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Only You!

In this story, a king entered his garden one morning and found everything withered and dying. He asked the oak that stood near the gate what the trouble was. He found it was sick of life and determined to die because it was not tall and beautiful like the pine. The pine was out of heart because it could not bear grapes like the vine. Likewise, the vine would throw its life away because it could not stand erect and have as delicate fruit as the peach tree. The geranium was fretting because it was not tall, fragrant like the lilac, and so on throughout the garden. Coming to a heart’s-ease, he found its bright face lifted as cheery as ever. “Well, heart, I’m glad, amidst all this discouragement, to find one brave little flower. You do not seem to be the least disheartened.” “No, I am not of much account, but I thought that if you wanted an oak, or a pine, or a peach tree, or a lilac, you would have planted one, but as I knew you wanted a heart’s-ease, I am determined to be the best little heart’s-ease that I can.”

Heart’s-ease or Wild Pansy or Johnny Jump up

“Others may do a greater work, but you have your part to do, and no one in all God’s heritage can do it so well as you.”

—- copied from Streams in the Desert, Cowman, January 7, pegs 7 & 8

January 7, 2025 Posted by | Allegory, Life | , , , , | Leave a comment

The Power of Gratitude

Is it natural for humans to focus on all the good things they have or instead on all the things they don’t have? It is the latter. And it is a recipe for discontent, depression, and despair, per Gregory Jantz. He wrote an excellent article on “The Healing Power of Gratitude” in The Epoch Times this November. It is from that article that several of the following points are made.

So why be grateful in a world that is so depressing at times? Why incorporate it into our daily lives? Gratitude is the antidote for every toxic thing that comes into our lives. It fosters optimism, which strengthens hope, much lacking in our society today. There is a body of research that demonstrates how gratitude enhances our well-being. It improves self-esteem, better sleep, boosts immunity, decreases depression, reduces anxiety, and stronger relationships.

Some people keep a gratitude journal. They record at least three things per day they are thankful for. People who continue this activity score 25% higher on surveys that measure happiness. They also sleep a half-hour longer most nights. Grateful people exercise 33% more every week than unthankful people.

Gratitude is something we can control. It is a deliberate attitude. When we do, we often find that hope, courage, joy, and contentment rise, shifting our focus from negative to positive. Gratitude reveals the bright side in dark times. Today, we live in dark times, don’t we? So how do we start? Here are a few ideas to get started as shared by the article’s author referenced above.

  1. Notice the small moments that bring you joy.
  2. Keep a gratitude journal. List 3 blessings in your life and describe how they enrich you.
  3. Take a fresh look at friends and family. Count your blessings for those who love and support you.
  4. Celebrate creativity. Be grateful you live in such a rich and textured creative culture.
  5. Make daily rituals memorable. Sit and enjoy your morning coffee rather than quaffing it down as you hurry out the door.
  6. Look at the world through a child’s eyes. Don’t fret about the future or dwell in the past. Appreciate the present moment, with all of its opportunities and pleasures. 
  7. Give a compliment to someone. Write down what you appreciate about that individual and the quality you admire.
  8. Pray or meditate. Shut out a noisy world and focus personal thoughts on God rather than yourself.
  9. Mine today for possibility. Every day is an opportunity to steer your life in a new direction and find blessings. 

So what are you waiting for? Get started now!

December 1, 2022 Posted by | advice, Culture, Hope | , , , | 1 Comment