"There are no limits. There are only plateaus,
and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them."
~Bruce Lee
Sometimes the shower is the only place I can hear myself think.
As the hot water ran down my back,
with eyes closed and a few deeeep exhales,
I could feel the longing.
My weariness was palpable.
The longing to downshift.
To feel the warmth of a new season wrap around my soul.
The longing for all of the "colds" and viruses to be done with already...
To stop turning on the heater at night or first thing in the morning.
I'm ready for the windows and back door to be open all day long,
with no more than the ceiling fan on to gently circulate the air.
Longing for new life, new growth, new blossoms, new beginnings...
I rarely do phone calls. Purely circumstantial.
But today I had the chance to talk to a friend.
My thoughts have been so foggy lately, I've been stumbling through my days.
Her words stabbed me into breathless clarity.
Lord, how I needed that.
The fog is lifting....
It's not all rainbows and butterflies,
But you already knew that.
Sometimes it's thistle and weeds.
Just keepin' it real.
Occasionally we need to take a step back.
Get our footing again. REST.
Re-examine our surroundings. Take inventory. Assess.
And then.....proceed thoughtfully. Prayerfully.
"Finish each day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely
and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Wise words, indeed, Bella. Blessings ...
ReplyDeleteAmen! Thank you for this encouragement, amiga! :)
ReplyDeleteGod mus really be wanting me to hear these words today because it's the second time He's said them to me. The first was in my devotions as I read Ecclesiastes 11:1-6. Thank you for being His voice this morning.
ReplyDeleteAnd it is all right here...breathless clarity!
ReplyDeleteHow refreshing a hot shower and a phone call can be! So much wisdom in that quote by Emerson...and like Christiane said, direct from Ecclesiastes! Downshifting with you, Bella...
Dear bella, with all your positive attitude you can turn any situation around...especially minor illnesses, with Spring just at your doorstep, and opening up your windows and doors to let the fresh breeze come in. Sometimes it' good to take a step back and slow down...it's necessary to find our footing.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to find out how others feel about hearing themselves think; as for you, the "shower" represents that. For me, the shower is essential...get-in-get out, LOL. For my granddaughter Gabby;age 10, ever since about age 3, she always loved showers so she can get in there and "sing her little heart out" as even now, with more advanced songs. For me, I like my "silence me time" when I can absolutely be myself, no T.V. no music, just the stillness, and the sounds of activities outside my condo apartment.
To me, silence means recognizing that my worries can't do much. Leaving things to God beyond my reach and capacity. There's a saying that, "a moment of silence, is like a HOLY STOP." Seeking to hear God's voice by being still and silent is absolutely essential to be spiritually healthy!
...and now for your quote "It's not always rainbows and butterflies" ...bella, that is also a line from a great song called "she will be loved"..."It's not always rainbows and butterflies...it's a compromise that moves us along"...how true, that is!
I left a short reply on my blog for you re: the song "you may think I'm crazy"...I kept humming it, and finally realized it's a song by the Cars from the eighties! Thanks for the tip on the Patsy Cline song..."crazy"...LOL it's sweet, but I'm not in a romantic relationship to be identifying with those particular lines in the song. (still smiling) about that one:DDD
Big hugs, and kisses to you and your sweet family!
So beautifully written...I remember those foggy times when my children were young, cranky and sick! But you soldier on...and rest and prayer and a positive perspective gets you through! So happy to see a sweet note from you on my blog today...thanks so much for taking time to say hello. I love keeping up with your precious family on facebook! xoxo
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautifully written post! It can be so tough when little ones are sick. But there is always such a brightness to you...hope you are all doing better!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recent visit to Family Fountain, the nice comments, and the follow.
ReplyDeleteReally like the Emerson quote! I need that wisdom many days!
Sweetie it will pass soon and you will gather the little ones and venture outside into the fresh air. Something about the fresh air that really tires them out and gives you a few more minutes to breathe. So glad you at least stole away a few moments for yourself. Wishing all those germs clear out of there soon. I'm gathering my thoughts myself, we are moving this weekend, but I still have to come back and forth for a bit. Will be keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
-Gina-
Beautiful, real and soulful.
ReplyDeleteVelva
PS. You always leave the sweetest comments...reading them puts a smile on my face. BTW, my cheese omelet is made in one large souffle dish...it's kind of a deceiving photo...as the serving spoon looks like a teaspoon:)
ReplyDeleteThis was so beautifully written. I felt every word as I read them. I pray you all are healthy now and that you stay that way going forward. Many blessings and much love to you my sweet sister!
ReplyDeleteYour words always find their way to me when I need them. "How do you do that?" Some how I missed this one but ran across it today. I am going to go ahead and open that backdoor, even if it is a little windy outside.
ReplyDelete