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Keepers
By Mona Lease
Hi, all! I had an unprecedented response - all positive - to last
week's column. so - I dug a little deeper. Someone asked about the "Am
I my brother's keeper" comment. In that comment's context - I Googled
this - Genesis 4:9 of the Bible - (It's a Wesley Snipes movie, too!)
Cain had killed Abel (his brother) over the fact that the Lord had
looked favorably on Abel's sacrifice and not his (Cain's) - I guess
there is always going to be someone who likes what your family does
more than what you do. Genesis 4:6 says Cain takes Abel out into a
field and kills him. Genesis 4:8 says the Lord inquires as to Abel's
whereabouts and Genesis 4:9 gives the "Am I my brother's keeper" from
Cain. Cain asks that to get out of trouble - out of being responsible
for the disappearance of Abel - his brother.
"Keeper" is defined as - "a person who manages or looks after something
or someone." Synonyms are - guardian, custodian, curator,
administrator, steward and caretaker. In last week's column we looked
at emotional health, spiritual health, and physical health. We are
created to be with others on these levels - most animals are...it's
what gives us the ability to call a friend and "vent" our feelings. The
real give & take here is that both parties know that the "venting"
will go no farther - not turn into grist for the "gossip mill." It is a
way to release the feeling or tension to maintain emotional health. It
is supremely important in most marriages...it is there because the man
and woman take the "keeper" role seriously. If you are not emotionally
well - you will not be at your physical best or may even become sick.
For some reason I can not fully explain - most people want the
emotional connection; as well as the physical one. Maybe the
emotional connection is "proof" that we are more than a physical
attraction...maybe in this world of me, me, me; we need to know that we
are more than a room mate, etc - to the one to whom we are married.
(This is actually an awesome responsibility!!). Maybe it is a way of
feeling safe - like when we sat around Dad and Mom's dinner table
growing up and you discussed your day - at work, school, at home, etc.
Maybe in the light of Dad telling how the Boss yelled at everyone all
day - that did not look so bad next to your D on the spelling test -
that you knew your deserved. Or maybe we want to feel that we are worth
more than a card, flowers, etc. Maybe - deep down - we know that the
stuff money can buy - all the proofs that we have "made it" - will
eventually rust or rot - or be replaced by some "new - improved" gidget
or gadget...which means the mountain to "making it got higher. But
emotional health never goes out of style - it shows on the face of the
person that drives the '89 Dodge - 18 mpg and all!
And, I thought this reader's comment did not belong in this column.
But, maybe it does. I spoke with a woman who has a companion dog -
registered and all. She had the dog put through a school to teach him
to be polite and mind his manners. His job is to be her companion - go
where she goes - Drs., shopping, etc. He sees to her emotional health.
His nails are trimmed and he is groomed and bathed. In the way we would
ask if we looked good to our mate - she asks him. They have their own
"love language"..a small arf here or a soft woof there are his answers.
As a word of caution - these are all service animals - for the blind,
for the people who cannot pick up a fallen object - for those who have
extra love to give - the companion dog - do not go up and try to pet
the dogs - they are working...ask the owner first. All the dog really
cares about is his owner - after all - she is the one who gives him his
home, his food, love, protection, etc. If we were all like the service
dogs - what would life be like?
Remember the kiddies and our service people. Take good care of the
furry and feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next
time. Ever Toodles!! MONA
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