Grace

There were many times in my life I wish I would have been braver, stood stronger, had more courage. I survived, but through no stance of my own. I was carried by grace. And still, I am not as brave as I would like to be, and my courage fades when situations appear grim. Grace is my companion, ever present, forever carrying me along, until one day I will cross over the river Jordan. I will no longer need courage or strength, I will become the grace.

Read...
Read about history and philosophy and prose.
Read mysteries, novels, fiction and who knows
you may love this reading and all that it holds
good things for your mind
great things for your soul.
Read sonnets and love poems and
give them away to people you love on a random day.
Read in the spring in a warm sunny place,
on a bench by a lake ,
on the beach,
or in a swing.
Read in the winter when there's not much to do,
grab a book and a blanket and coffee fresh brewed.
Read to the children famous nursery rhymes
and to the elderly in nursing homes who have too much silent time.
Read things that inspire and stir up your heart read stories of courage when yours falls apart.
Read scripture and prayers,
read of faith and hold on.
Read of truth and endurance when the whole world seems wrong.
Read of love that survives and strength that prevails.
Let your dreams take flight let your thoughts set sail.
You may love this reading
and all that it holds
good things for your mind
great things for your soul.
by COHolley

 

When I went to the Library to check out the book "Moby Dick" the librarian walked me over to the book shelf and pulled out a tiny paperback book and said " this one was donated, there is no return date on it, keep it until you are through with it" I don't suppose I looked like a "real" reader...someone who is passionate about books.
Who would except such a classic in a tiny paperback form? Its like asking a true southerner if they would like plain tea or sweet tea, at which point I gave her just such a look ...and asked don't you have a larger volume? She handed me the wonderfully large hardback book that made my passion for books smile like Sunday Morning. I would have never chosen this book had it not been for my son and we are both enjoying reading it. The writer Herman Melville is genius. It is a real adventure that you can step away from the computer with and hold in your hands and turn the pages anxiously awaiting what is to come. Reading the classics is a gift to yourself.

Books and Roses. Two different venuse but they both are like a melody to the heart. One is like a gentle warm Bass that gathers you up and rocks you like a front porch swing and the other is like a melody that dances on a gentle breeze and comes to rest on your cheek like a kiss from someone that you love.

Today I was sitting at my computer and I heard conversation approaching my house...it became louder and louder the closer it got to my front door. A smile started to appear across my face. I knew exactly who its was, you see, these same two delightful african american ladies come to my door every so often. They tap tap tap gently on the door their conversation is always louder than the tapping and they never skip a beat, eager to get to the next point that needs to be said. They never look at the door to see me peeking out of the lifted blind, they are busy discussing things and mingling their verbal intentions with " you know that's right!" , tilting the head and raising the eyebrows before saying "well, I'm tellin' you" . Their presence is always brief, they never knock twice and like a dance they do from memory they walk off to the next house still talking and enjoying each others company. Always left behind is a reminder of my salvation that they tucked in the door that usually falls out with the first gentle wind and finds a place along the seasonal flowers at my entrance.
If I ever answer the door I suppose they will mark me off their list and I would miss hearing them coming towards my door and I would miss experiencing the excitement they have for each others company. These two dear ladies will never know the joy they bring to unopened doors. What sweet spirits they are. When your heart is set on good intentions you leave blessing trailing behind you like ribbons in the wind. When God calls just go.....He's working , you may not always see the results.

Beauty fades, and its important to have something in your spirit that can shine through and take its place.. The eyes of people favor the beautiful but the heart of people favors the kind. I can only hope to be something of value to behold when all is said and done.

I took a break from working today and walked around my yard. I found some great things to capture in some photos. A knot hole on a tree shaped like a heart, some very pretty amber colored moss growing up a tree, rain drops captured in a tin...y webb deep beneath some leaves and I also took the shot below....... I love the hodge podge of things I saw when I looked down. The speckled pattern on a Magnolia leaf, the golden colors of the scattered leaves, the brown curled up leaf holding rain water from last nights rain, the pretty patterns on the Magnolia pods, all ready to return to the ground, discarded by the magnificent tree above, a circle of life captured within it all by the new green growth pushing through the middle of it all.
While I wander through the rooms of my tiny home carrying with me concerns of tomorrow, beyond the walls I am surrounded by life taking things as it comes, resisting nothing and excepting what is...the course of nature all held together by a Master plan. I have much to learn from the Magnolia, from the soft moss on the trees and the rain gently cradeled in the leaf.

Most of us keep our thoughts on something in the past or thinking about the future. We only have this present moment. However you spend the moment ...the only requirement is love.

Photo by COHolley

A plane in the sky is not a great photo moment although I do like how the sun appears in the shot. This photo reminds me of something I read by Thomas Merton. The sky was still before the plane passed through and it remained still after it is gone. Perhaps a reminder to focus on the still peace within our selves, the peace and stillness is there before the situation, and within your being is there during the situation and will remain afterwards. The still and peaceful place we would reside if we were lifted up on the wings of eagels.

My husband John Stafford was a highly accomplished musician and did physical things on drums some people only dreamed of. He played double bass drums faster than a locomotive and moved the drum sticks over his drum set so fast you couldn't see them in his hands. When he played drums he drove people fast up on their feet screaming for more. He could tap dance long into his years , taught from the finest of dancers. He played violin at an early age and loved the classics. When we listened to music he would say to me " Listen, tell me what you hear, how may instruments and what are they." His heart was an orchestra.
He spent many of his last years in a wheel chair. He said to me one day in a low and gentle voice "People treat you different when you're in a wheel chair." He was saddened and surprised at the reality of it.
When you see someone with a disability don't look away, you can't hear their music but it's there, you cant see their melody but it plays. Just look them in the eye and smile.
Make the world a better place one intention at a time.