SermoNetties

An encore presentation, Nettie shares sweet memories about her father and just how much she appreciates all of his qualities and the evidence of the same qualities in herself and her children.  Despite tough beginnings and horrific experiences during World War II, he chose to come home and live life with love and generosity, grateful for all the blessings he had.

How do you know what God wants you to do?  When do you throw in the towel and retire?  Many themes ran through Netties head this week and motivated her to take a look at what to do with her passion to serve.

Nettie expands on the poem, How To Be Happy, by Robert Louis Stevenson.   First Responders in Love must be the Light with a Joyful heart.  How do we choose to be happy?

On holiday. Nettie replays a SermoNettie from Episode 3, Season 1. We all have heroes who have influenced and changed our lives. Who are those heroes and how do we honor what we have learned from them? What does it take to be a hero in someone else's life?

Nettie reflects on the tears of love we spill when participating in life events, both happy and sad.

Now what do we do? As vaccinations increase and Covid-19 numbers come down, the country is emerging from the stay-at-home routines we’ve endured for over a year. Nettie encourages kindness and to be First Responders in Love. Be carriers of kindness and light, the first to smile to others and the first to offer grace.

Holding and rocking her brand-new grandson to sleep, Nettie ponders the ancient practice of Women passing on Wisdom to their children. 

Nettie awaits the imminent birth of daughters first child.  Realizing she is now the matriarch in this situation, she recalls all her Mother and father passed on to her and what she in turn passes on to her daughter. 

In a world where toxic language and judging of others is viral, Nettie encourages First Responders in Love to first respond with a listening heart instead of reacting with repetitive shots of judgment regarding both the victims and the perpetrators.  It is our job to Be the Light, not to be the judge.

A popular Re-run while Nettie is on vacation: Nettie recalls Fall 1965, and the painful  experience for her and her two new friends from across town.  It was the first year of desegregation and busing and the events of that time became a life-long lesson filled with grief, confusion, guilt and anger for Nettie.  It is a lesson Nettie continues to work on and encourages others to place themselves in the agonizing place our friends-of color live in everyday.