it that I DO, what will I be remembered with? What have I done in my life that has been notable? I pondered this last week, too, as I walked among the grave stones in Arlington National Cemetery. I was reading an old marker from the 1800s and wondered who the person was. What did they do? All that was left to their memory was the aged stone.

I want to DO something to leave a mark, an imprint. I do not want to just live and die and be buried…I don’t want my time on earth to be absolutely meaningless. I want to do things for God, to love and to make a positive impact on those around me.

How can I DO that??

So what do you DO?!

Wonderful image, capture!
February 8th, 2017  
Terrific perspective, composition in this great shot
February 8th, 2017  
One of the sad problems of our lives is that we don't always get to know the impact we have made on others lives. Robert Fulgham explains it very well in his book " all I really need to know I learned in kindergarten" but for now all you need to know is that this post has actually answered the statement in your last paragraph. In addition to that the fact that you stayed home and raised your children with values and morals means that they will probably do the same, and although that may not seem significant I can assure you in this day and age it most definitely is.
February 8th, 2017  
I used to thinl I would make some grand difference...one that others would see and say wow. My thoughts have changed considerably. One person at a time one day at a time instead. Again a stay at home mom who did some work from home then worked at my kids school when they went to school so I was always with them. I did things through church saved couns in a mites box for missions adopted families at Christmas, donated to food pantries worked at soup kirchens. Now I still serve at soup kitchens fundraise fir breast cancer and donate what I can to other causes. My daughter fosters dogs and I help with some financial things with them and have even taken photos of them so they might get adopted necause they say a good picture helps. This isn't to toot my horn...I suspect you do some very similar things along with raising a family. We may never win a Nobel Peace Prize but we are the infrastructure that holds up those that do. So, keep "doing what you DO", because it really matters!
February 8th, 2017  
Sorry should have spell checked!
February 8th, 2017  
Beautiful silhouette
February 8th, 2017  
“You may never have proof of your importance but you are more important than you think. There are always those who couldn’t do without you. The rub is that you don’t always know who.”
― Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten
430 likes
February 8th, 2017  
Wonderful silhouette. I like the branches too.
February 8th, 2017  
Lovely silhouette shot.
February 8th, 2017  
excellent silhouette
February 8th, 2017  
Great pov, a super silhouette 👥. Fav!! 😀
February 8th, 2017  
Fabulous silhouette
February 8th, 2017  
Fabulous silhouette xx
February 8th, 2017  
You have already made a difference to your beautiful children by being there and having them feel happy & secure. You make people on this site smile with your lovely shots and witty narratives & I'm sure your photos alone would bring a lot of pleasure for a very long time to come to anyone who sees them. It's the little things that are often the big things.
February 8th, 2017  
Lovely shot!

I think what you do always impacts those around you and through them we live on.
February 8th, 2017  
@grammyn @naomi @jesperani @jackies365 Really appreciate your lovely and kind comments. I know that I DO much, but I just don't want to be complacent and miss out on my purpose which I haven't discovered yet. Just don't want to sit around riding my donkey (ahem) and miss out on the important things that matter!
February 8th, 2017  
great silhouette
February 8th, 2017  
Great capture and even greater narrative. I too look back from time to time, more so as I grow older. I haven't left much of a mark in 76 years but helped raise two incredible daughters, that's enough to be proud of.
February 8th, 2017  
great silhouette ... I know that statue
February 8th, 2017  
Great pov and silhouette!
February 9th, 2017  
@lesip Is it a grave marker? Who is it? What did he DO?
February 9th, 2017  
Wonderful silhouette against the sky.
February 9th, 2017  
I have experienced the same thing. My only idea for that happening (being challenged by an account when I wasn't in the past) is that I wasn't ready for it.
Now is the time and it is a great question to ask yourself or to have God place in your mind! Do you remember the song, "Thank You For Giving to The Lord" by Ray Boltz?
Our reward isn't what is written on our tombstone or in epitaphs. Our true reward awaits us that will be given to us by the King of Kings and Lord or Lords. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWAv4qs_YnQ
February 9th, 2017  
@alophoto it is and we read it but can I remember sorry no. I will go back to it next visit and let you know.
February 9th, 2017  
@skipt07 Thanks Skip, appreciate your true wise words. Thanks!!!
February 9th, 2017  
@lesip Thanks, lemme know:).
February 9th, 2017  
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