The Oak Tree

I wanted to share this poem by Johnny Ray Ryder, Jr. with you today just because I know we all sometimes need some encouragement. I imagine that it isn’t new to you, but I do feel it is a poem worth reading again. I know that I’ve read it a few times this week and that I came across it right when I needed to. Take a moment or two to breathe and reflect today. Wishing you strength, peace and hope. Today and always.

The Oak Tree

A mighty wind blew night and day.

It stole the oak tree’s leaves away,

Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark

Until the oak was tired and stark.

But still the oak tree held its ground

While other trees fell all around.

The weary wind gave up and spoke,

“How can you still be standing, Oak?”

The oak tree said, “I know that you

Can break each branch of mine in two,

Carry every leaf away,

Shake my limbs, and make me sway.

But I have roots stretched in the earth,

Growing stronger since my birth.

You’ll never touch them, for you see,

They are the deepest part of me.

Until today, I wasn’t sure

Of just how much I could endure.

But now I’ve found, with thanks to you,

I’m stronger than I ever knew.”

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Walt’s Wisdom

Re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss what insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem. ~Walt Whitman

How does this quote make you feel?

What thoughts came to mind after reading it?

…dismiss what insults your own soul…

Love that. It almost gives you permission to let go of something that weighs you down. Or perhaps it provides the strength to stand up against the dismissing force that keeps you from being you. From being at peace. If nothing else it allows you to feel what is home to your soul and reminds you to acknowledge that peace. To let go of the stress in your day and be at peace.

…and your very flesh will be a great poem.

Yes. Yours. A great poem. Feel impossible? It isn’t.

Whether you realize it or not; it already is. Recognizing it is what is key.

If you feel calm, balanced, and at home in your soul then be grateful for that blessing.

If not then take a break. Go for a walk, or sit down with a cup of tea, perhaps go for a drive, pray, read a book, call a friend or family member, unwind, do something that relaxes you. Something that brings you to your peaceful place. You deserve that blessing. We all do.

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Soliciting Strength

I’ve been meaning to write and explain my hiatus but I haven’t really found the right words. Hopefully I will do that very soon.

This morning I am writing with a request. Someone entirely dear to me is in need of prayers. Strength and prayers. So, I am asking everyone that reads this post to send up an extra prayer or positive thought. Think of others in your life that you know could use some extra courage and strength. Take a moment to breathe, reflect and strengthen these people as well. Even for yourself. We all need and deserve an extra lift, right? I know that I sure do.

Certain thoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees. ~Victor Hugo

I’m going to keep this prayer simple for now. Here is hope, love, strength, and courage. You are beautiful. You are a blessing. You are not alone. 

I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much. ~Mother Theresa

God is with you. Do you see that one set of footprints? He is carrying you. Today and always.

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Sacrificing You

At different times during my life I have often thought about the sacrifices my father made as a parent — especially early on as a widower.  Things that he put on hold because all of a sudden two little ones had only him to count on. Not only was he still learning how to be a father, but he had to learn how to be a mother as well.

I’ve thought about it even more ever since I became a mom, especially when I was facing something difficult. And it came up again recently while talking to someone completely dear to me. We have to do a) or b) for the sake of our children.

Can I just ask – where do you get your strength? When you are dealing with something life altering, something that is a key component to your heart and soul, how do you do this without it affecting your children?

How do you feed them, play with them, read to them without them knowing your heart is hurting for some reason or other? Is it even possible? Is it something you manage to push aside until the hours of the night when your little one is nestled in bed? Do you worry that they can sense something? Where do you find the strength to sacrifice something that your heart needs to deal with for a more appropriate time?

I guess this is one of those things that you learn while going through it but I thought that this would be the perfect place to bring up this topic. And it could also be a good reminder that although we have to be strong for our little ones it is also okay and necessary to take care of ourselves. I found the below quote yesterday and it brought me a sense of peace while thinking of these things that are on my mind. You can almost feel the hope in it, can’t you?

Where there is great love, there are always miracles. ~Willa Cather

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Quoting Patience

This week I’ve struggled a bit with something that is on my mind. I realized it when for the third time in two days I found myself having an argument in my head with the person that I am upset with. It’s happened at random times. While doing dishes; while driving. I’m starting to feel like it’s almost to the point where it is too late to discuss it because I’m not sure that I can anymore without getting too upset. Of course I could always do so via email but that isn’t really the right way to handle this.

So I’m hoping I find some patience. Patience to find the right words and the strength to address this issue appropriately. Quickly and to the point without making it about more than it needs to be. I so hope I can.

While writing this I decided to look up some quotes on patience. I thought maybe they would inspire me. Help me to breathe and relax and think again about what is upsetting me. Below is a quote I came across that I really like.

Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.  ~John Quincy Adams

Do you have a favorite quote related to patience? How do you de-stress so that you can prepare yourself to deal with something difficult?

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Calm in your heart

peace. it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work, it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart. (unknown)

I’m sure everyone has seen them. The quotable magnets. Now they have cards, mugs, etc. Well, I shouldn’t say now. They’ve had them for a while. Anyways, I have a couple of them. The above quote is one. It makes me think about how I am not calm in my heart. Sometimes I am; I guess. But not all the time. Not all that often in fact. Isn’t the point to actually be able to feel that way at all times?

I often think of the things that I need to do to achieve this and I’m not yet positive whether I have the strength to do them yet. But I do know that I need to work towards them. And more importantly that I am trying to.

Wishing everyone a day full of the things that bring peace and happiness to your heart.

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