Mending your soul
through forgiveness...
It’s been said that the power of forgiveness is a choice you hold in your heart and I truly believe that.
Human relationships are complex. I am not an expert on the topic of human psychology. I am just a middle-aged woman who has experienced her own trials and tribulations, made her share of mistakes, and perhaps, most importantly, I have learned the power of forgiveness, of both others and myself. In other words, I am not perfect, I am human.
We are each unique in our thoughts, backgrounds, life experiences, talents and personalities. Sometimes we agree with each other and sometimes we don’t.
It seems our current world is more divisive than ever and everywhere you turn, you find people labeling and sorting others by our differences, instead of searching for what brings us together.
When I was younger I can honestly say that I was more quick to judge others, more stubborn in my arguments and more prone to not forgive. I also did a lot more “sorting and labeling” then I care to admit.
But as time has passed, my perspective on this topic has evolved.
In reflecting on that, I think my diagnosis of chronic illnesses changed my view of the world. This evolved into what were two separate journeys - one physical and one emotional.
The physical trauma of my thymectomy surgery, triggered the emotional side of my journey. Many people who go through an open-heart type of surgery end up being diagnosed with depression. I was one of those people.
It took a team of doctors and specialists over the years, along with family and friends, to help me face those challenges and get through them. It also involved work, on my part, through the help over the years of a few, very different but equally talented cognitive therapists, that helped me cope with these changes in my life.
Maybe most importantly, they helped me deal with my past.
Many times chronic illness doesn’t just affect the body physically and once you admit to that, you are on the road to a more complete understanding of how to deal with it.
So where does forgiveness come into this conversation? Well, I believe the more we hold in feelings of anger, the worse we literally feel, both physically and emotionally.
For me personally, I dealt with verbal abuse and bullying from my classmates starting in 7th grade. Let’s just say that words do hurt and their echoes can be heard for years after they are spoken.
Traumatic experiences can stay with you, literally, and come out of you sometimes in the form of disease.
Maybe, even more importantly, learning how to forgive those that hurt you can help you learn how to heal and become the best version of yourself.
Forgiveness doesn’t erase the past. But coming to terms with acknowledging those feelings allows a person to move forward. When we focus on moving forward, l believe that love, joy and happiness are waiting there for us…with open arms…
What do you think?
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Tranquil Moments…
I asked my niece, Jennifer Malphy, if she could share some of her nature photos with my newsletter audience. Each week I will feature a new photo. Here’s this week’s:
This week’s Smile Video
Calvin Godette's behavior touched a woman who was truly in need, leading to recognition of his good works. Steve Hartman has the story in "On the Road."
#believe #stevehartman #smilevideos
What I am reading…
I love to reread my favorite books and The Love Revolution by Joyce Meyer qualifies as a favorite of mine.
The Amazon summary is as follows: “Joyce Meyer is not satisfied with the status quo. She believes that we each need to become a revolutionary and practice love every day. And if Joyce has her way, the revolution will spread -- person by person, house by house, town by town, until the old culture of selfishness and greed gives way to a new culture of concern for others.
The book is a revolutionaries' manual, a hands-on primer for bringing the Golden Rule to life in the twenty-first century. Meyer starts out by giving some stunning statistics. Right now. . .210,000 children will die this week because of poverty; 640 million children do not have adequate shelter; every day, 3,000 children are abducted into the sex-trafficking industry; every day, 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes. She goes on to say that although the crisis is global, the solution is local. We can't solve the world's problems, but that isn't a reason to remain idle.
Love Revolution focuses on personal behavior on the local scale. It's not just a call to action; it is a call to being: being the person who goes out of your way to encourage someone who's out of hope; being the one who smiles at a stranger; being the one who is willing to do something for nothing. The paradox: when we do something for nothing, what we often get is something far greater..”
I have watched Joyce Meyer’s sermons for many years and my copy of this book is filled with highlighted passages.
What books are you reading that you enjoy? Please leave me a comment about it - I would love to hear about them!
Sharing Family Favorites…
In July I shared a tribute to my mother entitled Love Made Visible. This week I am sharing another one of her recipes from her cookbook. I remember making this recipe from my great-grandmother with my own mother many times - it is delicious!
Mind/Body Connections
Millions of people around the world live with depression. “Living with a black dog” is a guide for partners, carers and sufferers of depression. It advises those living with and caring for people with depression on what to do, what not to do, and where to go for help.
Children’s Corner
Back in 1999, when I was an elementary school librarian, I started a project where I wrote letters (old fashioned, printed letters) to a variety of famous people. This was prior to the daily use of email and text messages. My questions were simple…
1) From your own life experiences, how has reading affected your life in a positive manner?
2) Was there any particular person or experience in your life that made you aware of the value of literature and the importance of reading?
I am going to share these letters and let you experience the joy many of my students (and myself) have gotten from their touching words - Here is this week’s:
September is Library Card Sign-up Month!
A Library Card is ELEMENTAL!
Get in Your Element this September—sign up for a library card! From borrowing books, ebooks, and museum passes to getting homework help, learning new skills, or attending story time, a library card helps you do more of what you enjoy. Get a library card and dive into a new hobby. Use your library card to tinker in a maker space and spark your creativity. A library card is your most important school supply—it's elemental, really—and everyone should have one!
Celebrate and Spread the Word
Visit your library to see what's new and take part in the celebration. Libraries across the country are participating. Do you have friends who don't have a library card? Invite them to sign up during September. For more info visit: https://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/card
Music Moments
Music inspires me in many ways. Here’s a song from my uncle’s funeral service that I attended this past week. It was sung by his granddaughter and it was absolutely beautiful:
Quote of the week
Until next week. Please remember…Begin and end each day with a grateful heart…and always, always be kind….