I confess, after yesterday I wandered around at a loss of what to do. I’d been planning book related stuff for quite sometime, but somehow, it didn’t seem the time or place for light, fun stuff.
This morning I ran across this on Facebook and it really stood out to me.
Though your mileage may vary, my take away was a powerful reminder that I didn’t want what was going on in the world around me–and take your pick, there’s plenty to choose from–to change me into someone I didn’t want to be. Bitterness, anger, sorrow all have their place, but they also have the power to wound us so that we no longer function the way we would like to. I want to be fiercely kind and I’m going to hold on to that as my 2021 goal.
Even while having to deal with all the difficult things going on, I want to remember there are good things still in the world, and share those as I can. Not to take away from the difficult realities that we face, but to offer a respite, to recharge and smile before going back into the fray to do what we must.
So in light of that, I’d like to offer what I hope are two little rays of sunshine to help us all get through real life.
Please, join us tomorrow for JAFF in January. Ben Fife, the voice of Jane Austen’s Dragons and I will help to kick things off with a reading from my newest dragon work in progress and we’ll be around to chat with everyone about all this JAFF and/or dragon related. Hang out with some JAFF friends and maybe meet a few new ones. We’ll all be better for a few minutes stolen away from the overwhelming care of the world right now.
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Powerful statements there Ms Grace. I am sorry you are having such difficulties. I admire your perseverance to overcome what wants to pull you down.
When I was younger I always pray/sing this too: Prayer of St Francis:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love.
Where there is offence, let me bring pardon.
Where there is discord, let me bring union.
Where there is error, let me bring truth.
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
O Master, let me not seek as much
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that one receives,
it is in self-forgetting that one finds,
it is in pardoning that one is pardoned,
it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life.
It gives me comfort ,I hope it will impart some to you too. I also try to remember -It doesn’t matter what others say or do. What matters is what I myself will do.
Hope the rest of year will be enlightening for all of us.
Author
Thanks for the reminder. I have thought about the prayer of St. Francis in a long time.
Thank you♥
Author
You are very welcome.
I have a rendition of St. Francis’ Prayer saved to my favorite song list and play it often. I also like to sing it in church. And I do like the saying you found on Facebook; whether is it original or a copy of someone else’s thoughts it is so apropos.