Thought for Thursday 8

The weather here is overcast, cold, wet - with a smattering of snow on the mountains.  But, as there is very little power coming into our batteries blogging is limited...

...so, to keep in touch here's a Thought for Thursday from Tut:

"The main reason someone moves mountains, wins friends, influences people, amasses a fortune, or anything else, is because they thought they would.

Veni, Vedi, Vici!"

Thought for Thursday 7

Firstly, welcome Donald.  I'm tickled pink that you clicked the followers button :)

"Treat the earth well. It was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children." (Ancient Indian Proverb)

As those of you in the northern hemisphere proceed with your Spring seed planting / soil preparation, please remember whatever you put into the ground may last longer, or have far greater (and not necessarily positive) consequences than you think.  Where possible, please be as organic as you can - for the sake of those we leave behind, and of those yet to come...

Thought for Thursday 6

"And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, "Speak to us of Children." And he said: 

      Your children are not your children. 
      They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. 
      They come through you, but not from you, 
      And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you. 
      You may give them your love, but not your thoughts. 
      For they have their own thoughts. 
      You may house their bodies, but not their souls, 
      For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. 
      You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. 
      For life goes not backward, nor tarries with yesterday. 
      You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. 
      The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. 
      Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness; 
      For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable."

from "The Prophet" - the chapter on "Children" by Kahlil Gibran.  Kahlil Gibran was born in 1883 into a Maronite Catholic family in northern Mount Lebabnon.  He emigrated to America with his mother and siblings in 1895 - the same year that he started school at the age of 12.  He died in New York City in 1931.

Personal note: I can highly recommend reading "The Prophet" - a moving, thought provoking and inspiring collection of poems.  The book is available to read online - just click on the book title above for the link.

Thought for Thursday - 5

Here are some more wise words from TUT:

We're given a priceless gift everytime we have an
amazing sunrise or sunset.
The pic above was the sunset on a crisp
winter's evening this last July

"A Public Service Announcement from the Universe:

Be on guard against those who help others in the name of sacrifice, selflessness, or altruism, instead of in the name of joy. Because usually, they don't really help all that much. 

Sad is the life, that gives without realizing how much, in turn, it receives."

Thought for Thursday 4 - Simple pleasures

When last did you enjoy a simple pleasure?  Something that costs nothing.  Something that everyone, if they are still young at heart, can enjoy?

I loved this e-mail which I received from a friend this week.

Heavy, dark, ominous clouds don't necessarily
mean that your day is going to be clouded, nor
need they be  potent sign of disaster -
they can also signify the potential of life giving water
spilling down from the skies above, and a chance
to have some innocent fun :)

NEED WASHING?

A little girl had been shopping with her Mum in Woolies (Woolworths / Walmart / Tesco).

She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence.

It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth that it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there, under the awning, just inside the door of the Woolies.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day.

I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world.  Memories of running, splashing, so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

Her little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, 'Mum let's run through the rain,' she said.

'What?' Mum asked.

'Let's run through the rain!' She repeated.

'No, darling, we'll wait until it slows down a bit,' Mum replied.

This young child waited a minute and repeated: 'Mum, let's run through the rain.'

'We'll get soaked if we do,' Mum said.

'No, we won't, Mum. That's not what you said this morning,'the young girl said as she tugged at her Mum's arm.

'This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?'

'Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, He can get us through anything! '

The entire crowd were completely silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one left. Mum paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.

Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

'Darling, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just need washing,' Mum said.

Then off they ran.

We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles.

They got soaked.

They were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

And yes, I did.  I ran.  I got wet.  I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health.  But no one can ever take away your precious memories...

So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday.

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.


I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN (OR WALK) THROUGH THE RAIN.




Take the time to live!

Keep in touch with your friends, you never know when you'll need each other...

 ...and don't forget to run in the rain! :)

And, to all my American followers, Happy Independence Day.

Thought for Thursday

I received the following in an e-mail, and it struck a chord.  So I wanted to share with those who may not have seen it.

It's a simple message of how we have strayed from our path, and added enough unnecessary complications to make our lives sometimes seem like a burden instead of a time of gratitude and pleasure.

A thought provoking sunset.
It's the simple things in life which honestly give us
the most pleasure.  Why do we have to complicate
everything to "improve it"?

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.

No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long
ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned, but overbearing, regulations were set in place.

Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realise that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realised he was gone.

Thought for Thursday 2

Here are some more wise words from TUT:

"Sometimes, Dani, when circumstances or disappointments bump you off track, it's the beginning of an even bigger dream coming true, that could not have come true on the track you were on."

It's good to have a reminder that "our" way / needs / desires aren't necessarily what our path forward in life is all about.  So much today involves instant gratification.  We don't know everything, and we certainly can't totally control what will, or will not, happen in our lives - we can help - but we can't dictate.  I sometimes battle with the time frame, but do trust the good Lord to steer me in the direction he wants me to go, even though, often, I can't see the fire for the smoke.

Without the (subject) pun, my Dover stove / Nordica Rosa episode is a prime example of that - I was so disappointed (and truthfully, panicky for how were we going to keep warm in winter) that the Dover didn't work for us, but something better was in store, and all it took was patience :)  The same applied to our long drawn out town house sale - it took forever, but boy, it was worth waiting for, because it made our dream of relocating to our smallholding and living off-grid finally came true.

Trini Lopez sang in the 60's:
"Lemon tree, very pretty, and the lemon flower
is sweet, but the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat"
- unless you make lemonade LOL

So, the (albeit late) conclusion I have come to is that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade, while you wait for the rest of the harvest to come in :)

Thought for Thursday 1

I subscribe to TUT (Totally Unique Thoughts) which sends me a daily totally free-of-charge e-mail with a positive message with which to start my day - along the lines of "thoughts become things".

To quote from their "About" page:

"What We Believe
TUT (Totally Unique Thoughts) believes that everyone's special, that every life is meaningful, and that we're all here to learn that dreams do come true. We also believe that "thoughts become things," and that imagination is the gift that can bring love, health, abundance, and happiness into our lives.

What We Do 
Through our products and events we remind others as much as ourselves of life’s fundamental truths: that life is magical, that we are adored and powerful, and that dreams really do come true."

It is a free service, and I have to tell you that sometimes the little messages can be amazingly appropriate.  There are "Wordless Wednesday's" and "Friday Funnies" in blogland, so, I thought I'd start a "regular" posting - every so often on a Thursday - "Thoughts on Thursday" - to share those particular TUT e-mails messages that uplift, inspire and motivate me.  Sometimes, one can't see the wood for the trees.  Perhaps the thought of the day that I share may be just what someone else needs too?  :)  And putting them on my blog will also ensure that I have a spot to come back to in order to remind myself in those "grey" times - if, and when, I need to :)

This was what landed in my inbox recently.  

Misty winter sunrise.  I reckon there will always
be light in the darkness if one takes the time to
really look for it

"It's part of nature's checks and balances, Dani, that while there may be times when you think you can't even help yourself, precisely at such moments there will always be someone else nearby... that you can help, instead.

Which, I think you know, is actually one of the fastest ways to help yourself."

It reminded me of the passage from Luke 6:38 :

"Give and it shall be given unto you;  a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap.  For whatever measure you deal out to others, it will be dealt to you in return."

It's true - Sharing is caring :)