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Gratefulness
Gratefulness is lifestyle, an attitude for living, for approaching life – each and every component of it. Finding the lessons, blessings….
My first cup of coffee in the morning is already steeped in ritual – the warmth, the smell, the steam, the first swallow as I drink in the first taste of the day, a reminder that God is with me in such a sensual fashion in all things – not out there. I would like to add an end of day ritual. I will have to ponder that.
My rose bushes have weeds all around them. Some I pull out; others I leave. I can’t stay on top of them all. But these knockout rose bushes are pretty hardy plants and can handle some weeds all around, if I can. However, the rose bushes have now contracted rosette virus – a rose virus for which there is not treatment or cure. And it’s very contagious to other rose bushes. I’ll be lucky if I don’t lose all my rose bushes. Weeds can be dealt with and even live peac...
My rose bushes have weeds all around them. Some I pull out; others I leave. I can’t stay on top of them all. But these knockout rose bushes are pretty hardy plants and can handle some weeds all around, if I can. However, the rose bushes have now contracted rosette virus – a rose virus for which there is not treatment or cure. And it’s very contagious to other rose bushes. I’ll be lucky if I don’t lose all my rose bushes. Weeds can be dealt with and even live peacefully among the roses if we accept its differences and even its gifts. A deadly virus however…Let those who have ears, hear.
Nature; weather – regardless of what surrounds me in nature and what the weather happens to be – I am reminded that the laws of nature go beyond that which we can control. That I can not only exist in the midst of that, but thrive is a miracle.
Struggling with an increasing challenge of living with IBS; finding a diet that will allow me to eat something – anything, without feeling sick after every meal. Like so many things it seems to be one of those “as we get older” kind of things – what the doctors say when they don’t know what else to say after running every test there is. I like food. I don’t like having to be a picky eater. Especially during a time where there are so many restrictions in lif...
Struggling with an increasing challenge of living with IBS; finding a diet that will allow me to eat something – anything, without feeling sick after every meal. Like so many things it seems to be one of those “as we get older” kind of things – what the doctors say when they don’t know what else to say after running every test there is. I like food. I don’t like having to be a picky eater. Especially during a time where there are so many restrictions in life. But I am thankful for the ability to have what I have, and to be able to do what I do. I’m just weary of “growth” opportunities right now.
What EJP said. It’s what I needed to hear today.
My husband – every single day of our marriage. I’m quite sure I am not the easiest person with whom to live.
I have certainly expanded my definition of love.
The ability to listen. I can listen as long as you talk – until you start repeating yourself a 3rd time.
I’ve been away for awhile – away from Gratefulness.org. I was so weary, of everything. I still am. Weary of the hurt, the pain, the fear, the anger, the same old, same old. My gratitudes and the questions had become repetitive, hopes and longings had come to a halt. And today, though, a day of new beginnings, I feel nothing has changed – except the growing mountain of death, sickness, destruction, frustration and assaults on humanity and humility. So I am searching. I have p...
I’ve been away for awhile – away from Gratefulness.org. I was so weary, of everything. I still am. Weary of the hurt, the pain, the fear, the anger, the same old, same old. My gratitudes and the questions had become repetitive, hopes and longings had come to a halt. And today, though, a day of new beginnings, I feel nothing has changed – except the growing mountain of death, sickness, destruction, frustration and assaults on humanity and humility. So I am searching. I have prayed, I have worked puzzles, I have baked, I have cleaned, I have attempted new hobbies, I have watched Netflix, and I have tried to be kind and to serve others. Now all I know to do it to quit, and to be still and know that God is God. Thanks for a place to vent.
What Howie and Vikram said. Also by imagining what might be causing behaviors or words from someone that I find unseemly or irritating.
Family gatherings, meeting new neighbors, loving on my dog, studying the Bible together with others, working in my yard while ruminating on sermons, conversations, memories, hopes, imaginations and plans, traveling – especially road trips, but really anything that takes me to the beach or mountains, a walk in the woods, sitting by a lake, and I’m beginning some art and photography classes that seem like they might feed my soul as well.
Gratitude
Keep copies of recent budget changes, lest I find myself doing a new budget all over again. Jigsaw puzzles can be a great distraction from daily life, and daily life can be a great distraction from a jigsaw puzzle. Our bedroom is 2 degrees warmer than the rest of our house. Frozen peaches, a half frozen banana, two teaspoons of peach yogurt, and some plain almond milk make a GREAT smoothie.
This is a very helpful thread on the topic of conflict resolution. I’ll be following…
Kindness seems to bubble to the surface when trouble, pain and despair descend. Even people who may be at odds with one another seem to find connection and share the common goal of meeting the needs not only of those in need, but of anyone with whom they come in contact. We just seem to be a bit gentler with one another. But kindness’ sustainability takes intentionality. It’s when it’s not contagious that it becomes a challenge.
When I was in active ministry people used to ask me, “How do I know if something is God’s will for my life, or if it’s just something I want to do?” After much talk of prayer, scripture reading, listening to one’s own heart, and being in conversation with other Christians, I would almost always walk away with the same question in my own mind. This question reminds me of that. I have tried so many ways to listen, to hear, to pay attention and to honor my heartR...
When I was in active ministry people used to ask me, “How do I know if something is God’s will for my life, or if it’s just something I want to do?” After much talk of prayer, scripture reading, listening to one’s own heart, and being in conversation with other Christians, I would almost always walk away with the same question in my own mind. This question reminds me of that. I have tried so many ways to listen, to hear, to pay attention and to honor my heart’s whispers, and still don’t know that I’ve ever come up with a way or the way. Very often my heart shouts. But what it shouts is for me to do things I think, “Well, is this just something I think I want to do? Or is this some heart/God inspired leading that I need to do?” And what if the thing, the course of action to which I’m being led is out of reach? Especially for these times? What then? Do I just keep telling my heart to wait?
For me it was 20 years of migraines. When I was in the midst of it I felt like the woman with the flow of blood who had exhausted every medical effort and all my monies, not to mention that many did not take me seriously and I was still expected to do my jobs full time. Finding hope in the midst of that, much less growth is truly a miracle. I thank God for your daily posts.
I had not heard that Andy Grammer song. It’s great!
I’m with you. Not sure it’s an art. But I’m beginning to think of it as ritual. Where can I find meaning in the ritual of the repetitive cleaning, organizing, donating, movie-watching, reading, exercising, cooking and even eating (too much, I might add, for me.) If the definition of ritual is words and actions that are repeated to give meaning to something beyond itself, what meaning is derived from this ritual?
Thank you for reminding me of what my soul needs as well as what makes it feel good. I need to practice presence is a very real way.
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