Read only if you want part of my inside story.
Requested by a long time reader and spiritual friend.
So Where Did You Come From, Betty Lue?
I was born Betty Lue Fisher on August 16, 1942 at 11:47 PM to young “in love” college students.
They described their conceived child as a “gift of Love from God.” They saw themselves as “temporary guardians”, here to offer guidance only as was needed. They related to me in utero and after birth as a whole capable being, able to understand and respond, never treating me as a “child”. They trusted me and allowed me to make my own choices. They believed I was capable and so I was. They saw me as a gift of Love, so never criticized and rarely praised, but simply loved me. I walked, was toilet trained and climbed out of crib with help at nine months, because my Mom was pregnant with my brother and had a bad back, (She couldn’t lift me.) I had a vocabulary of 40 words at one year. When my brother was born (I was 15 months old), I was called “Mommy’s Little Helper” and assisted with getting diapers, comforting him, etc.
My earliest memories are of being my Mom’s helper and friend in all things with little conversation, because we communicated telepathically. I was always happy, never crying or complaining and called “effervescent” Betty Lue. I learned mostly by watching her in her daily activities and relationships.
My Dad was drafted into WWII when I was 18 mos. He was a pacifist and conscientious objector. He was sent to the front lines, so we said “good-bye” without knowing he would return. He said he could not kill another young man who might be the father of two little children in Germany. The miracle was the war ended when he was on the way to the front lines in a boxcar. As “Daddy’s Little Sweetheart”, I missed him but was the help and support for my Mom and brother. Both my parents loved children and would have had more if not for Mom’s birthing difficulties. We were pacifists in every way with no arguments or harsh words and no weapons of any kind in our home, not even for play. We lived on the GI bill while Dad finished college and lived in simple married student housing Quonset huts. While others may have judged our lifestyle as poor, I never experienced feeling lacking in any way. Second-hand clothes for much of my childhood and some homemade clothes for sure. I learned to bake when I was 8 yrs and began to sew my own clothes when I was 12 years old. Our home, wherever we lived, was always open for others to stay for a day or a month. We had interesting conversations at dinnertime re: ethics, politics, religion and the current news with everyone of every age and belief included and respected. I always felt included in every dinner conversation (even as young as 5 yrs. old) with my elders. I was encouraged to share and respected for my ideas and point of view. I was considered an essential contributor to the family from early childhood and was included in all family decisions. Consequently, I always felt equal to everyone with no one lesser or greater than myself. I watched my parents make friends easily with ministers, doctors, lawyers, teachers, as well as homeless, disabled and mentally challenged. A normal part of our family life was “volunteering “to be helpful with everyone who was in need, both with neighbors and family as well as institutions for mentally ill, juvenile delinquents, nursing homes, mentally and physically disabled. We lived in several homes in Michigan, Delaware, Ohio and New Jersey. I went to Antioch College in Yellow Springs Ohio and learned many flavors of politics and total honor system and finished my psychology degree in Child Development at UC Berkeley where I had my first child while my husband was in Boalt Law School and I worked full time for State Dept of Vocational Rehabilitation as a Social Security Disability Adjudicator.
I always believed in what was called God or the primary Goodness in all beings and all creation. I never saw myself as separate or having enemies or anything other than a positive connection with everyone and everything. My parents did not teach fear or worry. They did not teach hatred or jealousy.
They taught only love and trust, free will and choice. My childhood was one of peace and flow, ease and helpfulness. My first priority has always been to be truly helpful to everyone.
What I learned as a child:
Be happy. Enjoy the simple things in life everyday.
Don’t worry. Life is good and things always work out.
Be Helpful. There are always ways to be helpful to others.
Take care of what you have. There may not be more.
Be kind to everyone. Everyone deserves to be treated well.
Home is where you feel safe, secure and remember Love.
Being loved does not mean special treatment or praise.
Love is best shown with acts of service, rather than words or affection.
When we are helpful or volunteer, we need nothing in return.
Always give your best to everyone. Treat everyone equally.
Share your love, wisdom, gifts and resources with all who are receptive.
All beliefs and faiths have value to those who believe and follow them.
Respect everyone’s right to choose the life they want.
Help anyone who wants to find a better way to live.
God (Spirit) is found in all people, all creatures and all creation.
Healing occurs naturally when you are happy and loved.
Appreciate what you have, and all needs will be fulfilled.
Be satisfied. No need to crave or covet more than what you have.
Waste no time being unhappy or lazy, unproductive or complaining.
Sing a song, take a walk, do something helpful, clean your room, or create something new to feel good.
Keep all confidences and never gossip. No need to share problems or stories with others.
Respect all peoples, abilities and disabilities, youth and elders, poor and rich, everyone no matter what.
Listen and learn from everyone. Everyone’s life journey has value.
Love works because it does not judge or fear, push or punish, demand or expect. Love simply flows.
There is plenty more to share. This feels like enough for now.
I do believe I chose well the family and circumstances I was born into.
They never interfered with my inner direction and spiritual path.
I was encouraged to always be and do what was true for me.
I was teased about the “magical” things I seemed to be able to do, because I “believed”.
My family called me True B’Lue, the true believer.
I am so grateful for all I was blessed to know and remember from before I was born.
I am eternally thankful that I was allowed and encouraged to explore and learn from everyone.
I am delighted that my life has given me lots of human and Divine experiences from which to grow.
I feel blessed by the opportunity to know, love and serve thousands of people over the years.
Life continues to provide diverse experiences from which I am able to better help and serve others.
I am always loving and serving the greater Good for the Good of All,
Betty Lue
It is never too late to have a happy and healthy childhood.
With forgiveness all things are possible.
Forgiveness is the key to happiness.