Small and 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 which bring untold joy into my life.   It's the small things in life which truly mean the most.  Simple abundance . . . it's the best.   

 

(source)

  

Over the past twelve months I have had to cling to this knowledge which has had to buoy me up many, many times. I know I come across as being a very self-assured and positive person most of the time, and I do try to be as positive as I can be in most situations, but like anyone, I do have my down moments.  I struggle to understand the why's and wherefore's of some things.  I feel angry with injustices that occur.  I feel hurt when other people don't behave the way I think they should.  I feel sad, again and again and again.  In my lowest moments, sometimes all I can do is to cling to the fact that I know I am a Child of God and that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me.  I do not understand all things, but I  do KNOW that.  And, in those low moments, that is enough.  

  

I am really enjoying studying the Book of Mormon this year.  I have been following along with the Don't Miss This video's on YouTube and I have a journal that I am writing in.  I find myself feeling closer to the Saviour than I ever have, which in all honesty, I never thought possible.  Before we began this study in January, we were given certain promises that could be ours if we were diligent and faithful in our study . . .  that we would have more power to resist temptations, that we would find the power to avoid deceptions, that we would find life in greater and greater abundance, enjoy an added spirit of the Lord, have a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience, have strengthened testimony's of the living reality of Christ, that the windows of Heaven would open up, we would receive answers to questions, gain direction for life and be immunized against the evils of the day.  I have experienced each of these things at one moment or another this year, and oh how I have needed them. 

  

I often talk to myself and to God in the shower.  I am not sure if that makes me crazy or not.  It is what it is. The other day I was in the shower and I was crying about things, and I thought to myself how one decision/choice can not only forever change the direction of your life but the lives of your family members.  Choices/decisions have long reaching tentacles into the journey's we take.  I was thinking about things that I don't want to talk about, and how I have caused heartache and pain in a alot of lives by having made some poor choices in the past. Had I not chosen to move over here my sister would not have had to leave her family to move home to live with my mom, etc. things like that.  You can't undo the past, no matter how hard you try or how much you want to.  Then I read a CES Devotional from Jeffrey R Holland, entitled Lessons From Liberty Jail.  


In it he says,   


"the lessons of the winter of 1838–39 teach us that every experience can become a redemptive experience if we remain bonded to our Father in Heaven through that difficulty. These difficult lessons teach us that man’s extremity is God’s opportunity, and if we will be humble and faithful, if we will be believing and not curse God for our problems, He can turn the unfair and inhumane and debilitating prisons of our lives into temples—or at least into a circumstance that can bring comfort and revelation, divine companionship and peace." 

 And I don't know.  It brought me comfort in no small measure.  I cannot undo the past, but I can let my faith and belief turn the prisons in my life into temples, or holy experiences.

  

We have been working hard over this past year to downsize and to clear the clutter in our home and it is beginning to pay off.  I had wanted to get rid of that huge china cabinet for a long time, but it was so large and so heavy and ungainly.  It was overpowering our whole downstairs, and it didn't even belong to us, it belonged to our landlord.  Finally we got permission from him to get rid of it and within 24 hours I had someone who wanted it and they came with a van and carted it off. 

  

The difference that getting rid of it has made is tangible. It has opened up our whole downstairs.  I had a difficult time convincing Todd over the past couple of years that it was, for lack of a better description, ruining our house.  Too big. Too dark. Taking up too much space.  He agrees now that I was right about that and he is very happy with the change, even if it was hard work.  I am in love with this space now. 

  

This year I have been practicing mindfulness.  I have an app called "Calm" that I have been using.  I spend 10 minutes meditating every morning.  Its a bit like prayer, but not like prayer. I can't explain it.  At night when I want to go to sleep, I let it tell me a bed time story and it is helping me to sleep better and be a bit more relaxed about things.  I haven't explored it fully yet, but so far so good. 

 

I am working on this.  It is a work in progress. 

Also this morning I am feeling grateful that the police in our country are diligent and on the ball.  They were able to get control of a terrorist attack in London again yesterday before too many people were injured or killed. I would not travel to London for anything these days.  It is just not a safe place to be, but then again  . . .  where are we truly safe from those that would do us harm?  I don't know.  Innocent people just going about doing their own business . . . .  its despicable.  Terrorism is despicable.  And all in the name of what?  That's not the God I know and love. 

I best leave you with a thought for today.  Sorry if things seemed a bit preachy this morning. I don't mean them to be.  Just baring my thoughts.   Maybe today I will actually have the chance to read Susan Branch's new post!  Here's hoping!

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *We don't stop playing

because we grow old.

We grow old because

we stop playing.

~Unknown•。★★ 。* 。 

 

There's lots of chicken yumminess in the Kitchen today.  My Ten All Time Chicken Favourites. 

Have a wonderful week.  I hope it is filled to overflowing with goodness and tender mercies.  Don't forget! 

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And I do too!