Warmth

Posted on December 29, 2014 by Dee Clark

I absolutely love the feel of the sun’s warmth on my face. I always have. When the chill of winter disappears, I’m in heaven. Every fiber of my being comes alive. A warm glow surfaces to my outlook, thawing my mind and muscles. It’s like a blanket that warms my heart and ignites the inward, hidden parts of my soul. Mornings are my favourite; the beauty of sun light, drinking in it’s warmth on my face and sipping from a steaming mug.

I am smitten with the sun. The warmth reminds me of love.

Or a friend seated across the room in the cozy chair, warming my heart.

Or resting my head on a friend’s shoulder letting the fuzzy warmth of her hug flow through me. The kind of warmth that clicks your bones back into place, smooths out your muscles and make your blood sing a soft lullaby all the way around your body.

Love is that micro-moment of connection that you share with another living being; showing some warmth to get warmth in return.

I smile with relief knowing somebody found ways to love me.

Love comforts, it is gentle, it is warm and you can feel it within your entire being.

Like dozens of luxurious satiny pillows, embracing you from all directions into safe lulling warmth, isolating you from the sharp cold edges of the world.

“If the world seems cold to you, kindle fires to warm it.” (Lucy Larcom)

Love is so irresistibly beautiful…

Our love should radiate like the sun, warming everything it touches.

Imagine that the sun is shining in your heart. Allow it to light it up so that there are no dark corners.

Everything is pure and clear and the warmth of the sun in your heart fills you from head to toe with a sense of wellbeing.

Let it surround you with the feeling of a warm embrace.

Open your heart as wide as you can so that the sun in your heart has a chance to go as far as possible with its beautiful rays of light and its nourishing strengths.

Let it shine upon the people near to you. Let your heart bring warmth and love to the people that you know or can think of, have heard about or seen, or just assume to be there.

The sun is capable of nurturing growth. Feel love take root in your heart and spring upward.

The more strength it has, the more warmth others will feel.

Give the gift of love and compassion and care and concern.

SMILE.

All the statistics in the world can’t measure the warmth of a smile.

It expresses love and tenderness.

Keep each other warm. Share your strengths.

Feel the buoyancy and the lightness that comes from giving love. Your heart will light up, and be nourished.

The sun on my face and in my heart reminds me of warmth, clarity, and deep satisfaction.

Try it. Turn your face upward and let the the sun warm you through and through.

Bask in the moment. Experience the warmth. Feel the refreshing.

(And should the sun be hiding behind a cloud where you live…open your heart, it feels pretty much the same.)

Dee

The WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Warmth

Why I Believe

Posted on December 19, 2014 by Dee Clark

See that smile? That is the look of joy.

After a week like this one where our hearts get snagged by such deep heartbreak and loss of life, it becomes easy to lose our hope and faith in humanity. Yet, I choose to believe. I choose to see that even the smallest amount of good can bring light. I know it does. Just look at that smile.

It’s prizing-giving time in New Zealand. Prize-giving is a school award ceremony. Many deserving children are recognized for their efforts and accomplishments for the year.

But there are a limited number of prizes and not every child’s efforts can be acknowledged. A fact of life. We don’t all get to stand in the winner’s circle with confetti floating down on our heads. Yet, that does not mean that we didn’t give our best or put in effort.

When our name does not get called, it can feel like we failed. Especially when we have less-than-perfect circumstances surrounding our lives.

Zane was one of those kids who did not hear his name called at school. But he had a tutor who recognised that there was something very special about this young man. She made a special effort to celebrate him using “some pretty important stuff” she learned about him while supervising his homework.

Here is the list of prizes that his tutor awarded to Zane with the important information she learned (according to his foster mum):

1. A friend of the Tooth Fairy.

Zane’s birth mother didn’t find his tooth under his pillow when he was little which meant that because the tooth fairy didn’t show up, Zane didn’t believe she was real. Mrs G (the tutor) got him a little friend of the tooth fairy to prove she is real.

2. Light bulb box with some slime in it.

Zane was sometimes bright on the outside but his brain was a bucket of slime some days during study time. (Boy, I can relate to that, can’t you. Try as we may, somedays the lightbulb is dim.)

3. Body wash to stop him getting stinky.

Bodies and attitudes sometimes need a good scrubbing. (I’m sure this is all about showers, right, Zane? No stinky attitudes at your house!)

4. Sardines

Zane stole Mrs. G’s favorite, comfy chair on some days and well, sardines seemed a fitting reward for stolen chairs.

5. Chocolates

Zane is a sharing person so Mrs. G made sure that he had something that he could share.

6. Hand Cream

This prize was something he could give to his foster mum to show that he cares about her.

7. Lemon Honey Spread

Well, just because thats his favourite spread.

Zane told us that the personal prize-giving ceremony made him feel special!!! And of course, it shows all over his face, doesn’t it.

These sweet gestures between a student and his tutor meant a lot to Zane and to his foster family.

Recognition (for both effort and encouragement to grow to be the best we can be) speaks volumes to our hearts. The fact that someone has taken notice of our existence and valued the fact that we have crossed their path gives us a feeling of significance. The gestures can be small but when they speak to the heart…the impact is huge.

If I listened only to the news on TV, I think hope might fall through the holes created in my heart by all the bad things in the world. Yet, when I open my eyes to the wonderful people all around me making a huge difference in people’s lives…I believe!

I believe that there is more good in the world than bad.

I believe that good overcomes evil.

I believe that love never fails.

And I believe that in order to make a difference, all we have to do is see people with eyes of love; get to know “important stuff” about them; encourage their hearts to keep trying and moving forward; and reach out (even in small ways).

I believe.

And Mrs. G and Zane are just another proof that I should never lose hope.

Keep reaching out to each other! It matters!

Zane, keep up the good work. You won’t regret it!

Mrs. G, you continue to inspire and the world is blessed to have loving, caring hearts like yours!

This Is Your Journey To Walk Your Way

Posted on December 5, 2014 by Dee Clark

My son is in college and beginning the process of making huge life decisions. He has dreams in his heart for how he wants to travel his journey. His journey looks completely different than mine. And I’m fine with that. He worried that his family would be ashamed of him or disappointed in him. I want him to know that there is wisdom to follow along the way but he must be free to walk this journey in a way that will bring him happiness and fulfilment.

No one can walk our journey for us.

We must walk the path of our purpose without fear that it won’t meet the desire others have for us.

My hope for my children is that they walk in a safe and healthy way.

My hope is that they reach for wise counsel and guidance.

My hope is that they find what makes them happy.

My hope is that their journey is traveled in a meaningful way.

And my hope is that they walk confidently, unafraid and boldly.

A friend of mine recently preformed his daughter’s wedding. He told her that as her parents, he and her mother wanted to give her two things in life: roots and wings; a place to belong and wings to fly.

Allowing my children to spread their wings and fly is not always easy but it is one of the most rewarding parts of my journey.

And for you, it’s the same: This is your journey to walk your way.

Journey on, dear readers.
D

I would like to welcome a new contributing photographer. My cousin’s son, Jarek Bagley, took the photo featured in this blog today. I just l love the brilliant colors. Well done. Welcome, Jarek! Thank you for sharing your beautiful photo with me and my readers! You rock!