New Years Day Prayer:
Dear Lord so far this year I've done well. I haven't gossiped, I haven't lost my temper, I haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or overindulgent. I'm very thankful for that. But in a few minutes, Lord, I'm going to get out of bed, and from then on I'm probably going to need a lot more help. Amen Internet and parish bulletin.
Many of us think about what we need help with and what New Years resolutions we will tackle this new year. Many times we are very motivated to make positive changes at the beginning of the year but after a few weeks or months we are back to our normal lifestyle and behaviors.
Sometimes we need to be exploring other questions and concerns. In a book called "The 40 day Soulfast", as quoted in Guideposts magazine, the questions that we can ask that are life-changing are:
"What is my purpose?"
"Do I like the person I've become?"
"What frustrates me most or makes me sad?"
What have I accomplished so far in my life? Is it enough?
"We live in a society that breeds discontent by defining success as bigger homes, nicer cars, and fuller closets. Gratitude is the cure." Joshua Becker
I hope for you to have a new year of looking back at all of the wonderful blessings we have received that include family, friends, neighbors, opportunities, love and kindness shared, and a future that includes both conflict and promise. We all share a responsibility for our own future as well as the future of our country and the world. We can begin with thankfulness and hope!
Happy New Year!
Check out my new website to look at my personal art gallery, prints for sale and my published book, e book and audio book, "The Dying Teach Us How to Live"
From the Author
Monday, December 31, 2018
Monday, December 24, 2018
Gifts From the Heart
There is an article in the Dayton Daily News, "Teacher treasures gift from student with 'nothing to give but cereal." The story reports that an elementary teacher in Kennewick, Washington received the marshmallows from a student's Lucky Charms Cereal as a Christmas gift because this student had nothing else to give. "Because," she said, "everyone knows marshmallows are the sweetest part."
"All my kiddos are super sweet and giving," she said. "Kids are naturally kind and loving. The world kind of hardens us sometimes. Be grateful for what you have, and what others give you. It all truly comes from the deepest part of their hearts."
Remember this Christmas to remember to count our blessings and celebrate our families, whether biological or heart families, and all of our friends, neighbors, co-workers, church members, and acquaintances who are waiting to be friends. Christmas is so much more than presents we receive or give, but instead the presence of each other.
"If we walk in the light as God himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, God's Son cleanses us from all sin." 1John 1:7
Remember to show your light to others and remind them of the true message of Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. Have a happy and wonderful Christmas and give the most powerful gift of all! Love from the heart!
Please check out my new website with my art gallery, vinyl prints, book, E book and audio book, "The Dying Teach Us How to Live
"All my kiddos are super sweet and giving," she said. "Kids are naturally kind and loving. The world kind of hardens us sometimes. Be grateful for what you have, and what others give you. It all truly comes from the deepest part of their hearts."
Remember this Christmas to remember to count our blessings and celebrate our families, whether biological or heart families, and all of our friends, neighbors, co-workers, church members, and acquaintances who are waiting to be friends. Christmas is so much more than presents we receive or give, but instead the presence of each other.
"If we walk in the light as God himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, God's Son cleanses us from all sin." 1John 1:7
Remember to show your light to others and remind them of the true message of Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. Have a happy and wonderful Christmas and give the most powerful gift of all! Love from the heart!
Please check out my new website with my art gallery, vinyl prints, book, E book and audio book, "The Dying Teach Us How to Live
Saturday, December 22, 2018
Stars
Most of my life I heard about guardian angels. I always wondered if I had one. As I get older, I am sure I have had a guardian angel, especially when I have been rescued so many times from myself. There have been many angels in my life, earth angels and spiritual angels. I have become very appreciative of my angels as they guide me through the difficulties in life that we all face.
"Make friends with the angels, who though invisible are always with you. Often invoke them, constantly praise them, and make good use of their help and assistance in all your temporal and spiritual affairs." St. Francis de Sales
Christmas and related holidays around the world make us think of angels who delivered messages, who watched over the holy family and were involved in many events in the history of our world. Angels do not differentiate between countries, race, sex, income, status, faith, or religion. They are available to each one of us according to our needs and our openness to their services.
The atoms of our bodies are traceable to stars that manufactured them in their cores and exploded these enriched ingredients across the galaxy, billions of years ago. For this reason, we are biologically connected to every other living thing in the world. We are chemically connected to all molecules on Earth. And we are atomically connected to all atoms in the universe. We are not figuratively, but literally stardust." Neil de Grasse Tyson
From one atomically connected person to another atomically connected person, I wish you a Merry Christmas and happy holidays! May your angels be with you in the highs and lows of the holidays and life itself!
Check out my new website, art gallery, book, e book, audio book "The Dying Teach Us How to Live
"Make friends with the angels, who though invisible are always with you. Often invoke them, constantly praise them, and make good use of their help and assistance in all your temporal and spiritual affairs." St. Francis de Sales
Christmas and related holidays around the world make us think of angels who delivered messages, who watched over the holy family and were involved in many events in the history of our world. Angels do not differentiate between countries, race, sex, income, status, faith, or religion. They are available to each one of us according to our needs and our openness to their services.
The atoms of our bodies are traceable to stars that manufactured them in their cores and exploded these enriched ingredients across the galaxy, billions of years ago. For this reason, we are biologically connected to every other living thing in the world. We are chemically connected to all molecules on Earth. And we are atomically connected to all atoms in the universe. We are not figuratively, but literally stardust." Neil de Grasse Tyson
From one atomically connected person to another atomically connected person, I wish you a Merry Christmas and happy holidays! May your angels be with you in the highs and lows of the holidays and life itself!
Check out my new website, art gallery, book, e book, audio book "The Dying Teach Us How to Live
Monday, December 10, 2018
Life is Short
The death of someone well known such as George Bush, brings the subject up of the finality of our relatively short time on earth. Someone who held the office of a presidency has made an incredible amount of lifetime decisions that have had a huge repercussion positively and negatively on the nation and the world.
Those of us who are considered ordinary citizens have also had a significant impact on the lives of our families, friends, enemies, co-workers, neighbors, church members and our own lifetime world.
Death does not respect presidents, babies, rich, poor, country of origin, status or connections. It is a reminder that we have only our own lifetime to touch the lives of those around us.
Barbara Bush, in a Wellesby speech said, "At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a child a friend or a parent."
Remember all of those you love who are still with you. You can still hold them and tell them how much you love them. You can still make a huge effect, positively or negatively, on each person on a daily basis. Connect emotionally, physically and spiritually, especially with family and friends as we do not know how long we will have them with us.
As we approach the holidays, I particularly remember my sister and my father as they are no longer physically present but always remembered in my heart and my memories. Life is too short to waste precious moments with people we love. That is what the holidays are about; sharing our love and resources with our family and community.
My wish for you is to have wonderful holidays and to enjoy the intangible gifts of each other. Gifts can be fun and meaningful but the gifts of the heart are priceless and enduring!
Check out my art gallery, my book, e book and audio book of "The Dying Teach Us How to Live
Those of us who are considered ordinary citizens have also had a significant impact on the lives of our families, friends, enemies, co-workers, neighbors, church members and our own lifetime world.
Death does not respect presidents, babies, rich, poor, country of origin, status or connections. It is a reminder that we have only our own lifetime to touch the lives of those around us.
Barbara Bush, in a Wellesby speech said, "At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a child a friend or a parent."
Remember all of those you love who are still with you. You can still hold them and tell them how much you love them. You can still make a huge effect, positively or negatively, on each person on a daily basis. Connect emotionally, physically and spiritually, especially with family and friends as we do not know how long we will have them with us.
As we approach the holidays, I particularly remember my sister and my father as they are no longer physically present but always remembered in my heart and my memories. Life is too short to waste precious moments with people we love. That is what the holidays are about; sharing our love and resources with our family and community.
My wish for you is to have wonderful holidays and to enjoy the intangible gifts of each other. Gifts can be fun and meaningful but the gifts of the heart are priceless and enduring!
Check out my art gallery, my book, e book and audio book of "The Dying Teach Us How to Live
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Holes in the Fence
There are many versions of this but it has an important message!
There once was a little girl who had a bad temper. Her mother gave her a bag of nails and told her that every time she lost her temper, she must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.
The first day the girl had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as she learned to control her anger, the number of nails she hammered daily dwindled down to 20. She discovered it was easier to hold her temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the girl didn't lose her temper at all.
She told her mother about it and the mother suggested that the girl now pull out one nail for each day that she was able to hold her temper. The days passed and the girl was able to tell her mother that all her nails were gone. The mother took her daughter by the hand and led her to the fence.
She said, "You have done well, my daughter, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a person and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.
Friends and family are rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us.
Friends and family, please forgive me if I have ever left a hole in your fence. Give yourself and others the best gift for Christmas and for the rest of your life. Give yourself and others the gift of forgiveness! And thank God for forgiving all of us every moment!
Check out my new website with pictures of my art, my book, e Book and Audio Book, "The Dying Teach Us How to Live"
There once was a little girl who had a bad temper. Her mother gave her a bag of nails and told her that every time she lost her temper, she must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.
The first day the girl had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as she learned to control her anger, the number of nails she hammered daily dwindled down to 20. She discovered it was easier to hold her temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the girl didn't lose her temper at all.
She told her mother about it and the mother suggested that the girl now pull out one nail for each day that she was able to hold her temper. The days passed and the girl was able to tell her mother that all her nails were gone. The mother took her daughter by the hand and led her to the fence.
She said, "You have done well, my daughter, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a person and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.
Friends and family are rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us.
Friends and family, please forgive me if I have ever left a hole in your fence. Give yourself and others the best gift for Christmas and for the rest of your life. Give yourself and others the gift of forgiveness! And thank God for forgiving all of us every moment!
Check out my new website with pictures of my art, my book, e Book and Audio Book, "The Dying Teach Us How to Live"
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