Four Letter Words

Why do intelligent, educated people feel the need to use "four letter words"? I personally find them to be not only offensive because they strike me as vulgar, but I wonder of those that use them, are they incapable of using more creative words to describe their feelings?

I can remember a time when men would use what we called "cuss" words, however, they rarely used them in mixed company, and even if "social websites" had existed, they would never have used them knowing everyone on earth would see them and know that's how they expressed themselves. They would have been ashamed! That's something the vast majority of people don't seem to be these days about anything. Ashamed... And now, it's not just the men, it's the women too! (We won't/can't call them ladies anymore, can we?)

When my sons were growing up, I remember telling them to not do things just because their peers did, and that included using "bad" words. I always told them to use something completely creative and see who they could confuse. There are so many words in the dictionary, why stop at words that only have four letters?!

What brought this to mind, you ask? I was just on Facebook, and a friend of mine, a former co-worker, a female, posted such a disgusting word, that I am now forced to block any future posts of hers. I in no way want to be associated with someone that uses language that turns my ears and cheeks bright red! And I also don't want anyone else to think I use, or approve of using language like that.

I am certainly not claiming to be perfect, I'm far from it. However, my parents raised me to act like, and strive to be, a lady, and I think of the example I set when I choose not to use foul language when something goes wrong. And, really, if I as a Christian, am trying to live as God wants me to, as He commanded me to, would I talk like a trash mouth? Always speak as though He were standing right there beside you, because, actually, He is!

There, I feel better now.

"Friends are the family we choose for ourselves." (Edna Buchanan)

Approximately three years ago, I was introduced to the wonder of Facebook, and my life has been changed for the better every day since.

That sounds rather silly, doesn't it? To say ones life has been completely changed by a website dedicated to socialization, gossip, and boasting of ones achievements, seems so ridiculous, however, for me, it truly has.

I'm not the most technologically saavy person around, but for someone that never even sat down in front of a computer until 1997, I find myself on my laptop every single day, even if just for a few brief minutes, checking emails, and status updates on my Facebook account. I take it with me everywhere!

I remember the day I was introduced to Facebook, (heretofore to be called FB), quite clearly. My daughter in law, Jamie, called me and told me to check out this great website. She said you sign up, put some personal information on this "page" and begin accepting "friends". She said, "you just have to try it!". So, I did. For the first couple of days, the only "friends" I had were a few family members. Disappointing. I talked to them all the time. What's the big deal? Then, as if by magic, all of a sudden, people I hadn't seen or talked to in many, many years began sending me "friend requests"! Now this is more like it!

And, today, I'm happy to say, I have some of the best friends anyone could ever hope to have. True friends. Rare treasures of life type of friends. And I was fortunate enough to spend last evening with four of those treasures.

These lovely ladies are girls I graduated with from Green High School back in 1972. We were not friends, per say, in high school. We were acquaintences, knew who each other was back then, but none of us, that I remember, ever even had a real conversation during our school days together. That seems like such a shame now that I've gotten to know them so well. Now when we get the chance to spend time together, we talk all over each other, each having so much to say. We laugh together, pray together, cry together, and hold each other up, as true friends do.

All of us have had our share of heartaches and physical aches of late, and I'm telling you, those things are so much more bearable when you have a good friend, or six, to share them with. And knowing someone truly loves you, cares about you, and you, them, is one of the biggest blessings life has to offer.

So, if someone makes derrogatory remarks about FB, just remember this. I found some rare treasures on this social website, treasures I call my best friends. Friends I hope to share the rest of my life with, and theirs with me. Friends I love so very much.

And to think I owe all of this to FB, well, isn't that just amazing?!