Veteran's Day Gratitude

November 11^th – Day 11 – Mental Challenge and Journey of Gratitude

I dedicate myself on this 11^th day to focus on all that is nourishing, advancing, and promising! PNS

Today is Veteran’s Day.  I honor and thank those who served or are doing so currently.  I know that to honor them, I do so by doing what I can to live in peace and bring peace to the world.  Today, I say “Thank You” to my husband, his father, and my father for serving our country.

John F. Kennedy said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but live by them.”

According to Dr. Jesse F. Tanner, we have the freedom to choose to be grateful.  We do this with our intentions.  We don’t have to wait for special occasions.  Instead, “We are able to tune in to our innate capacity for gratefulness each moment of every day.”

Rev. Joan M. Gattuso reminds us to take inventory of what we have to be grateful for.  Doing so, our faith is bound to increase.  She adds that we should look through lenses of gratitude at everyone in our lives and celebrate the obvious delights as we uncover the hidden ones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are a few techniques Gattuso suggests on how to deepen the consciousness of gratitude for yourself:

1.      Always hold God at the forefront of your mind, and first and foremost give God the thanks.

2.      Make a list of your dear ones and send each a loving blessing during your meditation time.

3.      Send a note of thanksgiving to each person on your list, making sure it arrives before the Christmas onslaught of mail.

4.      Call or see personally the ones for whom you feel the greatest appreciation and tell them how you feel. As the song says, “Shower the people you love with love/Tell them the way that you feel.” What a difference you will make in their lives and yours.

 

“There is no better way to spend your own quite time than reflecting on the reasons you have to be grateful.” ~ Joan M. Gattuso

Thank You

November 10^th – Day 10 – Mental Challenge and Journey of Gratitude

I dedicate myself on this 10^th day to focusing on all that is nourishing, advancing, and promising! PNS

Today, I am guided by God within.  I see as God sees and I affirm that one day soon I will do so without first interpreting what I see.

I am a radiant expression of Light.  Yesterday, I spent most of the day standing in the kitchen baking one bread, one pie, one dessert after another.  Some I’m donating for my P.E.O. chapter’s annual bake sale, but one was for dessert as I’m serving lunch for the members after our meeting.  As I measured, stirred, beat, and baked, I welcomed every blessing – expected and unexpected.  For each item was my gift to a worthy cause – projects that support education for women.  I cleaned up in time to cook dinner for my husband and me and said a prayer of thanks with a grateful heart.

 

 

“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is ‘thank you,’ it will be enough.”

~ Meister Eckhart

Gratitude is a way of life.  Unity Co-founder, Myrtle Fillmore suggested being thankful even in the midst of hardship.  If you are experiencing difficulty, she advised, “Be grateful in advance for the good you know will come of this.”

Gratitude changes everything.  Most of all it changes us.

What is God Doing Today?

November 9^th – Day 9 – Mental Challenge and Journey of Gratitude

I dedicate myself on this 9^th day to focus on all that is nourishing, advancing, and promising! PNS

“There are opportunities even in the most difficult moments.” ~ Wangari Maathai

I first learned of this amazing woman (Wangari Maathai) when our Girl Scouts were on a Journey Quest to learn about themselves.  They began to study other women from around the world that made a difference and learned about this Nobel Peace Prize Laureate who began a movement in her homeland, Kenya, to encourage the women of her country to plant ten thousand trees.  Through the Greenbelt Movement, she changed lives and began a movement that brought green back to the Earth saving her country and many others around the world.

With God all things are possible.  We must know this and the power of God must be hooked up with our thought, with what we are doing.

I am the activity God is doing today!

No matter who we are, where we are, or what the time or occasion, we always have something for which to be thankful.

I look at my needs and see how simple they are compared to my blessings.  By counting our blessings we discover that thankfulness lifts us out of depression and doubt and elevates our souls to heights of joy and security.

“In partnership with God, you can create the life of your dreams.” ~ Shawna Todd

Possibilities are Limitless

November 8 – 30-Day Challenge and Journey of Gratefulness

I resolve to impose definite restrictions on my thoughts.  In thinking of the past, I will dwell only on its pleasing incidents.  In thinking of the present, I will direct my attention to its desirable elements.  In thinking of the future, I will regard every worthy and possible ambition as within reach.

I dedicate myself on this 8^th day to focus on all that is nourishing, advancing, and promising! PNS

“My possibilities are as limitless as the Infinite in which I live and which lives in me.” ~ Ernest Holmes

“Prayer too often ends up being directed at something outside the self with a request for a change in conditions,” writes Rev. Dr. Christian Soresen.  “Imagine the difference if your prayer was a communion with the Infinite.  You would no longer be petitioning anything to shift.  Your only desire would be to know God better.”  There are answers to prayer beyond our expectations; we just need to get in tune with the Infinite.

In my communion with the Divine, I come to I know more than I ever knew I could.

I Have Known, Always

I have known the Truth, and no fear can

keep my inner knowledge from me.

My wisdom from within comes forth

into daily expression.

Knowledge from On High is given to me,

and I shall always be led of the Spirit.

I Know the Truth

~ Science of Mind Meditations, page 533

When we focus on how grateful for the love, happiness, peace, and joy already in our lives, we send a message to the Universe: More of this please!

 

 

“All creation is a song of praise.”

~ Hildegard of Bingen

Perfect Order

November 7 - 30-Day Mental challenge and Journey of Gratefulness

I dedicate myself on this 7th day to focus on all that is nourishing, advancing and promising!
PNS

As I trust God, my life aligns in perfect order. 

"Look not from revelations from without, but to awakening of truth that lies within."

~ Ernest Holmes

 

Early this morning I woke at my son's home.  Visiting is always a joy especially after an evening play of "Apples to Apples" with my six year-old grandson.  This summer my son had over 16 trees removed from his back yard in preparation of a new puppy coming soon to their home. Today was the first time I've seen the yard since the day the trees were removed. I happened to be present that day and it was a very hard day for my seven year old granddaughter who has Autism struggled as each tree fell with a thud to the ground.  Her pain was so real we found her crying more than once for the fallen trees.  But this morning I saw the yard from within and not from without.

 

I was pleasantly surprised that the perimeter of the yard remained full and blessed with an array of colors.  A soft rain fell as I watched the leaves turn colors right before my eyes.  Yellow, orange, red, brown and still green, the leaves danced to the rhythm of the breeze that escorted the rain.  I tried to take a picture in spite of the rain.  And doing so I was reminded of this meditation from Science of Mind:



Out of the darkness of the

long night the dawn has come.

I rise to meet the new day,

filled with confidence and strength.

I arise and go forth in the dawn,

inspired and refreshed by the Living Spirit

within me...

I am renewed in strength through

knowing God.

My light has come!

 

 

 

I am grateful for this new day and trust the unshakable faith in the guidance of Spirit that movies in and through me.

 

"Appreciation can truly be a saving grace. " ~ Ruth Ann Lonardelli





Living in Harmony

Day 6 - 30-Day Mental Challenge and Journey of Gratitude

I dedicate myself on this 6th day to focus on all that is nourishing, advancing, and promising! PNS

I know my body pretty well, and it's for sure that the later I go to bed, the longer I sleep.  And the longer I sleep, the more rested I wake.  Keep in mind that a good night's sleep for me is about seven hours.  I'm told that is good for someone my age.  And waking rested assures me of being in harmony with the world around me.

Last night the PTO at my granddaughter's school sponsored a fundraiser for the fifth grade end-of-the-year trip. The actual evening was a complete mess, due to the actions of the principal without PTO knowledge resulting in thoroughly throwing the caterers, auction time, and choirs off schedule.  Those of us on the PTO board took the high road and just let things happen.  But in the end, we raised over $2000 and more importantly my precious granddaughter got to sing Christmas songs with the choir for the parents eating dinner. Sometimes living in harmony takes work.

My middle granddaughter, age 7, had head lice again, for the third time.  Back in the days when my children were in school, classrooms were closed and the children sent home while the rooms were disinfected.  They were not allowed to return until all heads were clear of lice.  To help with the situation my daughter suggested she get her long brown hair cut.  She agreed on the condition that she be allowed to get some purple and blue highlights.  I believe the end result is beautiful.  Her ability to take a negative and turn it into a positive brings good to all she enriches.

Today I will look to what is to come.  I believe it will be a most promising day for Divine wisdom guides my choices and actions.

From GratefulLiving.today at Unity.org: "True gratitude is a spiritual quality that is built into the soul with each day's practice, and its reward is rich and infinitely satisfying.

"Empty your mind of everything.

Let the mind rest in peace."

~ Tao te Ching

November 5th - Day 5 of the 30-day Challenge and Journey of Gratefulness

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

Today's Daily Word Magazine from Unity affirms the importance of starting each day in a positive manner.  To be an inspiring presence of peace in kindness is a grand way to start the day, however keeping that vow can be challenging at times.

Yesterday, I got caught up in a conversation about life being not fair.  It is very hard to watch when a student is given special privileges by teachers and their actions result in my grandchild being hurt.  She is learning a lesson on life, and we are encouraged that she is taking a positive attitude about the situation.  Today, I am reminded to follow suit and let her wisdom guide me.

It is said that giving is not about duty, religion or manipulation; it's a spiritual practice that is intended to be the natural state of being.  It is an extension of our consciousness.

We are encouraged to "take action" or to do a service project for all badges and journeys provided by the Girl Scout Council.  Our Service Unit, which is a collection of troops in our area celebrated our founder's birthday recently.  Each troop donated a "Birthday-in-a-Bag" for a homeless child.  My husband, granddaughter and I took the bags to the homeless shelter a few days after the celebration.  There was only a receptionist behind a locked door to receive our donations.  She was grateful.  And we left knowing that a homeless child's birthday may be a little bit better because of our actions.

To nourish my body I tried a new "clean food" recipe.  I first made from scratch a pesto hummus which I can use for dipping fresh vegetables.  But this time I tossed it with cut up cherry tomatoes, diced avocado, chopped red onion and black beans and served it on my beautiful homegrown beet leaves.  I had two leaf sandwiches, a bowl of unsweetened natural applesauce and a cheese stick and left the meal satisfied!

From the Science of Mind, we read: "The wave in the ocean will never be a wave by itself.  It Will be the ocean as a wave."



In the same way, I can do nothing alone, but with the presence of God I live and breathe.

Thank you, God.  Thank you God!