Category Archives: quotes

Our Strength Is Seen In Our Embrace

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gatherers…

guarders of relationships…

nurturers…

we are women.

our strength is best seen

in our embrace.

(inspired by Anita DeWould)

it was something the Lorax said

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i know, you can tell i had never seen the Pixar movie, The Lorax, until yesterday.

i have a confession to make: i think that when my children were little, i loved the Disney movies every bit as much as they did. i we owned every Disney movie made up to the point the kids seemed too old for them (about the time Shrek came out). i was gutted when we would go to the store for a special treat and i was told “no” a Disney movie was not on the list. sigh!

so, yesterday, when the grand babies were fast asleep, i was enthralled in this little cartoon movie that i had not yet seen. i might be 50-something but the little girl in my heart is alive and well.

and please, no lectures on wasting time…it was a guilty pleasure, yes it was…and i am not afraid to have one…and you shouldn’t either.

plus, i’m using it tonight to help write my blog…i know how to put a guilty pleasure to work…lol 😉

so, here goes…

there are so many things that we hold that seem, feel or look small and insignificant. the temptation to compare our small beginning with someone else’s full-grown result can just deflate the heart.

it’s not so much about what it is…it’s about what it can become.

an acorn…grows into a great oak tree.

the mustard seed (the smallest of all seeds)…grows to be the largest of herbs.

the tiniest amount of faith can do the miraculous.

growth is the key. taking hold of what you do possess…planting it (so to speak) -putting it to use…applying wisdom, knowledge and understanding…so that what you have can reach it’s full potential.

to see potential like this, you have to see with more than your eyes. it takes faith.

you don’t see the great oak tree by looking at the acorn; however, everything necessary to produce the tree dwells deep within that little seed…it’s all there. plant it, feed it and give it plenty of time…and all that it is meant to be develops and manifests.

do you know what is even more amazing? everything that you have the potential to become is deep inside of you…already within your very being.

so, give yourself a break…it’s not so much about what your are now…it’s what you can become.

that is marvellous in my book!

D

there is no change unless someone like you cares

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my grand babies are staying at my house for a few days while their momma is at school and stepdad is working. it’s the school holidays for them and well, let me just say it’s joy for my heart.

today, we colored, painted, went for a walk to the park and sat on the beach in the sunshine. i am always amazed at how content children are just knowing an adult is focused on them a least for a few minutes at a time.

when we were exhausted, we headed home for a few moments of rest. the kids wanted to watch a movie called the Lorax. it’s a Dr Suess creation.

have you seen it? I hadn’t.

greed drove an entrepreneur to deplete the forest of trees for the sake of profit. this changed the world for future generations. years passed with no trees and the benefits they offer; beauty, wildlife and oxygen.

at the end of the movie, the entrepreneur provides a young boy a seed so he can plant a tree and make a change for his community.

cute story.

at the end of the movie, the quote above was listed.

i began to think about all the potential changes facing the world today and the many reasons, both good and bad, presented for why they should be made.

both sides of the argument feel strongly that their proposed change has merit, purpose and meaning. and, they fear the opposite argument for change.

some changes will occur for all the wrong reasons and have a great impact for generations to come.

but rather than fear…care. care enough to seek out what contribution you can make…because there is one. whining, becoming the victim or allowing a bad attitude to set up residence in your heart are not the answer.

maybe you can’t change the entire world.

yet, the change you can effect will make an impact.

start by guarding your heart.

gathering hatred, resentment, bitterness, offences and judgement is like collecting garbage. as we know, the longer we hang on to it, the more it stinks!

carrying around the hurt is like carrying around a bag of stinking, rotting trash! and it stinks. just ask a trusted friend, everyone gets a good whif…you can’t hide it.

it won’t produce the success you are longing for.

no matter how difficult your circumstances, that of your community or country, you can do something. anything is better than wallowing in a pile of rubbish.

i have read heartbreaking stories of women in third world countries who continue to strive to do all they can with far less resources than many of you and i flippantly dispose of with very little thought.

even our worst day is a day many people in the world are praying to have the opportunity to have.

accept the challenge. just look for the impact you can make. care deeply. grab opportunities- even small ones.

because

unless someone like you cares an awful lot, nothing is going to change. it’s not.

one thing you can do is to encourage those around you who are having a difficult time. share your resources and encourage and support each other. build community and make it through the hard times together.

help each other keep the stinky trash where it belongs…in the can and not in your heart!

D

how to carry your load

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“you will never be given more than you can bear.”

not very comforting, is it? especially when you feel the load is too great.

when carrying a load:

make sure you can see in front of you

take small, stable steps

do not twist

if too heavy, ask for help

if injury occurs, early treatment helps healing occur quicker

knowing your purpose is important. when i was in college, i was pretty focused on the end goal so i wanted to carry as many subjects as possible every semester. i always had to get special permission because the dean wanted to know that i could carry the load without loosing sight of what was important. he always wanted to make sure that i the load was not piled to high.

sometimes we take on too much. we think we are invincible. this adds unnecessary stress. make sure that what you are picking up does not impair your vision. make sure you can still see where you are going. if not, lay something down.

if you are in the midst if a stressful time in your life, you need clear focus to get through the task. you can pick up what you laid down later if appropriate.

understanding your goal or purpose will also help you not to twist, side step or get off track. you want to keep going forward. twisting or getting side tracked by the load can cause pain.

don’t get in too big of a hurry. you want your steps to be stable. secure your footing with each step. you need a strong foundation. review your life goals, values and purpose and stay true to them.

there are times when it is just not wisdom to go it alone. friends, family, and others who care about you can help you bear the load. asking for help is not weakness. it takes great courage. addictions, for example, find their power over us when they are kept in the dark. accountability is a great way to release some off it’s power. what is kept in the dark holds a tight grip on us. bring it into the light with someone trusted and get help. two are better than one…if one falls down, the other can lift him up.

preventive medicine is always the most effective, but in the case of injury, early detections improves the healing process. don’t wait. when i begin to feel ill, i head to bed. i rest and sleep it off. usually, i am better by the next day. emotional pain is sometimes more difficult but pushing yourself and continuing in an injured state is not the best way to carry your load.

we don’t have to end up in a broken state because of the load we carry. how we carry the load is important.

let me encourage you, that if you see a friend who is struggling beneath their load….that you can help them bear their burden.

D