Do you ever wonder why people act the way they do or why they treat people the way they do? This is been on my heart for sometime now. We all have families — big or small. We all have friends — near and far. I haven’t seen a family yet where everyone gets along. There is always someone feuding.
We have had a lot going on in our family and I have come to realize that life is too short to be mad and hold grudges for a long time.
I have a brother-in-law that was in a horrific accident and is still fighting to come back. My sister is by his side day in and day out. That is what you do when you marry for better or for worse, right?
In 2017, my brother-in-law was in Holland on a business trip. He was on his way to the airport to come home when a tram train jumped the tracks and hit his taxi broadside. It hit on his side of the car. This accident has damaged both front lobes of his brain. He has been hospitalized ever since. He is in phase 4 of the trauma, which means he fully hasn’t emerged to a normal state of communication and behavior yet.
This has put a great deal of stress on all of the family. We don’t know if he knows us or not. He can’t talk well, so communication is very difficult. Why am I sharing this? First, I am asking all our readers that pray, please pray for my sister and her husband. I have faith that God is going to bring him out in His timing. Secondly, even though this is going on, we still have feuding taking place in our family.
I am trying to get them to see what the real picture is and to get over whatever they are upset about. You can’t change the past no matter what you want to do. What’s done is done. Even if it happened in your childhood.
I am sure most of us have had things happen in the past or even in our childhood that has upset us and we can’t seem to get over it.
Here is a challenge and something to think about. I am working on this in my own life.
I didn’t have the greatest of upbringing. At times, life was rough. You can either “waller in the pig pen” so to speak or you can “pick yourself up by the bootstraps, dust yourself off and move forward.”
The only thing you can get from someone is a “I’m Sorry.” There is nothing in the world they can do to change the past.
Another thing I have done is to forgive others, whether they ask for forgiveness or not. This gives you peace in order to move on from the situation, offense, or hurt. You determine what happens in your life from here on out. The ball is in your court now.
I have decided life is short and you don’t know how, what, when or where life is going to take you. Life happens and sometimes it throws your things that feel unbearable. I don’t want to be at odds with anyone and have to go through a tough time.
There are going to be times you are going to need your family or friends to help you through. Holding grudges leaves you all alone. Life is hard. Decide today that you are going to forgive often, and love a little harder.
If you look back most things you are upset about one you either can’t even remember why or two it was meaningless in the first place. So if you have a beef with someone, go to them and see if you can get it resolved. Don’t make the harsh words be the last words you say to someone.
Cheesy Taco Vegetable Skillet
Ingredients
14 oz lean 93% ground beef – 10 oz cooked
1 oup o;sorted bell peppers, chopped
10 oz can Rotel diced tomatoes with green
chilies, do not drain
3/4 cup zucchini, chopped
3 cup, baby kale or spinach, chopped
1 tbsp plus 1 tsp taco seasoning
1 cup 2% reduced fat cheddar cheese
Green onions to garnish
Directions:
In a large skillet, brown ground beef and drain
cooked meat of excess lot.
Add bell peppers, tomatoes, zucchini one kole
to ground bee!.
Stir in taco seasoning and cook for about 5
more minutes or until spinach is tully wilted.
Sprinkle shredded cheese on top and cover
pan allowing the cheese to melt or put the
meat mixture in a 9 inch pie dish and place in
the oven at 350 degrees for about 5 minutes
until cheese has melted.
Makes 3 Servings
Tina Specht is co-publisher of the Minden Press-Herald. She shares her thoughts and recipes each Thursday.