Memorial Day Musings

 Memorial Day! The unofficial start of summer, when we pause to remember those who've died in service to our country, of course, but also to spend time with family and reflect on those who've passed on.

This morning, waking up, I walk out to our deck and feel thankful for our peaceful woods, the warm morning air and the song of birds. I am reflecting on yesterday's picnic at our family cabin, a Memorial Day tradition. It was a beautiful blue sky day and as we all sat around the campfire chatting, I felt a deep sense of connection to each other and to this land.

My father built the cabin with his own hands 60 years ago and for all this time it has been our summer retreat. Walking in the old growth woods, I feel my father's spirit reminding me to walk silently and feel the energy of the trees, to listen carefully to the sounds of the forest creatures as we walk with "moccasin feet".

Now I see my husband walking through the woods with a new generation of children and it tugs at my heart...

Watching the young children play, I feel my mother's spirit, rejoicing in our togetherness and our joy. Memories from the past rush through me, bringing tears to my eyes, not of sadness, but of gratitude, for all that was and is given.

We all have our family stories, our memories of loved ones who've passed on. Today, I encourage you to spend some time in prayer and thoughtful reflection.

I will leave you with my "Daily Word" for today:

"I pray and bless my loved ones and the world. I honor the legacy, courage and memory of those who have given their lives in service. 

I also remember my loved ones who have transitioned and embrace them in the radiant light of love.  I remember how they enriched my life and feel grateful as I remember the ways they blessed me with their presence.

In memory of all whom I honor today, I commit to being a presence of peace in all situations. I hold a vision of a world at peace with the understanding that we are all part of the human family and one with God"                                  

*Daily Word, a Unity publication

The Healing Power of Forgiveness

  Imagine a world where everyone forgave everything. There would be no need for revenge, conflict or war; no family rifts, lost friendships or grudges. We would see each person as God sees them: worthy of unconditional love.

A tall order, of course, but worth pondering and working towards.  If each one of us, in our own little radius of influence, were to spend time in prayer, asking for the heart to forgive each person who has wronged us, and most importantly, to forgive ourselves, the world might begin to change, little by little.

Toxic emotions, like regret, anger, resentment and guilt, can affect us in negative ways, not only emotionally and spiritually, but physically as well. We are complex beings; body, mind and spirit are interconnected and everything that we expose ourselves to in one realm affects the others in ways that we are not always consciously aware of.

Numerous studies have shown that negative emotions like anger, hostility, anxiety and guilt can suppress our immune systems, weaken our heart function and cause digestive problems. Conversely, letting go of burdens and consciously focusing on the positive has been shown to have a beneficial effect on health.

So for today, let's begin to heal ourselves with forgiveness of all hurts and release of all resentment and guilt:

I will share two little forgiveness prayers:

Dear God, I thank You for the power of forgiveness, and I choose to forgive everyone who has hurt me. Help me set [name anyone who has offended you] free and release them to You. Help me bless those who have hurt. Help me walk in righteousness, peace, and joy, demonstrating Your life here on earth. I choose to be kind and compassionate, forgiving others, just as You forgave me  -Amen.

Father, today I ask forgiveness of all the negative and harmful words I have spoken about myself. I do not want to abuse myself in such a way again. Transform my thoughts and let me understand how marvelously you made me. Change my habits so I use my tongue to speak hope and favor upon my life.

*Chistianity.com

 

Have a blessed day!

 

 

Mom, Always in My Heart

 

Mother's Day can be a mixed bag of emotions for those of us who've lost our moms. It is so true that Mom holds a special place in our hearts forever, whether she is here on earth or has passed on to that other realm. Yet no matter how strong our faith is, the afterlife still
remains a mystery. 

Yesterday, my Mother's Day was spent eating a delicious brunch at my daughter and son-law's place, hiking with my family and enjoying flowers and sunshine in the garden. I am very thankful for all of those moments, yet my heart was still filled with an intense longing for my mother's presence. Even now, 9 years after her passing, it only takes a fleeting memory (the way she loved to whistle in the morning), to send me into tears. I suddenly experienced a rush of missing her physical presence--the warmth of her hug, the smell of her perfume, the sound of her voice. I realized with clarity that this intense longing for a person's physical presence, is the part of grief that never goes away.  It fades with time, of course, and we can distract ourselves with the busyness of life, but the fact remains, that special person is not in this world anymore and never will be again. 

So, we go on, holding our loved ones in our hearts, treasuring those memories and accepting that the sadness of grief can well up unexpectedly at any moment. We can assure ourselves with faith in the afterlife, but no matter how strong our belief, we are left in a world where they are not.

I hope this is not too depressing a subject to leave you with today, on this beautiful May morning. I know that I am not alone in feeling this way, and that most people have lost someone dear to them. It is part of "the circle of life"....birth, experience, death and rebirth as something else (the mystery remains). 

It is fleeting, all of it, so let's be thankful for today and keep that special person alive in our hearts, while trusting that Spirit never dies.

We May Never Pass This Way Again

 This morning, I'm thankful for the stirring breeze and the few moments of peace at the beginning of the day. I breathe a silent prayer of gratitude for the gift of life itself..to wake up each morning "on the right side of the dirt", as my father used to say. I resolve to be fully present this day, entering into it with the awareness that this moment in time will never happen again. The lyrics to an old song by Seals and Crofts pop into my mind: "We May Never Pass This Way Again"

Life
So they say
Is but a game and they'd let it slip away
Love
Like the autumn sun
Should be dyin'
But it's only just begun

Like the twilight in the road up ahead
They don't see just where we're goin'
And all the secrets in the universe
Whisper in our ears
All the years will come and go
Take us up
Always up

We may never pass this way again
We may never pass this way again
We may never pass this way again

Dreams
So they say
Are for the fools and they let 'em drift away
Peace
Like the silent dove
Should be flyin'
But it's only just begun...

I thought about how each moment is precious, fresh and new; how each moment will never happen again, so I need to open my eyes, pay attention and not "let it drift away".  It's all too easy to let the minutes, days and years pass by, not really being fully focused on the here and now, not fully appreciating all that we have.

Even when the going is rough (and we all go through challenges and tough times), there is still so much beauty all around us, so much to be thankful for. We can always choose to focus on the shiny side of the coin, rather than the dark side.

My prayer for today is that I, and whoever is reading this, will take a few moments to drink it all in, to keep our eyes open to beauty and wonder and to not miss a thing, because we will never pass this way again.