The Milk of Human Kindness

Milk of human kindness

Meaning

Care and compassion for others.

Origin

From Shakespeare's Macbeth, 1623:

"Yet doe I feare thy Nature, It is too full o' th' Milke of humane kindnesse."


I watched Marley and Me last week. I was unprepared for the sadness at the last half of the movie. I thought it was a comedy. I do recommend the movie to any animal lover but be warned: tears could fall. 

I also watched an episode last week on Dr. Phil about "Marcus Wesson molested, abused and controlled his family in cult-like ways, impregnated some of daughters and nieces, and murdered nine of his children one horrible night in 2004."

 It was horrible beyond belief.  

And you see these sad commercials about animal abuse.  Sometimes she sings "In the Arms of the Angel."  It really is a sad statement about human nature.  These are my beliefs.  I believe that all humans are capable of evil.  I believe that man was created in the image of God.  I believe that Adam and Eve fell by choosing to follow their fleshly desires.  I believe that there is a devil that tempts us but I believe that we make the choice.  God has made a way to escape temptations but we must look for the way.  Not every one is taught this.  But everyone is without excuse:  "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

"For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles."

"Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised.  Amen."

"Futhermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.  They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity.  They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.  They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;  they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless."

"Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them."   (Romans 1: 20-25; 28-32)

I think this describes our society quite well.  Man apart from God can commit atrocities.  I am not talking about religion either.  Religion has been the cause of most wars.  Religion is just a belief that you practice.  Mankind loves darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.  Turning away from God and being separated from Him has made a lot of evil deeds possible.  I am not trying to judge anyone, I think the Word of God has clearly done that already.  

I am thankful that not all people turn to darkness but it is sad to view the depths that some have fallen.  God help us.

This is what I believe.  There is so much more to this life than meets the physical eye!

The Last King of Scotland

James McAvoy

While watching the movie, "The Last King of Scotland," I noticed just how familar looking the good Scottish doctor appeared. Who did he remind me of? Bossy's son!

Bossy's son

It was a very good movie. I hope Bossy approves of the comparison. They are both great looking guys.

Take the Lead

Pierre Dulaine:  "a man who can dance is the most popular

man in the room"

Antonio Banderas
Take the Lead

The Dulaine Method philosophy
Respect & Compassion: At the very core of the Dulaine Method philosophy is the essential respect that goes into being a Lady and being a Gentleman. In a time when we bemoan the loss of civil discourse and our society seems to become coarser by the day, Dancing Classrooms is a program that demands that the children not only treat others with respect but also encourages the children to respect themselves.
Coupled with respect is compassion. Perhaps it is Pierre’s own childhood that predisposes him to walk into a classroom full of children who struggle to believe in themselves, open his arms and heart to them, and then guide them gently along a journey that leads these young people to joy and accomplishment.
Respect and compassion are the foundational elements of the Dulaine Method. Unfortunately, very few adults know how to genuinely treat children with respect. And even fewer adults seem to remember what it was like being a child.
Being Present: Probably the most difficult skill for any teacher to learn is the ability to be completely in the moment when they are teaching. Children in particular are extremely aware of when the adult in charge (parent, teacher, coach) is not really there; and when a child senses that distance, woe be unto that adult.
Pierre’s ability to “be here now” enables him to observe every subtle nuance of student, and group, behavior. He can see when a child is nervous, not paying attention, when the group is becoming antsy and he can respond to those issues immediately, thus keeping the classroom experience flowing. Being present also allows Pierre to express his own positive emotions towards the children at precisely the moment the children need that affirmation.
Creating a Safe Place: Asking children to take the extraordinary risk of embarrassing themselves in front of their peers is precisely what Dancing Classrooms does. And the only reason that the children are willing to take this risk is because Pierre has perfected a way to make that experience safe.
A Dancing Classrooms class is a place in which everyone is equal: the students, the Teaching Artist, and the elementary school staff that are participating. In modern jargon we call this creating a therapeutic milieu, an environment so different from these children’s normal daily environment that simply being in that room and being part of that collective group experience changes that child.
Command & Control: Clearly, if you are going to move 25 children through twenty 45 minute classes and have them successfully learn seven dances, you need order and discipline. Pierre is in command of the class from the moment he begins until the moment the children leave the room.
An essential part of the Dulaine Method is developing the craft of managing the Group. When teachers are being taught how to work with children their training is invariably focused on individual child development. Rarely, if ever, are student teachers taught about group dynamics and how to manage a group of children. In many ways it is Pierre’s innate understanding of how to use the Group to help the Individual that is the glue that holds the program together. The ability to remain in absolute control of the Group while nurturing the children is one of Pierre’s greatest skills.
Language: Body & Verbal Language, both body and verbal, are the great connectors in Dancing Classrooms. Pierre’s entire physical affect is one of openness, warmth, and genuine affection for the children. His verbal repertoire is a consistent barrage of positive comments. There is no denying that when Pierre combines his body and verbal language he is a force the children simply cannot resist.
Humor & Joy: And last, but by no means least, Pierre brings humor and joy to the teaching experience. Humor is perhaps the most difficult, yet powerful teaching tool for a teacher to master. Gentle humor can help a shy child become less self-conscious; humor with that same child handled poorly can make him retreat and never come back out. As clichéd as it sounds, Pierre allows his inner child to fully emerge when he is teaching. He is playful, he is present, and the children can sense that he is just plain happy to be with them. (Wikipedia)

Jane Eyre 2006

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face



You'll Be in My Heart



“wherever you are is my home—my only home.”

Dear Frankie

I watched this movie two nights ago.  It is filmed in Scotland.

It is about a single mom and her 9 year old son.  She moves

her son and her mom to Glasgow.  They have moved a lot.  At

first I didn't understand the mother's actions.  Frankie is the boy

and he is deaf/mute.  He writes letters to his dad who is away

on a ship and apparently has been for years.  He receives letters

from his dad too.  As the movie progresses you begin to get

a clearer picture of the situation and it is very touching.  By the

end you find out that Frankie had more of a grasp on what was

taking place than what he was given credit for.  The setting is

in Scotland but the movie was not very scenic.  For this reason

I would give it about 3-1/2 stars on a scale of 0-5.  It was worth

watching  (probably just renting).  

Anyway, I was reading Laura's blog and she and her husband

are going to Scotland soon by themselves and asked for

recommendations of movies or books.