Spiritual Things Matter

Gratitude is born in hearts that take time to count up past mercies. ~Charles E. Jefferson

I love this quote because I find it so true.

Life presents us with many choices in so many areas of our lives. We often make just the right choice for our present circumstance, and often simply think of it as luck. Then, there are times when we make a wrong choice. We miss calculate and we make a mistake. We are then devastated, and it tears away at us because we are at a loss of how to make right what has gone so wrong. Sometimes, despite our intense efforts, there simply is no answer at our disposal, and we must go on and do the best we can hoping to never repeat such a mistake again.

Such an experience can break us inwardly until we learn to gentle ourselves…toward ourselves, and realize that our humanness brings us so many hidden gifts. A profound breaking can often be the most profound gift for our hungry and longing heart.

Pain often drives us to want to look inward with a much more honest look. There, we begin to discover a deeper well within us.   Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote,  “In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.”

An inward look of honesty brings a heart of gratitude because we begin to realize a deeper meaning and purpose to our life.  We realize indeed that we want to change, that we want to grow, that we want to mature out of our childish ways into mature men and women.  We are thankful that the generosity of life places people into our lives that love us and accept us simply for who we are.

It is very sad when you meet a person who has never been able to allow the breaking of life to gentle them.  No time seems to be given to look at ones inward landscape with an honest eye and without fear, but rather they choose to project blame, criticism, and anger towards others which only serves to intensify their own anger as their ego of victim-hood goes on a rampage. Their minds become cloudy and diseased, having forgotten how to be truly thankful and grateful for the life that they have been given, and for the people that have been placed in their lives.  I wish for those people an awareness of a more gentle and more forgiving nature so that they may be able to find peace for themselves once more.

This Thanksgiving, I am deeply grateful for many things. Daily, I am reminded of how blessed I am to have my family.  Daily, I recognize that people are sent into our lives for reasons, and I feel profoundly thankful for each and every one of them.  Most of all, I am thankful for the grace that helps us to look inward, and to allow our thankful hearts to be transformed into a life of gratitude.

Wishing each of my dear readers a Happy and safe Thanksgiving!

When a woman gives birth to a son, her appreciation for manhood has deepened. ~ Viola M. Jaynes

Each year, I look forward to celebrating and sharing my birthday with my son. He was to be a mid January baby, but instead he was born on the very same day as my birthday. Having grown up without a family and having lost both my brothers when I was a young child, I was deeply moved at the Grace and Love of God as He bestowed on me this wonderful birthday gift. It was as though He smiled on me and said: “All is well, my child, all is well!” And so it has been! Today, I give special honor to this young boy who is quickly turning into a young man right in front of my eyes.

In Honor To You, My Son

The moment I found out that you were growing within my womb -
I loved you.

Every time you moved and kicked as you grew bigger by the day -
I loved you.

Each day, each week, and each month that went by waiting for you -
I loved you.

With great pains, lying in my bed and knowing that the time is nigh -
I loved you.

The great anticipated moment finally came with its last great push -
I loved you.

As you were held up for me to see the miracle of your precious life -
I loved you.

You were wrapped in a warm blanket and placed gently in my arms -
I loved you.

Looking into your eyes, I tenderly held your little hand. I wept because -
I loved you!

You, my son, are the greatest Birthday gift a mother could ever hope for. Each year on our Birthday, I am reminded again how thankful and blessed I am to have a son like you. In one decade, you have grown so much, and you continue to learn more each day. You are not only gaining knowledge in school, but you are cultivating an understanding to be a kind and compassionate human being. You are learning to give as you receive. You are learning to love as you are loved. You are learning to trust in life as life is generous to you. You are learning to know your God as He draws your heart close to Him. And as He teaches you to look deeper into the hearts of men, you are gaining wisdom for the days ahead. You have begun to understand that to show kindness and compassion for all living things, is to honor and to serve Your God.

You are truly a special gift to me! I love you so very, very much!

Happy Birthday!

Always Your Mama

No one is as capable of gratitude as one who has emerged from the Kingdom of night. ~ Elie Wiesel

Gratitude is an amazing gift that we can and should utilize often. Gratitude adjusts our vision and it adjusts our purpose and desires in life. Gratitude brings a lift to a downtrodden spirit as one feels encouraged by the mere fact that one can indeed be thankful for something.

I have a note book sitting in the middle of our kitchen table and have numbered the lines from 1 to 1000, after which I simply put “and more.” I strive to teach my children that we have so much and I encourage them to write in this notebook the things for which they are thankful for. I don’t insist on a daily entry but I will gently remind them after a number of days have gone by, to think about the things they appreciate in their lives. It is amazing just how effective this has been. I often write in it myself because I value the importance of this principle.

Gratitude of heart is a wonderful habit to develop. We in America and the Western world in general, live in such a prosperous country that even those who are considered poor among us still have an abundance in comparison to so many people around our globe who are truly considered poor. Elbert Hubbard once said: “I would rather be able to appreciate things I can not have than have things I am not able to appreciate.” I notice in my children that they often seem to appreciate a thing more while they desire and wish for it – yet, once it is owned, it is all too easy to simply take it for granted and even neglect it much of the time.

As we go through the “night seasons” in our lives, it is good to remember our blessings and to whisper a loving and thoughtful “thank you.” “Gratitude is the heart’s memory,” a French proverb tells us so beautifully. I find this to be so true and so meaningful because when we are truly grateful for someone or something, it has become part of us, it has become part of our very heart.

Of course, one is thankful for the home they live in, good vehicles to drive, and plenty of nutritious food to eat. Certainly one is thankful for jobs and financial gain in order to make a more comfortable life. But when I think of gratitude, other things come to mind as well:

I think of a sound mind and good health. I think of meaningful friendships and the laughter of our children. I think of husbands and wives who love and support each other no matter what their circumstances. I think of siblings who have known one another all their lives and the support and strength that relationship can bring. I think of parents and grandparents who have often sacrificed much in order to bring their children stability in this life. I think of integrity and honesty of character, which brings enormous personal power into ones life. It then aids us in making our choices in this life.

I think of the freedom we have to choose any belief system we desire and the freedom we have to worship God precisely as we see fit, openly with out fear of reprisal of any kind. I think of the gift we have to reach out in love in order to bring some healing to others. Yes, I even think of pain and losses as I realize that it shapes humans into who they are, and can often give us the grace needed of seeking higher meaning and a greater purpose in life.

Most of all, I think about our hunger for God Himself. A force that is so powerful and so strong that the mystery of Him who created us brings us into realms of possibilities never before imagined. It is in devotion to Him that He gives us glimpses of all that can be. In our gratitude for His beauty and for life itself, all fear seems to be dispelled and the abundance of possibilities emerges within us.

Gratitude, oh what a gift!