Monday 30 September 2019

Small & Wonderful Things . . .

 
 
 
"The world is fairly studded and strewn with pennies cast broadside from a generous hand. But who gets excited by a mere penny?...It is dire poverty indeed when a man is so malnourished and fatigued that he won't stoop to pick up a penny. But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted with pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days. It is that simple. what you see is what you get." ~Anne Dillard  

A few of the small and wonderful things from the past week which brought untold joy into my life. It's the small things in life which truly mean the most. Simple abundance . . . it's the best. 
 

The gift of a beautiful sunrise every morning and then the day is wrapped up by a beautiful sunset at night. God is good. 



We are not wealthy by any stretch, but we have enough, and that is more than a lot of people have throughout the world. I have never been a wealthy person, at least not in the ways of the world, or as the world judges as being wealthy, but I have always had enough for my needs.  I have never known what it is to be truly poor and without even the most basic necessities of life.  I have come to an age now where I recognise that the trials in life are oftimes blessings because they help me to grow and to become a better me . . . that if it weren't for sorrow, I could never truly appreciate joy . . . that indeed opposition in all things is a gift from above, for that is how we know, learn, appreciate, value, grow  . . . 

  

 So grateful to have had people that I love so much in my life, and to have been loved by them.  Grateful also for the knowledge that we will see each other again. 

  


A heart that prays.  That is one of the things that I am so grateful to my mother for, she taught me to pray. I am so grateful for the power of prayer in my life.  I don't know where I would be without it.   It is a constant thing with me.  I have a constant prayer/conversation with God going through my mind.   I tell Him about everything.  I know I don't need to because He knows,sees, understands all . . .  but I also know that He likes to hear it from us.

You know your friends because you talk to them.  It is the same way with God.  The more you talk to Him, the more you come to know Him. 
 
  
 
 How many people waste their lives looking for happiness, never realising that it was already theirs?  I know a few people like that, without naming names.  They have spent their whole life looking at the other side of the street and wanting to be there, rather than where they are.   Inevitably when they get to the other side of the street, it also doesn't fulfill them, and they continue to search and to chase.  The pot of gold isn't really at the end of the rainbow, its right where you are.  Joy in life comes not from wanting the things you don't have, but in wanting and appreciating the things that are already yours.

I am grateful that I have a grateful heart. 
 

Puppy Dog Snuggles, 24/7.  She is coming up to the season of boring now, where it rains so much and she is confined to the paved part of our garden.  Oh how I love her.  She has added such a wonderful dimension to our lives. I am a nurturer and I have loved nurturing her, loving her, being loved by her.  Its very much a mutual exercise in adoration.  



The blessing of being able to grow old, for there are many who do not get this gift . . . 


  

The wisdom of Forest Gump. For a man who wasn't supposed to be very smart, he sure was smart.  I may not be a smart man Jenny, but I know what love is.  My favourite line from the movie. 


 This is the key to a happy life.  Gratitude.  Focusing on what you have instead of what you don't have.  Finding joy in the now.  Every single day has a silver lining.  Dwell on that.  When you choose to be happy and live life seeking for the positive, life just gets better.   It is better to appreciate what we have already been given.  Why would anyone give us more if we can't find joy in what we already have?

Food for thought there methinks. 


 Random acts of kindness and the kindness of strangers.

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. ~Matthew 25: 35-40

If you have ever been the recipient of random acts of kindness, or the giver, you will know how very much they bless your life, and in a multitude of ways.  Kindness is a gift which blesses both the giver and the receiver.



Each one of you and your lovely comments, for your prayers. I feel the love and support and I thank you for that. Always.

My life is filled to overflowing with so much to be grateful for  . . .  I hope yours is too.

A thought to carry with you through today  . . .  


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•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★

 *
Sometimes I need only
to stand where I am
to be blessed.
~Mary Oliver •。★★ 。* 。 


Fried Egg Grilled Cheese 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Fried Egg & Cheese Toasties.  Simple. 


I hope your week ahead is filled with lots of small and wonderful blessings.  Don't forget along the way! 
 

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And I do too!  
 
 







14 comments:

  1. Good Monday morning, Marie. As they say, gratitude is an attitude and sometimes we need an attitude adjustment. We have so much to be thankful for and sometimes we're not as grateful as we should be. I'm going to try and be more grateful especially for the things we often take for granted - a loving family, a warm place to live, enough food, clean water, good friends, beloved pets - the list goes on. I'm grateful I found your blogs. I read and enjoy them every day. They make me laugh, they make me cry and they make me think. Hugs, Elaine

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    1. Sometimes gratitude comes easily and it is so obvious what we need to be grateful for, other times it is a decision and a choice we need to make. I am grateful you found my blogs also! I treasure your friendship very much Elaine! Happy Monday! xoxo

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  2. You write so eloquently, Marie! I love that movie line, too. Forest Gump is my all-time favorite! I followed Tony Robbins for some years, but never heard that quote … that's a keeper!

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    1. Thanks so much Mevely! I try to live my life with gratitude. It makes for a much happier life, but I am not perfect and sometimes need to be reminded also! xoxo

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    1. Thanks Monique! Those latest pics your daughter posted of the boys! Oh lala, they are going to be beating the girls off. I would not be surprised if they are already not! xoxo

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  4. I so agree with all you had to say today. Love the quote, you don't find the happy life, you make it. So true. Life is what we make it!

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    1. Thanks so much Pam. You have always been a wonderful inspiration and example to me! xoxo

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  5. Hi Marie~

    Thank you for your sweet comment on my blog! It always makes me smile to see that you have visited!

    Gratitude is truly a gift from above! We live in a world that focuses on the material things in life. If people only realized that the good things in life are the things that we can't hold in our hands, but the things that we hold in our hearts. Like you, we have never been wealthy, but we have everything we need. I am also thankful for every birthday that I have, because so many never get the opportunity to grow old. I am so grateful for friends, and many of them are friends that I most likely will never see face to face...like you, Marie, how I love and appreciate your friendship, I am so grateful for you! I feel like we are kindred spirits! Love you sweet friend, you are also a blessing in my life!

    Hugs and Love,
    Barb

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    1. And I you, Barb. I miss you when you don't come around! Like you I have many invisible friends and I care every bit as much about them as I do the "real-time" friends in every way! I love you my sweet friend. Hope we get to meet in person one day! Love and hugs, xoxo

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  6. Well written, Marie...and I so agree!!
    Hugs, love, and all good wishes,
    Elizabeth xoxo

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    1. Thanks Elizabeth! Love and hugs to you also! xoxo

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  7. I frequently comment but they seem to disappear. Where do they go I wonder, Loved the Victoria sponge recipe and pics Angharad

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    1. I don't know Angharad, but I got this one! When I am using my iPad all of my comments disappear! xoxo

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Your comments mean the world to me, and while I may not be able to address each one individually, each one is important to me and each one counts. Thanks so much!