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Gratefulness
My goal is to be a whole lot more like my dogs, able to live in the moment and just be grateful.
Myself. We so often hold ourselves to a hidden higher standard and then feel we failed miserably when we were found to be, after all, just human. In truth, we need to forgive ourselves more for holding that erroneous standard, as if we were supposed to be better than others and less prone to failing, than for any perceived misstep that arises from it.
I am loved.
My husband comes first to mind. He has been an amazing nurse to me for the past years of being sick. I don’t know how he managed sometimes with his load and mine to carry.
And God, of course, because there are so many gifts of people and situations that come to me from multiple places. All are part and parcel of that love and care, though.
Oddly enough it is beauty I am next to as a result of inconvenience! With the cold night last night, we have all our houseplants temporarily pulled off the deck and into the dining room. This means that I can see a lovely lemon yellow hibiscus bloom from where I sit!
Simply to be precisely where I am, how I am, and allow myself to be okay with that, too.
Oh! This reminds me of one of my favorite plaques that hangs in the entry of a friend’s office, which has blessed me many times. It consists of the Chinese character for Crisis, and this explanation:
Crisis & Opportunity:
Opportunity is always present in the midst of crisis.
The Chinese word for Crisis carries two elements, danger and opportunity. No matter the difficulty of the circumstances, no matter how dangerous the situation…at the heart of each c...
The Chinese word for Crisis carries two elements, danger and opportunity. No matter the difficulty of the circumstances, no matter how dangerous the situation…at the heart of each crisis lies a tremendous opportunity. Great blessings lie ahead for the one who knows the secret of finding opportunity within each crisis.”
It can be such a challenge to look for that opportunity, but when I stick to this purpose, I find pearls in the mud, gold in the dustbin, and redemption in the most unlikely places.
Lately, I have found that there are a number of things I can no longer do with a whole heart. It has caused me to take a serious look at these things and whether it each is something I am supposed to keep doing. Most of the time, I find that my lack of wholeheartedness towards these activities is an indication that I need to reassess my priorities and perhaps put that portion of my heart somewhere else more profitable.
Offer a sincere compliment to a coworker, family member, or even a complete stranger. Something as simple as, “I like your shirt!” said with a kind smile can create a wonderful response. It’s us saying to another, “You exist. You matter. And, you look good today, too!” 😀 I always try to choose something that is gentle and non-threatening/non-invasive to compliment so that it does not stir up negative emotions like fear in someone who may have been abused. Espe...
Offer a sincere compliment to a coworker, family member, or even a complete stranger. Something as simple as, “I like your shirt!” said with a kind smile can create a wonderful response. It’s us saying to another, “You exist. You matter. And, you look good today, too!” 😀 I always try to choose something that is gentle and non-threatening/non-invasive to compliment so that it does not stir up negative emotions like fear in someone who may have been abused. Especially if it is a stranger, I say it while obviously moving past so the notice itself is also as non-threatening as possible.
The responses often are like watching a sunrise, with a smile spreading over the person’s face before they come up with a pleased but surprised, “Thank you!”
And for those I love, being liberal in saying, “I love you!”
Without diminishing the fact that everyone’s “hard day” is worth compassion and consideration, what comes to my mind is how much of the world has to walk a minimum of 6k in order to find water. Those of us on the computer in here likely do not face this issue, but many, many people do. I am grateful for the sounds I hear right now of running water as my husband washes a pan and the sound of the washer swishing my clothes clean in the other room. These are deep blessings inde...
Without diminishing the fact that everyone’s “hard day” is worth compassion and consideration, what comes to my mind is how much of the world has to walk a minimum of 6k in order to find water. Those of us on the computer in here likely do not face this issue, but many, many people do. I am grateful for the sounds I hear right now of running water as my husband washes a pan and the sound of the washer swishing my clothes clean in the other room. These are deep blessings indeed, ones we often take for granted.
Lovely.
Vulnerability probably needs to be redefined. It is a hot button for many people since it is so often portrayed as weakness. To me, it is simply being willing to be seen as we are rather than as we wish to appear, and it is something done with discretion.
I love her work! I am currently reading “Rising Strong.” My husband and I both enjoyed her CD “Men, Women, and Worthiness.” Awesome stuff!
Beautifully put, Pilgrim.
Perfect example!
The attempt to control always seems to backfire, doesn’t it? I agree — it causes “more suffering and physical contraction.”
Perfect!
The Apostle Paul put it better than I can when he said (my memory may paraphrase slightly), “Oh wretched human that I am! The good that I want to do, that’s what I don’t do. And the bad that I don’t want to do is exactly what I wind up doing!”
I figure that if the Apostle Paul still struggled with it, God is probably okay with the fact that I haven’t mastered this yet either!
Amen
I am finding that the best way to have a solid Yes is to learn the art of the solid NO. 😀
Prayers for success in getting you out of pain!!
Love her stuff!
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