December 24, 2012

A Christmas Story



Story of A Little Lisle


A small lisle was very concerned that it was not sufficient, the way it was .



I am too weak for a rope ", it told itself, "and I am too short to become woven to a sweater. I can´t get  tied to others. Pale and colorless as I am I am useless  for embroidery. Oh, if I was made of Lurex, I could decorate a stole or a dress. But I am simply not enough for anything.  Nobody needs me. Nobody likes me - and  at least I can´t like myself. "



While the small lisle played sad music and felt quite dejected in its self-pity, a small pat of wax ran through the cold night, full of desperation.

I am way too small for a big Christmas Candle - and I can´t  warm up anyone.  Pale and colorless as I am, I´m not suitable to decorate a big candle. Oh, what shall I do now? "


When the pat of wax came along the lisle´s house, it knocked at the door, because it was freezing to death.


Seeing the downcasted small lisle,  the wax had an idea and said eagerly:

“Don´t give up yourself. I've got an idea: Let´s stick together. You and me are too short and don´t have enough wax for a big Christmas candle but we are good enough for a small candle."

And so the two got together and were happy.

Let us never give up to try to kindle a light instead of complaining about the darkness...

Christmas is that time of the year to remember family and friends in gratitude for all the light and warmth they have brought into our lifes all over the year. Their love is a reflection of the Lord´s  neverending love for all of us and reminds us to keep the faith and to go on to spread love.

Merry Christmas
to you and your family.

Thank you for your support
and the L.O.V.E YOU put into the world. 




*


December 22, 2012

A Moment of Silence To The Fallen Children

The 22nd of every month we celebrate Children's Day on this blog. The December post usually is Christmas-related. However, this year the celebration of love indeed  is worldwide overshadowed by the massacre at Elementary Hook school in Newtown.
 
 A memorial on a stoop in southeast Washington DC's Eastern Market 
neighborhood 15 December 2012; Photograph: Richard Adams

Our Webteam won´t comment on this tragedy which broke so many hearts  in this small town in Connecticut. We are far away from expressing political demands or consequenzes at this point, because that´s not our job - this is something everyone has to decide for himself.

First of all the it´s-all-for-LOVE-webteam wants to extend our most sincere condolences and prayers to all those families affected by the devasting events in Newtown at Sandy Hook, Elementary School. 
Our second intent is that we want the victims to be remembered.
We want them remembered not as  numbers - but as unique, beautiful persons with names and faces, who loved their families and who will be always loved by them.
They will sometimes be present in the dreams, but they will always be kept alive in fond memories of their family and friends, because they have a place in their heart of hearts.
For all of us who never had the chance to meet one of the victims in person their death should be a reminder of how  absolutely essential it has become to stop war, hate and violence and that it is finally a matter of survive to chase wisdom, give love, promote peace and demonstrate compassion. (And at this point this sad post gets the "MJ-touch": Remember Michael Jackson's message ...) 

Please take a moment of silence and join us in remembering the victims and their families.

The names follow the list  of names of the dead provided by the Connecticut state police, which does not include the name of the shooter, nor his mother. Since we do not intent to become the shooter fame, we don´t mention him. We want to leave his family at the Mercy of the Lord.



Fallen Children
 
 Charlotte Bacon, age 6

      Daniel Barden, age 7, 
      Photo: Courtesy of the family

    Olivia Engel, age 6, 
    Photo: Tim Nosezo/Engel Family/AP 

     Josephine Gay, age 7, 
      Photo: Courtesy of the Family 

 Ana M Marquez-Greene, age 6,
 Photo: Family Photo/Rex USA 


    Dylan Hockley, age 6,
      Photo: Facebook

 Madeleine F Hsu, age 6 ,
 Photo: unknown source

 
Catherine V Hubbard, age 6, 
Photo: Courtesy of Hubbard Family 

    Chase Kowalski , age 7, 
    Photo: Courtesy of the Family 

    Jesse Lewis, age 6, 
      Photo: Family Photo/Rex USA 
 
    James Mattioli, age 6, 
  Photo: Facebook 

    Grace McDonnell, age 7, 
    Photo: Courtesy of McDonnell Family/AP 

    Emilie Parker, age 6, 
 Photo: Emilie Parker Memorial Fund/Reuters/Landov 

    Jack Pinto, age 6, 
   Photo: source unknown

 Noah Pozner, age 6,
Photo: Courtesy of the Family 

   Jessica Rekos, age 6,
    Photo: Facebook

   Avielle Richman, age 6, 
     Photo: Facebook 

    Benjamin Wheeler, age 6 
     Photo: source unknown
Allison N Wyatt, age 6, 
                                          Photo: provided by the family
                                                    
                                                            Adults

     Rachel Davino, age 29, 
                                                Photo: Facebook

   Dawn Hochsprung, age 47,
                                          Photo: Eliza Hallabeck/Newtown Bee/AP

 Anne Marie Murphy, age 52, 
                                                     Photo: ABC News
 
Lauren Rousseau, age 30,  
                                      Photo: Courtesy of Rousseau Family/AP 

      Mary Sherlach, age 56, 
                                            Photo: Courtesy of Mark Sherlach/AP

Victoria Soto, age 27, 
Photo: Rex USA
             

May the Lord keep us all! 
***
Edit: After I finished this post I found that our fried Raven wrote an excellent article in making an analogy between Michael´s message  and the Sandy Hook tragedy.Take some time for reading - it´s simply brilliant.

***
Time can bring you down
Time can bend your knees
Time can break your heart
Have you begging please
Begging please

Beyond the door
There's peace, I'm sure
And I know there'll be no more
Tears in heaven 
~Eric Clapton, lyrics from "Tears in heaven"






*

November 30, 2012

World AIDS Day - We Care!

World AIDS Day is a great opportunity to get the public talking about HIV and fundraise.
Today is the day  for all of us to learn the facts about HIV.

According to wikipedia AIDS has killed more than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007, and an estimated 33.2 million people worldwide live with HIV as of 2007, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 2 million lives in 2007, of which about 270,000 were children.

There are different numerical  data about  the worldwide effect of HIV infection in children on the internet: no matter how many children are infected - the goal is ZERO!
 
The Rights of the Child in the context of HIV/AIDS

All children under the age of 18 living in today's world - whether they are themselves infected with HIV, affected by AIDS in their households or communities, or living in the shadow of HIV risk - are recognized by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.The United Nations Con-vention on the Rights of the Child in the context of HIV/AIDS has spelled out principles for reducing children's vulnerability to infection and for protecting children from discrimination because of their real or perceived HIV/AIDS status. This human rights framework can be used by governments to ensure that the best interests of children with regard to HIV/AIDS are promoted and addressed:

  •  Children's right to life, survival and development should be guaranteed.The civil rights and freedoms of children should be respected, with emphasis on removing policies which may result in children being separated from their parents or families.                                                
  • Children should have access to HIV/AIDS prevention education, information, and to the means of prevention. Measures should be taken to remove social, cultural, political or religious barriers that block children's access to  these.                                                                                                          
  • Children's right to confidentiality and privacy in regard to their HIV status should be recognized. This includes the recognition that HIV testing should be voluntary and done with the informed consent of the person involved which should be obtained in the context of pretest counselling. If children's legal guardians are involved, they should pay due regard to the child's view, if the child is of an age or maturity to have such views.
  •  All children should receive adequate treatment and care for HIV/AIDS, including those children for whom this may require additional costs because of their circumstances, such as orphans.States should include HIV/AIDS as a disability, if disability laws exist to strengthen the protection of people living with HIV/AIDS against discrimination.
  •   Children should have access to health care services and programs, and barriers to access encountered by especially vulnerable groups should be removed.
  •  Children should have access to social benefits, including social security and social insurance.
  •  Children should enjoy adequate standards of living.
  •  Children should have access to HIV/AIDS prevention education and information both in school and out of school, irrespective of their HIV/AIDS status.No discrimination should be suffered by children in leisure, recreational, sport, and cultural activities because of their HIV/AIDS status.
Special measures should be taken by governments to prevent and minimize the impact of HIV/AIDS caused by trafficking, forced prostitution, sexual exploitation, inability to negotiate safe sex, sexual abuse, use of injecting drugs, and harmful traditional practices. 
Source: The Role of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and its Impact on HIV/AIDS: Problems and Prospects, presentation by the World Health Organization Global Programme on AIDS at "AIDS and Child Rights: The Impact on the Asia-Pacific Region", Bangkok, Thailand, 21-26 November 1995.

November 23, 2012

November 23rd, Children's Day - Future Generations? / Thanksgiving


"I think about the generations
and they say they want to make it
a better place for our children and our children's children
so that they they they know it's a better world for them
and I think they can make it a better place"
Michael Jackson - Heal The World


Since 2002on the third Thursday of the month of November UN / UNESCO celebrate World Philosophy Day, under the declared objective " .... to honor philosophical reflection in the entire world by opening up free and accessible spaces. Its objective is to encourage the peoples of the world to share their philosophical heritage and to open their minds to new ideas, as well as to inspire a public debate between intellectuals and civil society on the challenges confronting our society" 
This year's theme was "Future Generations". The project sounds good, and worth following but international events just throws it into yet another event category instead of a headline sparking a much needed talk.

The European Union leaders are discussing the new budget and though I know there are a lot of issues, a lot of problems for the member countries that need attention and a very well balanced budget, the "solution" to cut development and humanitarian aid is just not the way to go. 
I come from a country within the European Union, one that has benefited greatly in rebuilding at all levels after the Iron Curtain fell from development funds for new members so I have experienced the benefits of these types of policies.

You can take action and help the campaign to keep the EU development and aid fund at One International. Already a petition with 143,021 member's signatures was delivered to the UK Prime Minister under the words of Nelson Mandela “our human compassion binds us; the ONE to the other”.
 
 Days before the "Future Generations" talk in Paris, France the conflict between Israel and Palestine intensified. Both sides fight for future generations. In the process they kill the future. 
 
Children get killed, hurt, live in fear and bare the emotional scars into the future. Future doesn't mean only generations not born yet. I guess being part of a so called "sacrifice generation" set to get lost in transition from communism to democracy, this strikes an emotional chord. 


"The child shall enjoy special protection, and shall be given opportunities and facilities, by law and by other means, to enable him to develop physically, mentally, morally, spiritually and socially in a healthy and normal manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity. In the enactment of laws for this purpose, the best interests of the child shall be the paramount consideration."
 
 We have legal framework, we have and create opportunities for talks and setting lines of actions.
ACT.
 




The "It's All For L.O.V.E" blog team would like to wish a Happy Thanksgiving !!! to all of you celebrating.
We are thankful for the love we share.

"For as long as we do not go beyond possible, beyond accounting, we will never conceive of or claim paradise" 
Nicolae Steinhardt, "Happiness Diary"

October 23, 2012

October 23rd, 2012 - Children's Day: "That One in the Mirror"


  ..... war and hunger, poverty, diseases, economic hardships, injustice and leaders killing the people they were supposed to protect ..... so many of us are living through all of this, many of us learn about them on the media and pay attention for a while, so many of us try to act and help, few of us get the information about it then move on, few of us just turn a deaf ear to all the suffering.
And possible do all of this at different times.
But we cannot separate ourselves from what going on. whether the problems are next to home or across the world. 
Discouraging. Shocking. Sickening. 
This can be some of the words to describe both various situation like the events in Syria or the famine in many regions of our world and their aftermaths.
Same words can be used to describe what we feel when we get confronted with this directly or via news......

What we wanted to share with you for today is a piece of writing from Michael Jackson's book "Dancing the Dream. Poems and Reflections
 

That One in the Mirror
I wanted to change the world, so I got up one morning and looked in the mirror. That one looking back said, "There is not much time left. The earth is wracked with pain. Children are starving. Nations remain divided by mistrust and hatred. Everywhere the air and water have been fouled almost beyond help. Do something!"
That one in the mirror felt very angry and desperate. Everything looked like a mess, a tragedy, a disaster. I decided he must be right. Didn't I feel terrible about these things, too, just like him? The planet was being used up and thrown away. Imagining earthly life just one generation from now made me feel panicky.
It was not hard to find the good people who wanted to solve the earth's problems. As I listened to their solutions, I thought, "There is so much good will here, so much concern." At night before going to bed, that one in the mirror looked back at me seriously, "Now we'll get somewhere," he declared. "If everybody does their part."
But everybody didn't do their part. Some did, but were they stopping the tide? Were pain, starvation, hatred, and pollution about to be solved? Wishing wouldn't make it so � I knew that. When I woke up the next morning, that one in the mirror looked confused. "Maybe it's hopeless," he whispered. Then a sly look came into his eyes, and he shrugged. "But you and I will survive. At least we are doing all right."
I felt strange when he said that. There was something very wrong here. A faint suspicion came to me, one that had never dawned so clearly before. What if that one in the mirror isn't me? He feels separate. He sees problems "out there" to be solved. Maybe they will be, maybe they won't. He'll get along. But I don't feel that way � those problems aren't "out there," not really. I feel them inside me. A child crying in Ethiopia, a sea gull struggling pathetically in an oil spill, a mountain gorilla being mercilessly hunted, a teenage soldier trembling with terror when he hears the planes fly over: Aren't these happening in me when I see and hear about them?
The next time I looked in the mirror, that one looking back had started to fade. It was only an image after all. It showed me a solitary person enclosed in a neat package of skin and bones. "Did I once think you were me?" I began to wonder. I am not so separate and afraid. The pain of life touches me, but the joy of life is so much stronger. And it alone will heal. Life is the healer of life, and the most I can do for the earth is to be its loving child.
That one in the mirror winced and squirmed. He hadn't thought so much about love. Seeing "problems" was much easier, because love means complete self-honesty. Ouch!
"Oh, friend," I whispered to him, "do you think anything can solve problems without love?" That one in the mirror wasn't sure. Being alone for so long, not trusting others and being trusted by others, it tended to detach itself from the reality of life. "Is love more real than pain?" he asked.
"I can't promise that it is. But it might be. Let's discover," I said. I touched the mirror with a grin. "Let's not be alone again. Will you be my partner? I hear a dance starting up. Come." That one in the mirror smiled shyly. He was realizing we could be best friends. We could be more peaceful, more loving, more honest with each other every day.
Would that change the world? I think it will, because Mother Earth wants us to be happy and to love her as we tend her needs. She needs fearless people on her side, whose courage comes from being part of her, like a baby who is brave enough to walk because Mother is holding out her arms to catch him. When that one in the mirror is full of love for me and for him, there is no room for fear. When we were afraid and panicky, we stopped loving this life of ours and this earth. We disconnected. Yet how can anybody rush to help the earth if they feel disconnected? Perhaps the earth is telling us what she wants, and by not listening, we fall back on our own fear and panic.
One thing I know: I never feel alone when I am earth's child. I do not have to cling to my personal survival as long as I realize, day by day, that all of life is in me. 
The children and their pain; the children and their joy.
 The ocean swelling under the sun; the ocean weeping with black oil. 
The animals hunted in fear; the animals bursting with the sheer joy of being alive.
This sense of "the world in me" is how I always want to feel. That one in the mirror has his doubts sometimes. So I am tender with him. Every morning I touch the mirror and whisper, "Oh, friend, I hear a dance. Will you be my partner? Come."










September 22, 2012

Children´s Day-September22nd,2012 POEM: When I was A Child




         When I was a child, I thought they could do no wrong,
         When I was a child, everyone seemed to get along.
         When I was a child we were always together,
         When I was a child, I thought it would last forever.
         When I was a child, playing with my cousins was always fun,
         When I was a child, my face always brightened by the   
                                      beautiful sun.
         When I was a child, I was young and free,
         When I was a child, no pain or worries I could see.
         When I was a child, I learned from my mistakes,
         
         Now I am an adult, now my heart breaks.

                                (~ Nicola Burkett)






Data released in September 2012 show significant progress in reducing child mortality: globally, the number of under-five child deaths fell from nearly 12 million in 1990 to an estimated 6.9 million in 2011.
This shows that we an make a change but there´s still a lot to do to make this world a better place for the children. 
Please do not stop to support organisations  below that work hard to bring down the mortility of children. Here  are just a few, working on an international base:





September 18, 2012

Wisdom Of Life...


On occasion of one of my dearest friends´birthday,
I want to wish a very Happy Birthday to M.
You are a bless in my life.  
May the Lord watch over you and protect you...


"The  deep  wisdom  of  life is  ever  present 
and only asks  to be lived. "

~Michael Jackson






What is LIFE about?


Life is a chance
- take it.




Life is a dream
- make it to come true.



Life is a journey
- see it through to the end.




Life is a challenge
- take it.



Life is a mystery
- disclose the secrets.



Life is wealth
- save it.




Life is LOVE
-enjoy it.





Life also is pain
-get over it.




Life is unique
-enjoy it and fill it with LOVE.
 

August 29, 2012

Happy Birthday, Michael !

It's a beautiful day



It's love we celebrate today.
It all starts with the soul.




 

Happy Birthday, Michael !!!
Thank you.

“Sometimes the heart is so heavy that we turn away from it and forget that its throbbing is the wisest message of life, a wordless message that says, "Live, be, move, rejoice -- you are alive!" Without the heart's wise rhythm, we could not exist.” 
Michael Jackson