how i managed to fill my day with joy

Posted on August 17, 2013 by Dee Clark

i have enjoyed reading the suspended coffee stories. i imagine myself in the person’s shoes who is on the receiving end of this kindness. i think how little a cup of coffee costs but how gigantic the warm coffee itself is for someone cold and living in the elements. whoever inspired this idea…my hat is off to you!

there aren’t any homeless that I know of in the area of NZ where I live. yet, I’ve been looking for a way to share this concept in my community.

i found a way today.

i was having my hair done when a lady walked in. she requested a hair cut. she was asked to have a seat as she would be attended to next.

when the hairdresser called the lady to her station, i heard the woman quietly say, “i can’t pay today. could i bring the money to you next week. i’m having such a hard time getting from one week to the next”.

i was so excited because there right in front of me was a precious opportunity.

i motioned to the hairdresser and told her that i would cover the cost.

we didn’t tell her who had done the random act of kindness. she was such a happy lady. when she left, the hairdressers and i had so much fun discussing all the ways this type of blessing would benefit our city.

i was shocked that my own bill was much less than expected that i decided we would start a suspended haircut plan for that salon. So, they have a gift certificate to use at their discretion for someone else in need.

later today, my husband asked me, “what happened to you today? you are so happy & bright…did something happen to put you in such a good mood?”

i smiled and told him that helping that lady today filled the entire rest of my day with joy, delight and happiness…and it was physically noticeable.

do you want to have an absolutely joyful day…do something for someone that they can’t do for themselves! the feeling can not be described!

I love this idea of suspended “….” (Fill in your own blank custom designed for your community)….share a little kindness, love and compassion.

i can’t stop smiling and i like it!

😊

don’t wear someone else’s armour

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Dee Clark

who’s armour are you wearing?

children find playing dress up a lot of fun. my granddaughter loves grabbing my shoes and walking around the house feeling big. wearing my winter boots is the most amusing…they cover her entire leg and she trips a lot because of the extended, unused portion in the toes. quite cute, though.

i find that even adults play dress up, of sorts, but doing so is not as fun as when we were children. in fact, wearing someone else’s armour (as i call it) can cause grief.

let me share this story with you then i will explain further.

there was a young boy who lived in Israel. one day his father sent him on an errand to take lunch to his soldier brothers. as he approached the military camp, he noticed a bit of a ruckus going on.

he watched curiously. before him was a massive soldier taunting his brothers’ battalion. his brothers and the other men did not look as brave and threatening as he would have imagined them to be in response. in fact, they weren’t doing anything but shaking in their boots.

his steps quickened, he didn’t feel his age, courage seemed to be building within him…bullying is just not right, something needed to be done.

he located his brothers and questioned, “what’s his problem? someone should put him in his place!”

his brothers’ laughed, thanked him for lunch and suggested he retreat back to his father where it was safe. frontline battle was no place for their kid brother.

in the distance he could hear the huge man yelling, “Come on, you cowards…is there not one of you brave enough to fight me! come on, let’s do this! get over here, i’ll wipe the floor with you!”

the taunting angered the young man, “why are you all just standing there? somebody do something. there is no way this guy can win!” no one replied. “then i’ll go! what’s the prize?” laughter erupted. “yeah, right!”

he went to the King who was leading the army and offered to go. he explained how he had successfully protected his father’s sheep from dangerous animals because his God had given him wisdom and strength.

it sounded pretty far fetched but, honestly, there was no one else stepping up to take this bully on. at the resistance of his men, he gave the order for the young man to be dressed for battle. in fact, the King would give him the best armour available…his. he would also give the boy his fine sword. maybe the boy’s blood would satisfy the angry enemy enough for him to retreat back to his camp for the night.

when the men finished fitting the boy with the armour, they presented him to the king. he was ready for this crazy plan. the king questioned whether he was sure he wanted to go through with the whole thing.

“absolutely! i’m not afraid! I trust my God to be with me!” he started to take a step and nearly tripped. the armed host roared in laughter. “i can do this but not with all this armour…it doesn’t fit…it wasn’t made for me. get it off me!!”

the boy laid down the sword, took off
monstrous armour and walked toward the battle field leaving all the men behind him shaking their heads in doubt, “he’s gonna get slaughtered.”

he didn’t, though. he took that gigantic man down -in his own clothes and using his own simple weapon. once down, he finished the bully off with his own sword.

his brothers and their comrades were no longer laughing…they were cheering for him. the enemy wasn’t laughing either…they were running.

who’s armour are you wearing?

are you wearing your own armour or someone else’s?

sometimes, we see what someone else is doing and think, “i should put that on and let it work for me.” the problem is that someone else’s armour (what works for them) was custom made to fit them and their situation.

what fits their life probably won’t fit you like it does them. you might stumble around and end up falling on your face.

you and i must be confident in what custom fits our life in order to achieve the best results.

my husband and i refer to this story often. we all know that men and women think, act and produce in deferring ways. sometimes, i think my husband should just suck it up and do things the right way…my way. 😜

however, he will say to me, “i’m going to go ahead and just where my armour on this one.” in other words, ” it might be a differing approach to yours but i’ll function better if i use my skills, my way.”

sometimes, i have to remind him of the same.

we all want to succeed. we may admire the success that others have achieved. we may be able to learn wisdom from their journey but we cannot put on their armour and it fit perfectly to our situation.

nor can we expect others to put on our armour and make it fit their lives. parents have difficulty remembering this when it comes to their adult children.

i have had times that i wanted my daughter to take my approach to raising her children or caring for her household. i have also had to respectfully take a giant step back and allow her to take my armour off and be free to put on what fits best for her.

we must trust the person to make their journey in their way using the special specific gifts and skills uniquely designed for them.

we also have to trust the same in our own lives. there are many things that i would love to do but i just don’t possess those specific skills, personality traits or talents. i love to laugh. i enjoy sitting with my witty brother and hearing what he comes up with off the top of his head. i laugh and giggle.

i decided one day that i’d give being a comedian a shot. i chose a handicapped person in the grocery store that i wanted to make smile…and i went in for the kill wearing my brother’s armour that I dearly admired.

i died out there…or probably should have!

firstly, i had terrible material, an inappropriate audience (an unwilling one as well) and my timing was way off. witty, funny or encouraging…those words do not describe my performance at all! i was more like a creepy weirdo. i wanted to crawl in a hole ( and should have!)

my armour would have been to stop, have polite, caring conversation and see if i could assist reaching something that they could not reach. that approach fits me better…works much better for me and people i encounter.

i learned that day that i have no sense of humor 😍 but i am good at offering kindness and a helping hand…and i should stick with that.

it’s difficult at times…

but truly, the best approach is…

wear your own armour with confidence and assurance…it will fit better than anything else you might try!

4 lessons i learned in difficulty

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Dee Clark

when we think of life development and personal development, we hope the lessons aren’t too painful or don’t last too long.

we were freedom camping at the end of last year as our summer vacation (remember December is summer in NZ). one of my favorite things to do in NZ is to collect river stones. as the week days passed, i had gathered quite a collection of stones. my husband wanted to know what i planned to do with them all. he also had no faith that I could get them home. i had no idea what i’d do with them (at the time) but…excuse me, i would get them home!

my husband thinks this is an unusual pastime and often laughs. i once filled my backpack with stones and then climbed uphill for a couple of kilometres to get back home with them. it was worth it to me. besides, think of the great work out I received. you see, i killed two birds with one stone…so to speak 😎.

when we returned home from our vacation, we came face to face with a business dilemma. we thought this issue would last a short while but it turned into a 5 month test of faith (remember i said in my last post faith = what i believe).

for 5 months following our vacation, those river stones served as a visual reminder to my heart of times in my NZ journey that looked hopeless but weren’t.

when wondering through the wilderness, Israel set stone markers up along the way to remind them of the miraculous help they received from God in hard times. i followed their example.

lesson 1: don’t forget that when there seems to be no way out of difficulties, that God has always provided.

it’s nice to quote to my readers that we grow in hard times but unless i actually face a few hards times -growth doesn’t occur.

so, i set up 10 little piles of stones to remind me that each step of the way, i had seen provision before and i would again. i braced my heart and told myself, “you can do this, D!” after all, it was just a small gap to bridge.

so i thought.

first month went by. uncomfortable but bearable. i felt strong and probably a bit cocky.

second month…i didn’t exactly expect the gap to be this wide.

each day, i would walk past those stones and tell my heart, “you’ve been through tough times before. there has always been a way.” i believed this to my core. yet, i was beginning to feel really uncomfortable.

third month…not only was the gap widening but other difficulties were surfacing. difficulties that were challenging my heart to grow.

lesson 2: when hard times keep coming, there are lessons still to be learned. i read this quote the other day:

i began to notice that my heart was seeing things differently, it was more sensitive. i realized that i was gaining a deeper understanding for what people in similar situations might feel. something i had probably over looked too easily or maybe even dismissed. i was gaining new insight and understanding. my heart was softening (& i hadn’t expected that it would contain any level of hardness).

lesson 3: to be beneficial to others, the heart must see clearly. if the heart is too “inward” focused, it misses opportunities to share its gift with others.

fourth month…everything felt at risk. circumstances were bleak. no real solutions were presenting themselves and loss appeared inevitable. uncomfortable no longer described my situation.

lesson 4: i was learning the difference between what i wanted and what i needed. there is a difference, you know. a funny thing happens when you are used to getting what you want and then don’t…you either act like an adult and distinguish the difference or you act like a spoiled brat. i learned the importance of the difference. whew! good thing because lessons you don’t learn the first time get repeated.

fifth month…i would have laughed at what kept coming but by this time it was either sink or swim.

lesson 5: there is a need to learn how to receive graciously so that the gift that others have to share with me is not refused. we need one another. i love doing things for others. i enjoying giving but i don’t always know how to receive. i received such amazing support during this time -reminding me that others have special gifts that they need the opportunity to share and express. that is difficult on the pride but then again pride isn’t necessarily a good thing…is it?

there were times the past few months that could have been devastating. there were times that could have brought great fear. there were times that could have produced hopelessness.

yet, they didn’t. Difficult? Yes! Hard to breath or think at times? Yes, yes.

we made it through. Again.

a bit weary but stronger and wiser. Again.

faith tested- giving a deeper understanding of what we believe and why.

lessons learned- producing growth, and hopefully a more tender heart.

time to reach out and give, help, share and live in a deeper, richer way than before.

sometimes…if there is no pain, there is no gain. the muscles need to be strained for strength to be produced.

the soul and spirit need the same…producing a more beautiful heart and a richer life.

…the process is not fun but is beneficial!

life is a journey of faith.

6 potential risks to maintaining acceptance

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Dee Clark

hi, everyone. i have been a busy girl over the past week or so and have missed writing. i hope you have enjoyed the encouraging quotes in the meantime.

when last i wrote, my topic was acceptance. i had planned to do a bit of fictional writing to help me demonstrate the point but like life often does…things didn’t work out that way.

i’ve been thinking about women in the Bible because, after all, the point of sharing a person’s story is so that someone might be able to grab a few helpful tips- which i believe is why we have the examples found there.

we give poor Eve a bad rap. i’ve heard people talk about wanting to give her “what for” because of all the trouble she caused us women. poor girl. lol

the truth is that often we make similar mistakes (that have not been indelibly written down in history for all generations to judge).

we are not given a lot of information and details of her life, just a few key points.

therefore, i like to try to put myself in her shoes based on how things sometimes go in my life…and see if i can learn from both.

1. curiosity. i’m a curious creature. many of my women friends are, too. just try to keep a secret from us. curiosity eats me up. i talked to my daughter tonight who was so proud of the birthday gift she’s bought for me. guess what…her husband would not let her tell me what it was. 😉 I could tell she was excited and although, I controlled my curiosity (I WANT TO KNOW-even though I only have to wait until tomorrow).

in the same way, just tell a woman “no” with no explanation.

our curiosity if uncontrolled can set us on dangerous paths.

like…
2. desire. desire in itself is not wrong. in fact, it is part of our design but like anything else, if we misuse it, it’s not good. curiosity that turns into a driving desire requires attention. this is the driving force behind buying shoes that we can’t afford (anyway!), spreading gossip, and attempting to beat the odds by breaking “the rules” without regard for the consequences.

3. questioning authority. entertaining desire long enough can cause us to question authority…including our own. i’ve talked a lot about life values. allowing desire for instant gratification, things we have been told we can not have or things we have determined are not a part of our core values can drive us to ignore authority (or boundaries) irregardless of results. we become willing to compromise agreements, structure and discipline for temporary satisfaction.

this is usually the point where we reason with “someone” -not for wisdom but agreement -that maybe doing what we want to in spite of wisdom won’t be so bad. after all, how bad could it be? for Eve, surely dying was not really the result of something simple like eating a piece of fruit. what did it mean to “die” anyway? it couldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

4. lack of responsibility and respect. following compromise and subsequent consequences, we really begin to point our finger placing blame anywhere else but the rightful place…our responsibility. justifying our actions with blame seems to be logical to us for some reason.

and respect? well, “pity the fool” (did you hear my Mr T voice?) who attempts to hold us responsible for our actions.

5. pain. consequences cause us pain. we don’t like pain. rightfully so. this pain, as we’ve discussed before, can cause us to interpret many things differently than they are meant to be. we begin to feel distance, shame, and rejection.

6. fear. fear then attempts to set up residence within our hearts. at this point fear of rejection, as an example, can direct our behaviour toward rejecting before we have the opportunity to be rejected.

these 6 elements describe the process of events in Eve’s disastrous decision. although few of my decisions have effected generations of people, i can relate completely to similar circumstances in my life. I dare say, you can as well.

the key to maintaining acceptance of myself and then others, truly is to accept responsibility.

1. understand i am accepted. i am uniquely designed for love and by Love. maintaining a sense if acceptance begins here. then i must accept myself and know that i will make mistakes, be humble enough to say the words “i’m sorry” and move forward.

2. understand the boundaries and expectations. everything exists within appropriate, healthy boundaries. crossing the boundaries can be painful and sometimes fatal. just try to make a fish live out if water. it won’t happen. we live in societies, communities and within relationships that require boundaries, agreements, laws and structure for well-being. we may not like them but irregardless, they are necessary and for our own good.

3. i am responsible to guard my heart in regard to acceptance. not everyone is going to accept everything about me. however, i can produce acceptance in others in a few ways. i do not have to be dependant upon others accepting me. i do not have to interpret actions as rejection (even when it feels like it is). i can sow (give) acceptance and i know “what goes around comes around” or “what i sow, i reap”.

4. when necessary, accept responsibility for poor choices and the resulting consequences without blaming, distancing or rejecting. the consequences usually pass if behaviour is tempered through it. usually, there is at least a second chance offered. learning to humbly make restitution goes a long way toward restoration.

a friend of mine in the states lost her son because a drunken driver hit his car. the driver accepted responsibility & the resulting punishment. my friend and her family have embraced the driver and accepted her although the drinking and driving devastated their lives. they have committed to accept her mistake and help her through the difficulties ahead. rejection did not have to be one of the results.

we are amazing creatures. our very design makes us adventurous, curious and desire more. that’s a good thing most of the time. when we blow it -when pain comes- of our own making or not- our sense of acceptance does not have to be destroyed. we can keep it in tact and fully functioning. we can take action, guard our heart and protect our acceptance as a precious gift.

it’s good to be sharing my heart with you again. thank you for reading!

it is time to be happy

Posted on August 4, 2013 by Dee Clark

don’t stop reaching or stretching

Posted on August 2, 2013 by Dee Clark

i have had a big week, how about you? some good news, some not so much. i suppose that is how life goes. sometimes it can feel like a roller coaster.

getting on a roller coaster at an amusement park can stretch you…push you…cause you to dig deep.

should i? shouldn’t i?

eventually…you go for it…heart pounding.

are you the type of person who reaches for the sky, goes with the turns & ups and downs, squealing with delight?

at the end of the ride, emerging with a shout, “that was awesome!” proud that you set fear aside and lived through the thrill – braver than when you got on?

you did it!

you stretched beyond your limit of fear!

do it with life as well…

reach for the sky…

go with it…turns and all…

squeal in delight…

emerge…happier, braver, accomplished!

you did it…again!

yes, you did!

do something surprising everyday. stretch your limits…

stretch…reach…grow

i know, you’ve got this! right?

Posted on July 30, 2013 by Dee Clark

the miraculous offering of acceptance

Posted on July 28, 2013 by Dee Clark

since we know the pain that rejection can cause, shouldn’t we offer others a miracle…acceptance for the unique gift they can be to us?

4 ways to make the most of desire and ensure the benefits outweigh the dangers

Posted on July 28, 2013 by Dee Clark

the garden stroll last night was beautiful. the sky blazed with color. the air was crisp and cool. the mist began to kiss the ground.

as they strolled, Adam explained his decisions of the day. the Creator was amused by the names and laughed.

she shared the contents of her heart. He hugged her thanking her for the honesty and warmth. she didn’t want Him to go. where did He go anyway? how did He fill his day? her curiosity was stronger today.

in the tree groves yesterday, she noticed that many of the trees had produced well and she decided to gather some delights for a special feast. as she gathered, she tasted. sweet, sour, tangy, soft, crunchy, hard, creamy…she was having a fabulous time. she couldn’t wait to share this experience with her husband. she imagined the delight on his face as he partook of the delights she would present.

“what about these?” she knew that voice.

where was he? she glanced around but went on gathering because she hadn’t noticed him perched high among the branches.

“why aren’t you collecting these? aren’t they beautiful? i think these would be perfect.” then she saw him. long and lean bathing in the warm sunshine. galiently posed.

(it is here that i wonder how a conversation could have taken place. perhaps there was communication between all living creatures because she does not appear to be surprised at his approach.)

“they are magnificent, true. not those. those belong to the creator. they are His alone.”

“why is that? why would He withhold them from you? i’ve seen how happy He is with the two of you. He wouldn’t mind. surely not.”

“it’s a special tree. He has said that if we ever eat from it we will die.”

“die? what does “die” mean?”

“i’m not sure but the answer is no. we don’t eat the fruit of that tree.”

“really? look at how beautiful it is. what could be the harm? how would He even know?”

“apparently, it provides knowledge between good and evil.”

“and He doesn’t want you to have that? why? would it make you like Him? I thought He created you like Him? why would He not want you to have this “knowledge” He has? doesn’t make sense to me.”

” i don’t know. Adam is certain and has told me not to even touch it.”

“don’t touch it? well, i’ve touched it. i’m sitting in it and nothing has happened to me. in fact, the blossoms smell devine. the scent is much sweeter than the other trees. come here, smell.” he was right.

the aroma filled her nostrils and the sensations was not like any other plant in the garden. in fact, the fruit was beautiful, brilliant and colourful. she had been so concerned about not going near the tree that she had not considered how truly desirable it was.

she was considering it now.

it was pleasing in every way.

she wondered…

the snake is actually sitting in the tree…would she be fine as well? surely, if she touched it but didn’t eat it…what could be the harm?

she reached.

it was amazing. not only was it beautiful but the texture was smooth and soft.

she smelled it again. that smell ignited something inside her. her mouth watered with desire.

“it must be sweet and succulent. but no.” she released the fruit and turned away.

“i can’t.”

“of course, you can. look, i touched the tree and i’m fine. you touched it. nothing happened. maybe you misunderstood.”

something had happened. she had never given much thought to this tree, its fruit or the instruction. yet, now something inside her desired to taste it. the smell of the blossoms and the brilliant colors were inviting. this feeling was strong. she had never felt like this before.

terrified…she dropped her bounty and ran. something felt very different.

she ran to sit among the flowers. they were beautiful and aromatic. she needed to think.

why? why would He not want us to have this fruit? she felt confused. she had never felt like this before. she sat thinking of the moments at the tree.

she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

her mind felt clearer when she awoke.

it was getting late and she needed to gather the bounty she had dropped. her husband would be returning soon.

when she saw Adam coming, she waved him over to the feast she had prepared. she was right, he seemed pleased by the spread of beautiful fruits, berries and delights she had collected from the garden.

“the garden is producing bountifully. i think the Creator will be pleased. everything is multiplying so well. do you think He will be pleased?”

“of course, He will.”

“the blossoms on the tree in the centre of the garden smell so different than the other trees. the fruit is so full. shouldn’t we gather some for the Creator?”

“no! do not go near that tree! it is very important to Him that we leave it alone.”

“why? i don’t see the harm.”

“it’s the only thing He has asked us not to do. it doesn’t matter why.”

that answer only made her more curious. she didn’t like it. as the days went by, her questions increased.

her feelings were changing as well.

she felt a strong tug for what she could not have.

her heart was somehow not as content.

she compared the fruit she could have to what she could not.

it caused her to want it more.

desire was building.

and what was this knowledge that the Creator was keeping to Himself?

maybe she needed it as well.

why was it good for Him but not her?

was there a reason?

*************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

desire gets us all fired up.

there are some benefits to desire…of course, there are!

for the sake of desire:

we will complete challenging goals,

chase our dreams,

and work hard for what we want.

there are also some dangers:

desire can trick us into believing that what we want will bring full happiness. happiness comes from within and not everything that we think will bring happiness, will.

desire can cause us to throw caution to the wind. we can tend to disregard our own values and life standards, make irresponsible choices, forget common sense and wisdom.

desire can drive us without resulting in satisfaction. many addictions work this way. the desire becomes so overwhelming that we succumb but are left disappointed.

so, how do we make the most of desire to ensure the benefits outweigh the dangers?

1. allow desire to motive you but be realistic about the end goal and the amount of satisfaction that will result. is it more about the pursuit than obtaining it?

2. step back and make a realistic assessment of your desire and what you hope to achieve. assess if obtaining the object of your desire truly fits into your goals overall.

3. remind yourself that some of the most satisfying feelings do not come from getting but from giving.

4. remember where true joy and satisfaction comes from…it is rarely from what you can obtain…it’s a matter of the heart.

most of us love the “thrill of the chase”…

we need to make sure that what we “catch” is really worthwhile.

i hope you have a great start to your week.

the imagery of acceptance and inner peace

Posted on July 26, 2013 by Dee Clark

she woke from the most peaceful sleep. she lay in such a calm euphoric state. she could feel the warmth of the sun on her face which reminded her of how warm and secure her heart felt.

she had questions about this place and how she had come to live here. for the moment she would not focus on them. she was seizing the moment. she was in paradise and every part of her being soared with happiness.

Eden was magnificent and majestic. everywhere her eyes gazed there was beauty. being surrounded by such beauty satisfied something deep in her heart. at times, she felt as though she could breathe in the deep satisfaction as if it were life to her soul. it was soothing, gratifying.

her tummy rumbled drawing her attention to the reality that there were things to do. first, food. her body signalled the need for nourishment.

she opened her eyes and realized her husband was already away. his day had already begun. she wondered where he might be. the most probable answer would be that he was exploring. he was in charge of finding new creatures among the garden and deciding what they would be called. she and her husband were different somehow than everything else that lived in this place. the creatures that shared her home fascinated her.

as she strolled through the garden, a butterfly lit on her shoulder. “good morning, butterfly. it’s a glorious morning!”

it fluttered its wings in delight. she instinctively knew it was as delighted as she.

suddenly a bumble bee whizzed past her head. “that’s exactly what i’ll eat…honey,” she thought. her steps hastened toward the grove of trees where she could collect the sweet nectar.

she dipped her finger into the honeycomb and drew the liquid to her lips. the sensation thrilled her tongue. the bees parted as if to make way for her to enjoy their produce, all the while continuing their busy production. “nice job, guys! the honey is beautiful and sweet.” they gathered in formation and swarmed into the air. they swirled and twirled in appreciation of her praise. she giggled at the performance and chided, “i’ll get out of your way so you can get back to work”. they dropped back onto the honeycomb and resumed their task.

everything was in harmony. one thing assisting the next. her questions resurfaced. “what was this place and how did i get here?” she was curious.

she would ask her husband and the Creator to tell her the story again as they strolled the garden when sun began to sink in the sky.

she turned with a plan to find Adam. she smiled.

her heart was full of gratitude and appreciation. she would explain this to the Creator…He might enjoy hearing what her heart was feeling.

———–

i can only imagine what filled her heart. i do know that my heart is filled with gratitude on the calm, peace filled days when my heart attains the same joy. the place of harmony within my being. i cherish those days when they come and my heart is filled with gratitude.

although in my story i took a creative privilege to imagine her life, i know that it is not an unattainable fairy tale. i know that when i have been diligent to face the negative situations with courage and Wisdom, my heart can attain this state of peace and well-being. it is not “never-land”. i am accepted and loved by my Creator. i can accept the person i am meant to be – flaws and all – and live enriched in my journey. i understand the places that help me grow are sometimes difficult to face. life is not a paradise (as we all know) but it is worth living fully and joyfully, come what may.

acceptance is important to me. it feels like i have described it above. the foundation for my acceptance exists in a harmony of hearts – mine joined with my Creator and then outstretched.

not all days are like this. i know all to well. you will, too. Eve experienced. join me as i explore the steps she may have taken and decisions she made that brought pain to her heart. i suspect, they are not much different than ours. curiosity, jealousy, desire, comparison and doubt are a common theme for heading down a painful road. it feels like we walk alone, at times, but the road is not all that different to the one before us. the pain is familiar, too – rejection, loss, disappointment, shame and regret.

the pain is not the end. there is healing and acceptance waiting…