~ Count Again ~

Something is
missing,
I feel it in the fiber
the marrow
the deep-heart soul.
Fatigue and weariness
overpower
and there feels to be
no escaping it.

Joy is amiss.
Smile on the lips - forced.
Laughter, inaudible.

Stress conquers at every turn,
in every form of life.
The smallest task
becomes a mountain to climb.
Energy has collapsed
and the will -
halted.

The pressure of it all,
lingers unwanted ... draining life energy.
Things like this can weary a soul.
Not only physically, but mentally and
spiritually.

A voice whispers in the darkness ...
"You're not counting.  You haven't for awhile now.
Start today! - right now! - count your daily gifts."

"Ahhhh...that's it!  This is what has been missing."
I feel the void within being -
at every turn.  In every thought, deed and action.

I quickly go to my pages lined in silver
laying open on the kitchen counter ... just waiting.
Waiting patiently for me
to again open my eyes and see!
See His gifts - no matter life's circumstances -
right before me
inbetween all of the mess, stress, chaos and life-living,
hovering there in the quiet to be
clinged onto and claimed by
seeing, thanking and writing.

Pen to paper I write as if it's a last moments hope:

* Remembering to count - again!

*Dear friend carving time out of her day,
  just to spend some precious moments with me.

* The word: "possible."

* Hope

* Him carrying me when I can't walk

* Kind words

* Sunshine day

* Enduring

* Hard-working hubby.  Always.  Wherever he goes.

* My children stepping up and doing their best.
   Not someone else's best - their own.

Burden lifted.  Oxygen more freely flowing through heart-veins,
the empty is filled
once again. 

Who knew that such a simple act of
counting
could fill the void with joy and
proof
of His love?

I will never stop counting again.



"Count blessings and discover
Who
can be counted on."
-Ann Voskamp

~ Where To Look ~

When life gets you down ...



Look up.

 "I will not leave you comfortless:

I will come to you."

-John 14:18

~ A Life Worthwhile ~

With all our daily gifts we receive

How can we share them with others?

"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile."
-Albert Einstein

"I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts,
then there is no hurt,
but only more love." 
~Mother Teresa

"As every man hath received the gift,
even so minister the same one to another,
as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
-1 Peter 4:10

~ Be Grateful ~

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

- Meister Eckhart

Expressing Gratitude

fills the soul faster than anything else can. 

I know that when I am consciously aware of everything I have and give thanks for the most simple things . . . that it instantly expands my heart and soul with all the abuandance that is clearly already around me every day.  

I remember years back when I began my first Gratitude Journal, that I became so thankful for the smallest things.  My toothbrush - toothpaste - toilet paper! - the clothes on my back - food in my fridge - the comfort of a good inspiring movie, book or quote - a hug, smile, laughter - the beauty of nature - the curiosity of a child . . . endless.

Since then, I have listed something everyday that I am Grateful for.  Sometimes it's just one thing, other times it's many.  And I discovered by doing so - that JOY has become a constant companion - and - I was/am very seldom in "want" of things anymore, because . . .

I already have everything I "need" right before me every day. 

It's truly amazing.

 

Here's a challenge for today!!  : )

How about we give thanks for everything today.  Verbally, quietly . . . and not "ask" for anything.  Just give thanks and be Grateful for all that is before us.  No matter our circumstance - there is ALWAYS something to be Grateful for.  Sometimes, you just have to open your eye's a little bit more to see it. 

Then tonight list at least 5 things you were Grateful for that happened in your life today. 

p.s.... This says it better than I ever could.

~ A Gift Of Time ~

I found myself chasing the sunrise again early this morning.

The sky canopied with morning grey clouds from previous night slumber, hovers quiet.  Still.
The sun hadn't come up yet.  But I knew if I just waited a moment ...

waited patiently . . .

for God's finger to begin the magic.  Another masterpiece painted across forever sky.

Waiting still.  Camera ready.  Waiting for this gift of time - from Him.

Seconds pass and I look up.  Out in the distance hovering above acres of stretched out meadow,
I see it.  Cradled beneath spotted clouds here and there - the tiniest blush of pink lights up.

More seconds sweep by and with each one, the pallet of morning sky begins to awaken.
Unfolding - expanding ... birthing a colorful, brilliant lid of Heaven.

Sunrise is unfolding before me.  Eye's mirror its glory. 
My entire being is embraced with Heaven hovering right above me. 
Me - a miniature spec compared to eternal sky. 
Yet, I feel immense power and love just for me, in this heaven joined with earth moment.

Chasing beauty once again - to find Him.  His embrace. Love.
Looking down upon me -
as if I were the only person alive.

I think that if ever a mortal heard the voice of God
it would be in the sunrise - awakening the world.

Waiting. 
Without a doubt - worth the wait.

"Waiting is just a gift of time in disguise
— a time to pray wrapped up in a ribbon of patience —
because is the Lord ever late?"
-Ann Voskamp 




"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." 
~Ralph Waldo Emerson




"The human spirit needs places
where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man." 
~Author Unknown

~ New Beginnings ~

A new year
full of
promise, hope, second-chances ...
a fresh new start.

A year unlike past years
enveloped with
determination, purpose, endurance.

A year - when - feeling down, we will remember to
look up.
For faith building, discovering, relationship building
with Him.

A year for forgiving, loving, accepting ...
receiving.

A new year - this year -
to do what we have been wishing
in the deepest reaches of
our heart
to accomplish. 
To step beyond the fears and
obstacles.
To do what we know we can do.

We cannot fail with
Him
at our side.

He is the supporter and author of our
life-successes.

Go now - today - and begin it.

Today is the first day
of the rest of your life.

~ The W in Christmas ~

Each December I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations: extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending.
Yet I still found myself exhausted, unable to fully appreciate the precious family moments, and, of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six-year-old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's Winter Pageant. I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production.

Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher who assured me there would be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise. So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early and found a seat in the cafeteria. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats.

As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas" I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment: songs about reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes, and good cheer. So when my son's class rose to sing "Christmas Love" I was slightly taken aback by its bold title.

Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, who were adorned in fuzzy mittens and red sweaters, with bright stocking caps on their heads. Those in the front row, center stage, held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas" a child would hold up the letter "C." Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly we noticed her: a small, quiet girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down. She was unaware that reversed, her letter "M" appeared as a "W."

The audience of first- through sixth-graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, and she stood tall, proudly holding her "W." Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together.
A hush came over the audience, and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos there was a purpose for our festivities.

When the last letter was held high, the message read in red bold, bright and clear:

"CHRISTWAS LOVE" ("CHRIST WAS LOVE").

And I believe He still is.

-Candy Chand