Absorb........

Absorb the beauty around you.  Look left, then right...look up, then down - soak it in! 
Give your full attention to the dawn of a new day..........to the ending of a peaceful day.........
Beauty is all around us if only we will open our eyes and see. 

Have you noticed how beautiful your child's eyes are lately?  If you are not a parent, what about your pet's eyes or your neighbor's eyes?   They shine with love each moment you give them attention.

Have you noticed how beautiful the full moon is recently?  When was the last time you stopped and gazed at something extraordinary? 

Take the time to slow down and smell those proverbial roses or perhaps a buy a real one for yourself.  Watch its petals unfold......smell the fragrance it exudes........feel the softness of its velvet upon your cheek.  Absorb its exquisite beauty into your soul.

Become engrossed.......become mindful..........watch the snow fall........catch a snowflake!There are nuances of beauty all around you...if only we will look for them, take time to notice them - show them to a friend. 

Give your full attention to noticing beautiful things around you each day, each moment.  Allow beauty to soak into your pores.......your heart.....your soul.

Look up into the night sky and sigh.....the beauty is yours to behold!

Into our Hearts, God comes...

Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy!  Unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and he will be called:  Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!!!
(Isaiah 9:6)

Into our hearts, God comes..........

 

The Bethlehem Stable...

Amongst the lowliest, God comes.....

The Bethlehem Angel...

Into Mary's heart, God comes.....

The Bethlehem Star...

Shining Brightly to light our way, God comes.....

The Bethlehem Wise Men...

Amongst the Magnificent, God comes.....

The Bethlehem Babe...

Into our hearts, He comes.

 

(By Pam Spencer, Copyright 1993)

The Stillness of Advent....

The stillness of Advent is upon us.........travel lightly.........walk slowly..........eat slightly..........focus inward..........then..............face upward.

Seek the stillness before the Birth.

Look for the Star..........and follow it.

Stand before the Manger........hear the angel's song!

Allow the Christ Child to fill your heart........

Stand in awe and wonder........

Be amazed by the beauty.....

Let God's stillness blanket you........

Celebrate the Birth of His Son.

(Copyright by Pam Spencer, 2002)

Sense of Wonder....

Sense of Wonder.........do you have one?  Do you have a sense of awe as we enter into this joyous season of Christmas?  What makes you sit back and think "wow?"  What excites you, puzzles you and brings you joy?  Will you allow the marvelous message of peace on earth fill your heart this Christmas?  Will you show your generosity by sharing a warm smile or a cup of coffee with a friend or maybe someone down on his luck?  Will you marvel at the night sky filled with stars on a crisp winter evening?  Will you spread Reindeer food on the lawn so that Santa's sleigh will be sure to stop at your house?
Or, ring a set of jingle bells by your children's room after they are asleep?  Will you listen to, play, or sing Christmas carols and remember the "days of old?"  Do you enjoy watching the snow fall from a warm, cozy spot on your couch?Or, just like to sit by a fire and watch the flames aglow?  Perhaps this year, you will try baking some old family favorite cookies and enjoy the smell as they are baking.....invite some friends over and bake together!  Whatever it is that will bring your heart joy - do it!

I know Christmas can be difficult for some of us..........some of our hearts are heavy this year (or each year) because we have lost someone we love or have to fight yet another battle with our health or a family member or friend's health.  But, even now, there are reasons to rejoice!  Even through the difficulties and tears, there is joy in knowing there is a sense of wonder in the air - if only we will look for it, listen for it and allow it to settle on our shoulders and down into our hearts....this sense of peace is as lovely as snow falling.....

Isaiah 9: 6
"For unto us a Child is born, to us a son is given....and He will be called
Wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Sing this Christmas Carol in your heart each day - it is bound to make you feel joyful once again!

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

 

And wonders of His love..........think about that - wow!  We are so blessed to have such a Savior as ours!!!  Invite Him into your heart....allow His peace to fill you.....turn out all the lights and lay by your Christmas tree - look up into the branches covered with lights.....say a little prayer and ask for awe and wonder, surprise and joy and to be astonished with delight each day!  

 

Remember you are a gift to those in your life....go spread a little joy and Christmas cheer.  Cherish this beautiful season - it only comes once a year!

Thanksgiving.......

Thanksgiving.......an act of giving thanks or an expression of gratitude especially to God. Wow!  How many of us gave our gratitude to God this season?  Or, each day?  How about to your family and friends who mean so much to you - did you say "I am glad you are in my life - thank you for being my friend" lately????  If not, now is the perfect time to stop and do so!

Can the Thanksgiving holiday really be over with already this year in 2012????  This year has just flown by, hasn't it?  With all the hustle and bustle of our lives, time seems to go faster and faster as I get older.....and older........LOL

One of my favorite songs at this time of year and all year round says:
"Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks unto the Holy One, give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son.  And now, let the weak say I am strong, let the poor say I am rich, for what the  Lord has done for us.
Give thanks, give thanks, give thanks."  

Let that sink into your soul for a minute..........are you grateful to have breath this day?   To see the sunshine or clouds today?  To have a roof over your head and food in the pantry?  To have responsibilities to take care of?  To love those around you?
Have you stopped to say thanks to our creator for all the waterfall of blessings He bestows on us each day?  If not, consider doing that today!  There's no better way to start a day than to say, "Thank you!"

Each Thanksgiving I send my family a saying I got in a Hallmark card years ago that says:
"Like an old country road, our Thanksgiving memories bring us to the warm familiar places we love, and the cherished faces waiting there."  

Give thanks for those faces that you got to celebrate this Thanksgiving with - whether in spirit or while being together!  It is a wonderful thing to give thanks!  It opens our hearts to all the love just waiting for us to give and receive!!  I am thankful you took the time to read this.......thank you!

Friends....

Friends.....have you ever thought about what a gift you have in the friends that are in your life?  If not, sit back, make a list of those dear friends, and thank our Creator for that wonderful relationship in your life!  Perhaps, even write them a note of gratitude or call them today and let them know how special they are to you!

Friends are trusted companions along the this journey we call life!  We know them, we trust them, and we share our lives with them.  They are our pals, chums, buddies, comrades, schoolmates, colleagues and confidants.  Treasure them.........enjoy their company and advice!  Allow their gifts to enhance your life and then offer your friendship in return!  We all need people to help us through difficult, tumultuous times in our lives, but what about just sharing the joy we feel because they are in our life as well???

Invite a friend to have coffee, lunch or brunch together!  Form a book club and get together once a month!  Take them a basket of homemade goodies (or store bought, if you don't bake!)  Set a time to take a walk together, go to a movie or watch home at home together!  Have a giggle fest!  Tell them silly riddles or jokes that you told your kids (or you) were little!  Sit down, relax and just enjoy their company!!!

We have so many gifts in the friends around us and many times, we take them for granted or worry that we are all too busy to get together.......maybe your friend needs a little cheering up and hasn't reached out to you in a while - break the pattern and get together!

F = Fun
R = Relax
I = Imagine laughing and giggling together....
E = Embrace - give them a HUG!
N = Nostalgia
S = Serendipity

Most of all ENJOY this wonderful thing called friendship!!!

Colors......

Colors that surround us are plentiful this season with all the leaves changing colors and the fall weather changing back and forth from hot to cooler....take a look at this website....sit back, relax and enjoy the many splendors of the earth given to us by our incredible creator!!!

Enjoy!!!

http://www.greatdanepro.com/Just%20Colors/index.htm

Bunches and bunches....

Bunches and bunches........have you ever told anyone you loved them like that???  If so, that is awesome!  If not, try it!  

A bunch means in a group or cluster......maybe even a tuft!  What is a tuft, you say?  Something held closely or growing close together....hmmm....love can be like that, right?

Did you ever gather a bunch of dandelions to give to your mom when you were little?  Or, did you receive a bunch of flowers on Valentine's Day in high school from that awkward boy who you had a crush on?  How about your hubby or your sister or a dear friend - has he/she ever given you a "bunch" of daisies to make you feel better when you were blue?  If not, buy yourself a bunch!  Daisies, roses, carnations, lillies, tulips or whatever "bunch" of flowers that you love - whether it is inexpensive or outrageously expensive (if you can afford it) BUY it for yourself and enjoy them...........

If you have never had that happen to you before or done that for yourself  or others before - Indeed!  Do it today!  You will reap the benefit of giving to yourself and/or others a "bunch" of LOVE!  Plus, it is just plain fun to give and/or receive!

One other thought:  have you thought about gathering a bunch of giggles??? Yep, that's right.....fun and laughter.........have a giggle fest!  Gather as many "bunches" of giggles and spread the fun!

Also, gather whatever items you might have lots of and spread the idea of "bunches and bunches" to someone else!  Hugs, kisses, chocolate hershey kisses, marshmellows - whatever suits your fancy and give yourself or someone YOU love a "bunch" today!  Sprinkle or splash that joy on those around you and see how good you feel afterwards!!!

Lighten up!  Have some fun and remember to say....I love you bunches and bunches!!!

Waiting....

Waiting........why is waiting so difficult for we humans?  To wait means to remain inactive or in a state of repose until something expected happens..........have you ever been in a state of repose?  I don't think our society even knows what that term means!!!  We live in such a fast-paced, microwave, immediate results society that we hardly have time to think let along take time to pause and be calm or quiet.

Waiting is to pause or delay, or perhaps have an interval of time in between getting what you are waiting for or not getting what you are waiting for........Hmmmmmmm,  when was the last time you thought of waiting as a positive thing?  A time to stay calm and allow something to happen in its own time? 

Think about nature:  do you think trees wait for the next season or anticipate the cold, harsh winter?  Or, expect the spring to be splendid?  What about a woman expecting a child - is waiting for the birth of a new life intolerable or beautiful?  Hopefully you think it is beautiful!
How about the father - is he in hopeful expectation of the new arrival, too?  And, those grandparents are waiting as well.........in full expectation of PURE JOY! 

Waiting in traffic, waiting in the doctors office, waiting for that next job or career, waiting for someone special to come into your life, waiting for relief from financial pressure, waiting for the end of the day, the week or the month, waiting, waiting, waiting! Our lives sometimes feel as though we are waiting for an excrutiating amount of time an yet, waiting can bring the most wonderful feeling of anticipation and give us the time to adjust to a new way of thinking, living or loving.

My sister gave me an one of the funniest ways of waiting in traffic that I have ever heard or even thought about trying:  Keep a bottle of bubbles in your car, so the next time you are stuck in traffic roll down your window and blow bubbles!!!  Isn't that a great idea?  What other ways can you think of to pass the time next time your feel frustrated by having to wait?  Gather your wits about you and do something hilarious next time you have to wait for something you just wish could be here NOW!!!

Each person's perspective will determine how they wait...........try the  state of repose next time you must wait for something!  Calm gentle, quiet state of mind........Allow yourself to realize that all things are part of the process of learning and growing - changing and developing.  Wait, enjoy and anticipate the JOY of what may be coming sooner than you think!

Friendship....

Friendship..........ahhh........what wonderful people I have in my life - how about YOU?  There are old friends, new friends, long lost friends, close friends, antagonistic friends and dear, sweet friends!  They come in all flavors, shapes and sizes!!!

Have you ever looked up the definition of friend?  A person one knows, likes, trusts....a favored companion, comrade.....one who supports a group or cause........do you have a friend like that in your life?  I hope so!  If not, can YOU be one to another person this week???

Friends bring so much into our lives:  Joy, laughter, fun, sharing, compassion, honesty, durability, companionship, warmth, comfort, and confidence.  Don't you just feel better around some of your friends?  Does your life light up when you have coffee with a friend or meet them for lunch for their birthday? 

WOW - what joy transcends between friends who have known each other for a decade or two or perhaps four!!!  Look back over your life - who has been there for you through thick and thin?  Is there a friend you KNOW you can always count on?  Someone who supports you, loves you despite any flaw or shortcoming you may have?

I have heard the saying many times:  "You may only be one person in this world, but you may be the world to one person!"  Think about that for a moment..........you may mean the world to someone that you don't even realize how much you mean to them.......stay alert for those messages from someone close to you!

Have you said thank you to that friend that drove you to your last doctor appointment or sat with you in the waiting room when you were concerned about your health?  When was the last time you wrote a note to someone who made a difference in your life?  Old or new, they need to know how much they mean to you!

Consider sending an real note to someone you haven't spoken to in a long, long time......tell them how much they mean to you!  Or, try the eCards available online, too!  There are so many resources to reach out to those we love and cherish.......NOW is the time!  Don't delay..........you never know when you might not be able to tell them again how much they mean to you!  And, besides, it is just plain fun to reconnect with someone whose company you enjoy! 

Go ahead..........make the call.........send the note.........write that email!!!  You will receive a gift as well.........the gift of their presence!!!

Unswervingly..........hold onto hope!

Have you ever thought of holding onto something unswervingly??? 

Well, if not, think about this:  Have you ever turned aside from a specific course of action - on purpose or by accident?  This could be in your job, your family life, or a relationship!  If the turn happened unexpectedly, perhaps you were meant to take a new path and did not realize it!  If you planned this new course of action or adventure - good for you!

Think about the definition of swerve....to turn abruptly from a straight course. 
Is there a path you have stayed on for a long, long time and will not deviate from?  Yes, there are certain things in this life that do become routine and/or necessary and we may not need or want to change - that is a good thing!  But, what if you have created a path with NO turns are even possible or probable?  Or at least not abruptly??? (Ha! Ha!)  Is that the right course of action for you? It may be time for some analysis or reflection.

On the opposite side of the coin, has there been a time in your life when all of a sudden, you DO turn abruptly from a path that you have always chosen?  Was this turn expected and planned or did it come out of the blue??  And, how did this change affect you and your life?  Positive, I hope, but if not, perhaps it was a needed change.  Or, is there a change about to come in your life?  Open your heart to the possibility!

Sometimes, holding onto something comfortable, familiar, or certain becomes a pattern that we develop without consciously realizing it.  When was the last time you went OUT of your comfort zone?  Turned abruptly in a positive way?
If it has been awhile, consider going down a new path!

Now, back to unswervingly............have you ever heard the saying:
"Let us hold unswervingly onto the hope we profess....." (And yes, it has a spiritual basis behind the saying......)

What is HOPE?  Hope is a desire and/or confidence  of fulfillment.  Hope against hope........to persist in something that goes against the odds....hope is a ground for expectation......something that is desired or that which is hoped for........hope is that in which one places one's confidence.

One lovely definition was given by Emily Dickinson:  "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in your soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all!"  This saying has brought me and many people comfort during very painful or uncertain times in their lives....write it down, say it out loud and allow it sink into your soul..........it is a beautiful sentiment!

Do you feel hopeful at certain times in your life?  Does music help you to feel hopeful???  Music without words is one way of feeling something so deeply for me - what about you? 

What do YOU hope for?  Believe in?  What are you confident that you will receive?  Do you hold unswervingly onto your faith?  Love?  Joy?  Good will? 

What is it that you hold onto unswervingly????  NO turning back from???
Think about it - it is a great thought for reflection!!!

And, finally, if you want to look up the reference in the Bible it is found in Hebrews 10:23 - enjoy and hold on UNSWERVINGLY!!!!

Rainbows after the rain......

Ahh.........Rainbows after the rain are certainly beautiful to catch a view of....peaceful, serene, glorious!

What is a rainbow?  A spectral arc of seven beautiful colors appearing in the sky opposite of the sun.....a result of the refractive dispersion of sunlight in the drops of rain or mist.........a display of God's incredible imagination and beauty!!!  Given just for us to view..........

Consider the splendor of colors:  red, orange, yellow, emerald green, aqua blue, indigo blue and violet........which is YOUR favorite color?  Which color makes you feel wonderful, alive, joyful???  Think about it!

What makes each of us reflect a specific color in our lives???  Have you ever thought about your wardrobe and if you choose specific hues time and again?  Or, what about the decor of your home?  Is there a theme that permiates your sacred space?

Do you reflect the color of God's love to others?  Does your friendship "disperse" throughout your corner of the world?  Is joy a display of raindrops or mist that splashes over to others in your life? 

How can your favorite "color" be used to reach out to those who may be hurting or lonely?  Can you spread a little cheer and color by sharing yourself with someone in need?  Flowers from your front yard or garden are always endearing! Or, how about a bow wrapped around a plate of homemade cookies or bread?

Think about someone in your life whose "color" has infused some joy in your life!  What was it that made them so special?  Was it that they represented the first colors of spring such as yellow and lavendar, or was it the burst of autumn in reds and oranges that drew you to them? 

Or, was it something in your life that brought back fond memories such as the fragrant smell of green grass being cut in summers past?  Or, sharing a glass of lemonade on a hot summer day?  Remember watching the clouds roll by as a little kid while laying in the grass?  And, don't forget the incredible shades of blue in a sky that doesn't have a cloud in it!

We have the gift of so many colors in our lives.......cherish them!  Watch for them!  Incorporate them into your soul and share them with someone you love!

A rainbow in the sky reminds us that God keeps His promises!!!
You are loved............go and enjoy the colors of your life!!!

Rain.......

Rain........beautiful rain!!!  Water condensed from atmospheric vapor, falling to earth in drops!
It has been almost 3 months since Kansas has seen any steady rain for longer than 20 minutes.........ahhh..........the moisture and wet drops fill my heart and soul with JOY!  

Have you ever smelled rain?  If not, next time it rains go outside on your porch or deck or driveway and smell the rain.......it is heavenly!!!!  

Years ago, there was an email sent around several times about a premature baby who almost doesn't make it, then years later after the crisis is over, this baby who is now 5, 6, 7 or 8 years old smells the rain and runs to her mother and says:  "Mommy, do you smell it?  Do you smell Him???"  The mother sits her child down and says, "What do you mean, can I smell the rain?"  The little girl replies, "it smells just like Him - the one who held me when I was born........it's Him!"  The mother sits back and realizes how God held her little girl in those infancy stages when she almost did not make it.........wow!  What a gift her little girl is today and what a gift from that little one to tell her about God!

Rain, beautiful rain........keep on coming today!  Drop away, Lord, drop away!!!

Can you smell it?  Can you smell Him???  The fragrance is ever so sweet........enjoy!!!

Releasing old emotions.....

RELEASING OLD EMOTIONS..............hmmm........that is a tough thing to do!  So many emotions fill me today as someone I love is extremely upset with me and won't allow the healing balm of forgivenss pave the way to say he is sorry or accept my apology.........I am very sad at losing such a person in my life because he has choosen to end the relationship.

It is amazing to me how the human ego and/or pride reign in situations between family members who love each other dearly, yet can be the hardest to get along with!  How do you mend a broken relationship from one side?  Making amends is not very likely, however, I plan on continuing to offer forgiveness from my side and pray that God's love, mercy and grace will be triumphant!

"Be still and know that I am God," says Psalm 46......I am still, and do know that God's Comforting, Almighy, Loving and Majestic Hand holds me close as I heal from this rift...............CALM.  Yes, Lord!

If you are experiencing a rift with someone you love, hold fast to God's Word.  God has a plan of redemption for all of us and so it is between brother and sister..........it may take a week, a month, a year, but that love that permeates my heart will win out - I am sure of it as God's Word tells me so on every page of Scripture.....

Be blessed as you await the Prodigal Son coming home to you.  I know I will!

Take a Journey Today..........

Take a Journey today.......have you ever thought of that concept as you wake in the morning?  What is a journey?  Do you have to travel far to go on a journey?  Do you need a lot of money to go on a journey today?  No.  A journey is to travel from one place to another.  That means right in your own living room, if necessary!  You do not have to take an expensive trip to go on a journey!

My mom never went to the grocery store the same way.  Seriously!  She would wander her way to the store going on street to street looking for a tree that was in bloom today that wasn't yesterday...or she would look for a neighbor's garden which was bursting with colors today that were not there yesterday!  Imagine - what would life be life if we took a journey every day???

You can take a journey through books, through pictures, through videos or photographs,
through experiences you have had, through a new craft your want to explore, through a new friendship you hope to have - whatever you can imagine - that is where you may take a journey from one place to another!  Today's technology is such that each of us can journey to a foreign country by internet, if we choose.  Imagine exploring a new country every week or month!  You could travel the world without spending a dime!!!

Life is definitely a journey, not a destination.  We may find ourselves in one spot due to health reasons or finances, but that does not mean we are land-locked!  We have an entire universe to explore out there - take advantage of the tools our world offers and go exploring TODAY!!!!

Why wait???  Go on.......get started on your journey today!
And, rememberto ENJOY the journey!!!

The Gift of Gentleness....

I bought a card to send to my sister that says:
"Give yourself the gift of gentleness today..." 


It made me think - what is gentleness???  Softness, kindness, something easily managed,  easily handled, being considerate - not harsh, not severe - nothing but ease...and flowing from the heart???


What is your definition of gentleness?  It is a soft touch from someone you love?  Is it the warmth of a friend's hand while waiting in the doctor's office?  Is it the way you touch a baby, a bird, or a bunny?  Is it the feeling of a feather on your cheek?  Or a warm breeze upon your face?  How would you describe gentleness?


Do you offer gentleness to others?  To your children?  Your elderly parent?  Yourself???
Think about it - when do you stop to consider being gentle to another human being?  Or does it come naturally for you?  


Where do you find gentleness?  Look around.  See the beauty and gentleness with which a new day dawns....it is truly amazing to look for gentleness throughout the day.  It will change your mood, your outlook on life, your perspective.


Give yourself the gift of gentleness today!

Become Awestruck...

Become awestruck.....how do you do that???  Take a tender moment and look at something beautiful in nature.  That's it....stoop down and literally smell the roses, flowers, or daisies blooming in your garden or one that you visit!


Do you see the little tiny, yellow disk in the middle of a Daisy?  Imagine what it took to create such beauty!  Take a peek at the lovely Purple Bearded Iris - what incredible imagination that took to make!  See the small petals of lilacs and smell the wonderful aroma of their scent!  Pick a bouquet and enjoy them for several days!  Take them to a neighbor and see the smile on their faces....Have you ever seen an entire field of coral orange Calalillies?  They are exquisite!


Imagine stopping along the highway to watch a meadow full of baby sheep frolicking through the field - such fun to watch!  Or, imagine seeing real bluebirds at the park you walk in - such a brilliant blue that it takes your breath away!  Or, imagine touching the soft fur of a small bunny...wow!  Have you ever thought about a Zebra - are they white with black stripes or black with white stripes?  What about the originality of a rainbow?  Seven colors in the exact order like a color wheel.......imagine creating such delight!  Or, surround yourself with the colors of a sunset........hues of red, orange and yellow turning to pink and purple as the sun sets.  


What lovely pictures these images bring to mind....capture the essence of the creator in the gifts of nature.  Stop along the way and take it all in........don't miss a single drop of beauty!
Take a deep breath and realize that beauty is within you as well........

Feel the awe........feel the wonder........enjoy the gift!

Healing...

Healing........how do you heal a broken heart?  How can you restore that which you feel is lost, gone or dissolved?  How can one return to a place of health and wholeness in your heart?  How can one set aright the fracture lines that cannot be seen?  It is not easy nor a quick process.  Healing is definitely a long process........slowly....one moment at at time, one day at a time.  There are many things in this life which are difficult to navigate and healing a broken heart is one of them.  Over time, with love, care and compassion the fracture lines begin to heal and mend.  Allow yourself time to grieve........allow yourself to cry and shed all the tears your heart needs to so that you may feel whole again.   Each heart heals in its own time as we nurture and care for ourselves and grieve the loss which has occurred - no two hearts are alike.

A broken wrist may heal in six weeks, however, a broken heart does not.  Mending a broken heart does not happen overnight or over a specific course of time such as six weeks, six months or six years.  But know that it will heal.  Allow yourself to place your fingers over the break lines when necessary and then, take the time to mend those broken lines.  Go deep within your heart to see what hurts - Release the hurt, acknowledge the betrayal, bury the broken dream...and then, as Melody Beattie so eloquently says in her Journey to the Heart book:  "Lightly, gently with love, rub a golden layer of forgiveness and love around your heart."  Forgiveness heals many break lines if only we will choose to forgive.  Healing comes in stages.  Comfort yourself when needed, wrap yourself in a warm blanket, take a hot bath, go outside and feel the sunshine, allow yourself to feel hope.  Emily Dickinson has a beautiful message of hope:  "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in your soul, and sings the song without the words and never stops at all."   Beautiful - that is what hope is, that is what healing does - it brings you hope for a brighter day and that day is today.

Become willing to heal your heart and know that love surrounds you each moment.  Give yourself the gift of healing your heart with love.....Feel that love from your family, from friends, from those in your life who support you and most of all from God.

Allow God to bring you the comfort that only HE can give........feel His Divine Presence near you and draw near to Him.  The Holy Scriptures tell us the He heals the brokenhearted........allow Him to heal yours.

Believe....

What do you believe?  About yourself?  About life?  About love?  Melody Beattie has taught me so much through her book:  Journey to the Heart.  If you believe that you have to fight your way through this world, you will....If you believe that God's love surrounds you, it does!  If you value yourself enough to take good care of yourself, you will. 

Surround yourself with positive people, loving people, and beautiful things!  Absorb the beauty of this world:  catch a sunrise or sunset and just savor it....watch a mother duck with her baby ducklings cross a pond....plant your garden, water your flowers and watch them grow!

My mom used to live by the saying:  BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED!  It's true!  We are each growing and changing every minute!!!  Allow yourself to blossom by giving away your friendship and love....find someone who really needs a visit from a friend and go!  Don't wait....today is all we have.

Melody teaches that our beliefs about what we deserve and who God is will change as we journey through this adventure called life!  Start that journey and BELIEVE in yourself, life, and love!!!  It is all around you, IF you will open your eyes and your heart!!!

Mutuality...

Mutuality...hmmm....what does that mean in a relationship?  Whether it is a friendship, work,  or love relationship, mutuality implies that there is reciprocation..... a collaborative effort.......interdependency.  


Wouldn't that be nice to have?  If you think so, why not offer your half and see what happens?  Yes, sometimes, you do get hurt in a relationship, but seeking this type of level of mutuality in any relationship is work trying to find!  


Try it - you might like it!!!

Empathy

Empathy....can you sense the emotions of those around you?  Can you feel what they are feeling?  Does your intuition allow you to share the emotions of those special people in your life?  Being able to instinctively understand other people's feeling is an incredible gift.....powerful.....wonderful and very uplifting!  Try to learn to have empathy for others.  It is deeper than sympathy.  Empathy allows you to find just the right words as just the right time for someone who may be going through a very traumatic episode in their lives or an incredibly joyful time in their life!  Share in their tears....share in their joy!  Give others the gift of your empathy for them - it will enhance your relationships on many different levels and enhance your ability to offer others support they may never have experienced before on their journey!!!!!

Moments....

I read a saying today that said:  "We do not remember days, we remember moments".........think about that........what moments do you have fresh in your mind?  Safe in your heart?  Tucked away for a rainy day?  Those "Ahhhhh....." moments......catch one in your mind and relive it...savor it and sigh a deep sigh...


Try one of these.....
1)  Remember that precious smile on your brand new baby's face?
2)  Feel the joy you felt when your son rode his bicycle all by himself to school for the first time...
3)  Laugh at a bumper sticker which says:  Keep Calm and Eat a Cupcake!
4)  Create a comedy skit and ask yourself next time you do something that you think is really dumb - How smart do you have to be???  The answer:  Not very!!!
5)  Take a walk in the part and feel the gentle breeze on your face..........look up at the blue sky and say "Thank You" to our creator!


Find time to savor these moments.....they are all we have.....cherish them!

Simplify....

S I M P L I F Y..........ahhhh.........
Slow down,
Imagine doing less,
Make time for loved ones,
Practice patience,
Learn to gently say no,
Increase your quiet time,
Follow your heart,
Yield to Life, Yield to Peace, Yield to Joy....

Inhale Beauty today!

Inhale Beauty today - have you ever thought about how to do that?


First, sit down in a comfy place, relax your mind and body and think about the most beautiful place you have ever seen........do you that image in your mind?  Now, take in a deep breath to the count of 5, then, exhale to the count of five.  Try this five times in a row........ahhh.........feel better?  


Try to focus on beauty today - even if it is raining outside!  Look out the window and watch the raindrops fall on your window pane......what do you see? Is the sun trying to peek out from behind a cloud?  It is there even though we cannot see it today!  Are you feeling kind of cloudy inside?  If so, imagine the most beautiful sunset you can, then imagine just sitting enjoying the warm glow of the sunshine........take five deep breaths again and inhale beauty as often as you can remember to do so!


There are so many wonderful and beautiful things all around us if we will only open our eyes, our minds and our hearts to see it!


Look for beauty today everywhere you go!!!

The Twelve Days of Christmas!

The Twelve Days of Christmas is more than a wonderful song!  There are truly twelve gifts that we can focus on until January 6, 2012!  Take one for each day and focus on each gift that you have already in your life and ways you can incorporate or improve this gift in the new year!
The FIRST Day of Christmas:  Focus on FAITH - the greatest gift of this season!
The SECOND Day of Christmas:  Focus on LOVE - great the new year with love for everyone you meet!
The THIRD Day of Christmas:  Focus on STRENGTH - God is the source of my strength!
The FOURTH Day of Christmas:  Focus on WISDOM - I never need to worry.  The answer to any uncertainty is with me already!
The FIFTH Day of Christmas:  Focus on POWER - I have been endowed with a mighty power!  Once that creates a positive, peaceful existence!
The SIXTH Day of Christmas:  Focus on IMAGINATION - We are all creative!  Creativity is not limited to art, music or writing.  Even the simplest of tasks can be approached with imagination!
The SEVENTH Day of Christmas:  Focus on UNDERSTANDING - I stand at the doorway of a new adventure.  Commit to an open mind and an open heart!
The EIGHTH Day of Christmas:  Focus on WILL - With a new year comes a new sense of internal direction.  Surrender your desires to God and allow the will of God to direct your life!
The NINTH Day of Christmas:  Focus on ORDER - Everything that happens in my life is in Divine order.
The TENTH Day of Christmas:  Focus on ZEAL - Approach life with zeal and allow that incredible energy to rise up within you and carry you onto a new, exciting and joyful life!
The ELEVENTH Day of Christmas:  Focus on RELEASING - Spend time with God in prayer each day.  Allow your spiritual life to grow and release any regret, shame, blame or guilt.  Be born anew in your heart!
The TWELFTH Day of Christmas:  Focus on LIFE - Awaken to the source of all of life!  Allow the gentle nudge of God's spirit to guide and direct your sails!  Thank God for another day of love, joy and peace!!!