What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness?
WordPress shared this post idea with me. So, here is my response.
The first thing that brings me joy is my plants.
Petunia growing in a pot on my windowsill.
The second thing that brings me joy is my rock painting.
My painted rocks
The third thing that brings me joy is books and information. I am currently reading my way through a US history book.
The fourth thing that gives me joy is my family and friends. My dad and I talk twice a week on the phone. My sister and mom text or message me regularly. I talk with my friends too.
The fifth thing that gives my joy is God and my hope for the future. I can’t know the future but I know that God knows it and loves me. I know that He will be there with me. My family and friends will be there too.
“How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it!” George Elliston
Ms. Elliston is an American Journalist. This quote is from a poem. She donated money to a university. This reminds of a story that my dad told me last week. Three old ladies paid for his meal at a steak house. He told me, my brother and sister. I think this act of kindness made my dad’s week.
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” Aesop
Here is an interesting post about this quote. I constantly want to make a difference in a BIG way rather than a small way. So, I need reminders that small “acts of kindness” can make a big difference in the life that you have done it for.
“Do what you can to show you care about other people, and you will make our world a better place.” Rosalynn Carter
If everyone did this, our world would be a much better place.
“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.” Lao Tzu
This quote made me think of how a patient trainer can make me feel safe enough to try something new with less of a fear of failure or mistakes. I think that is the meaning of the idea that kind words “creates confidence.” The second part makes me think of the need to treat oneself in a kind manner. This will help you to be more creative and explore new ideas.
” A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in it’s vicinity freshen into smiles.” Washington Irving
Chat GDP suggested two others that I liked.
“Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” Wendy Mass
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Mahatma Gandhi
This quote reminded me of when I was training to be an addiction counselor. The act of listening in a conversation without my emotions or thoughts interfering with my focus is a hard skill to learn. I’d catch myself thinking about something the pretend clients said that is similar to something in my life. Then, I’d want to give advice rather than listening and encouraging him/her to find the solution that works best for them. I know that what is best for me may not be best for someone else. But, this is my instinct.
We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone. Ronald Reagan.
My church has a confession that we read aloud near the start of our services.
This is one of my former pastors.
“Most merciful God, we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought,word and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved out neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.”
During the moments of silence, I try to itemize my sins of the week. Sometimes, I can’t think of any while I remember getting angry with someone on some weeks. I appreciate the fact that my church encourages me and other members to reflect on their past week for moments when we fell short of the glory of God.
This is followed up by my pastor reading a statement forgiving us of our sins. I know that a pastor can’t forgive sin. Only God can forgive sin. It is a great reminder of how forgiving God is due to the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of us regardless of our church affiliation.
“In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, 2006)
What sins do you feel the need to confess?
If you feel very guilty and have repeatedly confessed and repented, consider having a one-on-one confession with a pastor. Sometimes, another person re-assuring you that you are forgiven can help you to let go of the guilt. Carrying guilt around can be too hard for you to carry. Trust me, I sometimes joke that I am a walking guilt trip.
“When our world is rent by Violence and our lives are marred by grief, when our songs of calm assurance turn to cries of unbelief: God, we raise our lamentation seeking refuge and relief. “
This first verse makes me think of Nashville and the active shooter at the Christian school. That community is crying out in grief and anger similar to what my city did after Mr Darrell Brooks Jr drove in our parade.
“When our cities stand forsaken and the poor must beg for bread, when the pris’ner sits forgotten and the homeless find no bed, God, we raise our lamentation: waken justice from the dead!”
The third verse looks at the struggles of the individual rather than groups or communities like in the previous verses. “When our lives are burnt to ashes and our hopes fade like a dream, when our stories lose their meaning and despair becomes their theme, God, we raise our lamentation: Come, Lord Jesus, to redeem!”
I can relate to some of this verse. I remember being unable to feel happy or hope. The sky would be blue on a sunny warm day and I couldn’t enjoy it.
The last verse feels like a prayer to me. “Raise up beauty from the ashes; end our violence; tend our peace, Give us visions of a future where all captives find release, where oppression is evicted, and all works of hatred cease.”
This hymn is in All Creation Sings (ELCA hymnal) as hymn number 1052. The lyrics were written by David Bjorlin.
God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things which should be changed,
And the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.
Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it, trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will, so that I may be reasonably happy in his life, and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen. Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)
I had heard the beginning of this prayer read aloud at support groups. Then, I joined overcomers’ outreach which is a Christian twelve step group. I was shocked when I heard the whole prayer.
Sometimes, I feel like Sunday has a theme to it. I was thinking about today’s theme on the way home from church.
Jesus dying for us
I read a devotional (Chris in Our Home) that my church keeps by the information desk. Here is a quote from today’s entry (March 26th).
“I am moved by times Jesus himself felt alone and forsaken. These episodes in scripture remind me in my most desperate moments that the triune God is with me, understands me, and accompanies me as I navigate rough terrain”. The writer’s name is Mary Jo Anderson.
This quote filled me with the hope that Jesus will be with me always just as he promised at the end of the book of Matthew. “…I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20, NKJV)
At church, we heard about the pain and suffering that Jesus experienced as He died for us.
May Jesus be with you always. When you need His presence the most, I pray that He will reassure you that He is beside you through his word and the people who love you. For we all need His loving presence to get through the tough times of our lives. Amen.
O God, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Book of Common Prayer, 1662
Earlier this week, my cat died. In mid January, I noticed my cat was sneezing like crazy and took her to the vet. They showed me a swollen left cheek. I couldn’t figure out how I never noticed. They gave me an antibiotic. I proved my incompetence by dropping the bottle and spilling some of it. I had to go get more at the vet. Then, I was confused how long to administer it. Usually, I must use antibiotics until you run out. I stopped using it on 11 or 12. I felt guilty for forcing her to drink the the medication. I allowed that guilt to stop treating her. I started trying to make a follow up appointment after work.
In February, I started seeing red marks on my bed sheets. I tried to clean her face and discovered that she was bleeding on her face. I called my vet and got the emergency vet number. I took her to the vet while it was snowing. They told me that she had a serious dental problem and to schedule an appointment with my vet. I called the next morning at work and did that. My vet told me how much wait she had lost. She had always been skinny but now I could feel every part of her spine and ribs.
One of the vest at my clinic was out due to surgery. So, I had to make an appointment a little more than a week out. I was now administering antibiotic and a pain reliever.
Last weekend, I watched my cat get weaker and weaker. I sat with her laying on me for hours I discovered some new ridges on her skull and a tendon on the back of her neck. I told her that I will miss her if she leaves me.
Puffers died on Monday (February 27). Now, I am catless. I am working on decluttering and getting rid of some of the fur all over my apartment. I keep wanting to say,” Puffers, your human is home” when I return from work. I keep thinking that I need to feed her in the mornings and evenings.
I pray that there is a pet heaven like in the rainbow bridge poem.
Due to the Waukesha parade tragedy, this center was started. They have support groups and art therapy for anyone that was impacted by the parade tragedy.
My church prayed a prayer that I want to share here.
Send your Spirit of truth, O God;
Rekindle your gifts within us:
Renew our faith, increase our hope and deepen our love , for the sake of a world in need
Faithful to your Word, O God, draw near to all who call on you; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory forever. Amen.
