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Daily Question, March 1

What is one memory for which I am forever grateful?

  • jessicamomberg

    I have the fondest memories of my childhood. The feeling of being carefree and just looking forward to playing with my cousins on the weekends.

  • Michele

    Giving birth to my children.

  • Ose

    Thanks for all your posts. I can only reply later. Have a good day, you all who share here.

  • Malag

    My first deep sense of connection with the natural world when I was a child walking in a forest with my family. We suddenly emerged on a hillock clearing to a bright sun. That moment was joy in the stillness of its majesty.

  • Amy

    Being with my sweet dog, Schubert when he passed while laying in the crook of my belly. I still miss him!

    • Malag

      Brings back the tenderness of the moment of my own dear dog’s passing. Thank you.

  • Hot Sauce
    Honestly, the day I decided to let go of my belief in biblical infallibility (no disrespect to anyone who believes this; it's just a belief that doesn't work for me), which was at the end of 2012, was utterly liberating. I no longer felt afraid of going to hell; I no longer worried that God hated me; and I no longer felt that millions of people would be punished just for practicing the wrong religion. That time of my life was probably the biggest relief I ever had. And even so, I still never let...

    Honestly, the day I decided to let go of my belief in biblical infallibility (no disrespect to anyone who believes this; it’s just a belief that doesn’t work for me), which was at the end of 2012, was utterly liberating. I no longer felt afraid of going to hell; I no longer worried that God hated me; and I no longer felt that millions of people would be punished just for practicing the wrong religion. That time of my life was probably the biggest relief I ever had. And even so, I still never let go of my spiritual journey-and now I’m a seminary student!

    Read More
    • Cathy
      Liberating, yes! Like you, Hot Sauce, I let go of my belief in biblical infallibility (starting in 1996). After 40 years of strict evangelical upbringing and living, the last 20 entrenched in severe fire and brimstone bondage, a departure from that cult was necessary if I was to live any longer on this earth. Following that, these past 20 years have been a different kind of spirituality for me—a time of learning and unlearning. I am so thankful to have escaped bible-thumping dictators of a ...

      Liberating, yes! Like you, Hot Sauce, I let go of my belief in biblical infallibility (starting in 1996). After 40 years of strict evangelical upbringing and living, the last 20 entrenched in severe fire and brimstone bondage, a departure from that cult was necessary if I was to live any longer on this earth. Following that, these past 20 years have been a different kind of spirituality for me—a time of learning and unlearning.

      I am so thankful to have escaped bible-thumping dictators of a life that involved praying the demons out of me, while constantly dwelling on what I wretched creature I was and how thankful I should be that a deity came to earth in a human body to be sacrificed for me personally and for the entire world. I am so grateful to have escaped believing that my sole purpose on this earth was to “win lost souls” because people of all other religious beliefs were hell-bound and only those of us who were “saved and washed by the blood of the lamb” were getting into heaven.

      The guilt and shame of those 40 years were nearly too much for me to bear so when I found my way out, I felt forever grateful. Ah, but here’s the rub: those ingrained scriptures still arise at the strangest times and I become instantly afraid! My mind thinks, “what if they were right all this time, and I am not?” When that fear arises, it nearly cripples me. Practicing gratitude is the final puzzle piece in my path.

      I know this piece is not eloquently written. I rarely speak or write of those long-ago experiences, so this effort is more like that of a young child rather than the older woman I have grown into. Please overlook my inadequacies and take from this long post the fact that I do have a memory for which I can be forever grateful. Thank you, Hot Sauce, for your post, which led to my self-examination.

      Read More
    • Amy

      Hot Sauce,
      I have to admit I was a bit surprised to see this as a response because, frankly, I’ve been on that path for awhile now. It is amazing how freeing it is and yet I’ve not walked away from the faith, just realizing that the saying that the path is narrow means that few people truly work hard enough to get to that spot.

  • Tahsin Tabassum

    I don’t have that memory yet
    Although I am looking forward to have it

  • Cailinrua
    we were very poor as I was growing up. My mother was so generous to those who had even less. She would be the sole person at the graveside of a homeless itinerant who had died in our town; she would give clothing to a mentally disturbed neighbor who would not respond well; the list is much longer. Once, as a selfish teenager, I asked her "why do you bother doing this?" Her reply, "because I'm a human being" is one I will always remember. .I She had lived through a rebellion, a civil war...

    we were very poor as I was growing up. My mother was so generous to those who had even less. She would be the sole person at the graveside of a homeless itinerant who had died in our town; she would give clothing to a mentally disturbed neighbor who would not respond well; the list is much longer. Once, as a selfish teenager, I asked her “why do you bother doing this?” Her reply, “because I’m a human being” is one I will always remember. .I She had lived through a rebellion, a civil war, had witnessed brutal evictions in the early years of the 20th century when the ramshackle homes were destroyed with battering rams. I miss her.

    Read More
    • Cathy

      I love that you were raised by a mother like this, Cailinrua! I think you gave her one of the highest compliments ever when you wrote: “My Mother was so generous.” My heart warmed when I read your words.

    • Lininthewoods
      My father said our house was marked. In the days before welfare programs, my mother fed whoever knocked on our door, and indigent men often came around to the back one. She invited them in, sat them down at our kitchen table, and served them something hot. If there were no leftovers from our evening meal to warm, she would make bacon and eggs and toast. As a child, I remember asking her why she didn’t just make a cold sandwich — she made very good sandwiches — and she told me that a hot ...

      My father said our house was marked.
      In the days before welfare programs, my mother fed whoever knocked on our door, and indigent men often came around to the back one. She invited them in, sat them down at our kitchen table, and served them something hot. If there were no leftovers from our evening meal to warm, she would make bacon and eggs and toast. As a child, I remember asking her why she didn’t just make a cold sandwich — she made very good sandwiches — and she told me that a hot meal was a rare thing in these men’s lives. Fearless and loving, she cheerfully made them something hot. Pa was probably right.

      Read More
      • Cathy

        How blessedly your house was marked, Lininthewoods! What a tribute to your mother! Reading your words and Cailinrua’s, about the generosity of your mothers, warmed me and brought feelings of love for them and for you as their children.

    • Dusty Su

      What a beautiful soul and what a legacy to leave you. I can imagine how much you miss her. I hear it in your words of her. Bless xx

  • pkr
    Wow, I have so many. One that comes to mind now is a recent one, my dear dear beautiful neighbor Muriel O’, was diagnosed with stomach cancer in early Dec. 2019. I visited with her, on her deathbed, Jan. 17, 2020, not realizing this would be the last time I would see her rosy cheeks and beautiful white hair. As I said goodbye, she blew me a kiss, it so touched me, it was so poignant. I blew one back to her, said I love you and will see you soon. She passed 10 days later. I will always remember...

    Wow, I have so many. One that comes to mind now is a recent one, my dear dear beautiful neighbor Muriel O’, was diagnosed with stomach cancer in early Dec. 2019. I visited with her, on her deathbed, Jan. 17, 2020, not realizing this would be the last time I would see her rosy cheeks and beautiful white hair. As I said goodbye, she blew me a kiss, it so touched me, it was so poignant. I blew one back to her, said I love you and will see you soon. She passed 10 days later. I will always remember how beautiful and serene she looked that day. RIP, dear Muriel. ?

    Read More
  • Elizabeth M Jones

    The morning the doctor said we could go home after a night in the hospital with my son Benjamin. God is good … all the time … all the time.

  • Dawn Noel

    Entering Joshua Tree National Park with my love and watching the sunset from beginning to end with him silently, along with a coyote that emerged from the wild.

  • Charly

    This morning, the memory that revealed itself was standing in front of a famous Sargent painting the Sterling Clark Museum with my dad. He would tear up and say something like “How do they DO that?” His tears allowed me to connect with his heart, though he was not one to say much or reveal much through words. I feel grateful for his willingness to be vulnerable in that way.

  • Mica

    Memories of my dog Girl

  • Debra
    It would be the memory of going to my mailbox on my wedding day to pick up the Detroit Free Press to read and wonder how the day would unfold —- that September morning. Many more memories ensue from that marvelous day. This is an odd one, I know, but it is some how poignant for me. I recall the crisp morning air on my cleanly washed and dewy face and the smell of the ink on the newspaper. An interesting way for a bride-to-be to wake to that day she had waited for all her life. She knew—I kn...

    It would be the memory of going to my mailbox on my wedding day to pick up the Detroit Free Press to read and wonder how the day would unfold —- that September morning. Many more memories ensue from that marvelous day. This is an odd one, I know, but it is some how poignant for me. I recall the crisp morning air on my cleanly washed and dewy face and the smell of the ink on the newspaper. An interesting way for a bride-to-be to wake to that day she had waited for all her life. She knew—I knew—I was marrying for the right reason! I didn’t have a nervous bone in my body. He was the one!!

    Read More
    • Dusty Su

      Beautifully written and shared, thank you Debra! I feel so happy for you.

      • Debra

        Dusty Su: Thank you. It was an amazing time. A span of life with this universe so abundantly giving. I am grateful. Ever so grateful to have lived openly, laughed, wept, played and wonderfully loved. . Bless you.

  • GCharlotte

    I have a grateful memory going to an a joint appointment with a female doctor- my daughter,mother and I. The doctor was a family practice doctor. I was diagnosed with a rare illness. I was so young then and it was so infamiliar to me. I am here today because that doctor was so responsible.

  • Pilgrim

    The births of my daughters. I cannot express what it has meant to me to have them in my life, then, and throughout the years.

  • Rebekah H.

    Seeing the little red lamp glowing in the kitchen window as my school bus pulled up in front of our home every winter evening. My mother was always there.

  • Trish

    I have so many amazing memories. The ones with my grandmother are so dear to me. The last two years of her life I spent time with her at least once a week. I was divorced & dating and she gave me advice about relationships while enjoying McDonald’s vanilla shakes. She was incredibly bright & beautiful. I treasure all of those memories.

  • devy
    At one time, I was in a dark place. Alcohol was a crutch and I was trying to hide my abusive childhood and poor self esteem. I had been going to counselling for depression and anxiety but still maintained my drinking habit, Then one day I was given the ultimatum by my wife. It was the most difficult time of my life. I was going to lose the most wonderful person .. so I stopped drinking, went to a holistic psychologist and really started working on my hidden feelings and past experiences .i had ...

    At one time, I was in a dark place. Alcohol was a crutch and I was trying to hide my abusive childhood and poor self esteem. I had been going to counselling for depression and anxiety but still maintained my drinking habit, Then one day I was given the ultimatum by my wife. It was the most difficult time of my life. I was going to lose the most wonderful person .. so I stopped drinking, went to a holistic psychologist and really started working on my hidden feelings and past experiences .i had a close friend with whom I could confide in helped. I still had anxiety.. the fear of abandonment of my spouse. It took a number of years for her to trust me but she finally did and then saw again the wonderful person who I really am. That period was difficult but I survived and ended up as a better person. My connection with meditation and the result idea of gratitude is adding more to me. The memory was hard but now when I look back I give thanks to my wife for her intervention, my friend and now to those who share the same ideas of peace and gratitude.. thank you to all!

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  • Katrina

    I woke up this morning remembering the day I just happened to be in the pediatric ICU with my 3 yr old granddaughter when she began to wake up from a 6 wk paralysis/coma. With a tiny wave of just her fingers and an impish grin, she cut her eyes around at me to let us know she was still in there. For that memory of that day with her I will be forever grateful.

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