As individuals we need to quiet the noise of the world and contemplate Love and true Freedom from within. The word freedom can have numerous definitions as any word can. Situations and experiences within individual’s lives hold many different depths of meaning. What one person may explain as imprisonment another person may envision as being free.
Human life and human emotions all vary and take on individual conclusive wisdom relative only to the situation and experiences we grew up within. If we were not exposed witnessed or taught to look outside our limited human abilities and seek wisdom and enlightenment from God/Deity, our experiences will be limited to human ability,conduct, and fear.
“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.”Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
By seeking out Divine Love and opening your heart and mind to Divine Guidance our hearts are filled with Hope and we are guided to act in Love.
A smile is God’s cosmetic. Let your inner light shine brightly, share kindness, love and compassion with a genuine caring smile, and help others find their way out of the darkness and seek Divine Love and Guidance.
There is no room for darkness in a room filled with light.
Every human being has had that OMG moment. A memorable moment of embarrassment. If we are completely honest with ourselves we most likely have several or possibly many of these moments in a lifetime. Yesterday I shared a link to Brene Brown’s Ted talk about vulnerability and shame. She is quite entertaining and informative as well, the link is here.
How we respond to situations where we feel embarrassed or ashamed is very important to our emotional health. When we keep feelings hidden inside they stay with us. It is like renting a room in your house to someone you can’t stand being with because they make you feel bad all the time.
If we share the feeling it looses its power.
Sometimes the feeling of shame may feel SO big that it is hard for you to actually give it a voice. Putting words to it seems harder than keeping it buried deep inside. The world is huge and we all have different backgrounds, and may find comfort responding in very different ways.
I find comfort in prayer. The unconditional Love and Peace we receive from the Love of Jesus comforts me.
We receive a name when we are born however, anyone can steel that name and attempt to sign it, speak it and claim to be you. But we are all created amazingly unique, with a fingerprint that is unlike anyone else, with a heart and soul that no-one else can own or understand! I believe our truest identity is within our heart and soul, our truest and most honest feelings, not in our names.
My heart wishes to be identified with God, as a child of God, an individual who prays for forgiveness, guidance, to know and share unconditional love and gratitude for life.
Unconditional Love means we are Loved and worthy of being Loved even when we do something that makes us want to hide our face in Shame…….
It is OK….. It is not that bad …….. you are still Loved…….
I remember worrying about my grandchildren who were dealing with some very serious life threatening health problems. In order to provide a tangible way in which they could share there feeling and concerns, I bought them Worry Dolls to encourage them to tell their worries to the tiny little dolls.
My grandson Wyatt stated he was only going to tell his worries to the “one that was wearing pants” 🙂
The girls did not express any preference, they were willing to share their worries with any of the dolls.
Myself “Nanny” was worried that the dolls were so tiny they might loose their worry dolls, and then be traumatically upset when they couldn’t find them to tell their worries too!
They used the worry dolls for a little bit, but the greatest comfort for Wyatt when he was faced with fear was praying and wearing our family ring of Peace as a reminder of God’s Unconditional Love and Peace that surpasses all understanding. The link to this story is here.
Searching within our hearts, sharing our deepest and most shameful feelings, forgiving ourselves and understanding that we are Loved and worthy of Love without being perfect will lead you to experiencing true inner Peace and Joy .
As Maya Angelo said…..~ “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better”~
It does not matter how you pray, or where you pray. It just matters that you put words to your feelings, voice them, and understand that you do not need to be perfect to be worthy of Love.
Allow yourself to accept and feel the Unconditional Love that is offered to you.
“If you can’t say something nice, Don’t say nothing at all”
I am not sure what made me do research on where the phrase “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” originated from but I was surprised to find out that Mrs. Rabbit reminded Thumper that this is what his father told him in the Walt Disney movie Bambie. You can see the video clip here.
According to Walt Disney, mother and father rabbits teach their youngsters kindness, the use of gentle words and actions (anti-bullying manners). The Movie Bambie was released in 1942.
I found the article fascinating as it explains, that the three youngsters who become friends Thumper, Bambie, and Flower (the skunk) also exhibit another moral lesson in the virtues of tolerance and an easy disposition. Link to text here.
I found an equally surprising lesson reflected in Albert Einstein’s quote below.
“Everyone is a Genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid” ~Albert Einstein~
What makes people dwell on differences and challenge, protest, and attempt to set themselves apart from others instead of learning and teaching to coexist with others in a peaceful manor?
There is a beautiful song 525,600 minutes. How do you measure a year in the life? Do you want to find yourself with only a few minutes left in your life only to look back and see that you used so many of your minutes up angrily protesting against someone doing or simply attempting to live differently than you chose to do?
When we are taught or choose to compare ourselves with others and believe we are superior to, and greater than our peers we choose to live negatively. Criticizing others, always attempting to appear better than others, not being supportive or showing interest in others well being and success, leads to a negative, angry, stressful, restless, and irritated existence.
When we are taught or choose to be comfortable in our own skin, appreciate and encourage the differences of others, find our own special uniqueness’s follow and develop those to the greatest potential and support others in their choices and differences, we will lead a peaceful, harmonious life filled with Joy and Peace and free from restlessness, agitation, and anger.
Everyone has a choice in life. You can choose to bring Joy and Peace into your life and others, or you can choose to create distress and anguish within yourself and others. Those who live their lives in Love, wishing no harm for others will prevail. Living in fear and lies will never bring you Peace and Joy.
The world would be so much more enjoyable if everyone chose to learn from and about each other rather than judge and condemn each other because of differences.
No moment is ever wasted if it is spent communicating with another soul. When we exchange words in kindness without expectation we receive great rewards from the Joy that we experience from interacting and showing respect to another human soul.
In order to comprehend the deepest understanding of Love we need to totally be free from shame by standing in total and complete truth. At this level it allows us to feel worthy of accepting Divine Love, Respect and Understanding, it is only then that we feel complete and can in turn share this level of Love and Respect with every living being on earth.
Brave…… Spunky, Strong, Unafraid, Undaunted, Lionhearted, Herolike, Indomitable, Spirited, these are synonyms for the word BRAVE.
How does one become brave? Is it something that we actually contemplate and then act upon? This makes me think of my beautiful grandson Wyatt who was meeting the challenge of living with Mitochondrial Disease. He would often state before having to endure one of the many painful pokes or procedures required for that day “I’ll be brave”.
It is my belief that Bravery comes from within. It is also my Belief that we obtain it from Above. In my opinion as human beings we have limited abilities, knowledge and strength. When we rely on only what our human mind can plan for us we limit ourselves to small minded solutions.
By reaching outside of ourselves and inviting in Divine Solutions, Bravery will come forth from within.
This doesn’t mean we will function as the Incredible Hulk with a visible strength busting out of our clothing and a relentless hardhearted attitude. Boasting and singing our theme song and successes.
You may not know, but as we pray for Divine Support to fill our hearts and Guide us through difficult times, The Divine Spirit within your heart fills you with an endless wealth of Patience, Peace, Joy, Wisdom and Love.
True Bravery is not boastful and loudly visible it is more noticeable as a beautiful, quiet, gentle, nonthreatening calm, peace and comfort that we are able to function with through whatever daily life sends our way. A Brave person filled with the Divine Spirit is someone you want to draw near to, someone who you can tangibly feel their strength and wisdom. Someone you want to be with and get to know and share their secrets from within.
It does not mean though that we will be void of emotions. Even the toughest and bravest individuals even though they live with the assurance that they will have adequate courage to survive the challenges life sometimes deals us will experience sadness and tears from the life struggles we and others witness here on earth.
Pray for those in need, that they may be filled with the Strength and Peace for Above. Pray that the many humans struggling in “human survival mode” reach out for Divine Wisdom, open their hearts to “Be Brave” (as Wyatt so perfectly and simply said it.)
No matter how Faithful we are and how much Hope fills our hearts there are always moments that just don’t feel right or make sense after navigating through any major life change.
When changes come about suddenly the events that are happening may seem chaotic, random and senseless. Our mind and body seem as though they are functioning in a fog. Both movements and thoughts feel robotic and mechanical.
As the Spirit in us continues to lead us forward, our body sometimes stumbles with unbalanced emotions.
As we maneuver through the confusion, a random or chance meeting or event in our day can set off that Whisper from God that lets you know that you are exactly where you are supposed to be and doing exactly what you should be doing.
Along with the realization that you are where God wants you to be comes with a renewed amazement of the majestic unfolding of event that can only be explained as Divine Guidance.
By keeping our focus on moving forward and hanging on to at least a thread of Hope miracles eventually begin to unfold. Sometimes it is difficult to put into words the awesome beauty of that “Whisper from God” moment but you will know it for sure when you experience it.
It is the most amazing peaceful moment. You know from the bottom of your heart that all is well and this is where you are supposed to be at that very moment in time. In this moment there is a complete level of understanding within your heart that comprehends the importance of all of the events in your life that lead up to this unspoken level of compassion.
It is as if your heart is communicating without words with an absolute non-threatening level of understanding. The total peace that surpasses all understanding. We are more alike than different. When we quiet our thoughts and attempt to communicate with our heart this is the point when heavenly love reaches earth.
Pray that as a world we focus on moving forward and learn to quiet our minds and communicate more with our hearts to allow Heavenly Love to reach earth.
With Respect, Joy, Peace and Love, Carmela
We may not always see eye to eye but we can walk hand in hand and promote peace
What determines if our scars and wounds will leave us with wisdom or damage? Whether we live our lives in love or in fear the probability of pain and heartbreak are equally apparent. Our hearts can break and be easily wounded when we reach out to others in love and we are hurt. Physical as well as emotional hurts can be very hard to bounce back from. There are times in our life when we acquire abusive hurts in our formative years of life that may make dramatic differences in how our lives will develop in the future.
As the sun comes up tomorrow morning it will be the start of a new day. The world will begin anew in many ways. Many innocent children will be born and many human souls will leave their earthly bodies behind as they are welcomed into heavenly presence.
Each day brings us very limited and precious moments. We have the ability to choose how to use these moments. As adults we can make choices. We can choose to follow our limited human brains or we can search for higher enlightenment and understanding by opening our hearts to Divine Love.
Living in God’s Divine Love fills our hearts and minds with a wisdom that surpasses all understanding. It fills us with a strength to Live in Truth and strength to endure the untruthfulness of others life may send our way.
As an innocent child we are born with a heart of Love. The growth and development of that Love is in the hands of the adults who surround us in our most formative years.
In my past experiences working in the mental healthcare field I have worked with many adults who were scarred by abuse in their formative years as a child. Reading the many tragic life histories of these children brings tears and leaves a sorrow on your heart that is impossible to forget.
“Love is what we are born with. Fear is what we learn. The spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear and prejudices and the acceptance of love back in our hearts. Love is the essential reality and our purpose on earth. To be consciously aware of it, to experience love in ourselves and others, is the meaning of life. Meaning does not lie in things. Meaning lies in us.”~ Marianne Williamson~
It is never to late to choose to look outside of yourself for Divine Guidance. Open your heart to Divine Wisdom and Living in Truth.
“We are not held back by the Love we didn’t receive in the past, but by the Love we are not extending in the present.” ~ Marianne Williamson Quote
Please pray that the children who have been wounded from misguided adults are blessed with Divine healing of the scars from abuse. Pray that adults in need may find Wisdom, Understanding, Peace and guidance to seek Divine Love so they may experience love in themselves and others.
“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” – Helen Keller
We are not held back by the Love that we didn’t receive in our past, but by the Love that we are not extending in the present. ~Marianne Williams~
Do you mask your emotions? Do you get up and go through your day living as a character in a play? Fulfilling obligations, taking care of responsibilities and making every attempt to live a reputable life? When you fall short of perfection and life’s unavoidable annoyances get in the way of your achieving your goals how do you respond? Are you truthful with others when you explain an unmet deadline? Are you honest with yourself, or angry, annoyed and stressed?
Individuals often allow their true identity to be masked in ways that may not be obvious to themselves or others. It is possible for an individual to be living and functioning as only a “character” of their true self. When you live each day attempting to survive at a superficial level, depending only on limited human wisdom, you may never reach your greatest potential.
It is not easy to search deep within oneself to uncover who we are and what has made us this way.
“Love is what we are born with. Fear is what we learn. The spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear and prejudices and the acceptance of love back in our hearts. Love is the essential reality and our purpose on earth. To be consciously aware of it, to experience love in ourselves and others, is the meaning of life. Meaning does not lie in things. Meaning lies in us.” ~ Marianne Williamson Quote
It is not until we surrender our hearts and minds to a power greater than ourselves that enables us to witness a level of wisdom and truth that surpasses all understanding.
Genuine inner truth is a Divine Whisper from God. A truth that envelops us in Divine Love and changes us forever.
The Unconditional Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control that you are both comforted by and you acquire from Divine Love, will fill your life and be impossible to keep to yourself.
There are many different explanations or interpretations of Divine Love. There are also many different levels of maturity or understanding. In our journey through life we will meet many people who will influence our lives in many different ways.
Each time we experience a whisper from God and share that experience with another individual it can provide an amazing chance for God to touch someone with “His Love” by reaching out through you.
“We are not held back by the Love we didn’t receive in the past, but by the Love we are not extending in the present.” ~ Marianne Williamson Quote
Invite Divine Love into your heart. Live your Life in His Love. Reach out to others and follow Divine Guidance. It is not until you experience Divine Love that you can truly share complete empathy, compassion and understanding with others and begin living in Love and not Fear.
Many years ago my heart was awakened to the fact that when you allow God to take complete control of your life and genuinely live with complete trust in God with no fear of the world, amazing things do happen before your eyes. Although it may not always be completely as we would have planned it, when living “In and With The Lords Love” you need not fear!
I am feeling as though I need to tell you of an event that happened to me long ago when some may say that my heart acted with reckless abandon but the Lord “had my back”. I was working midnight to morning hours in a residential care home. This position was an awake overnight in a home where 4 individuals lived who needed support. There was a knock at the door about 1:30 AM and I answered the door finding a person who told me that her car had broken down asking to use the phone. I didn’t think twice about it, when she asked to use the phone to call her husband I left her in.
Soon after leaving her in she began to act suspiciously and raised some red flags to me. My intuition began telling me that she was there to rob the residents. She began telling me that she had worked at the home in the past, asked many questions, and asked to wait inside until her ride got there.
Because I had that internal alarm going off and I was sure she was dishonest, I immediately put all the keys to any money, valuables or medicine of the resident in my pocket. I very cautiously protected their belonging and was very comfortable in her company even though I felt sure she was being deceitful.
While she was making her call a resident woke and joined us. When my attention was distracted from her she went through my purse and took my wallet. She then asked me to use the bathroom. When I escorted her to the location of the bathroom she then commented about the renovations we had made since she was employed there. Asking details what is this door too and so on. This fact proved to me that my suspicions were right! She later came out of the bathroom and continued to chat and visit with me.
She seemed to sense that I was suspicious of her so she changed the story of why she was there. She then when into an elaborate story of how her husband beats her and she used to come there and they would give her shelter. The story went on, she stayed longer, and even asked me to make her a sandwich when she seen the resident getting himself a sandwich. Before she left the house she made one more request of me. She asked if I could get her a sweatshirt or something to put on because it was cold out. I immediately knew this request was simply to get me to leave the room, because my instincts still did not trust her Instead of leaving I offered her the Jacket I was wearing. She tried to put it on but it was to small. She then left. As she left I told her I would say a prayer for her and watched her cross the yard. I truly did say a prayer for her.
The next morning when the AM staff came in I relayed the incident to them being sure to tell them that I was sure she was looking for cash but I kept the keys on me and made sure she was not able to roam freely. I then collected my things and returned home.
Later that day I received a phone call from my bank telling me that someone picked up my wallet that had been thrown out along a nearby street! She had taken my wallet and went shopping at the local 24 hour store and then in the morning went to the bank and cashed a check for the remainder of the funds. She also had my drivers license and even though our appearances were as drastically different as possible they allowed her to cash the checks.
Police were called, and because she stayed so long and talked with me she was very easily identified by those who worked with her previously, and by me in a photo array as well. I had no cash along that night (other than 50 cents in the pocket of the jacket I tried to give her) but because of the way things transpired I was not harmed in any way and all of the money that she had taken through cashing checks was returned to me by the bank.
The bank had her photo, the signature on the checks were not even a close resemblance of mine and they admitted that it was their mistake for not looking at her identification to compare our photos. The police later told me that she was out on probation when she did this and the time before when she stole a check and cashed it she had signed her name to it.
After all of this transpired I was very upset and angry and as I was explaining the story to a coworker I stressed that I waved goodby to her and even went in and said a prayer for her! “Carmela, I think it worked” she said. “All is well ,no one is harmed and everything is coming right back to you!” The Lord “Had my back” 🙂
That was many years ago and although I did come across her picture not to long ago, I have not heard how she is doing. I wish her nothing bad and I truly hope that she has changed for the good.
Be faithful and do not fear-
Isaiah 8:9-10 9. Raise the war cry you nations and be shattered!
Listen, all you distant lands. Prepare for battle, and be shattered!
10. Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted: propose your plan,
but it will not stand, for God is with us .
We can not control what other people do or how they chose to live. The only thing we can do is LIVE IN LOVE and Pray for other people.
Here is one of my favorite songs from The Sidewalk Profits
Ultimately the one thing that I wish to accomplish with my words, whether it is through the blog or from within a children’s book, is to use words to teach a child and parents how to treasure life and live with gratitude.
No matter how sad, poor, or unhappy a day may seem there is always something within that day to be grateful for. It is never easy to look past our own hurts and needs but if you make it a point to do this you will always find that there is someone out there, and often times many people out there, who are suffering more greatly than you.
The greatest thing my heart longs for is to teach children to live positively, be thankful, kind, compassionate to others, forgiving when they are treated with less than these, and most importantly to be confident in who they are as a person. “Only you are you” It is OK to be unique:)
Although I may never know if I am successful, I pray that my efforts will touch others in a positive way.
Carmela Snelbaker 