Tuesday, October 9, 2012

The Game of Life



You know I have realized that I suck at playing the game of life. I can’t sit and watch a killing on the news without wondering why it couldn’t have been resolved. I can’t walk past a crying child without my heart breaking and my hand reaching out to see what I can do to help them. I haven’t been so broken by power so that I will kneel before any human or so diluted by money and fame that I would use another person for a stepping stone. I will never be that one who answers yes just to climb a ladder to please someone.  I refuse to manipulate other people’s feelings to benefit my own desires.  I cannot in good faith cast unreachable goals and dangle pr.omises I can’t fulfill so that others will pave my own roads. 

I don’t think I could ever put my life before my wife and children’s lives.  I can’t fathom hurting them to help myself. When I see a homeless person I cannot turn a blind eye and pretend I didn’t notice them. When I see hungry animals I still look for food in my car.  When I see a burnt house I feel sadness for the memories and joy lost there.  I realize that I am really bad at the games people play.  The way they look past what is to see what they choose.  How they pretend to love others when they are really loving only themselves. I am not able to compete on a level where the pain of others is the pleasures of mine. I am aware that I will never win at this game.  I will never improve in the methods by which it’s played.   If life is lived as it is to be, I never will get any better, and for that I am thankful

29 comments:

  1. That really touched me. God bless the shirley family

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  2. well said Ronnie continue to be true to yourself and you will be truly blessed

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  3. I agree and feel the same way ! We need more people to have the same feelings and help other ! That is how I was raised and I raised my 2 kids the same way ! Bless you and the family !

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  4. WOW! These are such powerful words. The game of life has taught you to trust in God and that's how it should be. :)

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  5. I am such a fan of all of u but knowing how much love and respect u have for the lord and your family friends and everyone else gives me a bigger respect for u God Bless you and your family

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  6. nicely put ronnie. very touching

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  7. This is an awesome word Ronnie. If everyone would grab on to this type of thinking, the world would be a better place. God Bless you and yours.Glory Be to God.

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  8. Just goes to show what type of man you are sir. We need more people with this line of thinking in the world. Thanks for sharing!

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  9. Inspirational.....Lick Life

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  10. WOW Ronnie. I feel the same way. This is why I do what I do I put myself where I can help find missing children like the one right here in Kansas City MO Baby Lisa Irwin. Where is she. I cant turn away from it and these others missing also a man that looks hungry I give a doller or two even if its my last becaue I know I can make another he might not. We dont know the life he or she may walk we do know our owns. I seen a song on a movie where Queen Latefia sand I know where Im going because I know where Ive been, I feel that way. I have watched U and Amy and become so loved by not the show but the love u have for others like the show where u paid the guys car note and I know uve done so much more. Thank U Ronnie for letting us be apart of your guys life and we can make a difference.

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  11. Ronnie you really are a role model man ans I thank you for being a good person be safe and god bless you and ur family Ronnie

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  12. I RESPECT YOU BROTHER,AND I CAN SEE THAT IN YOU ON THE SHOWS.YOUR RECOVERY BRO BILL AT(B&B AUTO RECOVERY)

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  13. I am amazed....at the love an compassion...I would love to sit and talk ...I live in Zebulon...and right now in my family w/ my children (grown and married) are some struggles, that somehow I feel you could be a help...your love and compassion...(by the way ...my ex last name was Shirley...and my daughter in law is AMY SHIRLEY...they need prayer...)

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  14. Walking with the Lord is always a good place to be...thank Ron for sharing your writings.

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  15. ronnie u have the heart and soul that the lord has blessed you with. you have the love and spirit of the lord in you and he guides you. that is why you are the way you are and dont ever go changing.

    today i have been sitting here crying wondering why that tne nicer i am to others the more it seems to blow up in my face. why when i dont want confrontations, arguments and i want to turn and walk away others cant let it go. i use to be a really bad person. attitude was horrible trust me. but 3 yrs ago i decided i didnt want to live w/bitterness, hatred, and a screw you attitude if u mess w/me anymore. i did that for over 20 yrs.

    now i long to reach out and want to hug the ones crying, to help the ones that hurt in everyway. i also have to resolve to the fact that not everyone is receptive to ppl being kind because they have been so use to being so used and hurt by others all their lives..

    i want to thank you for this post.....you just helped me renew that i still want to continue my new walk in life w/my lord and keep showing the compassion that is needed for the hurt,lost and sad in the world. you are an inspiration my friend. i know we dont know each other but i consider you a friend in christ. may the lord continue to bless you in every way possible...blessings

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  16. Your words always touch me man. You speak from the heart

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  17. You touch hearts and change lives with yours--SO thankful to have opportunity to "know" you all through your show and blog! Thanks for being so real in a world that has far too little truth in it!

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  18. Ronnie,Can you &Amy pls pray for my son? He's going threw the hardest time in his life & I didn't help him instead I kicked him out! Oh'how I wish I could take it all back! We were fighting really bad he was cussing & doing drugs! I put him in holly hill twice but it didn't help! He's had a hard life, in school he was in special classes & they put him w children that were really special! He would stick up for the kids when others were mean to them! And he would always try & talk his friends out of stuff they were doin wrong! He & I prayed every night on our knees till he was 12! He cryed the first time i didn't! I should had never stopped! I asked him to let me take him & get help and he wouldn't so I kicked him out & he went down the street to stay! I saw him daily, The lady he was staying w asked a guy she worked with to move in & pay rent. My son didnt know him but six days and the guys friend who is 27! Long story but they put my son's life in a world of regret! They got caught doing somethings & the 27 yr old said they had robbed someone so he could get a deal against the others! My son is a God loving,caring person who would do anything for others! He was told no one was in the house! He told them he won't going but the 27 yr kept on. When they got in, he saw there was! He didn't say nothing, not one word! Just stood there! The 27 & 19 knew there was and knew the person! The 19 year old received 13 yrs!
    My son doesn't deserve prison! He deserved the year in county jail for his roll! He's been on medication for a year now & I've finally got my wonderful son back! Now, he needs a mircle to save his life! He's that child who should have a second chance! The DA doesn't know him or the kind of person he is! If he goes to prison for something he couldn't control and when you have two against one! He has beat his self up for not saying or doing anything & he's scared to death to go to prison! If you could meet my son "u would say he deserves a chance too! He doesnt think like adult more like he's 15 & the lord has told me he's not going to prison! But the devils on my back saying differnt, cause he has no one for him! Please pray the Lord will bless him w a mircle & brings him home to me & he's 8 yr sister! I just want him to have that chance to come out and Make up for his wrongs! And live a Godly life! If the DA would put him on probation & if he screwed up then give him 13 years, but i pray the Lord gives him the chance to show the world that some times good kids get w the wrong ones & your life could change with a blink of a eye and the 19 & 27 year old should get the time bc they knew the person and the 27 is a adult! And my son wasn't mentally ok when it happen! Pls keep him in your prayers daily ~God bless

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  19. Dear Ron Shirley, I truly believe you might have been a little hard on yourself here. I truly can't just walk past a hurting animal myself, so I don't- but as far as people go- hey, if they are adults, perhaps they created their own darn problems, and I certainly have enough pain of my own. If I past by and notice something amiss, smoke where smoke shouldn't be; for instance- I investigate, try to notify someone, but you can't carry the world on your own back everyday. A man of reason can see where doing so will lead- down, my man-just down- so go lighter on yourself and see the good you do. You folks at lizard lick are doing the average person a lot of good showing us all how not to take crap- how to come back and get a job done no matter what. Take pleasure in this. It's great and I look up to you all! Gail Calhoun

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  20. Great post. I believe the Sarasota Church helped me the most.

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  21. Greatly said!!! What powerful words!! Thanks Ronnie for this! It's How I feel, only I could never have put it together in these words just the way u have!!!

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  22. Ronnie~~those are beautiful heartfelt words and its good to know that you are human and true to yourself. There is too much meanness in the world today, with a majority (it seems) in our own country. Thank you~ for showing and confirming in your 'blog' that you, your family and your values should be an example to all of us of what truly matters in life~~ :)

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  24. Very nice Ronnie; you really come across as a great guy who has all the right values and immense compassion for everyone regardless of their state in life. I really enjoy the show and the fact that you obviously have a lot of respect for religion and the Bible. May God Bless your family and Bobby and all the other people who work with you. The world needs a LOT more people like you guys, and America especially would be a LOT better place if most of those folks were here within these United States. Take care and please keep the show going............. Thanks from the West Coast of Florida!!!!!!

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  25. ronnie i am 13 when i turn 18 i would love to come over to north Carolina and work with you plz message me back byronmorris

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  26. Thank you for posting that...I have been struggling for a week over an argument with a family member and a terribly hard choice I had to make. I made the right choice and did the right things and now I am paying dearly for it in the eyes of a lot of other people. It's hard sometimes to remember that not everyone in the world has the same compassion and innocence. I wonder myself sometimes why we lose that courage that most children have, they aren't afraid to walk right up and tell you like it is, but as adults we tend to somehow conform to some strange ideas of what we believe society expects. I commend you for being "the Man" of your house and taking care of your family and for sharing your knowledge, beliefs and good fortune with others. You truly show that you can be successful, famous, whatever you want to call it, and still be a regular person with their own thoughts, feelings and ideas. God Bless you and your beautiful family...I hope you keep this thing going for years and generations to come.

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  27. Mr Ron I love the message and was wondering how can people call lottery fake their just jealous because they can't be like y'all but as the Bible says you have to earn your living by the sweat of your brow it means fame and riches doesn't just get handed to u in a bucket you have to work for as y'all have brother ill be seeing y'all in April

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  28. Im my eyes ronnie you are a passionate man that cares alot for other people and for that i really salute you buddy, i wish i had the honorof meeting you and the lizard lick family yall arr my inspiration really

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