ART & INSPIRATION BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER
Paul was well acquainted with fishing. His family owned a summer home on a Wisconsin lake and fishing was a requirement. When I think of fishing, my thoughts turn to baiting a hook with a fresh, juicy earthworm. That alone was enough to deter me from enjoying the fun of landing a huge bottom feeder with an ugly face. The detailed drawings of fishing lures would seem a lot easier solution to ever having to handle said worm. This collection shows some of the contents of his dad’s bait box
The old proverb, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,” makes a lot of sense. When we become so reliant on someone or something to pay our way, or give us a free education, or provide for daycare, or protect our environment, or approve abortion, or eliminate racism – sexual identity – we’re becomIng enslaved to the very source providing all of those goodies. We are beholding to them.
Here are few variants to that proverb:
- “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Give a man a poisoned fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
- “Don’t give him a fish and you feed yourself. He’s a grown man and should be able to figure it out for himself.”
- “Teach him to fish and he’ll need graphite fishing rods, tackle box, fishing line, expensive reels, lures, tackle box, silly hat and vest, minnows, fishing boat with motor, a trailer to carry the boat, lots of vacation time, beer and no wife.”
All kidding aside, are we really better off having our government involved in every area of our lives? Nothing comes without a price tag. We are each responsible for our own lives, but we’re also asked to care for our neighbors and rightly so. We don’t do that nearly enough. In fact most of us don’t even know our neighbor’s name. Our isolation began a long time before the pandemic, when people began expecting the government to do what we don’t want to do.
If we really care about the poor, or those being oppressed, or those without specific skills, we help them to learn how to make a living, provide jobs, financially help them, encourage them that they have a future, reinforce their value and love them. Don’t enslave them to powers that be. We can all be thankful for that possibility.
Some of Jesus’ followers were fishermen and He asked all of them to fish for men. That means WE’RE obliged to cast our nets for those who need the Greatest Fisher of Men ever.
atimetoshare.me 
Amen, Momma. We are all obliged to cast our nets! I care so much for the oppressed, the widowers/widows, and those that need help learning how to make a living. When I lived in Branson I delivered meals for Jesus was Homeless. In addition to delivering meals, we offered training through Jobs for Life (mentors/mentees). I also had a group of women who were former addicts. All the ones we delivered to worked at our thrift store. It truly was the hands and feet of Jesus and changed my whole attitude of living like Jesus!
I love Paul’s paintings—recently I bought a book of stamps of all fishing lures. Paul’s paintings should’ve been the stamps! They’re so lovely, Mama K.
Your words always hit straight to my heart and soul.
I’ve had two appts this week and I’m behind on my reading. I love you dearly and pray for you daily.
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You are a great blessing to me as I navigate this new role as “widow.” When I realized I was one it finally hit home. I have such an amazing family though. My 30 year old grandson is living in the upstairs of my home. He is still struggling to find work but his field had been taken over by AI. Software engineering used to be the wave of the future. I guess those engineers just put themselves out of work. We had a family get together including our S. Carolina family to celebrate his birthday last week. My script writing is a bit in hold for now. Spending g lots of time in my garden. Hope you and your family are all well and thanks for your affirmation. Love you💕❤️
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I will be praying for your grandson. I hate that AI has taken over his field!! We will see what happens with all of this.
Your get together sounds so fun. We are all hanging in there. Recent trips to the dr (after my recent hospital stay) and scan shows my bone density continues to decrease (even after all my treatments). They want to X-ray my right foot (it’s not like me to not be able to walk and move). I have two appts next week. One is a yearly with my endocrinologist. My daily treatment will continue through next Spring. I lost my hair, but not my hope. I’m taking one small step at a time the best I can! I miss you and am so happy to see you when I can. Please take care. I love you, dearly!!❣️❣️❣️
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Such a good post. I love your humorous quotes!
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Thanks Lisa❤️
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