My Word for 2016

Having discovered Susannah Conway and her web site: http://www.susannahconway.com/, I am happy to say my journey for this next year looks very promising.

After five emails from Susannah, meditating, visioning, reading and studying I was prompted to come up with five words that inspired me.  They were shine, family, beautiful, radiant, and happy.  I narrowed those down to shine and radiant.  On the third day, I woke up to find the creek a half a mile from my house had overflowed into the cow pasture behind my house.  And for a brief few minutes the sun was shining.  The reflection of the sun was amazing and so I snapped a quick picture.  The first word that came to mind was radiant.  The next day my cell phone broke and I lost all my pictures.  I will get them back one day but in the meantime  I have to start all over signing in and learning to use the phone; gone with the old and in with the new.  Then I opened my morning devotional from Daily Word and read these words: “Each day I release old ways of being and give life to a renewed radiant self.”

I have found my word for 2016!  It is RADIANT.  Supporting words include– glowing, love, confident, happiness, luminous, brilliant, and bright.  This is my opportunity to grow spiritually, to become enlightened, and to use the wisdom gained to be the light of the world as I am called to be. I plan to make myself a RADIANT Light.

I know it’s not 2016 yet, but the radiant light that shines in my life is calling me.  Today, when I thought of what it meant to make myself a Light, I thought of the laughter and joy of sharing a game of Uno with my granddaughter laughing as the machine spitted out card after card until we used up the whole deck before one of us won the game.  Or the radiant reflection of sunlight in my friend’s tears as she shared her concern for her grandson’s health. Being present to brighten someone’s day; that’s what I felt this day.

The Conversation

The Science of Mind Guide for Spiritual Living called for essays about a unique conversation with someone including Dr. Ernest Holmes founder of Science of Mind.  This is in regard to celebrating the 90th anniversary of the publication.  This is the article I sent off:

A Conversation with My Granddaughter

When my second grandchild was born it was clear from the beginning that she had some issues.  We were not sure what until she started school and we started putting the puzzle pieces together and realized she was Autistic.  Finally, at age six she was officially diagnosed under the spectrum and now receives help from specialist who have changed not only her life but her family and all those who know and love her.  Before this time, we all managed by trial and error especially when she struggled to use her words and say what she wanted to say.  Alone one day with her and her baby sister, she had a meltdown crying and screaming unable to tell me what the problem was.  She was four years old and I was her grandmother hurting for her.  Finally I sat down and cried and she suddenly put her arms around me comforting me.

Later that day, I had a quiet moment; the perfect opportunity to talk to her. I had no expectations that she would understand what I was saying, but it didn’t stop me from having a conversation with this precious child. I took her in my arms and whispered gently in her ears, telling her that she was loved – by me, all in her family and by God; that she lived so God could live in and through her. I told her she had the power to be the person she wanted to be and that one day her mind and her words would join together and everyone would understand what she was trying to tell us.  I told her to be glad and happy.  She did not respond.

The next morning, I was leaving and my daughter wanted to tell her I was going home.  We found her dancing around the big living area singing, “I have the power” over and over.  My daughter asked me what she was saying, and I said, “She is saying good-bye.”

Now seven years old, she speaks most of the time clearly and distinctly to us unless she gets frustrated or confused and then she can fall back to her old ways of screaming or yelling at someone to get their attention.  We have learned the triggers to help her turn away from the negative behavior to the positive.  And although the doctors insist it could take many years for her to carry on a conversation with us or teachers, we live each day as if she is already there.  Her purpose and power are hers for the choosing.  Clearly, I am grateful for her presence in my life and look forward to many more conversations with my granddaughter.

The power of conversation is a beautiful thing when used with love.  It opens doors, creates thinking and flames our imaginations.  Thank you, Dr. Holmes for reminding me that, “Power is the energy by which everything lives.”

Priscilla N. Shartle

The Truth That Lies Within

November 30th – Day 30 – Mental Challenge and Journey of Gratitude

I dedicate myself this 30th day to focus on all that is nourishing, advancing, and promising! PNS

Today is the last day of my challenge.  I know I’ve changed by keeping focused on what I pledged to do.  Keeping a record of all that touched me through these 30 days and then blogging about it made the whole process more rewarding.

Each day I begin with the Silent Unity Prayer Service.  The line in the November 2015 service that inspired me was, “With heart and mind united, I am guided in all I do.”  This message ties in with the importance of being in balance.  Finding The Science of Mind meditation, Arise, My Spirit, affirmed the importance of starting my days in spiritual contemplation and then continuing along that path making contact with the Divine throughout the day.

Because Unity’s theme for November was gratitude, I focused on new ways to be thankful, including understanding for the first time in my life that I have the freedom to choose to be grateful.  I do this with my intentions.  I should not wait for special occasions.  Keeping a daily gratitude journal deepens the consciousness of all that I am grateful for.

I might sum up this past months’ challenge using the words of Ernest Holmes, “Look not from revelations from without, but to awakening of Truth that lies within.”

 

Namaste

Listening Within

 

November 27th – Day 27 – Mental Challenge and Journey of Gratitude

 

I dedicate myself this 27th day to focus on all that is nourishing, advancing, and promising! PNS

Through Life's Complexities 

Loving Presence,
Thank You for Your flow
Of life and joy and good,
And thank You
For helping me know
That I have a place and purpose
In Your infinite plan …
That You forever take me
By the hand and lead me
To and through life's complexities.

I talk to You, God. I listen within.
You speak with bright inspiration
In my mind—so natural—
So simply, I find
I think it is my own thinking!
But then as I look back
I see it wasn't me;
It was You all the time!
I realize anew
That I am guided and directed by You
When I listen.

~ Rev. Dorothy Pierson

 

I function in the world of activities and responsibilities, present to whatever is happening, yet I am centered in Spirit.  I proceed with joy and confidence. ~ Daily Word

 

“Your true expression is not to have but to be.”

~ The Science of Mind, Guide for Spiritual Living

 

Nourishing my mind, body and soul are all closely tied together.  Balance, I’m learning is key to that success.  Not sleeping can be a result of not letting go of the affairs and events of the day.  According to Ernest Holmes, “Perfect trust in God within is the secret of relaxation, rest and renewal.  The Divine works through me and I am protected from mistakes.  The all-powerful Mind of the Indwelling Christ within me dissolves all sense of wakefulness and I am at peace.”

 

What exactly is the affirmative power of gratitude?  According to Margaret Stortz, “It is affirming who we are by refusing the low road of indifference, despair, and defeat,” and instead, “taking the road of positive expectation, no matter how small the glimmer of light may be.”  It is also giving thanks not just for the good but also those times when things are not so good; because, “We are not giving thanks for the event . . . but for the opportunities to heal and move through such events.”

 

The power of gratitude also means we are called to make a difference and we have the power to do that.  Emmet Fox said, “Just because most people do not suspect the existence of this power does not change the fact that it is there.”

 

“We should never forget straightforward how the use of gratitude, love, peaceful thinking and trust in the Presence can be,” added Stortz.  And finally we are called to accept ourselves the way we are. 

 

I have come to realize that accepting who I am is the greatest gift I ever gave myself. It is comforting when someone recognizes the “real” me, but it doesn’t stop me from affirming, “I AM who I AM,” when others don’t see.

 

“My God is wisdom and all wisdom is of God.”

~ Phineas P. Quimby

Thanksgiving Day

November 26th – Day 26 – Mental Challenge and Journey of Gratitude

I dedicate myself this 26th day to focus on all that is nourishing, advancing, and promising! PNS

Today is Thanksgiving Day.  I celebrate and give thanks for my many blessings.  I acknowledge that I have learned from my life experiences, and I am grateful for the person I am today.

“A grateful mind is a great mind, which eventually attracts to itself great things.”

 ~ Plato

I love Thanksgiving Day for it brings to mind a sense of tradition and warm feelings.  Not just feelings of gratitude but feelings of goodness that lift me to heights unknown.  Childhood memories of sitting around my grandmother’s huge dining room table surrounded by cousins, aunts, and uncles were for the most part good.  I get the same feeling when I watch the TV show Blue Bloods with Tom Selleck in which there is one scene in every episode where four generations of the family share a meal.  At my grandmother’s or watching it on TV, I am reminded that I have faith in God as my every-present Good.  Having a feeling of gratitude today or every day brings me love and joy.

Today is a great day to focus on the present and what is good and useful; to think twice before carrying my cellphone around with me; and choose happiness where it takes me.

While focusing on what is promising, I remember to listen to the wisdom inside me that as Barbara Doern Drew and Walter Drew write, “will bring us home to our authentic nature, our true calling in life.”

With every thought of gratitude, we deepen our receptivity to the blessings of God. When we are thankful, we are attuned to God and the many ways divine light, life, and love work in and through us. When we are grateful, we view life from a higher perspective—a sacred perspective. We see things beyond our human perception, and we gain a new sense that all is well in our lives and in the lives of those we care about. - GratefulLiving.org

 

“Every time we give thanks for anything, we are affirming our own vital existence.”

~ Margaret Stortz

Being in Balance

November 25th – Day 25 – Mental Challenge and Journey of Gratitude

I dedicate myself this 25th day to focus on all that is nourishing, advancing, and promising! PNS

God is my all.  I am grateful and abundantly blessed.

Leaving Chattanooga and driving to Beaufort, SC takes careful planning and timing.  You leave too early and one hits the Atlanta morning traffic. By discovering the best time to leave we usually avoid slowdowns and dead stops, unless there is an accident.  This week’s trip was no exception.  We begin each trip appreciating and blessing the drive knowing that whatever happens all is well.

“If God is in your world, what have you to fear?” ~ Emma Curtis Hopkins

Stop focusing on what you feel you can’t do and start focusing on what your Divine Partner, God, can do.  Take the time to live in thanksgiving.  Be appreciative for the vision that stirs your soul and all the adventure that brings to your daily life. ~ Guide for Spiritual Living

“Anger can be turned into love, and the very power that has been destroying [our perfection] can be made to build up the entire body.  To maintain and orderly balance of the body . . . it is important to erase every unpleasant experience from the memory . . . so the mind- filled with the knowledge that there is but One Divine, Powerful, Vital Essence – can change inharmonious thoughts into ideas that heal, cleanse, and uplift.” ~ The Science of Mind

Wayne Dyer writes in Being in Balance, “Commit to thinking about what you want, rather than how impossible or difficult that dream may seem.” He quotes Louisa May Alcott:

“Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations.

I may not reach them but I can look up and see the beauty,

Believe in them and try to follow where they lead…”

He goes on the say, that . . . when we begin to believe in what we see and begin to think it, “The Universe conspires to work with you, and sends you precisely what you are thinking and believing.”  It may not happen instantaneously but realigning our thoughts begins to bring us into balance.

“Seeing good is God’s way of seeing.” ~ Margaret P. Willey

Namaste

November 24th – Day 24 – Mental Challenge and Journey of Gratitude

I dedicate myself this 24th day to focus on all that is nourishing, advancing, and promising! PNS

Keeping my divine appointment leads me to more wisdom and love.  Prayer and meditation are the most important activities on my calendar.  Creating a daily habit for prayer and meditation opens the door for wisdom and love to express through me and around me. ~ Daily Word

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.” ~ Colossians 4:2

“To rise above being captivated by the human dilemma, you must make contact with the Infinite.  This is why it’s important to start your day in spiritual contemplation, make conscious contact through the day, and before retiring at night realign with the Oneness.” ~ Rev. Dr. Christian Sorensen

Arise, My Spirit

Arise, my Spirit, arise and shine.

Let Thy light illumine my path, and let Thy wisdom direct my way.

Compel my will to do Thy bidding, and command my soul to look to Thee.

I will follow Thee, my Spirit, and learn of Thee.

I will sit in the Silence and listen and watch, and

I will see Thy light and hear Thy voice.

I will follow Thee and will not depart from Thee,

For in Thee alone is peace.

Arise and shine.

~ The Science of Mind Meditation, 535 M3

 

“Namaste is an ancient Sanskrit word that essentially means 'The Divine in me honors the Divine in you.' There are three key components to the practice of Namaste. First, we come from a place of understanding that we are made in the image and likeness of God and that our true essence is Divine.  Second, we recognize that truth for another. Finally, we not only recognize that truth but we act accordingly. When we come from a consciousness of Namaste, we seek to honor, to bless, to appreciate, to serve, and to love others.” ~ Rev. Robin Reiter

Today, as I travel the highways from my home to my daughter’s home, I begin with prayer and meditation.  I will look for those times to connect with God and then see the Divine in all I meet.  I will focus on healthy food options, take action that is positive and not negative, and make wise choices when responding to situations that come up this holiday week. And as always, be grateful. Namaste

The Spirit of Truth

November 23^rd – Day 23 – Mental Challenge and Journey of Gratitude

I dedicate myself this 23^rd day to focus on all that is nourishing, advancing, and promising! PNS

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” ~ John 16:13

“To know the Truth is to let go of untruths.” ~ Eric Butterworth

“…and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” ~ John 8:32

“There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself.  It is the only true guide you will ever have.  And if you cannot hear it, you will all your life spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls.” ~ Howard Thurman

“Grace is not a part of consciousness; it is the amount of light in our souls, not knowledge nor reason.” ~ Pope Francis

“Gratitude is one of the chief graces of human existence and is crowned in heaven with a consciousness of unity.” ~ The Science of Mind

It is said that what grace delivers will exceed the furthest of our imagination.  Taking into consideration the words of Pope Francis, I can now see that gratitude and grace are divinely connected and it is up to me to live my life in a state of consciousness that combines the two.  To be touched by the light of God’s grace and be filled with gratitude throughout the day (without thinking about it), what joy that would bring!

The Rev. John Considine suggests we, “Take a moment every day to dedicate being in a relationship with God.” He goes on to give us a few secrets to help us experience the Divine Presence every day:

·         On Monday morning as you arrive at work, before you pick up the telephone, check your e-mail, or turn on a machine, take a moment to dedicate this day and week to being in relationship with God. You might say the Lord’s Prayer or simply, “Be with me, God.” The exact words are not important. Simply intend to be aware of the presence of God all week long.

·         If you use a computer at work, put a reminder of God’s presence on your screen saver. It need not be overly religious. Just a simple, “God is blessing me and my company today!” If you don’t use a computer, a 3x5 card near your workspace works just as well.

·         When the boss walks by, say a prayer for him or her. And throughout the day, pray for the success of your company and coworkers and the projects you are engaged in. Don’t pray to change anyone. That’s not your job. Pray that everyone feels loved and successful.

·         If you experience a challenge or become upset at work, stop for a moment and take a deep breath. Say a prayer like “I prefer peace over this. Thank you, God, for returning me to peace of mind.” Keep repeating that until you feel your peace returning.

From a list of Gratitude Prayers From Around the World provided by faith representatives on the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council, I especially liked this one:

BUDDHISM

Eternal Spirit, You who go by many names. Let us offer thanks for the bounty of the earth and to the sun, the rain, and all of the sentient beings. Let us be mindful of the vast web of our interconnectedness to all beings, and celebrate our religious diversity.

So let it be.

Tap, Tap, Tap

November 20th – Day 20 – Mental Challenge and Journey of Gratitude

I dedicate myself this 20^th day to focus on all that is nourishing, advancing, and promising! PNS

On so many levels we are one with everyone we encounter.  If we begin the day in anger, we can set the tone for the rest of the day.  Just as spreading joy brings happiness to others.

“The moment you start watching the thinker, a high level of consciousness becomes activated.  You then begin to realize that there is a vast realm of intelligence beyond thought, that thought is only a tiny aspect of that intelligence.” ~ Eckhart Tolle

I remember the exact day, not the date, but where I was when I began to see from a higher view.  I was walking a par course near my home early one morning.  I had been questioning my faith, having grown up as a Christian in a mainstream protestant church.  Now in my forties, the world had evolved.  With great technology, cell phones, cable TV and the Internet my world view was changing.  I walked, thinking about my dilemma when suddenly I felt three hard taps on my left shoulder and then a whisper in my right ear.  I heard, “Christianity is only a tiny speck in my eye.”  Even now as I write this I get goose bumps and feel the love and warmth of hearing God’s voice.  It was then that I realized I could see beyond my circle of intelligence to the “vast realm” that Tolle refers to.  I trust this higher perspective and welcome it.

Fast forward another twenty-five years and I read this: “There is only One Infinite God and every time man speaks to this God, he receives a direct answer.  ONE! ONE! ONE! [My tap, tap, tap!]  “I am God and there is none else.” ~ The Science of Mind

J. Sig Paulson writes, “The finest help we can give another human being is to recognize gratefully his or her true identity.”  He goes on the say, “According to the Bible, all of us are made in the image of God.  Our exercise in gratitude begins with these words: "I praise and give thanks for God’s image in me.”  And then we use the same exercise when praying for others saying, “I praise and give thanks for God’s image in you.”  He concludes by affirming that this exercise “will often change another’s life for the better.”

 

“Give thanks to God and look at life with a thankful spirit.” ~ Martha Smock

Gratitude is a State of Mind

November 19th – Day 19 – Mental Challenge and Journey of Gratitude

I dedicate myself this 19^th day to focus on all that is nourishing, advancing, and promising! PNS

“God and I work together to create my peace, and I begin that process by releasing expectations about the behavior of others.  It is easier to move forward in love and respect when I remember that in Truth we are all spiritual beings having a human experience.  We are all expressions of God.” ~ Daily Word

“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you.” ~ Matthew 7:12

God is my source of unlimited good.  Centered in this awareness, I give thanks for prospering ideas and I open to the goodness of God in full measure. ~ Silent Unity

“Therefore the humble is the root of the noble.” ~ Lao Tsu

To step off the edge is the only way to really know God has got the rope and is not going to let you fall.  Each day since my dear friend’s grandson has been in the hospital battling a brain tumor and side-affects to the treatments, I have prayed for him and his family.  Each day I say The Prayer of Protection using his name:

The Light of God Surrounds Us

The Love of God Enfolds Us

The Power of God Protects Us

The Presence of God Watches Over Us

Wherever We Are, God Is

By James Dillet Freeman

And while praying I have crocheted a lap afghan for my friend.  I hope that as she wraps the afghan across her lap, she will feel God’s love and remember that she and her family are loved.

Life is like a mirror and will reflect back to the thinker what he thinks into it. “Act as though I am and I will be.” ~ The Science of Mind

Peter Bolland tells the story of how writing a daily gratitude journal changed his life.  I started my most recent gratitude journal on March 12, 2012, which was the 64^th wedding anniversary of the day my parents were married.  Now three years later I have come to realize what Bolland realized – it’s not the product (of the list) but the process.  Being grateful is a state of mind.  I get that now.

“I didn’t change the world. I changed the way I saw the world.” ~ Peter Bolland

“Practice gratitude daily and your life will change in ways you can hardly imagine.”

~ Rev. Ruth Wallace

A Hero's Journey

November 18^th – Day 18 – Mental Challenge and Journey of Gratitude

I dedicate myself on this 18^th day to do all that is nourishing, advancing, and promising! PNS

“Gratitude is a sign of noble souls.” ~ Aesop

 

“All that there is of wisdom, truth or light is found intact within each human soul.”

~ Ernest Holmes

 

Today I recognized that it’s time to honor my intuition more than my habits.

“When we know the Truth, it will compel us to act in a correct manner.  The conscious thought controls the subconscious and, in turn, the subconscious controls conditions.  We plant the seed and the Law (Mind in action) produces the plant.” ~ The Science of Mind

I am an independent spirit with unlimited powers.  Spirit gives me the inner resources to rise above whatever I face.  I have the power to do and be whatever I choose.

“The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.” ~ Isaiah 58:11

I am calm in the midst of all activity.  In this peace, in this calm I am at home.

  Life is good.

“It is THAT time of year.  People are rushing around gathering gifts, flying to see family and friends.  It can feel a little hectic.  This is the time to practice calmness.  Remember, you are the light of the world.  Coming from that place of calm allows that light to shine forth even in the midst of all the activities.” ~ Eugene D. Holden

According to Rev. Carla McClellan, “We look at life as a Hero’s Journey.  The Hero is that part of us that remains constant and courageous, regardless of what is happening around us.”  She goes on to suggest we ask ourselves if it would be alright if our lives got easier?  Then ask, “Am I willing to be authentic?”  Third observe our life instead of analyzing it.  Finally, say YES to whatever situations are causing discomfort.  “When you say ‘yes’ you are accepting the facts of the situation, but not its power over you,” she concludes.

Following these suggestions, I can begin to live a life filled with meaning, courage, and possibilities.

“Each and every day, take a moment and be grateful for all you have in life.”

~ Susan Smith Jones, Ph.D.

I Am Blessed!

November 17^th – Day 17 – Mental Challenge and Journey of Gratitude

I dedicate myself on this 17^th day to do all that is nourishing, advancing, and promising! PNS

“I am strong and wise.  I do not create the stream of power – I simply participate in it, with a thankful heart.” ~ Daily Word

I do go with the flow of life by looking upon each day as a new day to discover God’s grace has fallen upon my world.

“Accept grace and your world will be larger, deeper, richer, and fuller.  Look for its intimations everywhere.  Let the seed of the Giver of Life bloom in your words and deeds.”

 ~ Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Two weeks and one day ago I had my annual flu shot.  There is a two week incubation period for it to protect me from getting the flu.  Last night the day began to end as a set of classic symptoms appeared – cold, slight fever, headache and sore throat.  I wake this morning, with them as well as now the body aches.  However, I also wake with the knowledge that I have the power to not limit my thinking.  I have no reason to believe I have the flu.

“Man is bound not by limitation but by limited thought.  What we put into thought will come out of it.” ~ The Science of Mind

“I am so blessed.  I am so grateful for all I have.” ~ Karen Druker

Make a Difference

November 16^th – Day 16 – Mental Challenge and Journey of Gratitude

I dedicate myself on this 16^th day to do all that is nourishing, advancing, and promising! PNS

After a weekend filled with blessings, I come back to my daily rituals feeling whole and strong.

Life is a mirror, reflecting to us as conditions the images of our thinking.  Whatever one thinks tends to take form and become a part of the experience.

I used to look at life like a rubber band bracelet, being stretched from one direction to another.  I wanted to eat healthy foods but craved comfort food that was more satisfying.  But recently I have discovered recipes with healthy foods that are delicious.  My mind and my taste buds have joined together to realize I can eat comfort food and stay healthy.  This is because, “ The Spiritual Man is already Perfect, no matter what the appearance may be,” according to The Science of Mind.

It is hard not to get caught up in the drama of those who are unhappy with their life.  They hate their job, for example, and then say it over and over until it affects how they treat other people.  They don’t realize it.  Fortunately, many find ways to move on to another job or make the best of what they have.  A young woman about to start her life as an adult told me that because she knew so many people unhappy with their jobs, her goal was to one day work in a job that made her happy and where she could also help people be happy.  I told her that was a worthy attribute to aspire to and possible if she truly believed she had the power to accomplish it. It saddened me that her circle of friends and family all reflected unhappiness with their career choices.  I was impressed with her desire to not pattern her life in the same way.

 

The Rev. Kelly Isola says it best about how she has chosen to live her life with a focus on gratitude, “To be a creator of beauty by inspiring and awakening individuals into a greater experience of their divinity through wholeness of the human experience.”  I too feel the joy every time I say, “Thank you.”

James Dillet Freeman wrote, “Do you understand how important you are?

Today, I take the time to be fully present; to be fully available for God to be God through me.  Today, I will make a difference in the world by being me.

 

Team Lexi

 

November 15^th – Day 15 – Mental Challenge and Journey of Gratitude

I dedicate myself on this 15^th day to do all that is nourishing, advancing, and promising! PNS

I am at times quite often astounded by the simplest act of kindness one can enact: Saying “Thank you.”  I woke up this morning and found pictures placed randomly around my house.  Each was signed, “Lexi” with a heart next to her name.  Last night the family gathered in our home, shared a meal, and welcomed old friends of my daughter and son-in-law.  At one point Lexi asked me for some blank paper and crayons. 

It had been a long day beginning with the Chattanooga Autism Awareness Walk at Coolidge Park, then a family lunch at Panera Bread, an afternoon where we gathered at the football game to watch Paige cheer, and finally back home to our house for gumbo and cornbread.  It was a day of gratitude for all who were present.  But for Lexi it was just another day, or so I thought. While the other five children played, Lexi focused on her picture which she presented to me when it was completed.  I hugged and thanked her and asked her to put it on my desk so that I could hang it up after the company left.  When I woke up this morning, I found pictures scattered all over my living room, on the floor and the furniture placed for me to find.

Children with Autism have no filter.  When they are sad or happy, you know it. But verbalizing their feelings doesn’t always come easy. The pictures were little tokens of gratitude; Lexi’s way of saying “Thank you.”

Today, I give thanks for my family and friends who supported and walked with Team Lexi, who wished us well and especially for my precious granddaughter who helps us all see life through the eyes of Love. ~ Pris

See Life Differently

November 13^th – Day 13 – Mental Challenge and Journey of Gratitude

I dedicate myself on this 12^th day to do all that is nourishing, advancing, and promising! PNS

“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever else you get, get insight.” ~ Proverbs 4:7

Wherever I walk, I walk with the Light and feel the presence of God.

Whenever I see friends or family unhappy at work or the way things are going in their life, I want to fix it or make it better.  I can’t.  But I can hold them gently in my heart and picture them happy, healthy, and whole.  As they begin to move from a place of unhappiness to a place of goodness, my joy for them magnifies and we are all blessed.

This journey of gratitude is not as much about listing all the things I’m grateful for but is about acquiring a consciousness of gratefulness.  Part of that is giving thanks for the things we don’t like.  Kelly Isola encourages us to face trouble or pain by saying, “Thank you, and let me show you what it means to me.”

 “To see life differently, I had to love what was in front of me.”

~ Kelly Isola

Reach for the Stars

November 12^th – Day 12 – Mental Challenge and Journey of Gratitude

I dedicate myself on this 12^th day to do all that is nourishing, advancing, and promising! PNS

These past twelve days I have seen a change in my perspective especially when responding to others.  Where once I might judge them, I automatically see beyond their words and look to the person on the other end of the telephone line, text, email or standing before me.  It’s a very empowering feeling.

Last week I got my annual flu shot, a stronger dosage for those over sixty-five, according to the pharmacist administering the shot.  I don’t expect to get the flu whether I get the shot or not.  I used to never get it after having a powerful case thirty years ago.  I felt immune.  But history and science tells us there are so many flu strains out there I should take the precaution.  So I prayed about, and declared my oneness with God, and decided it was the right thing to do.  Now I’ve let it go!

I became aware yesterday that in 1990, President George H. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November as “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Similar proclamations, under variants on the name continue to pay tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans.  Living in the “Trail of Tears,” it is not hard to pass a monument, street name, home or simple marker that doesn’t remind me of the injustice played out in the history of the Cherokees in Tennessee and North Georgia.

Harriet Tubman said, “Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”

It takes courage to stand up for those who are different or suffer from social injustice.  For justice, equality and peace to prevail on the planet, we have to begin to see each other as one (without seeing race, creed, color or sexual orientation.)  This is what God calls us to do in Micah 6:8, “He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?”

Yesterday, I received an unexpected gift of pickled okra; YUM!  I used to be embarrassed with unexpected gifts; however I realized how important it was for the giver as it was for me, the receiver.  Both are powerful in that they bring joy.  Saying yes to a simple gift or kindness offered in love is a blessing.

“Give thanks to God and look at life with a thankful spirit.”

~ Martha Smock, GratefulLiving.today