by Sharon O | Oct 15, 2011 | Uncategorized
In order to grow
we must be willing to let go of our comfortable self.
In order to grow
we must be willing to change.
In order to grow
we must be willing to do what it takes to be different and new.
In order to grow
we must have the fight within us to press forward and not fall back.
In order to grow
we must adapt and open our eyes to new visions of reality.
In order to grow
we must hold back our fear and trust in our ability.
In order to grow
we must desire the outcome of our goal and ask questions.
In order to grow
we must be willing to do the hard work towards a new beginning.
In order to grow
we must be willing to give consent cheerfully.
Are we willing to do all that is needed
to grow with an open heart?
by Sharon O | Oct 11, 2011 | Uncategorized
It has been raining and I love it.
The cool moist air is wonderful and refreshing.
The trees are just starting to change from green to multi colors of red, orange and yellow.
We can enjoy the rain or fight it.
We can rejoice in it’s cleansing process or we can be grumpy.
The choice is ours.
I choose to enjoy the damp crisp October air.
Even if I have an allergic cough and can’t breathe very well sometimes.
I choose to embrace the changing of the season
where death makes way for birth.
If the old leaves did not fall new leaves could not grow.
If the dormant season did not take place
new flowers would not rise up and spring would look very different and dark.
I think our lives are a lot like the seasons.
We can dance in the rain and rejoice in it’s refreshment
or grumble about all the uncomfortable changes it brings.
The autumn season of our lives can be good
as we move slow and reflect inward.
Life is not about complaining
It is about learning how to live in the moment and being thankful.
{I am not sure where this picture came from or who took it, but I like it for this blog post}
by Sharon O | Oct 8, 2011 | Uncategorized
The theme this week has been rest
and today I feel there could be a few other words to explore.
Restore:
to bring back to a former condition; to bring back to a state of health, soundness or good spirits.
The other word is renew: to revive, to begin again.
After a time of rest and refreshment we begin again
with more energy.
With more of a willingness to start the task of life over.
For example after a vacation we come back different.
We return refreshed and ready to face life’s challenges one more time.
Restoration and renewing of oneself is good.
It is positive and necessary.
Sometimes we need to step back and evaluate where we are going
and what are we doing.
Sometimes it takes rest to do that
not just a time of being sick
but a time of resting.
A time to stop.
A time to listen to our hearts struggles
before we should even begin to do anything else.
Sometimes it gives us the courage to say,
“I don’t want to do this anymore.”
When I quit my last job I prayed about it and I felt peaceful
when the phone call took place between my boss and I.
My words came out so controlled, “I am not coming back.”
It felt good. It felt right.
After eight long years of working and giving myself to a company who really ‘didn’t care’ about me as a person. It made me feel empowered to say, ‘this is not good for me anymore’ and when the response I received was ‘ok’ it validated my right decision.
At that moment I knew I needed time.
A time for rest
A time to restore
A time for renewal
A time for a heart to feel listened to and a spirit to feel peaceful.
A time and a season for many things.
Are you feeling that you need time for something these days?
Give yourself a gift and make that time for the condition of your heart.
Life is too short to not begin again and do what needs to be done.
Say what needs to be said and then rest.
It will be your joy when you realize the peace you receive when you stop
and do no more.
by Sharon O | Oct 4, 2011 | Uncategorized
A time to rest.
The last four days I have been down resting.
A bug or a virus or an allergy or a seasonal illness brought me down again.
My body was tired.
My brain fogged over.
My energy slow moving.
Sleep was good.
Sleep became a healing place.
Warm blankets and soft pillows.
Comforting pajama’s and soft robe wrapped their arms around me.
Comfort is good.
It is like a hot cup of tea steaming in your hands.
Breathe in the smell of spices and leaves.
Breathe in the smell and listen to the quiet sound.
Silence is not comfortable.
Silence teaches us what haunts our hearts.
I wait and listen.
The word I receive is rest.
When the new year started the blog world was naming
their word for the year. I couldn’t think of a word.
Last year’s word was grief for we had many levels of that going on.
I prayed and the word came to me…
Rest… to rest and restore my soul.
Did you know that every night when one goes to sleep
they restore themselves at the cellular level.
Rest: the refreshing quiet or repose of sleep:
a good nights sleep ~ mental or spiritual calm; tranquility ~
relief or freedom, especially from anything that wearies, troubles, or disturbs.
to be quiet or still. to bring to rest; halt; stop.
Rest is refreshing.
Rest is healing.
Do you need to slow down and rest today ~
is your body and mind telling you that refreshment is needed?
by Sharon O | Sep 30, 2011 | Uncategorized
Friendships.
The blog world is writing about friendships this week.
It has made me step back and think of all the wonderful friends who have been in my life.
Some were for a season.
Like those who I see in my high school year book.
Don’t even remember half of them. They wrote wonderful things but my memory is dim and I cannot remember how they fit into my ‘life as a teen.’
Some were for a special event. My daughter does relay for life and through that she has made friends.
Some friendships are in your work place so long as you work there and then when you leave they leave too.
Some friendships are long term and like as in a marriage vow the unspoken words till death parts us is a way of saying,
“we will be friends always.”
One friend of mine I have known since junior high school.
I was in her wedding and she helped in mine.
Our children are grown with children of their own. At one point in time we even drove to Colorado from Oregon with a little baby in our car just so we could see them again.
It was a ‘real’ friendship from our heart to theirs. No distance could keep us apart.
 |
A day at the fair.
New hair cut and glasses
don’t make the best picture of me
but she is always beautiful. |
My best friend is someone who lives down the street from me.
We see each other about once every few months now.
But it wasn’t always that way. About 9 years ago her husband died and being a widow and alone she missed having someone to talk to.
I cannot count how many Friday nights I spent at her house talking and sharing and eating a meal together. My husband knew if I was with her it might be a long night. I tried to go anytime she called me for I knew her heart was hurting and she needed a friend to listen.
Her story has a wonderful ending. She met an awesome man on a dating site and I even helped.
I am rightfully called ‘the matchmaker.’
They have been married for about two years and I am so happy that she found a new love and new family although it isn’t as easy to see her now. Sharing my time with him is the right thing to do as they need to build their love and life together. God blessed her for waiting and waiting for the right man to come into her life.
Sometimes good friends can even be family although that can have some challenging moments.
Husbands can be a best friend depending on how strong the marriage is. I still think we should have girlfriends in our lives for it is a different relationship than one with a husband.
Sisters can be wonderful friends depending on the family.
Friendships are gifts we can give ourselves.
In order to have a good friend we have to spend time strengthening that bond.
Just as in a marriage one cannot be strong if they are distant or distracted.
It takes time and effort to create a good friendship.
It takes a commitment and a willingness to give and give even more.
I hope we all can find a good friend in our life.
It is something very good for us.
I believe we were never meant to live this life alone.
To care for someone and think outside of ourselves is the best ‘gift’ we can give.
It is a treasure for a life time.
