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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!
November 27, 2020. My father died after three months of great pain. His illness was due to professional cancer, because he had worked with asbestos. during his last months I experienced the incredible paradox between wonder in front of a blue sky, the autumn colors, between gratitude for the love and kindness of my good friends, trust in God and on the other hand deep sadness. Since 2015 I have been visiting this site every day. Without the practice of gratitude that I learn here,...
November 27, 2020. My father died after three months of great pain. His illness was due to professional cancer, because he had worked with asbestos. during his last months I experienced the incredible paradox between wonder in front of a blue sky, the autumn colors, between gratitude for the love and kindness of my good friends, trust in God and on the other hand deep sadness. Since 2015 I have been visiting this site every day. Without the practice of gratitude that I learn here, I could not have endured my pain, nor the paradox. Instead I was sincerely grateful for the treasures I have had and still have. My father’s face, his expression of pain, is still in my memory, but I’m sure he is now in the glory of the light, walking in that special light that he had always sought, that he had always loved.
If “well” means “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15, 13), for me it is a work in progress. giving your own life… With joy … The question for me is always the same: is it a spontaneous attitude, or something to get for a deliberate purpose, with discernment and practice?
A deep and calm joy, that turns every challenge, into humble hope.
God knows what I can not know, He is pure love and greater than me. Being honest, humble, patient, meek.
My father is dying of a professional cancer. Sorrow, tenderness, suggest me how important our life together has been. Fear, to face this event. He was like a pillar for everyone, and now my sons take him to the bathroom. But here there is Love, my husband, my sons, my sisters, brothers in law, relatives, and friends, oh how many friends, surrounding me, my hearth expands and is warmly enlightened. The power of Love and life, it exists here and now.
Daily questions on this site.
“Nada te turbe….” St Teresa of Avila
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!
Wonderful Cheryl, it would be a pleasure if we could have a look at your drawings!
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