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Gratefulness
The care my neighbors had for my father when he was dying. I felt their warm embrace indirectly addressed to me too. The love of my cousins, during the same sad circumstance. Today, the fresh snow whitening the mountains near where I live and the relief of my body after a visit to an osteopathic doctor.
I know what I can change is hard work for me. But that’s what I care. Deepen my awareness of the moment and transform any lack of patience into a humble welcome even of a bad feeling. Yes, welcome, open the door of my heart, even a bad feeling is a part of me. So to speak, have a coffee with it. Then again open my heart, find a new peace, smooth the corners of my soul, especially with my old mother who is increasingly confused after my father’s recent death, and also with pe...
I know what I can change is hard work for me. But that’s what I care. Deepen my awareness of the moment and transform any lack of patience into a humble welcome even of a bad feeling. Yes, welcome, open the door of my heart, even a bad feeling is a part of me. So to speak, have a coffee with it. Then again open my heart, find a new peace, smooth the corners of my soul, especially with my old mother who is increasingly confused after my father’s recent death, and also with people of different opinions from mine. Many wishes to you all, and to all people you love.
Dear friends, as a wish for the incoming new year, I paste here a prayer from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, written before his execution in a concentration camp, in 1944. A way to give thanks in dark times. I found the English translation on the web, I hope that it is correct, that it is right what the poet wanted to say. I read the Italian translation and the English one seems to me a good translation. But the first version was in German, and I don’t know this language. Anyway, here it is.
W...
With every power for good to stay and guide me, comforted and inspired beyond all fear, I’ll live these days with you in thought beside me, and pass, with you, into the coming year.
While all the powers of Good aid and attend us, boldly we’ll face the future, be it what may. At even, and at morn, God will befriend us, and oh, most surely on each new year’s day
The old year still torments our hearts, unhastening: the long days of our sorrow still endure. Father, grant to the soul thou hast been chastening that Thou hast promised—the healing and the cure.
Should it be ours to drain the cup of grieving even to the dregs of pain, at thy command, we will not falter, thankfully receiving all that is given by thy loving hand.
But, should it be thy will once more to release us to life’s enjoyment and its good sunshine, that we’ve learned from sorrow shall increase us and all our life be dedicate as thine.
To-day, let candles shed their radiant greeting: lo, on our darkness are they not thy light, leading us haply to our longed-for meeting? Thou canst illumine e’en our darkest night.
When now the silence deepens for our harkening, grant we may hear thy children’s voices raise from all the unseen world around us darkening their universal paean, in thy praise.
While all the powers of Good aid and attend us, boldy we’ll face the future, be it what way. At even, and at morn, God will befriend us, And oh, most surely on each new year’s day!
I want to share a photo my husband took this morning while I was shoveling snow. With a joyful greeting to all!
Thank you Carol.
Dear Alicia !! So happy to see you! You made my day! I just parked the car and read your post, because I have some time before starting my work. Happy New Year dear friend, I hope you are well, and I am even happier to see you, knowing the news about this pandemic in your country, as well as the other political news. As you know, my father died last November and now I have to take care of my mother, who is slowly getting some sort of Alzheimer’s. Sometimes ...
Dear Alicia !! So happy to see you! You made my day! I just parked the car and read your post, because I have some time before starting my work. Happy New Year dear friend, I hope you are well, and I am even happier to see you, knowing the news about this pandemic in your country, as well as the other political news. As you know, my father died last November and now I have to take care of my mother, who is slowly getting some sort of Alzheimer’s. Sometimes talking about forgiveness makes me think of my mother, because she was not so kind to me and my sisters, she wanted us perfect, she was always conditioned by my grandmother, and now she makes the very mistakes she didn’t want us to make. It’s difficult Alicia, very difficult.
Feel embraced, dear friend!
Thank you Cheryle!
Yes I agree Mike, this is the right path for peace.
Dear Mike, it’s so true, forgiveness gives us the peace we need deep in our hearts. But it’s not that easy, because of the memory we have of someone who hurt us in the past, who caused great pain .. I think we can forgive, but we must always surround our memories with kind thoughts about ourselves and if possible , with thoughts of understanding towards those who have hurt us. Many blessings, Mike!
Welcome dear Janet! I hope you will find here a place of kind support, as I found some years ago. May you be blessed in this day and in the days ahead.
Blessings and happy new year to you Cheryle!
Welcome Craig! I love your post and thank you for being with us in this journey!
Thank you Annie, this evening I sang “Te Deum laudamus”, at the Mass. it is an ancient thanksgiving hymn. It is not easy to give thanks for the past 2020. But we can find something good, and for this, I post a prayer for a new day, here above, written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian.
Dear Ose, I’m so sorry, you have a great burden on your shoulders. A great pain, as great as your deep love for your beloved chosen mother. I look at Rembrandt’s picture, how much tenderness … kindness, wisdom … and each of these good virtues were also passed from your chosen mother to you. I pray for her and for you. May the love of God spread abundant peace in your heart, dear friend. May the tranquility of winter give you the rest you need.
Thanks again Diane, for mentioning my father and Ursula. I am definitely in heaven and since both Ursula and my father loved walking in the mountains, our Alps, they are now definitely walking the heavenly mountains, finding heavenly mushrooms and singing sacred hymns! this is what my imagination suggests to me.
Dear Annie, a good idea! I shoveled in the morning so when I finished I cooked for noon! But I definitely enjoyed a cup of hot tea after a nice warm bath. Maybe tomorrow it will snow again. I have a tasty cocoa powder in my pantry!!!
Dearest Diane, thank you for your “blessings”, I really need them. I remember that your grandmother was from Parma, I love Parma and the surrounding places, the beautiful hills with fabulous castles and medieval villages. Bedonia is right there, not far from the sea, not far from the city, and at the same time in a awsome landscape of woods. Mushrooms….special food… “prosciutto”!!! This year it seems that the sky has decided to give us a gift, t...
Dearest Diane, thank you for your “blessings”, I really need them. I remember that your grandmother was from Parma, I love Parma and the surrounding places, the beautiful hills with fabulous castles and medieval villages. Bedonia is right there, not far from the sea, not far from the city, and at the same time in a awsome landscape of woods. Mushrooms….special food… “prosciutto”!!! This year it seems that the sky has decided to give us a gift, the snow. It is not that frequent where I live. Skiing is banned this year, as it is difficult to maintain social distances near ski lifts and inside mountain huts. We hope so much in the spread of the vaccine, dear Diane!
Oh I know Mike, my back, shoulders and even legs…☺
🌸❤🤗
Thank you dear Ose, for your encouragement. You father is very strong, 91 years and a good recovery from his confusion! Thank you for your prayers, I will remember you, your father, your sisters, in my prayers as well.
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