Musings and Memories
By Doug Dezotell
We live in a Bumper Sticker World.
Anytime you drive in traffic you can see a vast array of things calling to you from the bumpers in front of you. Such as:
“Proud Mother of an Honor Student!”
I even saw one that said, “Proud Mother of Jail Inmate of the Month.”
Then there’s this one, “I Can’t Fix Stupid—But God Can!”
Drop back a couple of car lengths if you read this one: “NEW DRIVER—My Driving Scares Me Too.”
And drop back if you read this one: “This is the BACK of My Car!”
And turn around if you read this one: “I’m Angry—I Have PMS—And I Carry a Gun.”
Not all bumper stickers are scary though.
With Veterans Day just now behind us I like these: “Army Veteran,” and “Gold Star Parent,” and “Vietnam Vet,” and “Thank You For Your Service!”
Then there are those we should display and act upon, not just once a year at Thanksgiving Time, but all year long, such as “Have An Attitude Of Gratitude!”
Or, “I’m So Grateful!”
Or, “Choose Gratitude Today!”
One of my favorites is, “If You Can Read This, Thank A Teacher!”
All too often, in this Bumper Sticker World, our conversations with other people could fit on a bumper sticker…
Sticker #1: “Hello There!”
Sticker #2: “How Are You?”
Sticker #3: “I’m Okay…”
Sticker #4: “How Are You?”
Sticker #5: “I’m Okay…”
Sicker #6: “Well, Have A Good Day.”
Sticker #7: “You Too.”
Sticker #8: “Say Hello To Your Family.”
Sticker #9: “I Will. You Do the Same.”
Sticker #10: “See You Later.”
People today communicate so much differently than people did when I was a young man.
I remember actually having real conversations with my family and friends, and even people I barely knew.
But today’s generation communicates by text and memes, and using all sorts of new social media outlets.
Short texts… Short comments… Small talk.
I find myself doing the same thing sometime.
We post short comments on Facebook and consider that talking to someone.
It can all fit on a Bumper Sticker.
But, we need to make our communication meaningful. Let’s at least try to actually say things that matter, that count for something.
In other words, in this Bumper Sticker World let’s all say, “THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!” Let me try…
How about this? “Thank You for Reading My Column.”
And “Thank You for Getting to This Point in My Column and Not Quitting…Please Continue Reading…”
And I want to thank those of you who stop me in the store and YOU thanking ME for writing my columns.
Thank you for reading my “Musings and Memories” over all these years.
And Now, “Thank You For Reading The BEDFORD COUNTY POST.”
The Post is here for you…your family…your friends…and our Community.
And We Look Forward To Being Here For You In The Future.
We are on the verge of a new year, and it looks to be a Big News Making Year.
Not only will our favorite actors return to TV and Movies, but 2024 is an Election Year. And in the New Year there will be all sorts of new Bumper Stickers to read.
Pollical, Radical, and Fanatical.
Some good, some not so good, and some downright nasty!
Some of those Bumper Stickers you may wish you hadn’t read.
Sometimes in a Hyper Political Year I wish I could “Wash My Mind Out With Soap.”
But now, with a Focus on the Present, let’s be Grateful for all that God is doing for us.
At Thanksgiving Time we can also look back and Thank God for all He has done for us in 2023.
You might have had a rough year physically (like I have), but as long as we have breath, let’s thank God for that breath. And Breathe It With A Grateful Heart.
One of my favorite Psalms is the 150th, which is filled with Gratitude. It goes like this.
1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp!
4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
6 Let Everything That Has Breath Praise The Lord. Praise the Lord!
We can also say “Give Thanks” in place of “Praise.”
Let me try it:
1 Give Thanks to the Lord! Thank God in His sanctuary; Thank Him in His mighty firmament!
2 Thank Him for His mighty acts; Thank Him according to His excellent greatness!
3 Thank Him with the sound of the trumpet; Thank Him with the lute and harp!
4 Thank Him with the timbrel and dance; Thank Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
5 Thank Him with loud cymbals; Thank Him with clashing cymbals!
6 Let Everything That Has Breath Give Thanks To The Lord. Let’s All Thank The Lord!
That might not fit on a Bumper Sticker, but it can certainly add joy to our hearts. And I hope and pray that your heart will overflow with Thanksgiving both now and in the days ahead.
Thank you for reading this far.
Final Bumper Sticker: “I’M GRATEFUL!”
Doug Dezotell is the pastor of Cannon United Methodist Church in Shelbyville. He is a grateful columnist for the Bedford County Post; and he is a grateful husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He can be contacted at dougmdezotell@gmail.comm, or call him at 931-607-5191.
