Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog

"Jeremiah was a bullfrog, was a good friend of mine.  I never understood a single word he said but I helped him a-drink his wine.  And he always had some mighty fine wine singin' Joy to the word, all the boys and girls now.  Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea.  Joy to you and me. "   Three Dog Night

Ok ya'll I know for sure when you start reading this one you're thinking what in the world can she say about this, Jeremiah ain't no bullfrog and I'm sure he doesn't have mighty fine wine.  Well the Jeremiah's I know certainly aren't bullfrogs and they probably don't have mighty fine wine, but  but let's just pretend today and go to the deep blue sea with Jeremiah and find some JOY!

Since I don't have a clue what this song is about I turned to the trusty Mr. Google.  What I found was a common interpretation of the writer's bullfrog is the prophet Jeremiah from the Bible and the song represents God's desire to unite all people in happiness.  The bullfrog, with his distinctive call that stands out in nature, is God's voice.   Holy Moly whether this is right or not, I LOVE it.  I mean what a better time to write about this than right now with all that's going on in this country.  What if this tiny little bullfrog could bring joy to the all the boys and girls, joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea and joy to you and me.

This song has always made me happy or to stay in line with the song brought joy to my soul.  Reading the words "if I were king of the world tell you what I'd do" made me stop a minute and wonder if I had that power to be king (or in my case queen) what would I do.  OK since you asked here is what I would do.  I would throw away all the hate, violence, abuse, sexual assault and war.  Hate is such a strong word but unfortunately it's in this world so I would replace all the hate with JOY!  Joy to the boy and girls and joy to you and me.  I would replace all the violence, abuse, sexual assault and war with JOY too.  Give joy back to the ones affected by violence of any kind, JOY back to that person abused or sexually assaulted and JOY back to people affected by war.  Writing this I'm thinking all these things are so horrible, how in the world could a person ever have JOY in their heart.  Getting joy back in your heart is hard but if I were queen and had the power I would make all the boys and girl, men and women, fishes in the deep blue sea have JOY, JOY, JOY down in their heart.  I would have them all have the love of Jesus in their heart, down in their heart to stay.  And if the devil doesn't like it, he can sit on a tack, sit on a tack and stay!!!  Then I would be so happy, so very happy, that everyone has Joy, Joy, Joy down in their heart.

Lesson today?  Since I have you all singing about a bullfrog I think my lesson today will be for you all to google this song, turn it up loud and just let the JOY of the song take over.  Let the joy take over your heart, let it bring peace where there is hurt and let any hate you have be replaced with JOY.  Joy down in your heart, way down in your heart.  Let the devil sit on a tack, sit on a tack and let him get STUCK!!!   Once you feel all this joy I'm talking about, turn ole Jeremiah up one more time and "dance it out."  Don't worry about who's watching, they're probably not anyway.  JUST DO IT!!!



  PEACE OUT & Love to all,
  Sweet Southern Sass

If It Wasn't For A Woman

"I close my eyes and she's right there.  Barbie dolls and teddy bears, picking buttercups from the yard putting them in mason jars.  Tea parties and pecan pie make me think of her every time.  Yes sir, yes ma'am it wouldn't be who I am if it wasn't for a woman. "  Kelly Pickler

Kellie Pickler says she was inspired by her grandmother for this song.  Well this same song makes me think of my own grandmother every time I hear it.   Pecan pies aren't the only thing that reminds me of my grandmother, but she sure could make some good ones.  My sister thinks hers are as good, but come on ya'll, we all know our grandmother's makes the best EVERYTHING!!!

 I don't remember us having "tea parties" but I guess when my grandmother made her "tea" cakes it was a party because my Aunt and me watched like we were gonna learn how to make 'em but we all know how that turned out for me.  For ya'll that don't know what a tea cake is I googled the little things and found lots of descriptions but the one I like best is Divas Can Cook description.  "Tea cakes are as old-fashioned and southern as church funeral fans, make you wanna hum an old spiritual kinda thing. They aren't cakes or cookies at all.  They're kinda like a cake, cookie and biscuit all in one if that makes sense."  Some people think they should be crunchy but not me.  I like mine soft and a little sweet, just like my grandmother made them.  Sometimes she put chocolate icing and oh Lord have mercy, that was for sure a party.  Not icing from a can but the real stuff she made herself.



I'm sure we picked buttercups, but the flowers I remember most at my grandmother's was those little blue/purple ones she called thrift.    As far back as I can remember she had that stuff everywhere and we always got in trouble for picking them.  Keep in mind the little boogers didn't have stems long enough to put in a thimble, let alone put them in a mason jar, but that didn't keep us from picking it.  My favorite story about thrift was when Grandpa killed some birds.  We buried them, had funeral services and put that thrift all over their little graves.  I'm for sure we got in trouble for that because there were a lot of thrift picked that day.  Can't ya'll just see us now?  I wonder what songs we sung?

So many things I remember about my grandmother but another thing that comes to mind today is when we would get together for Thanksgiving at her house.  My favorite cake was yellow cake with her real chocolate icing and strawberries between the layers.  Oh my gosh this would make you wanna say hallelujah, praise the Lord and pass the biscuits or in this case, pass the chocolate cake.  .  Like I've said before since this is my story it's the way I remember it so what I remember is...she made that cake just for ME!!!!

Lesson today?  If you're lucky enough to still have your grandmother, take the time to go see her and make some memories.  What I would give to sit around that kitchen table again watching her make those tea cakes or to have one of those chocolate cakes only she could make.  One more Thanksgiving to look at old pictures and see her laughing at us.    Don't wake up tomorrow regretting that you didn't take time and the only thing you have left are memories.  Yes memories are wonderful but being hugged by your grandmother, well there ain't nothing like it.  I miss my Mama Highfield.



    Love to all,
    Sweet Southern Sass

Things That I Lean On

"Psalm 23 when I'm scared to death.  A sleeping pill and my mind won't rest.  A little BB King when the thrill is gone.  These are the things that I lean on.  God's grace when I'm looking on a dangerous path.  12 steps when I need to find my way back.  My mama's voice on the telephone, these are the things that I lean on."  Wynonna Judd

This post was started back in August on the way to work after I learned heaven gained a new angel  when my dear Aunt had taken her final journey here on earth.  My uncle is a Christian man that probably turned to Psalm 23 for comfort more than one time over the past several years taking care of his sweet wife as her health declined.  But in the same sense I see her leaning on him as she was a tiny little thing and he was so big and strong.  Big and strong not only because of his stature but because of his faith and belief in God that  surely gave her more comfort than maybe he even knows.

My uncle has been gray headed as long as I can remember.  As a child I always thought anyone with gray hair was old but as I became older I realized having gray hair didn't make you old.  In my uncle's case it just made him distinguished looking that became a tired look over the years.   Reading the lyrics of this song I wonder what things he leaned on over these years and especially that last week.  I'm sure he thought many times of his mama and if he could hear her voice what comfort that would give him.  It probably wasn't a Conway song but something more like Amazing Grace or How Great Thou Art.  I doubt very seriously it was a sleeping pill to help his mind rest but a prayer that he certainly gained comfort from above. 

I'm sure during this time my uncles spirit was weak and his body breaking but he didn't stop.  He didn't need 12 steps and the devil didn't need to give him a talking to.  He had the shoulder of the man above to lean on and those shoulders are big enough to hold even my uncle so tall and strong.  God gave them many years of happiness here on earth. The days will be empty and the nights long but one day my uncle will take his journey home and they will walk hand in hand as one in heaven in the family of God.  Until then, he will be leaning on the everlasting arm of God's grace.

Lesson today?  What are the things you lean on?  Are you leaning on the things my uncle leans on or are you leaning on the pleasures of society?  Like I've said before I'm no bible scholar and don't claim to be but if you're leaning on things that would make the devil happy, maybe you need to take a look at Psalm 23 and hopefully it will help you find something better to lean on.  Something that will give you peace and a shoulder to lean on that will hold even the biggest of us.  A shoulder that will never turn away and arms that will give you comfort even in the hardest times.

  Love to all,
  Sweet Southern Sass

We Are The World

"There  comes a time when we heed a certain call.  When the world must come together as one.  There are people dying and it's time to lend a hand to life, the greatest gift of all."   Michael Jackson

No need for an explanation as to why this song came to mind today.  I have no idea why this man started shooting at concert goers in Las Vegas, but WHY?  Why would he want to hurt innocent people?  People out to enjoy an evening of music with friends and family.  I'm sure we will never know the real reason but ya'll we need to come together.  Come together like the night of this shooting when people were dying and strangers were lending a hand to strangers.  

We can't go on pretending this world is not in complete and utter chaos.  We can't keep sitting back hoping that someone, somehow will soon make a change.  We are all God's big family, so we have to start with ourselves to make this world a better place.  Most people underestimate their ability to make a positive change in the world.  They're overwhelmed by the sheer number of things that need to be done, all the people that need help, and all the worthy causes that exist.  However, lots of individuals making small efforts can change the world.  I like what Edwin Osgood Grover says from The Book of Good Cheer.  "I am only one, but still I am one.  I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.  And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."   Just imagine if we all did something, regardless of how small, to make this world a brighter place how much stronger lives would be.  

"As God has shown us by turning stones to bread, we all must lend a helping hand."  A helping hand like we have seen during the devastating hurricanes that have hit our people.  A helping hand like the strangers helping strangers during the shooting this week.  A helping hand like my friends grandson collecting socks for the Harvey & Irma hurricane survivors.  A helping hand to let those that are down and out and sees no hope that there are people who care.   We're all in this world together, we got to help complete the master's plan, stop looking on and complaining.  You know this world is unfair, but if everybody joins in the plan and lends a helping hand, we will break the hate one hand at a time.  It's right there for us all to see, it's as simple as can be, if we all stand together as one there is no way we can fall.  We are the ones to make a brighter day, so let's start today.

Lesson today?  Oh my gosh this one is simple as simple can be.  Be the light that brightens someone's day today.  Smile even if you don't feel like smiling, it might be the only one a person gets today.  Hold a door for someone, it might be the only act of kindness a person gets today.   Offer a listening ear or a shoulder to someone that might feel like no one cares, it might be the only time someone truly cares enough to listen.  Cook a meal or take food to someone in need, it might be the only hot meal they've had in a while.  I could go on and on about "lending a hand" but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how you can help a person in need.  So go ahead...just do it and start giving.  We are the world, we are the ones to stand together as one and we can make this world a brighter place.  

  Love to all,

  Sweet Southern Sass