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Hey there, I read some posts on gratitude yesterday that really resonated with my spirit. And now's obviously the season to share. It's easy to be grateful when life is good. When you're harvesting the fruits of abundance. (Even so, with the busy-ness of our lives, we still don't take time to stop and acknowledge it all.) So what about being grateful when life isn't going as planned? ➡️ When you're hitting bumps in the road? ➡️ When you've made a "wrong" turn somewhere and gotten lost? ➡️ When the fruits of abundance seem to have withered and died? Significantly harder. And that's what makes this time of year rough for so many. In case that's you (now or in the future), here are a few takeaways from Henri Nouwen...
Look for gratitude in all your trials...Wanting "Not-This"“Somewhere we know that without silence words lose their meaning That without listening speaking no longer heals That without distance closeness cannot cure.” Boundaries & Rejection“When people show you their boundaries ("I can't do this for you") you feel rejected...part of your struggle is to set boundaries to your own love. Only when you are able to set your own boundaries will you be able to acknowledge, respect and even be grateful for the boundaries of others.” Distance & Death“Distance never separates two hearts that care, for memories span the miles and in seconds we are there. Whenever I start feeling sad because I miss someone, I remind myself how lucky I am to have someone to miss.” Delays & the Unknown“The word patience means the willingness to stay where we are, and live the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us.” Being Wronged"Resentment blocks action; gratitude lets us move forward to new possibilities. Resentment makes us cling to negative feelings; gratitude allows us to let go. Resentment makes us prisoners of our passions; gratitude helps us to transcend our compulsions. Resentment exhausts us by complicated jealousies and ambiguities, stirring up destructive desires for revenge. Gratitude takes our fatigue away and gives us new vitality and enthusiasm. Resentment entangles us in endless distractions, pulling us down to banal preoccupations. Gratitude anchors our deepest self beyond this world and allows us to be involved without losing ourselves." Disagreements“The hard truth is that all people love poorly. We need to forgive and be forgiven every day, every hour increasingly. That is the great work of love among the fellowship of the weak that is the human family.” Hardships“The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.” Rivalry & Jealousy"Through the spiritual practice of letting go of jealousy and bitterness and forgiving and affirming others, we can make rivals into friends, and competitors into companions on the way to true greatness. Our life is not our own to be defended, but a gift to be shared." Reconciling the Past"You may think about your life as a strong rock wall, resisting anyone and anything that tries to change it. Resentment makes us blind to God’s carving hand, but gratitude helps us recognize the process–that slowly but surely we are being formed into a beautiful work of art; That we are being prepared to be a person who can offer own own pains as a source of healing for others." And to wrap things up..."Gratitude as a discipline involves a conscious choice. I can choose to be grateful even when my emotions and feelings are still steeped in hurt and resentment. It is amazing how many occasions present themselves in which I can choose gratitude instead of a complaint. The choice for gratitude rarely comes without some real effort. But each time I make it, the next choice is a little easier, a little freer, a little less self-conscious. There is an Estonian proverb that says: “Who does not thank for little, will not thank for much.” Acts of gratitude make one grateful because, step by step, they reveal that ALL is grace." ​ What can you be grateful for, that comes from a place where you usually wouldn't look? ​ Happy Thanksgiving, Dawn |
My clumsy gardening taught me an interesting life lesson
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Feel like your life's running wild?
I have this beautiful clematis that my sister-in-love gave to me years ago.
It makes me feel pretty successful because for those who know me, I enjoy the outdoors now, but that took a lot of work.
So bear in mind that keeping plants alive isn't really my strong point.
Here's the lesson I've learned though (actually, there are a few takeaways here):
(⬇️ ...
Mindless routines can leave you empty-handed
I don't know who needs to hear this today, but life usually doesn't come with warnings.
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This realization came into view when I went to walk my sweet little puppy Gunny the other morning.
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...As an aside, I have a lot of habit stacks in the morning that get me from point A to point B without having to do a lot of thinking...
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So since weather can be so changeable, I have rolls of, well, po...
Are you wandering in the woods?
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Sometimes we lose sight of the paths in our life.
We might be close to the path we're supposed to be on...or want to be on.
But as anyone who's ever gone hiking knows, being close to the right path still means we're not on it.
So what happens?
We find ourselves just kinda wandering in the woods.
And while it might be beautiful, and you might even be enjoying it somewhat...
...you're still g...
Do Life Together
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