We've been doing some research on continuing care residences for my parents, and came across an article that had some interesting comments following it (94 of them). The comments were more enlightening than the article, giving us more information and questions to be asking as we make appointments. Some of the comments had to do with cliques that form in the residences, with some residents excluding others at activities or dinner for whatever reason or giving preference to already formed friendships, making it difficult for new residents to feel welcomed.
It reminds me of so many times, when I've gone to an event or activity and was told that the seat I was about to sit in was saved for someone else. Mind you, these were often people that I knew at these functions. You'd think they'd be more inclusive. Sometimes I could sit there, and then the person would move when someone more interesting showed up. I even once had a friend ask if when a mutual friend came, if I would let her have my seat and go move by someone else. It got to the point where I'd go as close to starting time as I could, then look for someone who was sitting alone. Both of us appreciated having one another there. (I'm happy to say that I haven't had this happen at our present church.)
I recently saw the title to a book,
We Saved You a Seat, Finding and Keeping Lasting Friendships. The book's purpose is to show how to find friendship, which is a good thing, but the title took my mind back to how marginalized I had so often felt. I'm sure the author intends to convey that being a friend means people care enough about you to save you a seat. Fine for those for whom the seat is saved. Not so great for those who are turned away.
I've never liked saved seats. When I arrive somewhere, it's rather annoying to spot a place to sit and walk down the aisle, just to see someone's Bible or books or purse saving their or someone else's seat who is coming later. I can't count the times when I've had to wander around an auditorium just to come to the stake-outs. And it's really annoying, then, if you see them come to the seat later, pick up their stuff and go sit somewhere else. Or when one person is sent ahead to block off several seats for those arriving later to a production, making others who are already there take less desirable locations.
Well, so there's a pet peeve of mine. If you're a seat-saver who turns people away, please consider how it might affect them. It plays on our feelings of rejection and, in my opinion, is rather rude. But then, who really cares about my opinion on that, anyway? Certainly not the seat-saver.
Image ~ Rainbow Chair Tails by Carol Saxe
Thankful today for My Beloved's kindness and care for my parents and sister. It was his decision to move here so we could be of help to them. I am the eyes and ears; he is often the hands. He put up additional shelves in my sister's closet today, which she was very glad about. Last week he helped my dad cut a couple of branches from a maple tree that Dad was concerned about being too close to their house. But we must also be attentive to what they feel they can tend to themselves. Later in the day when I brought my mother and sister home from shopping, my 90-year-old dad had been on a ladder sawing off more branches from that tree! Oh, me!! 
A friend recently gave me the book A Life God Rewards: Why Everything You Do Today Matters Forever by Bruce Wilkinson. It has truly given me more understanding of rewards when I will one day enter into eternal life with Jesus. It has enhanced my desire to serve Him more while I am still on earth, as I lay up more treasure in Heaven. And it has given me a broader perspective on why I do whatever I do today and tomorrow.
Awe: Why It Matters for Everything We Think, Say, and Do 
