No matter where you place the apostrophe, a day is being celebrated. For some, it’s Presidents’ Day. Others, President’s Day. Perhaps Washington’s Birthday? In other places like Missouri, we celebrate Washington’s birthday and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.
Travels to Lincoln’s hometown, Mt. Rushmore, and our nation’s capital flooded my memories as I “dusted” off these word cinquains. History, even shared events, shapes us all differently. My livelihood might be impacted by leadership. My wellbeing, peace, and future is not.
Keep the faith.💚
Embracing imperfection with faith, flannel, & fresh air
As I was reflecting on a beautiful weekend yesterday, my thoughts were filled with thankfulness. Andthen,…mediawasmobbedby a slap seen around the world. Meanwhile, a war still rages, families are struggling, and rage is not rare. I’ll keep first thingsfirst and position for peace. 💛
Through the eyes of a child
My Saturday began with a visitto our local Children’s Art Show (thank you Table Rock Art Guild). The children, and their parents, were walkingaroundwith such pride! I found the self-portraits particularly interesting and beautiful. You might notice the same things I did. They were authentic and true. Their eyes see everything. There’s nothing to hide in this http://www.world.com existence. But with it, they also “see” things that they might not otherwise. Kids…the perfect balance of faith and dreams.
Through the reflections of adults
The family table had its day. Thankfully, aunts, uncles, and us “young ones” (all cousins more than middle age now) gathered together. There are always missing chairs, but we manage to keep it crowded. Dad sat at the head of the table, a perfect place. We reflected on life, love, and loss. Hope and faith pulled up chairs. Laughter was a welcomed guest! Looking back…don’t linger, make it meaningful, and if you can, ruminate only on the radical recoveries!
One day my friends we won’t need faith and hope anymore. For if you believe, you’ll only be lavished in love.
History is fascinating~documentaries, books, museums, and movies~I’m completely and constantly curious. This weekend, filled with family and special memories, ended reflecting on those we’ve lost. Remembrance is more than a once-a-year. It’s revolving and repetitive.
Positions and postures held today should hopefully reflect what we’ve learned from our history. We can’t change it.
Can we accept the fact we’ve all fallen at times ~individually and at times, collectively~in our work places, our homes, our counties, our states, …and as a country?
Can we lift the living that have fallen? Can we manifest miracles for all those marginalized?
Can we remember those that died for the belief in new beginnings?
May our mission magnify mercy. May it become monumental.
Each morning a fire is started. Surrounding the fire are good folks, some that gather every day. Aside from the good wood, there is a kindness and likeness that binds them (us). “Keeping the home fires burning” is a daily event here.
Learning how to start a fire fascinated me at a young age (don’t we all have a story of when we shouldn’t have used those matches or lighters?). Gathering the kindling was an important task. “Boys, go gather the limbs and twigs!” There is always a fire expert in the group that will create the perfect structure to burn (remember to allow space between for ventilation so the oxygen can be delivered easily!). Who doesn’t wish to stare into the fierce, dazzling, hot, reddish, and sometimes blue heated licks of light? And to make it even more magnificent add these items: a stick, hotdog, marshmallow, chocolate, graham crackers-too many delectable decisions to make.
It seems our world can be quite smoky. It can be thick and pungent. Its gray fumy haze can be noxious, environmentally unfriendly, and downright fatal. The fires that burn aren’t the kind we gather around to sing “Kum Ba Yah” (kumbaya) like the ones I remember fondly from church camp. Perhaps we can find efficient kindling (kindness, compassion, empathy, mercy, love, generosity, honesty, politeness, responsibility, fairness, respect, and humility) to create a spark of unity. One that can ignite a dark world with light-a glowing warmth that comforts us through the chill, frost, and briskness of life.
To whom can we kindle kindness? I see you stay-at-home Moms and Dads who are giving 100% and feeling drained, I feel you divorcees who don’t know what step to take, I pray for you widow or widower all alone. I hurt for the jobless, I sympathize with those apart from family, I ache for those that can’t hold their loved ones sick in the hospital, I sing for those who don’t have a voice, I write for those that can’t think, feel, or understand, I walk for those who can’t take a step, I have faith for those in fear of the world around them, I feel hope for those depressed, I pray peace for those too anxious, I have empathy to those experiencing new changes in life, and I love those who don’t feel loved. 💚
What’s going to light a fire under you? Don’t burn out. Let the breath of God fan the flame of your uniqueness and existence. Let hope be your flame and love, your light.
While Flannel with Faith is where I share my heart, Finley River Publishing is where you'll find my book and the shop collection. Read the story behind the collection here!
