Please read the last one [Closure].
To inspire and encourage more positive vibes on Steemit, here's your Daily Dose Of Faith In Humanity & Good Karma!
[Seizing Your Opportunity] Robert Smalls was born into US slavery in 1839, but wanted none of it when led a small crew of fellow slaves to steal a Confederate civil war ship after the crew leaders disembarked. Robert dressed in captain's clothes and concealing straw hat, learned the proper coded hand signals to pass guard ships, and stopped along the way to rescue others. Once he reached open waters, he hung a white sheet from the mast and sailed directly to the Union ship blockade to surrender and earn freedom for all aboard. Perhaps this is common knowledge in US history books, but I seem to have forgot about it.
This courageous act was not the last we'd hear from Robert, as he ultimately become a war hero to serve 5 terms in Congress for the state of South Carolina. Amazing! This just goes to show what just one leader is capable of when they don't accept the injustice forced upon them. His spirit and willpower completely changed his and many other lives for the better because he chose to take action.
This reminds me of a quote I once had on a fortune cookie of all places, which I've remembered for many years:
“A ship in harbor is safe — but that is not what ships are built for.” — John A. Shedd
[The Spirit Of Giving] Every holiday season, an elderly man in Pennsylvania puts up the best decorations in town. While neighborhoods often compete for the best lights on the block, and crank up their electric bill, this person puts out a tree decorated only with supplies for the needy. I don't know about you, but this exemplifies the true meaning of this holiday, and sends the right message to the community. There is no shame in receiving help from others who need it, and, more importantly, there is no shame in openly giving to those in need.
[Closure] My Dad recently died after a grueling and drawn out process. From what we learned, it was apparently not your normal send off. While virtually everything else gave out, his heart would simply not give up. He kept trying to talk, but no words would come out.
With constant encouragement that it was ok to leave his body, we could see him resisting between waves of limited consciousness. We were all there by his side in our home giving him permission to go, but he wouldn't. After 30 minutes of sleep on this particular day, after almost a week of barely resting, I had to take a nap to make sure I could stay awake when others needed their turn. I left the room for a few hours and passed out. According to both hospice nurses there then, they couldn't understand how he was still carrying on for so long in his condition while I was away.
While he wasn't the kindest person to me because he projected repressed issues on me, something beautiful happened just after I returned to complete the family circuit. Once I joined my family at the bed, my brother spontaneously had us all join one of our hands with his like a group fist bump, as we used to do at holiday dinners with our glasses. Almost immediately after that, while completely unconscious, he took his last small breath and died.
While I've learned a lot through this process about him and myself, I feel that I finally know why he acted as he did towards me. I'll probably write about this another time as it helps me tremendously to do so, and also to give an example to others so they may get the courage to face situations of their own before it's too late.
Regardless of all else, the moment he died was peaceful, beautiful, and poetic. Everyone was calm and understanding of the gravity of what seemed to make him let go. While death is tragic, something special definitely happened in that moment when I came back. I wouldn't say it was anything personal to me, but it was certainly clear that I completed the puzzle he was waiting for from whatever view he had. Powerful stuff...
Thanks so much for reading.
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