I will be undergoing cataract surgery in the next few weeks. My eyes probably are about all that I can claim as Irish. The image attached to this post is not me, but those eyes are so nice and clear and beautiful, I just had to include it in this post. My hearing is also going, but hearing aids will have to wait until I win the lottery. The fact that I can’t hear, might explain why I thought the eye doctor said he was going to remove the Cadillacs from my eyes. Not really true, but it makes for more laughs in one of our next “Jewels of deNial” scripts.
Today we focus on the Irish and their patron saint, Patrick, who not only brought Christianity to the pagan country of Ireland, but he also supposedly got rid of all the snakes in town. I’m not quite sure if the snake part is true, but it makes for interesting reading. Sort of like the Pied Piper ridding the town of all the rats by playing his flute and leading them into a lake where they all drowned. But, I digress again.
A stereotype is defined as an over-simplified or standardized conception of a culture, profession or group. How often do we categorize people? For example, everyone knows that cops and donuts go together – right? The Italian people are all members of the Mafia. Rednecks have only one tooth and park their used furniture outside next to their pickups.
I happen to be composed of five different nationalities. I’m Irish, English, German, French and Swedish. I should therefore be a green beer swilling drunk- with a stiff upper lip – without a sense of humor, stubborn and serious all the time – a rude and arrogant romantic who loves freedom – and a blond socialist who shops at Ikea.
Well, I certainly hope that doesn’t describe me. It’s funny how we put people into pigeon-holes before we ever get a chance to know them. I think if were honest with ourselves, we have to admit Christians are also placed into their own special category. Many people think that if you’re a Christian, your life is perfect – that you have no problems and if you do, it’s because you’ve done something to displease God. They think you’re a goody two shoes – you’re too conservative – you don’t have any fun. They think you worry too much about sin – that you are all show and no action and that you believe in fairy tales.
Many of those attitudes are formed because it’s easy to put people of one race, one nationality, one ethnic group, one religion into one category. We aren’t all the same. Every human being was created to be unique. God tells us not to judge others. That job is up to Him.
Dear Lord, help me to keep an open mind in all my experiences today. Keep me from making judgments about people, their intentions, their thoughts, their motives, without really knowing what’s in their hearts. You alone are our judge. Don’t ever let me forget that. Amen!
atimetoshare.me 
I had that done a couple of years ago. You might remember the Deviled Yeggs story where all the added characters were the names of the eye drops I had to take afterwards. A couple sting, but I think those are the antibiotics, so it might be a “good sting”. The surgery, at least for me, was about the easiest thing I have been through. The eye drops are a pain, but there is only one of the 3-4 different drops that had to be administered more than a couple of weeks. I’ll be praying, but you’ll be fine. I am having really bad dry eye at the moment. But as for nationalities in my genealogy, there is a lot of Scottish, the family name is English, but near Wales, so maybe Welsh, and a lot of unknown. My Dad always thought there was some native American, since our family line has been here since the Jamestown colony, before the Pilgrims. But I am wearing green. With all the Scotch-Irish of the South, I probably have a little Irish in there.
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I’m getting all three types of drops in one. Maybe they had too many complaints.
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And science keeps making improvements. If my wife had waited just one year, she could have avoided open-heart surgery. Surgery through TAVR instead. (groin and with a scope)
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I’ve driven many people home from cataract surgery. They tell me it is pretty easy and relatively painless. Also, it really seems to improve vision! So far the only complaint I’ve heard is that putting in all the eye drops can get really annoying. Praying that is your story too, and that the Lord blesses you with speedy healing.
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
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Thank you Gabrielle ❤️ I’m not too worried about it. I’ve been blessed with pretty good health except for a few kidney stones. I still have all my original parts, but some are beginning to wear out.
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The antibiotic eye drops are the only part that hurts, and that’s only for the first day. By the second day the incision has begun to close up and the drops don’t sting as much. By the third day they don’t sting at all. The surgery itself is a breeze — no blood, no stitches, no pain — and afterwards it’s startling to see all the things you’ve been missing. Everything is so much clearer and colors are brighter. It was one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself.
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Thanks for that encouragement ❤️
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I also am a “mutt” as Dad used to joke ..Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Dutch, and English..or so I was told I think French might have been in there too. It would be fun to someday have Ancestry DNA to find out for sure.
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Happy St. Patrick’s Day 🍀 Yes it is too bad that such misconceptions are so deep rooted – and many are even worse than your examples. I love your prayer of the day. A.
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Thanks for your affirmation.
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Your in my prayers!
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Reblogged this on clydeherrin.
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Thank you, kind sir😀
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I’m a Northern Irish man (as you prob. know) – who had one cataract removed. A Blessing to get sight back – Not a difficult procedure. Blessings. 🙏🏼
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Thanks Ken. I’m anxious to see clearly again!
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Praying for your eye surgery
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Thanks❤️
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