Latin Fusion TV BLOG

Happy Holidays to you and your Family.

As the days get closer to Christmas, I stop and wonder:  What goes on in everyone’s  mind?

People rushing to get holiday shopping done on time and preparing for Christmas Dinner, perhaps holiday party’s with co-workers and exchanging gifts.

I have always enjoyed watching everyone feeling so merry and cheerful when the holidays come around.

It’s funny, because I used to be that person, always wanting to give to my family and even those I didn’t know.  I have always felt that if I was going to have a warm Christmas I wanted other families with children to have the same.

This year has been tough for a lot of us, and perhaps there are some of us that don’t know how to deal with it.

There was a time when I was always able to help others with financial relief and did so without hesitation.

Today it is different, I am unable to give as freely as I used to, yet my holidays will be okay.  I plan to spend this Holiday Season with Angels and Family.

I ask Jesus Christ to surround me  with all his beautiful Angels and with their strong wings to lift me up in spirit, and continue to bring that smile to my face, even when I know times are tough.

I must focus on what the Holidays are about :  It’s preparing me for the Birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day.

What I am trying to share with you is that no matter how hard things may seem, when it feels like everything is crumbling around you – you must remember that you are not alone.

You are surrounded by Angels  and they are lifting you up in Spirit.  You can find them all around you if you take the time to see them.

Be thankful for what you have and even for what you don’t have.

I am Thankful for my love for Christ and my Family, and friends that really care.  I love you just like Jesus Christ loves me and Jesus loves you too.

So I say to you: Thank You for all you have done for me, and not allowing me to give up my dreams.  This alone will make my Holiday brighter.

I hope you spend this Holiday Season with Angels and Family, and may it be merry and cheerful.

May your Holiday Season be warm and full of love, and the Greatest Gift you receive is knowing that God makes the impossible – Possible!

Happy Holidays to you and your Family,

Brandy Lopez

“We walk by Faith and not by Sight”

Have you been told that “You don’t know Jack!”

Well, I have, and I do and I can prove it.  One of my best friends is named “Jack.”  So, you see, I do know Jack!  But, why is this important?

I was thinking about some sayings I heard this week.  There are many sayings that make sense and many that don’t.  There are  “put-downs” that offend, and truths that simply mean what they say.  There are exceptions and variations – but we are not here to “split hairs!”  But I will go through a few that I heard.

“You don’t know Jack”  – usually they are saying something with malicious intent, i.e. that you don’t know what you are talking about, and perhaps they are saying that you are an idiot without actually saying it.

“You are ignorant” – well, it could be true…  I am ignorant about a great many things.  I am also well versed on some things.  I take the time to continue to learn new things, so it doesn’t offend me when called ignorant – I just try to learn something about it.  “Ignorant” is not a bad word and being ignorant is not all that bad, either.

“You are not the sharpest tool in the shed” – Do you need to be? Unless you plan on cutting something down – The important thing is to find someone that is sharp and can do what needs to be done.  I am no genius, but I am smart enough to surround myself with smart  and capable people that can get the job done.  That is the trick – to surround yourself with great people.

I write about this because the aforementioned have been said to me and about me…. And it made me think about what the sayings actually meant no matter the context they were used.

I then realized that “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me!”  Unless, I allow them to.

Look, what anyone thinks about you is “none of your business.”  I mean that – you cannot change the way people think about you.  So why worry, and anyway, how is that your business?  See my point? Here are suggestions, based on what I have learned:

1. Do not fall prey to those talk about you – small minds talk about people;
2. Do not get into the name calling business – it only makes you look small;
3. Do not dignify what they say by retorting a response – the truth always surfaces;
4. Don’t make someone else make you defend yourself – why should you have to defend yourself to others;
5. Do not personalize things – If it is true and you don’t like it – change it;
6. Do not talk maliciously about others – it will come back and haunt you;
7. Don’t gossip or partake in others gossiping to you – because the Spanish Proverb says: “If they will gossip to you, they will gossip about you”;
8. Don’t judge others….their book is still being written and there is always room for change – take me for example;
9. Act “As if…” -  As if you have some class and know how to act; and
10. Do the best you can – they cannot take that from you!

So, if someone says something bad about you, let it go!!! Or if they tell you that you don’t know jack, go get a friend named Jack – Then, like me, you can answer: Yeah, I do!

Life is too short to worry about others!  Get on with life and live in peace to the best of your abilities. The world will be a better place – I guarantee it!

Take care, God Bless and Cool Runnings! – Michael

Just a quick note to apologize for not getting this out on the day celebrated as Father’s Day! But if you are a dad, every day is Father’s Day, we just get special recognition on this day.

A few notes on what it means to be a parent and a father.

1. It is important to set a good example as a father and to be a parent rather than a friend.  That day will come.  Even so, I am not sure being a friend is as important as being a father.
2. Teaching responsibility is very important, including the little things that can mean so much;
3. Teaching children about choices is more important, along with the consequences of bad choices;
4. Learning about the consequences of actions is important also, but it is wise to teach about our part of any situation – it is easy to play the victim, but it is difficult to stop, look and see what part i had to do with anything – it teaches the following -
5. Accountability – i didn’t do it, it wasn’t my fault – perhaps, but in most cases, we had some part to play – like choosing to hang with that group, etc…
6. God sometimes does things that make no sense – and it is difficult to try to figure God out, so don’t – just look to God for help;
7. Teach them about spirituality, worship and Faith – these things will get one through the good and bad times;
8. Love your children – I love both my kids and I let them know it by saying “I Love You!”;
9. Being a man does not mean not showing emotion – it means knowing when to show emotion;
10. Be gentle when they do wrong – yelling is not telling, telling is not teaching and teaching takes patience; and
11. learn to Encourage them and impart the need to dream and be daring, enjoy life and live free…the world has enough rules in place – and there will be plenty of people to knock us down – teach them that it is not the end but a beginning;
12. Teach them to stand up for themselves and not be bullies but to help and protect the weaker ones – this will go a long way….

I am learning as I go, I am not a perfect person nor the perfect dad – but my kids love me (for now, anyway) and I love them.  I do the best I can and I often fail – but I do not give up and I always go to God for help…

These little things have changed my life and I often look back on my life and thank God for my dad and granddad.  Some where not as fortunate as I and have still become good parents.

I just wish you all well and patience with our children – they are our future. Teach them to love and to give and the world will be a better place – I am sure of it.

Take care, God Bless and Cool Runnings, mon!  Michael Arellano