The Layers of Our Lives!

{image from Ms Ladyred's flickr site}

This past week, my grandmother passed away...

I’ve had the great privilege of being immersed in her life, and having her entrenched in mine for many years. She was 92 and up until a month ago, she was driving, playing my children on the floor and offering to babysit if I had anything I needed to go do by myself. She was an amazing woman and is now an even more amazing spirit.

A few weeks ago, as her health was diminishing, I sat with her on a Friday evening going through a photo album of her life. There was so much that I did not know about the layers of my grandmother’s life until that night: the experiences, the places she lived, and the many offers of marriage (Go, Gram!) We laughed together over pictures of her putting on shows for her family, and marveled at the stories of my great-grandfather who worked for Thomas Edison.

So much to learn from the people in our lives, but I fear so often that the layers of our lives are being lost and, therefore, forgotten.

What of your heritage, your family story, do you know or share? There are parts of our story that may be difficult and parts that are joyful to remember. But, all parts help make up who we are. Granted there may be layers of our story that we would rather forget. But, so much of what has formed the foundation of our lives is meant to teach us a little more about who we are in this unique and diversified world.

Even if you are not a writer, jotting down quick stories or dates with titles can often leave those that come after us a glimpse into the layers of their lives. For Father’s Day one year, I gave my husband a journal, in which to jot down stories or ideas he wanted our son to know. I fear that there may have been a long break in entries, but the book has something written in it, and I think that we all need to have a book like this.

We all need a place to jot down the little miracles, the little lessons, the little things that have made us laugh. All of these little entries can have a huge impact someday in the lives of our children and family members. But, they also help us remember the grace in our life, even amidst the chaos. Let me share with you an example…

By 10:00am this morning, I felt like I had already lived a 14 hour day. Up for hours last night with my 5 year-old; entered debate over the appropriate amount of syrup on a waffle; shared lessons with my 9 year-old on why it is hygienic to wear socks with your boots, and worked to convince my three year-old that “beary” would be fine in the washing machine and ultimately much happier when he smells better.

In other words, a hectic morning…But, there, I’ve written it down and as I write it down, it makes me laugh and I am reminded that in the midst of the craziness, things are o.k. Hopefully that small bit of sharing will someday give my kids a deeper understanding of the layers of their lives.

(Oh, and kids…today when I came downstairs, your dad had made me coffee, and placed a coffee cup on a napkin in front of the coffee maker. He had prepared something for me at the beginning of my crazy day! Someday, you will know how grace-filled a small act like this is!)

What are the layers of your life that you want to share?

Nourishing Our Souls!

{image from Ms Ladyred's flickr site}

Recently, I was asked by my friend Laura Ponticello of Laura's List to write about three ways I nourish my body, mind and spirit. You can visit her site at www.lauraslistbooksforwomen.blogspot.com. But, I'm happy to share my thoughts with you here as well...

For me, nourishing my mind, body and spirit is all about, what I like to call, the 3 “P’s”: Pace, Perspective & Prayer.

To begin, I ask myself what has the pace of my life been like recently? There are many reasons to rush about; but, often, I create a busy way out of no way! So, I ask myself to commit to a slower pace in my day, both through my words and actions. It’s amazing how much more I can hear and see in life when my pace is honoring the reality of my life.

Secondly, I always take time to grow in awareness of my perspective. My question here is, “Am I speaking and acting out of a worldly perspective or a Godly perspective?” In other words, how much do I let the things of the world govern my daily choices, and how much do I let God lead me in how I view the events and people in my life? Remember it’s God that has the reality of our lives. Most of our effort in life is all about working to get back into that reality: it’s the journey of our soul!

Last, but most importantly, I pray! Prayer is the nourishment that allows me to begin to honestly ask myself the questions about the pace and perspective in my life. Taking time to honestly and faithfully open myself up to God in prayer is the greatest gift I give to myself and God. My prayer isn’t “perfect” or “eloquent.” My prayer is simply honest. For, it’s in the act of honest prayer that my mind, body and spirit are truly nourished.

How do you nourish your body, mind and spirit?

Until next time, we take a sacred pause...

Skipping Stones!

{image from Ms Ladyred's flickr site}

Our spiritual health has, in many ways, taken a backseat to the other areas of our lives. We rightly focus on our physical, emotional, psychological and financial needs as we make choices for our personal development. But, at the root of all of these needs are our spiritual needs.

When we care for these needs, we begin to uncover a perspective that gives all the facets of our existence new life. This journey is one way we can begin to nourish our soul and exercise our spiritual muscles!

I remember as a young girl first learning to skip stones at the lake…

First you searched for just the right stone; it had to be flat and a “good feel” in your hands. Then came the positioning: twisting your wrist in such a way that the stone would be moved to hit the water at just the right angle, and then…if you had done it just right…pure bliss for that stone.

Watching it skim across the surface of the lake, the stone navigates small waves coming from boats and yet still it continues on. You stand on the shore counting, one, two, three, four….How many times will it skip before it dives into the water?

I often feel like that skipping stone, only I am responsible for sending myself off across the water. I have to be in just the right place and just the right frame of mind to propel myself forward. If I’m successful, I will skim the busy, hectic part of life and be caught up in the mystical and amazing breeze of God; and when I finally plunge into the water, it will not be because I have grown too weak to stay on top, but rather because I am ready…ready to fully enter into God’s current. It is here where my perspective is clear and my heart is open!

We can only be spiritually fed when we allow the inspiration of God to permeate us. That is, when people or situations inspire us, we need to let that inspiration take hold in our lives and transform the moment we are in.

Only then can we begin to see one another in a more compassionate light, recognize the presence of God more clearly in our daily lives, and feel inspired to take one step more in trust, along our journeys of faith.

What has been your inspiration today?

Until next time, we take a sacred pause…

Today I Lost It!

{image from Ms Ladyred's flickr site}

It’s been an overwhelming month – one of time spent in the service of others; one spent immersed in my family’s needs; one spent preparing others for the Christmas season. Do you sense a pattern here – somewhere, I lost myself.

It takes a lot of courage for me to admit that this, but it is the honesty of my nature that leads me to say it.

I think that all of us suffer from the holiday “fall-out.” We plan and plan and plan, make lists, anticipate the reactions of family members to gifts we have carefully chosen, create holiday moments for our families, and we make meals – many, many, many meals!

Of course our joy is always wrapped up in what we can offer others. But, at times, we do need to step back, which is what I did today. I took a moment and cried. I cried for the exhaustion I felt; I cried for the imperfection that surrounded my efforts to serve others perfectly, and I cried to cleanse myself of all the responsibility that had built up upon my shoulders.

It’s hard when you love your friends and family so much! It’s the intensity of the love that makes us feel SO MUCH, in relationship to everything that involves them. It’s not all bad to love people that much! It just takes a bit of managing to keep it all together when our plates are so full.

So, we take deep breaths! We remember, as I do daily, of special blessings that have come in the form of anonymous gifts in the mail, beautifully wrapped packages left on my doorstep and a family who, despite all our imperfections, is destined to do God’s work in this life!

When we feel the weight of our lives, it is helpful to take a moment and honor our feelings. I remember a beautiful sister of St. Joseph once saying to me that when she felt down, she played Cello music. I remember thinking. “Cello music? How could you listen to something so depressing when you feel so down?” What she taught was that by honoring our feelings, instead of hiding them, we allow ourselves to move through them (rather than covering them up!)

Perhaps this is my effort to move through them. I think this blog may have been more for my own good than anyone else’s, but I hope that there is something in the message that supports all of you in your journeys of faith.

Until next time, we take a sacred pause…