Reflections

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  1. sparrow51014
    sparrow
    22 hours ago

    When I was living in San Francisco
    I developed a toothache
    that just about split my head open
    as it moved into my right ear.
    My ex-husband and his wife
    took me to the emergency room
    and I cried from the pain,
    embarrassing all of us,
    I am sure.
    So I remember it all
    very well.

    My husband broke a tooth off yesterday,
    and took some antibiotics that I had,
    leftover from an old doctor’s visit.
    He awoke in pain during the night,
    and kept us both up for the duration.

    It has not been hard
    to give him my whole hearted attention today.
    It is almost as if I can feel his pain in my own mouth . . .
    so a soft breakfast
    and a trip to the pharmacy
    to get him some more antibiotics
    and an over-the-counter
    numbing agent.
    The issue of the tooth
    has taken up our whole day . . .
    he now sits with an ice pack on his cheek,
    with Gabriel on his lap for comfort,
    and I am hoping he will sleep tonight.

    It’s important to me
    that he feels seen, heard,
    and cared for . . .
    I’ve avoided the hovering,
    which doesn’t help anything,
    and on Monday
    he has an appointment with the dentist.

    It’s my job
    to tend to those I love,
    whether it be a husband in distress,
    a sick cat,
    or a plant that is struggling to survive.
    I have made a commitment
    to be as good a steward as I can
    to whatever dwells within my space on earth.

    This afternoon,
    in a slight drizzle,
    I went out into the garden
    and sprinkled coffee grounds
    and crushed egg shells onto the soil
    as I am invested in the plants’ health too.
    The air was cooler
    and smelt like fall . . .
    I noticed the birds had cleaned all the seeds
    out of the sunflowers I had planted in the vegetable bed,
    and it made me feel like I was doing my job. ♥

    1. D
      Drea
      6 hours ago

      I hope your husband is feeling okay this weekend, dear Sparrow, and that the dentist gets to it quickly tomorrow. Why do these things have to happen on weekends?

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        6 hours ago

        ”Why do these things have to happen on weekends?”

        Seems to be one of those laws of nature,
        dear Drea . . . 🙂
        thank you for your kind wishes. ♥

    2. Michele
      Michele
      7 hours ago

      I hope your husband starts to feel much better and has good luck at the dentist tomorrow fixing his broken tooth.
      You ARE doing a great job Sparrow!

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        6 hours ago

        My husband is feeling a little better,
        dear Michele.
        Thank you for the mental boost . . .
        it ain’t always easy
        with an irritable patient. 🙂

    3. Patti
      sunnypatti
      8 hours ago

      I hope the pain subsides for your husband and he gets an answer and cure tomorrow 🙏🏼

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        6 hours ago

        Thank you,
        dear SunnyPatti . . .
        he’s biding his time
        and the antibiotics are helping in the meantime. ♥

    4. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      20 hours ago

      Busted ribs are the only pain I know is worse than a toothache. May you dear husband encounter relief soon.

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        6 hours ago

        Ouchie Ouchie . . .
        I hope the busted ribs
        are in the past,
        dear Joseph. 🙂

    5. Ose
      Ose
      22 hours ago

      may the antibiotics calm down the inflammation and pain over the weekend, so that the dentist may help onwad to repair and cure soon. Blessings to you and your husband, dear Sparrow.

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        6 hours ago

        Yes,
        dear Ose . . .
        the antibiotics
        are helping with the inflammation.
        Thank you,
        dear one. ♥

  2. Robin Ann
    Robin Ann
    23 hours ago

    Nothing really. It’s been a rainy and drizzly couple of days. I did some food shopping and browsed in some shops.
    There were many indoor crafts exhibits in the mall nearby. People are already Christmas shopping!
    Enjoying also some mild weather here!

    1. Patti
      sunnypatti
      8 hours ago

      One of the houses in my neighborhood replaced their Halloween decorations with Christmas decorations!

  3. Antoinette88615
    Antoinette
    23 hours ago

    Love

  4. Antoinette88615
    Antoinette
    23 hours ago

    Love

  5. pkr29022
    pkr
    1 day ago

    Staying in the present moment.
    Going for a long walk after a couple of days not walking; weather was not cooperating…!
    Happy Saturday All, make it a great day.❤️
    🕊️❤️✨

    1. Ose
      Ose
      22 hours ago

      Thank you, dear PKR, and a lovely Sunday for you, too.

  6. Carol Ann Conner
    Carol Ann Conner
    1 day ago

    Willingness has my wholehearted attention most days. I share a Aramaic version of the Lord’s Prayer and follow it with a prayer from author and poet Joyce Rupp that was featured in Richard Rohr’s Meditation today. Both prayers ask for the grace to ripen which is a powerful wish for the elderly who are experiencing many losses. No matter how old one is, the willingness to ripen is always available. May we all choose to ripen!
    Translation of the Lord’s Prayer from Aramaic by Neil Douglas-Klotz
    Abwoon d’bwashmaya
    O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos/ you create all that moves in light.

    Nethqadash shmakh
    Focus your light within us–make it useful: as the rays of a beacon show the way.

    Teytey malkuthakh
    Create your reign of unity now–through our firey hearts and willing hands.

    Nehwey sebyanach aykanna d’bwashmaya aph b’arha.
    Your one desire then acts with ours, as in all light, so in all forms.

    Habwlan lachma d’sunqanan yaomana.
    Grant what we need each day in bread and insight:
    subsistence for the call of growing life.

    Washboqlan khaubayn (wakhtahayn)
    aykana daph khnan shbwoqan l’khayyabayn.
    Loose the cords of mistakes binding us,
    as we release the strands we hold of others’ guilt.

    Wela tahlan l’nesyuna
    Don’t let us enter forgetfulness

    Ela patzan min bisha.
    But free us from unripeness

    Metol dilakhie malkutha wahayla wateshbukhta l’ahlam almin.
    From you is born all ruling will, the power and the life to do,
    the song that beautifies all, from age to age it renews.

    Ameyn.
    Truly–power to these statements–
    may they be the source from which all my actions grow.

    https://cac.org/daily-meditations/ripening-aging-with-grace-weekly-summary/

    1. Y
      Yram
      6 hours ago

      We are on the same page. I have had those in my life for a very long time. Thank you.

    2. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      22 hours ago

      These meditations on aging gracefully,
      dear Carol Ann,
      are wonderful.
      I loved this quote from Anne Lamott . . .

      “I do not understand the mystery of grace—only that it meets us where we are and does not leave us where it found us.”

      . . . and each two lines
      of Joyce Rupp’s prayer
      can stand alone
      just as powerfully
      as the whole thing read at once.
      Again,
      thank you . . . ♥

  7. D
    Drea
    1 day ago

    Each moment, each breath. I know it sounds clichéd, but after a lot of dancing at the show last night, not enough sleep, and a lot to do today, I’m a ball of fatigue who needs to be present for activities.

    1. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      19 hours ago

      Had your dancin’ shoes on, did ya Drea?

      1. D
        Drea
        5 hours ago

        Oh yes, more dancing than I think I could handle, Joseph! But I don’t regret it.

    2. Ose
      Ose
      22 hours ago

      Wishing you a good night´s sleep so that you may feel refreshed when you wake up for a new day. Blessings, dear Drea

      1. D
        Drea
        5 hours ago

        Thank you dear Ose. I’m feeling much better this morning.

    3. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      22 hours ago

      It doesn’t sound cliché at all,
      dear Drea . . .
      I hope you are feeling better tonight. ♥

      1. D
        Drea
        5 hours ago

        Yes, feeling a lot better. Thank you Sparrow.

  8. Charlie T
    Charlie T
    1 day ago

    I don’t have anything in particular that needs attention, but as usual, staying present, being kind, and practicing gratitude, will get my whole hearted attention.
    Thank you for this reminder. This is why I come here. Getting my head straight first thing in the morning is such a good way to start my day. 🙏

  9. Barb C
    Barb C
    1 day ago

    I’ll have time with friends from my improv troupe who suggested getting together for a birthday brunch. Spending time together outside our shows and rehearsals will give us more time to know each other. My husband’s going with me. If it isn’t pouring rain we’ll bike down together. I’ll pay wholehearted attention to riding over leaves that could be slippery from the rain we’ve been having off and on this week.

    Later in the day I’ll be dealing (again, still) with the many, many pounds of green tomatoes the garden gifted me. I’ll make dill pickles, sweet pickles, perhaps some green tomato/apple mincemeat as a new way to use them up. Cooking and canning put me in a flow state, immersed in chopping, measuring spices, checking the temperature in the pot, waiting for the ping of success from the canning jar lids.

    It will feel wonderful to sit down after the hours on my feet. This question will remind me to fully experience that delicious moment.

    1. Patti
      sunnypatti
      8 hours ago

      Green tomato pickles sound wonderful! I love all things tomato – green or red! There’s a green tomato pie recipe from the Duke’s Mayonnaise Cookbook. I loved it when I made it, so maybe you might be interested – https://littleblackskillet.com/savory-green-tomato-pie/

      1. Barb C
        Barb C
        14 minutes ago

        Oooh, thank you! I made the green tomato/apple mincemeat after brunch. I’ve never made mincemeat before and it tasted wonderful even before sitting a while and blending the flavors more. I have a whole bunch of recipes to use it in from https://tinandthyme.uk/2021/11/mincemeat-recipes/. I decided to wait until Sunday to make the pickles, both sweet for my sweetie and dill for my older daughter and her family. I may have enough left over to try this!

    2. Carol Ann Conner
      Carol Ann Conner
      1 day ago

      Such a beautiful sharing, Barb. I can smell the spices! Thank you!

  10. Kathy29496
    Katrina
    1 day ago

    My home – cleaning, order, peace, fun, rest, space that is gratifying. We love our home. I just wish I didn’t have to spend so much time cleaning it myself. I just can’t let go of the $ to have someone else do it half–way. But finding the right person or team seems just as difficult – so I end up just doing it myself.

    1. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      22 hours ago

      ”We love our home. I just wish I didn’t have to spend so much time cleaning it myself.”

      Same here,
      dear Katrina . . . 🙂

    2. Carol Ann Conner
      Carol Ann Conner
      1 day ago

      Katrina, The fact that you are personally able to do it is itself a gift.

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        22 hours ago

        I’ll remind myself of this,
        dear Carol Ann,
        when I have to sit down
        and get my back in order
        after doing the vacuuming.
        It’s true though. 🙂

  11. Rita Sowinski
    RL
    1 day ago

    What is asking for my whole heart… Love and Mystery. I am trusting more deeply in God. As I face situations beyond my control, breathing through suffering and allowing/ choosing to trust in God. Then my serenity returns and my whole heart is filled. I face the situation with the gift of Grace. AMEN

    1. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      22 hours ago

      I re-post here,
      dear RL,
      a quote I read from Richard Rohr’s meditation,
      posted by Carol Ann. ♥

      “I do not understand the mystery of grace—only that it meets us where we are and does not leave us where it found us.”

      1. Rita Sowinski
        RL
        4 hours ago

        Thank you

    2. Carol Ann Conner
      Carol Ann Conner
      1 day ago

      🙂

  12. Michele
    Michele
    1 day ago

    Rest…. feeling tired. Grateful for my son, he stopped by yesterday and mowed both my front and backyards.
    Have a good weekend everyone.

    1. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      19 hours ago

      Thank you Michele, and likewise to you!

    2. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      22 hours ago

      You too,
      dear Michele . . . ♥

  13. Ngoc Nguyen
    Ngoc Nguyen
    1 day ago

    What is asking for my wholehearted attention today? The answer is the case study from my Mental Health Awareness class. The case is due tomorrow.
    Have a joyful weekend, everyone! ☺

    1. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      22 hours ago

      ♥

  14. Patti
    sunnypatti
    1 day ago

    My life, in general. I’ve been feeling a bit out of sorts, so I need to go a little deeper and figure some things out.

    1. Carol Ann Conner
      Carol Ann Conner
      1 day ago

      Patti, Don’t over think it!

      1. Patti
        sunnypatti
        8 hours ago

        I’m not letting it consume me, but I have to find my way.

  15. Mary
    M2
    1 day ago

    I feel I want to bring wholehearted attention to all that I am about today. So often, my answers here distill down to presences. And that seems a good way of being wholehearted. 🍂

    1. Ose
      Ose
      21 hours ago

      Thank you for being present here, dear M2. It is muhc appreciated. Grateful for your being here with me and us.

      1. Mary
        M2
        8 hours ago

        Why thank you, Ose.🧡

    2. Carol Ann Conner
      Carol Ann Conner
      1 day ago

      AMEN

      1. Mary
        M2
        8 hours ago

        Thank you, Carol Ann.🧡

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