A Prayer for the Children

We've unfortunately seen many senseless acts of violence in our lifetime; however this most recent one is tearing at the souls of everyone even more because of so many innocent children involved.  I can't imagine losing a child... and as I see the pictures of both the children and their grieving families I can't stop the tears or the longing to ease their pain.  All I can do from here ho is Pray for the children, their families and the entire community.  I can't fathom such heartache...

A Prayer for the Children

On Friday, December 14, 2012, 20 children were killed in a shooting rampage at an elementary
school in Newtown, Connecticut. Seven adults, including the gunman, also died at the scene. As
the families and friends of the deceased mourn the loss of their loved ones, we pray for the
children, and for all those whose lives have been affected by this tragedy.
Our hearts are broken.
Today, in the midst of holiday cheer,
we are painfully reminded of the cruelty and fragility of our lives together.
How do we live with such unimaginable grief?
How do we comfort such intolerable pain?
How do we care for each other in a world where violence seems so readily accessible?
Great comforter and protector,
We have no answers.
No words that can heal the broken heartedness we feel.
Yet you have promised to heal the broken hearted and to bind up their wounds.
We cling ardently to this assurance.
This is the world that Christ is born into;
A world bursting with broken-hearted people.
This is the world that you call us to sing, ‘Rejoice’ in.
The pain is too fresh, the wounds are too raw,
Yet still, we light the pink candle in anticipation of your fulfilled promises.
Until then,
we will continue to pray
For the parents,
For the families,
For the victims,
For the teachers,
For the first responders,
For the survivors, and
For all who have been crushed by this shooting.
We will hold them in our hearts.
We will strive to compassionately care for each other.
And, we will honor and lift-up our children,
For in them the light of Christ beams.
Amen.

Alydia Smith
The United Church of Canada

The people we need...

"We need people in our lives with whom we can be as open as possible.  To have real conversations with people may seem like such a simple, obvious suggestion; however it involves courage and risk." ~Thomas Moore

"Maybe some people just aren't meant to be in our lives forever.  Maybe some people are just passing through.  It's like some people just come through our lives to bring us something: a gift, a blessing, a lesson we need to learn.  And that's why they're here.  You'll have that gift forever." ~Danielle Steel, The Gift

What's meant to be....

"When people come into your life for only a SEASON... It was meant to be.  They come for a REASON...  So, let it be..."

"What's meant to be will always find a way."

As the poem goes:  'People come into our life for a Reason, a Season or a Lifetime...'  It's often times hard for us to determine, in the beginning, which of those a person is supposed to be.  Primarily because we ourselves are too close to the situation to be objective.  Often times our own wants and needs, get in the way of just letting situations and relationships just take it's course..., whatever that course may be.

What gets many of us in trouble, is when our desires cause us to see situations and people the way we wish them to be and believe what we want to.  When these feeling and emotions take over, it sometimes allows us to assume and even expect something that may or may not... meant to be. 

Most of us, however, can see the truth later on... which of those 3 they were and even see why we were meant to meet that person... no matter how long or how brief.  God then hopes that we also see the reason or lesson... and there is always a reason along with a lesson or two.  

I've personally been on both sides.  When I was naive and too trusting, I was the person picturing happy, even romantic futures.  Then as I grew and became much more intuitive and understanding of the paths and lessons that we are to encounter throughout our life times.  Now a days I seem to be on the other side where I feel I'm the person who comes into lives for a reason, maybe even a season to support, direct or help in some way.  

I believe that we are all meant to be the 'Reason, Season or Lifetime' for many, many people throughout our lives.  Sometimes, unfortunately we encounter someone who misunderstands why we've met.  They assume and even expect things that are just not meant to be or why we are here for them.  They don't see what we are here to teach or show them.   

It's a touchy situation when have to set boundaries, while continuing to be a good friend and teach the lessons that God has placed them there to do.  That person has to remain strong, listen to their intuition or gut... and stay true to their heart and only be what they are meant to be for that person.  

The main lessons I've learned are: self love first; be the person you wish to find; do the things you want to do with that person someday; and above all else... never expect, never assume, never demand... just let it be and enjoy the moment, the friendship or the situation.  

"Maybe some people just aren't meant to be in our lives forever.  Maybe some people are just passing through.  It's like some people just come through our lives to bring us something: a gift, a blessing, a lesson we need to learn.  And that's why they're here.  You'll have that gift forever." ~Danielle Steel, The Gif

Love them or Leave them
Can Men and Women be friends?

Live a Life that Counts

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"If you're not doing something with your life, then it doesn’t matter how long you live. If you're doing something with your life, then it doesn't matter how short your life may be. A life is not measured by years lived, but by its usefulness. If you are giving, loving, serving, helping, encouraging, and adding value to others, then you're living a life that counts!" ~John C. Maxwell 

Words To Live By

It's not how much you accomplish in life that really counts,

but how much you give to other.

It's not how high you build your dreams that makes a difference,

but how high your faith can climb.

It's not how many goals you reach,

but how many lives you touch.

It's not who you know that matters,

but who you are inside.

Believe in the impossible,

hold tight to the incredible,

and live each day to its fullest potential.

You can make a difference in your world.

~ Rebecca Barlow Jordan ~ 

Forever Connected ... By: Silke Wettergren

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Opulent Reality

Forever Connected © Silke Wettergren

Every moment we spent together
Has touched our lives, our souls forever
The things that we shared and learned
Is permanent growth that we've earned.

The person that I have grown into today
Did not get there by chance, no way
I am who I am partly because of you
And you are YOU because of me, too.

The changes I see
and what I have learned about me
are a response to how we affected our lives
and what we discover in each others eyes.

It is uncertain if we have to part or one day live together
Either way, we have touched our lives forever!
No matter what the future will show
No matter what we are told.

We are connected on such a deep levels
That no one can remove that, not even the devil.
Our feelings might be different a year from now
But you are part of me forever somehow.

A part of me will always be you
and a part of you will always be me.
no matter what happens, that much is certain
our souls are one until life closes the curtain.

I will love your forever
For worse or for better.

You are tattooed in my heart
And nothing can tear our souls apart.

I will never forget you
For my love is honest and true.

© Silke Wettergren ~ Poem Source: Forever Connected, True Love Poems

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go.  Some people move our souls to dance.  They awaken us to new understandings with the passing whisper of their wisdom.  Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon.  They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints in our heart, and we are never ever the same." ~ Chicken Soup for the Soul

Waiting to be Saved

There have been many times in my life where I 'waited to be saved'.  For someone to come along and take care of things for me.  From getting out of my marriage, a bad relationship afterwards, previous jobs, my house, the list goes on and on.

I learned a while back that only I can take care of 'my own' situations.  Only I can decide on what I allow into my life and how I am going to deal with those situations or people.  I had to learn to take care of myself and not expect someone else to take care of things for me.

I made a lot of excuses when I stayed in my marriage as long as I did.  Fear, money and even my children.  Who were more well adjusted and happier after the fighting stopped.  I waited for someone to come along; get me out of these situations and basically 'save' me.  Like the Prince coming to save Snow White.

The truth was I was afraid of the unknown.  Would I be able to take care of myself and my children financially?  Would I be able to keep the house?  I even worried if I would find someone better suited for me later?  Worry never solves anything.  Only action can change things!

Those things were, in my own personal situation, after the real fear and constant dramas and fighting.  None the less, that fear of the unknown stops many people from doing what they know in their heart they need to do.  Not only for themselves, but for their children.  I used the excuse many times that I stayed for my children.  Even back then, I knew it was a poor excuse.

I have to admit that back then, and for a long time afterwards, my self-esteem was very low.  My soul was damaged and 'tired' from all the stress and drama as well.  I think in those situations that is why it is hard for many of us to stand up for ourselves.  That is why we hope and pray that someone will come along and take care of our situations for us.  Initially saving us!  Nice wish, unfortunately things don't work out in 'real life' that easily.

I had to first get my confidence back; building my self-esteem back up one step at a time.  Anything faster is just a temporary fluctuation, in my opinion.  It takes time to find out who you really are again.  It takes time to accept your losses, both emotionally and financially in some cases, in order to heal and move on.  That's a perfectly understandable and a normal process. 

I realized that no one else could take care of me, or fix my situations.  I needed to learn to take care of things myself.  I knew deep down I could take care of my children, I needed to also know I could take care of ME!  I found out over the last 6 years that I am stronger, and more capable of taking care of situations and myself than I ever imagined.

The very first and most important change I made was taking responsibility for my own actions.  Accepting the roles I played in those relationships and situations.  Admitting the choices I made and accepting responsibility for my own life.  The second change was finally forgiving myself for my mistakes; learning from them and moving on each time.  I now see the lessons each situation taught me.  To me the 'life lessons' we can learn in each 'life experience', is more valuable than anything we can learn in a text book.

Taking responsibility and control of my own life has made me happier and the most productive in my life.  Not saying that any of us have complete control of our lives.  That would be impossible unfortunately.

There will always be outside influences and people with 'free will' to impact our lives both positively and negatively.  However, we can choose to take control of the situations and events put before us.  Taking responsibility for our own thoughts, responses and actions is what helps us to have happy and productive lives!

"Accepting responsibility for our own lives, is the only way to be saved by our own selves."~ Coreen Trost @VelvetOverSteel.com