September 2020

Greetings and good morning from the beautiful Bitterroot Valley!  Things appear to be so serious on the planet currently and the past five months.  Hearing of depression, deaths, political disturbances, and contrary individual bloopers in lives can wear on a person when no break seems imminent.  I feel inspired today to talk about things that will bring a smile to your face and perhaps even a few laughs.  Ol’ Dr. Glo-bug is here to “lighten things up,” even if it’s only temporarily.

            My youngest granddaughter Kathryn was turning nine years old yesterday.  A birthday dinner party was set in motion.  While being a caretaker yesterday and out running errands for him, I got a call from my daughter.  She hadn’t planned on any games for the six little children and hoped that while I was out I would get some squirt guns, water balloons and a kiddie pool.  The only squirt guns I could find were pricey, but they lit up and were unique.  To the tune of $60 (on sale!) I arrived at the party with her gifts in hand.

            Weeks earlier, Kathryn discovered an abandoned baby Quail in their yard and became it’s new mommy.  She would tenderly hold the baby in the palm of her hand.  When she touched its stomach, it would roll onto its back and fall asleep in her hand.  A picture of her holding the sleeping baby Quail in her hand, up near her smiling face had been taken.  It was soooo sweet! 

            This picture of her was transferred to a beautifully decorated Baskin Robbins birthday cake for the event.  She had opened her gifts and was magnificently delighted to get a pogo stick from Mommy and Daddy.  She opened each gift with such gracious gratitude for each gift giver.  She opened mine, which was her long awaited and dreamed-for Diamond Art craft.  I had made a bow out of all the colorful flavors of Tootsie Roll Suckers for her gift, in order for her to share with each child present.  Kathryn is a “real sucker” for this specialty treat (pun intended) and was so thrilled to show her little guests what was awaiting them all after this gift was opened.

            It was time to cut into the beautiful cake, mouths were watering . . . especially Granny B’s!  Kathryn has always chosen Kraft Macaroni and Cheese for her favorite birthday dinner.  We were all surprised that she has found a new favorite and my daughter Danielle made the most scrumptious Sushi Bowls for us guests. 

            Many of you already know that I’m a food pusher and feed you in every book, oftentimes giving the recipes.  Today is no different and I have to tell you – I had never had a Sushi Bowl,  it was my first – but, it definitely won’t be my last!  I can’t wait to have guests and spring this new idea on them!  (I think Danielle just came up with a brand new craze creating Sushi this way!)

            Using sticky white rice, Danielle topped it off with diced cucumbers/cream cheese/ jalapenos/avocado.  She had one plate with crab and shrimp and for those who didn’t like seafood, she had a platter of orange chicken and/or teriyaki chicken . . . topped off with Soy Sauce.  I would have loved to have had seconds, but remember – I was saving room for cake!

            As daddy stuck nine candles into the ice cream cake, I leaned over and whispered, “Kathryn, just a reminder – but you might want to start thinking about what your wish will be before you blow out your candles.”

            She looked into my eyes with concern and replied, “Oh, Granny B!  I don’t know what I’ll do . . . because ALL MY WISHES HAVE ALREADY COME TRUE!”

            Her words deeply touched my heart!  Isn’t it an amazing thing to hear?  I don’t think I have EVER heard anyone say that in my nearly 67 years of life!  I don’t care if you are 9 or 90 – if you ever hear someone say that, it will touch your heart, as well!

            I know for Kathryn, getting the gifts she received were physical “things,” her favorite dinner, her long awaited Diamond Art craft and that pogo stick thrilled her.  Add to her list, her favorite cookies ‘n cream ice cream cake with the picture of her and the Baby Bird she named “Turbo,” her little friends and attending guests with all their good wishes and love for her . . . she had every right to believe that all her wishes had come true.  They had!

            Seen through the eyes of a child, who is a social butterfly . . . locked down from the Covid, unable to play with friends or hug a grandparent, Kathryn’s special day was magical and I’ll just bet she keeps this memory for a lifetime of her birthday that occurred in 2020.

            For each of you today, I’ll quote Rascal Flatts (Greatest Hits Volume 1) of his song “My Wish.”

I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow,

And each road leads you where you wanna go,

And if you’re faced with a choice, and you have to choose,

I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.

And if one door opens to another door closed,

I hope you keep on walkin’ till you find the window,

If it’s cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile.

But more than anything, more than anything . . .

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,

Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,

You never need to carry more than you can hold,

And while you’re out there getting where you’re getting to,

I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,

Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but you never forget,

All the ones who love you, in the place you live,

I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,

And you help somebody every chance you get,

Oh, you find God’s Grace, in every mistake,

And always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, more than anything . . .

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,

Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,

You never need to carry more than you can hold,

And while you’re out there getting where you’re getting to,

I hope you know somebody loves you, and want the same things too,

Yeah, this, is my wish, Yeah Yeah

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,

Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,

You never need to carry more than you can hold,

And while you’re out there getting where you’re getting to,

I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too.

Yeah, this, is my wish (this is my wish for you).

            In hearing Kathryn’s simple, but profound, comment – I have been thinking about my lifelong wishes.  Recently, with my mother on her deathbed who could no longer open her eyes or speak, I softly said, “It’s okay mom, I don’t need to hear you say the words, because I know how deeply you have loved me.”

            I have known the devotion of a man who loved me more than air itself and showed it in every way and on every day (not just Valentine’s Day!)  I have experienced the love from children and grandchildren, from all family and friends near and far . . . from some whom I’ve never even had the pleasure of meeting “with skin on” and have “known” them, sometimes for 25 or 30 years now through my career.  I have recently discovered through Facebook and in finding friends from the past how dearly they still love me and think fondly of me (as I do them . . .)

            My human wishes of physical things of:

  1. Writing books and inspiring the world has come to pass.  I am not famous or relatively even known, or even getting rich — but that wasn’t my goal.  Nearly every day, I hear comments about my writings.  An 84 year old woman called me a few days ago.  She is reading “Total Truth & Lies” (prevention and recovery from rape and abuse) and through her tears . . . she said, “You gave me this book freely last month and I’m almost done reading it.  But, I have to tell you – I FEEL EXACTLY EVERYTHING IN THIS BOOK AS IT IS WRITTEN!”  I gently remarked, “I know . . . and when you finish reading, you are going to call me back and we’ll talk about it and you won’t be crying any longer and you’ll know you’re healed.”
  2. Helping convicts get second chances, truly rehabilitating them . . . healing their issues and living their lives to the fullest, giving them one-on-one attention and getting to meet them face-to-face as free and thriving souls walking again amongst society has and is continuing.
  3. Creating the physical HEALING CENTER FOR HUMANITY has not yet materialized in the form I thought it would.  But, until then, I continue to use my humble home and touch those He puts on my doorstep.  I have always thought BIG and dreamed even bigger and it “ain’t over until the fat lady sings.”

Those “things” aren’t the truly important ones though.  When I asked God “where the healing center was supposed to be,” he responded, “Wherever you are.”  It’s the LOVE that’s important and I take that everywhere I go.  When I meet a person, do a private healing, and hold them following the session . . . most generally, it’s ME who’s doing the crying.  Holding them in my arms, I’m trying to utter the words through tears, “I’m sooo sorry that you didn’t know, until now, how loved you are!”

In closing today, let me state clearly, “My wish for you . . . I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too.”

Until next month . . . take care . . . I care!

Always,

Gloria D. Benish, Ph.D.