What Goes Around Comes Around

It's not hard to continue going down the path you have chosen if you wear blinders.  By this I mean never looking left or right and never noticing what is going on around you.

I'm a professed people watcher.  When I ride the bus or I'm at the store, I notice the people around me and what they appear to be doing.  Just because the man who got on the bus is wearing well-worn jeans and a scruffy jersey that doesn't automatically tell you he's not someone to come in contact with.  His clothes may be tattered but his face is clean.  His hands show the signs of doing something that involves using them.  His clothes may not only show wear but have stains on them that many times in the washer will no longer remove.

You don't have to talk to him but you do need to show him the same respect you would give to the person who boards the bus behind him.

The second man is dressed in khaki trousers, with a nice polo shirt.  He is clean shaved or he may have a manicured beard.  His hands are squeaky clean and he is carrying laptop case.  When this man gets on you tend to move over to allow room for him to sit down.

Why didn't you make the same move when the first man got on?  It's a simple explanation.  He didn't present himself to be someone you wanted to be near.  His clothes appeared to be dirty so therefore he was an indigent who deserved less from you.

Crowded Bus

Give this person a chance.  Open your heart.  Realize that outward appearances don't make the man.  It's how that man acts towards the other people on the bus that should make your decision for you.  This very same man may find a seat and be aware of what is going on around him when someone with an obvious disability gets on.  He may be the one to get up and offer his seat.  While the well dressed man may be totally oblivious to this person who obviously needs a seat and stay seated in his own comfort.

Welcoming your neighbor is how you seek and find the rewards that God has for us in this world.  As the title of this blog states, what goes around comes around.

Pretzel Kisses for fun party treats!

I saw these on Pinterest and saved the link so that I could make them at a later date.  Like they say, "Out of sight, out of mind."  I forgot all about them for two years.

Christmas two years ago, I was reviewing old pins and found these again.  They were originally made on the mini-pretzels with milk chocolate kisses and garnished with M&Ms.  They tasted good and the children lapped them up and took some home with them.

This was my second attempt they were better

My second try was a bit better.  I decided to try them my way and made them with the waffle pretzels instead.  I was able to line an entire cookie sheet that had been lined with parchment paper.  I decided on the white and chocolate swirled candy kisses instead of plain chocolate.  I only purchased red and green M&Ms to get the Christmas feel.

RECIPE
Preheat your oven to 200 degrees.  Line the pan with your pretzels.  Top the pretzels with Kisses.  (I'm sure you could use any other type of chocolate squares.)  Put in the oven for about 5 minutes.

When you take out the pan, immediately push an M&M into the center of the Kiss or chocolate piece.

Place the pan in the refrigerator for about 5 minutes to set the chocolate.  These were a real hit at our family Christmas party.

Spring Flower Pretzels

In the spring you can make flower pretzels using pastel M&Ms.  I have seen shamrock candies using 3 green M&Ms for St. Patrick's Day.  They make nice treats for Easter.  These don't take a lot of time and are great to take to conventions and tournament parties.

Turtle Pretzels

For those people who like turtle candy use rolo candy and pecans to make Turtle Candies on the pretzels.  This fun for the office party when you want to wow your coworkers.

Mini Kisses on pretzels

or you can use mini kisses to make another variation.

Whatever variation you make -- Happy party baking.

Love Your Neighbor

We have been told to "Love your Neighbor, as yourself."  I ask you, "Who is your neighbor?"  Is it the lady next door or the person who stole your wallet last week?  That is an extreme example but one that you have to take into consideration.  It's not just the little things we need to forgive but even the bigger ones.

The real answer is both.  Yes, your neighbor is everyone with whom you come in contact.  Over the years, I've learned that fighting doesn't solve anything when it comes to personal situations.  Your inner being has to let it go and learn to live on with the people around you.

Don't get me wrong.  That doesn't mean you have to be best friends with that someone who has wronged you but you do need to forgive and forget.  I've heard people say, "I'll forgive them but I'll never forget they did that to me."  In the end this leads to a festering sore inside that makes people bitter in their dealings with not only that person who wronged them but with everyone around them.

It's time for us to take a look into what is festering in our mind and whom we are having problems letting go of wronged feelings.  It's time to make a conscious effort to letting go.  You don't have to physically encounter them in order to do this.  What you need to do is make an effort to not dwell on what happened but take it to the high ground and look for what good you can do by letting go of the emotions that are holding you back from forgetting.

I've had many upsets in my life and one of them was one that I had to rid myself from all contact with a person.  Over the years, I let the bitterness set in and avoided them at all costs.  I've learned that because of other circumstances, I'm only hurting other people involved and have come to a position in life where I can speak with them without the rankling and enjoy the company of others in their company.  This is loving your neighbor as yourself in it's fulfillment and I thank God for that realization and with his mercy having come to this point.