WHO IS IT?

WHO IS IT?
Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
Who has gather the wind by the handful?
Who has bound up the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is this person's name
and the name of this person's child-
if you know it?
Proverbs 30:4
(CEB)

We all know the name! It is God, and His son, Emmanuel!
~Marie T. Morrison~

verse from CommonEnglishBible

AS ONE

What can bring about togetherness? A friendship can. Laughter can. Love can bring one or more together. Marriage does. Gathering for a funeral does, to share tears and memories. Writing a letter to tell a story or recall a treasured moment are lovely moments of togetherness. Above all, having hope, having faith, never giving up and praying to God brings everyone together, no matter where they are in the world, no matter the religion, the disability, the level of wealth. We are one, all seeking the same thing. Together.
~Marie T. Morrison~

Wipe Away The Tears

Something hard to realize is that we cannot control everything in life. Trying to fight to make it so will not work. Prayer is what helps. God can fill the soul with solace. He will help wipe away the tears, whispering words of encouragement. As we let go, tranquility replaces the storm.


~Marie Morrison~

MELODIES

Music fills the soul with spirituality, doing so for hundreds of years. It is not a coincidence. God is hiding in the wings of angels, as they spread the same melodious notes of peace and comfort to humanity across the seas.


~Marie Morrison~

POWER

Respect. A word that has a universe of power behind it. It indicates courtesy, grace, compassion, politeness, gentleness and dignity. It signifies kindness, benevolence, consideration, being thoughtful and treating others with a kind heart. It is how God wants us to be. Practicing respect makes the world a better place.



~Marie Morrison~

AT LONG LAST

Greetings! At long last, I am back to my writing. It has been quite awhile since I felt well enough to write. I went in to get medical tests done, only to come out worse than before the tests. Apparently, the tests triggered something else in the body, causing additional problems.


At times, I have felt so ill that I began to wonder if I would ever have a quality of life again. Those fleeting thoughts only lasted seconds, as I knew my life was much better than that of others. I had food to eat, water to drink, a roof over my head and a dear family to care for me. I also felt that my suffering was nothing compared to that of our Lord Jesus. In fact, I became closer to Jesus because of all the additional problems.

It is easy to take for granted what each of our days brings us. We tend to be busy from the moment we open our eyes and get out of bed each day. There is the morning rush, getting out the door, not wanting to be late for our destinations. Around us, everyone else is also running, usually with a sense of worry. “Will there be much traffic? Will I find a parking place? I hope I can get a seat and not have to stand during the ride. Why do I have to attend that meeting? It is always such a waste of time.”

Nowhere, in these conversations with ourselves, or with another person, is there a thought for God. We are just too busy. Our days remain busy, taking care of this need and that, forgetting the need to say a prayer, thanking our Lord for another day. At the end of the day, there is again the traffic to deal with on the way home, the meals to fix, the family activities to attend, the helping with a child's homework, and the house to clean. There is the television show to watch, so everything has to be complete by then. Once again, there is not the time to think about a prayer, praising Jesus for getting through one more day.

It is a vicious cycle, day in and day out. It is not until our health changes, and we cannot keep up with our hectic lives, do we sit back, remembering whom it is that lets us have a family, gives us beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and makes fertile ground so we may have food on the table.

Though I continue to wear out easily, I am adjusting to my new quality of life. I continue to pray for others listed in my prayer journal, aware we are never alone as we carry our crosses. Overcoming our challenges is a motive of God’s, teaching us to become stronger in our faith. It is faith that gives us hope. Once we have hope, we will believe God is right there with us, as we climb through the obstacles to reach our goals. If we fall, God will help us rise and persevere, no matter the journey. Thank you, dear Lord, for always being there.

WHAT I WITNESSED TODAY-edited

Here it is, nearly 2:30 AM. Yes, I often have insomnia! I cannot get out of my mind what I witnessed within the last 12 hours. To start, I could not find a parking spot close to the place I had an appointment. I did see a truck in the handicapped place, with a man behind the wheel, no handicapped card in view. I was ready to ask him, in a polite voice, if he needed the place, or if he was waiting for someone. When I called out hello,he turned to my voice;it was someone I knew, who indeed needed the handicapped place. I parked further on. My thought was that even though it was a downhill ride in my wheelchair to my destination, I would have quite a trip on the uphill grade afterwards.

Of course, just as I rolled past the driver in the place across from where I had to visit, and had hoped to park, he drove away. I saw him only text messaging when I had arrived; it looked like he had finished the conversation. I laughed to myself, saying this is how it always went for me.

After my appointment, it was then time to return to my car. I was ready for my uphill journey, knowing I had a challenge in front of me. I smiled, telling God I knew I could do it, my arm muscles had become strong.

Beside where I had parked, I witnessed a woman trying to gather her fifteen plus bags of groceries, trying to figure out a way she could carry them. As I pushed my chair upwards, I saw her try all sorts of ways to carry all of these bags.

My frame of mind changed. I was no longer thinking of how I was going to make it to the car, to how is she planning to carry all of those groceries. There was no way she could do this by herself.

As I got closer, I called out to her, asking if she was attempting to carry all of those groceries by herself; she said yes, she was trying. I admired her, for getting as far as she did, about a block from the grocery. I had no idea where she was going, but I knew she could not do this alone. I said I would drive her to her home.

What a sweet woman she was. She immediately introduced herself to me. To think she did this often, yet I thought a challenge was to make it to the car in an uphill parking lot.

God put my mind in the proper prospective right then and there. If I wanted to know what a challenge was, let me see what was really a hardship. I thank Him for that!

God had one more idea in store. In my trunk, I had a box of clothes I had washed and folded, to deliver to Goodwill. As this sweet woman was taking the last of her groceries from my trunk to her front door, I told her she could take this box if she wished. She did take it, telling me "God Bless You!" as she walked away.

I called out "And may God Bless You!" as she left me. I was the one who was truly blessed. God was showing me that though I have challenges, others have ones that are somewhat tougher than mine. I thank our dear Lord for this message. This one woman has blessed me more than she will ever know.

TEA

I love to sip a cup of tea. It is most relaxing. I start my day with a cup of Irish Breakfast tea, using loose tea placed in a small , empty tea bag, made for such a purpose. Mid-morning, I might go for the Earl Grey tea, finding it soothing as I work on a hobby, read or plan a lesson. It can raise my spirits, leaving me calm and good -natured, getting my creative juices flowing.
Remaining in high spirits, it is time to tackle the laundry, clean up the kitchen and perform other mundane household duties. I usually have the house in silence as I work, taking this time to say prayers for those going through rough times and to have my conversations with God. My conversations are as if I was talking to my best friend, which in a way, I am! I may be expressing gratitude for the previous day’s activities, or telling Him how I will need to come up with the right words to use while teaching a class for my Church.
Time goes quickly by. After my lunch, I may finish it off with a cup of red bush tea. This gives me energy to start my afternoon plans. I will likely be venturing out to the Church, to facilitate an adult group of students, sharing what I have learned with them. Often, I bring my thermos cup of brown rice tea with me, to keep my voice from getting hoarse, while at the same time, giving me a bit of nourishment to remain at my high level of excitement as I teach.
The rest of the day zooms by. It may consist of working with one more religious ed. student out of my home, a child unable to make it to Church classes. I offer a cup of peppermint tea to my young lady, while I have apple cinnamon tea. We wrap our hands around our mugs, sipping them as we discuss together different Bible stories, curled up on the couch, facing one another as we converse.
Tea is something I would offer to all my groups of students while I was still teaching full time. They loved it, sipping green tea with honey as I taught. Some had never seen a teabag before, ripping it open to pour into their cups. They quickly learned from their peers how to use the teabag properly. These same young people came to visit me, years after they were in my class, asking for a cup of tea while we visited. What a nice way to reconnect, making a pause in a busy life, to sit and enjoy the company of another.
We tend to forget about the simple things in life, such as enjoying that cup of tea. God wants us to nourish our bodies and our souls, rather than rushing around so. It does not take long to enjoy a cup, but it can bring a long-lasting effect upon one. Others feel the calmness, responding in the same way, letting the tenseness leave the shoulders and neck. This calmness can be passed on to the next individual, and so forth. It is the way God’s world should be, rather than getting angry because of the slow driver in front of us, or the person who takes forever to write a check and post it in the ledger before allowing us to reach the clerk at the counter. Even picturing that cup of tea in a time of tenseness can let the anxiety dissipate.
Spoil yourself. It is actually okay! Go find a favorite mug and purchase some fun flavors of tea. Grab a relaxing book, take off the shoes, cozy up on the couch, sip your tea and enjoy the moment! It is just what God has ordered!

HOPING

Spring isn't quite ready to arrive in Santa Fe. It did warm up to 44 degrees today, but we have a couple of months to go before our trees and gardens come to life. However, it doesn't mean I can't enjoy some of those blossoms a bit early. I will clip a few offshoots from the apple tree and forsythia bush, bringing them into the house. Placing them into a vase of water, I will get to see them blossom, bringing a lovely color and fragrance into our home. It is a nice way to keep the spirits up, while the dreary weather lingers on. It leaves us with a sense of hope, of what is to come.
Hope is just what Christ wants us to have. I always think of Job and all he went through. There was one struggle or tragedy after another, but he continued to hope for better things to come. It took awhile, but because of his faith, never giving up, life did get better. The Psalms tell us of having hope in God, aiding us in good times and in bad. Psalm 31:24 tells us, “Be strong, be courageous, all you that hope in the Lord.” There is even the funny proverb, Proverbs 29:20, “There is more hope for a stupid fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.”
I love Romans 5:3-5, “We rejoice in our sufferings, know that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, which has been given to us.” Paul gives us an important message in Acts 23:6, “...Fellow Israelites ! I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees. I am on trial here because of the hope I have that the dead will rise to life!” How apropos, knowing that at the end of our Lenten season, our sorrow will turn to joy, as we celebrate Christ's resurrection.
The Bible uses the word 'hope' about 150 times. It has a powerful meaning, reminding us to always keep our faith, knowing that if God is in our lives, there is always hope.

NICOLAS

Many of you have heard me talk about Nicolas, the 17 year old who was in a snowboarding accident, leaving him in a coma. You all have prayed for him and have continued to think about him, asking how he is. Just tonight, he sent me a note, saying how much better he is, after telling him he must get depressed from time to time. He said he does not get depressed, but there are frustrating moments. What a gentle soul he is, to go through everything he has experienced and say he gets frustrated at times! At this stage in his life, he should be out building memories of being a high school senior. Instead, he is only trying to get back being at the level where he used to be. Think back to your teenage years. Can you imagine, having fun, enjoying school, doing fabulous artwork, and in the next second, all of this being taken away from you? No, I cannot imagine this!
Nicolas has made tremendous progress. He is doing schoolwork and converses beautifully. Yet, there are still missing parts. Though he may not feel he has patience, I see him being a perfect example of this virtue. We may think of patience as remaining happy as we wait in the grocery line. By the time we are home, with our goods put away, we forget all about that wait, as our minds divert to the next simple task facing us. Nicolas, on the other hand, has a long wait ahead. Yet, this delightful young man does not give up. He is living out this virtue. He knows it is a long haul to get back what he has lost; but he continues to climb this mountain, scattered with many obstacles.
We can learn from Nicolas. It does not matter that he may be younger we are. What matters is his strong faith in God. Through his faith, he knows he can meet each hurdle, gradually getting over it and moving on to the next hurdle.
Next time we have to wait in line somewhere, or did not make the green light while getting anxious to be reaching our destination, we need to think of Nicolas. He keeps hitting red lights on his journey, but he sits back and waits, knowing that green light will come.

Laughing at the Smallest of Things

I got an e-mail today, which got me laughing. It wasn’t just a smile, it was out loud laughter.  We tend to take life seriously so often, forgetting the lighter things of life. What was so funny about this e-mail was that it wasn’t a joke, but truly a realistic scene. As I responded to this e-mail, it reminded me of a time in my life.  This brought more laughter. So often, we look at the serious issues in life.  We forget how important laughter is.   I showed my husband the e-mail I had received earlier In the day, and he, too, broke out into laughter.  He had come into our living room a bit stressed from the day, but he couldn’t help but laugh, out loud, when he saw the e-mail.

I responded to this e-mail with a story of my own, which brought more laughter.  How often do we forget to laugh, only looking at the serious things in life!  I love to laugh: it is a great way to think about what is happening in the moment.  I don’t intentionally plan a piece of humor, it just happens.  It must be a gift from God, to enjoy the lighter part of life. 

Others have asked me how I can laugh when my own health isn’t the best. I say it is a blessing from God.  I love to laugh and I love to share a personal experience with others, which cannot help but bring laughter, My life is one of the unexpected.  This has been true since junior high. It is great to greet what happens with a sense of humor.  I remember sharing with someone I had hardly knew no more than a day, “You won’t believe what happened to me once..., “ she burst into laughter, saying she would believe anything I  was about to say. It is a great approach to life; instead of saying ‘oh no…,’  you say, ‘oh, well…”

No, life isn’t always full of laughter.  But, those little things in life can bring us a smile instead of a frown.  We can only picture Christ, imagining His smile, rather than a frown, as we work through our tiny hurdles in life!

Jacob and the Lentils

In Genesis 25:34, we read how Jacob gave his brother Esau bread and lentil stew.  In return, Esau gave up his rights of being the first born, passing the rights on to his twin.  After reading this passage to a church group, I left that day, deciding I would make lentil stew for dinner. Take into mind I had never made it before. But, it sounded delicious for a cold, winter day. For some reason, I had dried lentils in my pantry, buying them recently, on a whim. I managed to pull out some brown rice from the same pantry, moving on to the frig to see what vegetables I had. I found celery, carrots, parsley, red onion and garlic.
I put on my pot of water, adding kosher salt, rosemary, oregano, dill seed and some Italian seasoning. As it began to boil, I added my lentils.  Living at an altitude of 7,000 feet, I knew it would take at least 45 minutes for the dried beans to cook. Fifteen minutes later, I added the brown rice and my veggies from the frig, diced up just so.
Soon, wonderful aromas emerged from the kitchen. Because flour tortillas are a staple in our home, they were placed on the table, beside each bowl of the scrumptious stew. The dinner blessing was said, and soon the meal was devoured. I was told by the family I could serve it again anytime (Sometimes I'm not given such a positive message!).
Now that it is the Lenten season, I realize this is the perfect Friday meal. What a history lentils have, going back to the beginning of man. God provided for those living near the start of creation and He provides for us now. He nourishes us not only with food from the soil, but with His love, His care and His Spirit. May we continue to count our daily blessings for all He has given us.

BIRTHDAY

Today is the 18th birthday of my third and youngest child. Wow! Eighteen! Last night, she was teasing me that since she will be 18, she will go get tattoos and body piercings. As I screamed in horror, she was giving me her big smile.

It is wonderful to have a tight bond with her. She has the same bond with my husband, her dad. As we visited with one another in the living room last night, I couldn't help but think back to the day she was born and the days leading up to her birth. Three months prior to her birthday, I was on bed rest, only being allowed to raise my head by two pillows. Sitting on the bed with me each day were my five year old son and three year old daughter. It was a wonderful time. I could turn on my side, meaning we played many a card and board game. I read them stories and they drew me pictures. It was one of the nicest times in my life. A 'mom' usually has to be cleaning, cooking and doing laundry, throwing in some quality time with the children. Now, I could have quality time with them all day long. What fun we had!

But, at the end of these three months, things took a precarious turn. I was rushed by air ambulance to a hospital in another city, where there would be the medical facilities to treat a premature baby. You see, she would be arriving eight weeks early, and her lungs were not yet developed. We would soon find out there many other complications from arriving early.

She arrived, weighing in at 4 lbs 4 oz. We were thrilled at the weight, which was a plus for her, as well as being a female. The neonatal doctor said the female is a stronger fighter than the male, even from the start! We didn't know, though, from one hour to the next, what condition she would be in. It was a rough five week hospital stay. We brought her home, earlier than the doctors wanted, but the insurance representatives wanted her home. It's funny how they get to make the decisions, isn't it.

Her big brother and sister were delighted to meet her, as they had not been allowed into the neonatal intensive care unit. It was a beautiful homecoming.

During her first year, she had a heart monitor and medications every three hours. She remained tiny, going through months of pain. Once, she cried for 19 straight hours. I never let her out of my arms, trying to soothe her. She cried the next day, too, but she had laryngitis. I continued to hold her next to my heart.

Months turned into years. She continued to prosper, enjoying her physical, occupational and speech therapies. She remained a shy little girl, having a nice group of friends, writing stories which made her teachers think she would be a great author one day. Each wanted to keep an original writing so they could show it to others, saying they knew her when...

She remained to be my shy child, smiling with her big eyes to others, but not speaking. Even to her own family, she spoke with the quietest voice. At age 16, she surprised us by saying she planned to join the teen choir at Church. As she went to her first practice, I sat in the Church, my head down in prayer. Suddenly, I heard a voice which sent shivers down my spine and goosebumps down my arms. My eyes watered, as I said to myself that what I was hearing was the most beautiful voice I had ever heard. Imagine my surprise to see it was my daughter, as I looked up from prayer!
My teen had blossomed into such a spiritual being. Her shyness disappeared. She asked three different churches if she could teach in their Vacation Bible School programs over the summer. At the Children's Museum, she asked if she could also volunteer, which led into a job down the road. She joined the swim team and Key Club, becoming its president. She became involved in another sacred choir and school music productions. God has taken good care of her.

I know none of this would have happened if it weren't for God. He became present in her little soul from the moment she began her life within me. He has carried her through the struggles, the pain, the joys and through all she has wanted to do in her life. He heard everyone asking for His help as she began her fragile life. Hope was always there. Hope does not disappoint us, just as Romans 5:3-5 says, as the love and Spirit of God will endure forever. Thank you, God, for giving me your hope and love, even when I couldn't see the light.

BAGS AND HAITI

As I have watched on television the tragedy occurring in Haiti, I am awakened to how poor this country is. We take for granted what we have in our lives. Right now, I am sipping my cup of tea on the couch of soft pillows, pleasant music playing, books surrounding me, feeling cozy as I look at the snow outside my window.  A whole world away, there are thousands of Haitians wandering aimlessly, not knowing where to go. Lost are their homes, but more profound is the loss of family. Shown are survivors carrying  their sole belongings atop their heads in makeshift bags, as they scurry down a road filled with vast destruction. I look at their bags, basically a large sheet, twisted together at its top in a large knot. I see it is no larger than my kitchen trash bag.  Such a shock, to see how my trash gets filled to the brim daily with discarded items, not making a dent into the amount of contents  I own. I feel shameful.  I pray to our God, to let them know He is there to feel their loss. My prayers also ask for Him to share with me how I can help, as I have the sensation of hopelessness. I will fast today, only eating a bit of food so I may understand what little they have to eat. Instead of buying a book I have been wanting, I will donate that same amount to their cause. I will light my candles, praying they will feel the light of God and his Spirit as they drift aimlessly down another beaten path. Please, dear Lord, allow them to have the feeling of hope as they struggle through the horrendous settings surrounding them. From those surroundings, may they feel your warmth, protecting them as they make it through the toils of another day.

ZIGZAG

A few days ago, I was teaching an eight year old, helping to prepare her for the time she will tell a priest when she has been a bit naughty. We met in our living room, sipping peppermint tea as we chatted, feet curled up under us. In the midst of our dialogue about living the way God wants us to, she abruptly jumped off the couch. With excitement, she declared she had a way to show me how God wants us to behave. Walking across the living room, she held her arms down, keeping a 'straight line' as she walked. She told me that was the right path to take. On the way back to the couch, her arms were flying every which way, as were her feet, zigzagging across the room. She called out that this was the wrong path, taking her all the places which weren't right. At times, it is an innocent child who can give us the biggest lesson!

Love and a Phone Call

I have my candle lit and soothing music on.  It is music which seems to affect my spirit and my Spirit. My frame of mind is one which is calling out to God, thanking Him for this peaceful moment.  I often try to set the mood for my prayer and meditation time by having my candle and music close by. It will shut off the rest of the world, giving time only to myself and my God.
Today, my three children, ages 23, 21 and 17 have called me frequently. Some days, I may not hear from the two older ones, who live away from home.  I do not want to interfere with their lives, having 'Mom' check on them.  They know this and appreciate this. When I do get a call, it might a quick one to just say they are thinking of their Dad and I and that they love us.  Other times, like today, they need advice, suggestions, and of course, money! My 17 year old is also out there today, doing errands with friends, calling to ask for an address or where should they look for this item or that. I am pleased they feel comfortable to call, telling or asking me anything and everything.
At the end of each call, we always say "I love you." Never to we fail. It doesn't matter how simple the call is, it still ends in "I love you."
This is how it is with God and me. I can talk to him about anything and everything. I can ask Him for advice and for directions on how to get back on the right path. At the end of our conversation, I always say "I love you!" to Him. I know He smiling back at me, telling me He loves me too!

FIRST THOUGHTS

The first thoughts I have every morning is to say a hello to God, thanking Him for another day. I know I cannot carry out another day without Him. I then pray to Him, asking him to guide me through the present day. My day may consist of personal health issues, taking care of my 94 year old mother and what is bothering her, a phone call from one of our children because they are happy or sad about something, preparing a session for one of my groups at the Church, or deciding what to fix for dinner. Behind every step I take, I must feel the spirituality within me, in what I say and in what I do.  I also tend to pray for others who are angry or tend to be making immoral decisions.  I cannot change them, but ask God to please help them feel His presence, so they may feel at peace. It may take years for them to feel this peacefulness, but daily prayer can help them have a happier, spiritual life.  Never, ever, out of my mind is how Christ died on the cross, to ease my suffering, as well as others, giving all of us a graceful life.  It is always there; it is up to us to open our eyes and acknowledge this.

[1-10-2010 10:51 AM]

M

ONLY A CHILD

While walking around a bitterly cold and muddy playground one day during recess duty, a little girl about seven came up to me.  She showed me how her thin bare pants had beens splashed by other kids, jumping into a mud puddle to get her wet. My heart was broken twice at that moment; first by her having on such thin, summer pants in the midst of winter, and second by the bullies who did this to her. As the recess bell rang, I told her classmates to tell the teacher I was getting her changed into warm clothes, stashed in my closet for days like these.

I had a classroom of all boys that year. Though they filled they typical wild life of a boy that age, I had also taught them to have respect for anyone and anything. They did not laugh when they saw the soaking wet and muddy child, seeing me reach into the cupboard for a change of clothes.  I handed them to her, saying to bring me the dirty ones back to me after she changed in the restroom, saying I would wash them. She nodded her head no, asking me to make the change her clothes.  I turned to the boys, telling them to put their forehead on the forearm and not look up until I gave the cue to do so. How wonderful they were, turning into silence, not making a peep, never even attempting a peek as we stood as well as we could behind the partially open cupboard door. As I took off her pants, she had on no underwear. Her soaking wet boots had no socks underneath. Her shirt was sleeveless under her threadbare coat. Though I had no underwear to give, I did have socks, a warm pair of pants that fit and a smug turtleneck to get her warm. She returned to class in her new attire, feeling much cozier. My sweet group of boys were allowed to raise their heads, not once talking about what just happened.

 At lunch, I asked the school counselor if she had underwear stored in her room.  She said no, she never bothered to buy any, though had been given funds for such a thing. I proceeded to buy her several pairs of underwear and socks, rushing to a store close by during that lunch period. I found her on the playground and took her into the restroom so she could put on the underwear. We visited a little at this time, telling me she has a brother in sister and the same school, who also don't have socks, underwear or warm clothes. As it was Friday, I told her I would return on Monday with bags of warm clothes for her and the siblings. My idea was to comb our neighborhood, filled with children, asking for donations.  She told me no, none of them would be there on Monday.  I asked her why.  She said her mom was running away from her abusive dad and they had just gotten warning he found out where they were hiding. They had to leave that night for the next women's shelter, found through a hotline the shelters have, telling where there is space.

I was awakened into a whole new world that day. While my children had a safe and sound home, these little things had nothing to call home.  They didn't eveb have anything to properly wear for the season. Likely, they had run out of the house with what clothes they could grab the first, perhaps in the middle of the night. There was a woman's battered women's shelter across the street from our school, no signs indicating it was there among the neighborhood. Just as they had registered they had hoped would be a stay at the school didn't even last 24 hours.

Leaving a life of fright during their plight is a situation none of us want to experience. But, we must help those who do live a miserable life on the road, often in the middle of the night while you and I are sleeping. I have added a few cleaned,stuffed animals to my collection of coats,hats and gloves I carry in the car, to give to those children we seeing standing at intersections or standing helplessly in front of stores. This can give them something which is theres to keep, to cuddle and to love, no matter where they go. They now have a friend which can give them unconditional love. Fixing up backpacks to have their own school paper, ruler, a pen and a pencil,  and a granola bare are also nice to leave at shelters. As with the stuffed animal to hug, they will have a pack of their own, not being teased by others why they don't have one.

May they feel the unconditional love we can give them, through small gestures. Many more of those we may be quick to judge as bums may only have story behind them, such as this little girl. Let us feel the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to be there for God's children, no matter who or what they are. Let us also pray that those who think it is funny to taunt the helpless may feel the love of God, turning their lives around, becoming inspired by His Spirit to help the many in need.

REMEMBERING

Today is a bit of a 'gray day.'  A few inches of snow have fallen, with the skies promising more. I do not see any 'glistening in the snow,' as the approaching storm nears. It is two days before Christmas, when family and friends gather, bringing much conversation and laughter. But in a number of homes, there will be a sense of quiet, grieving over those passing away this year. In Santa Fe, we are especially hit, losing four teens at once this summer, due to a drunk driver hitting their car. Life has to go one for the families, but it a different kind of life now.  Nothing will ever be the same. Through our joys, let us remember all of those having sorrow, praying to God that they will feel the love and gentleness of the Holy Spirit as they go through each 'season of memories.'

TOMORROW

The last line of the novel “Gone With the Wind” has Scarlett O’Hara saying “Tomorrow will be another day.” Yes, it will be another day.  How will we approach it?  Will we drag into the new day all the heaviness we are carrying upon our shoulders? Doing so will soon have our shoulders down to our knees, as we continue to add worries to those we can’t let go.  Or, we could try something new; trying to start each day with a clean slate. We will be floating on air before we know it.  What matters is what is happening right now, not what happened yesterday. Ask the Holy Spirit to help lift you up. Forget the past; breathe in the fresh air. Let your soul feel the new energy. Say a prayer of thanks to God for letting you enjoy another day in His beautiful world.