The 7

NO I am not talking about my family. YES there are seven people in our family. But I am talking about Glenn Becks new book......The Seven Wonders That Will Change Your Life. I really really like Glenn Beck. I know there are those out there that can't stand him.....I'm pretty sure they are the ones listening to what the media is saying about him. And maybe not. But I know that I like him. On Sunday, Don and I watched his conversion story and how he was converted to the church. It was awesome. It was hilarious. It made us laugh and it also made us cry.

I love seeing how people totally change their lives. He was in really bad shape. But he pulled his life together and made something of himself. And to me....that is AMAZING.

Since my dad died I have not been able to get into any books. I have started many. But each time I start a book I can't concentrate on the words. My thoughts turn to my dad and then I get disinterested in the book and put in on the shelf.

Well I figured I would try another book. I read this book in two days. It was SO GOOD. I couldn't put it down.

The book talks a lot about coincidences.....things don't just happen. There are no accidents. Things happen for a reason.

The book is written by both Glenn Beck and Psychiatrist Keith Ablow.

Keith says: "SO many of us believe we are alone in our shortcomings and fears and challenges and questions and hopes and dreams that we must keep ourselves undercover, lest we be seen for the imperfect people we are. But nothing could be further from the truth. There is far more that connects us than spearates us. We are all struggling. We are all on difficult, sometimes tortuous, journey's that are really meant--designed, in fact, by God--to lead us to the best in oursleves.

"Compassion is a force for good, not a capitulation to that which is bad".

"Never be afraid to FEEL for someone else, no matter how unfeeling they have been to you. When you do, you stand with what is good and decent and miraculous. You stand with God".

"Compassion isn't easy. It's alot harder to love people than to judge them. Sometimes it's a lot harder to love them than it is to hate them. We get confused by what we see them doing in the world----some of it unattractive, some of it downright ugly--instead of focusing on what they COULD do, if they could follow the bread crumbs and find their paths to embracing the truth".

"Can anyone really doubt anymore that we have the ability to change lives---including our own---when we empower ourselves with compassion"?

We DO NOT know what others have been through. We do not have all the answers. The book gives great examples of lives that were affected with something horrible and how that influenced what they did later in life.....We can still have compassion for people who have killed others. We can still feel bad for those that have wronged us. Something in their past may be triggering something. We DO NOT KNOW. So therefore we cannot judge. All we can do is work on ourselves and change us. And we can have more compassion for those around us.

I think my word for 2011 will be compassion. Thanks Denise for the idea. It took me longer to figure out my word but after reading this book I have made my decision. Sometimes it is easier to judge the person rather than have compassion on WHY they did something in the first place.

I am not putting a plug in for Glenn's book. But it is a wonderful book and it can change lives. And I KNOW, trust me, that it has changed some already.

I really have NO idea how many people read my blog. That really doesn't matter to me. But I would love to say to anyone who thinks negatively of Glenn.... just read this book. I do not see how anyone can hate this man. He does so much good for so many. He has changed his life. He has so much compassion for others. NO....he isn't perfect but he would be the first to tell you that. I admire this man. I look up to him and I hope I can be half the man he is. I am thankful for this book and I am truly grateful for someone who stands up for what he belives even when so many others try to shoot him down. What an example.