It’s hard to believe that Christmas day is almost here! If you’re at all like me, it’s easy to find yourself speeding through December with a certain degree of panic as you get caught up in all the “busy-ness” of the holiday season. Luckily, there are always thoughtful reminders around that help me turn my heart towards Christ and refocus more on what really matters most, as well as the basic fundamentals of what I believe that make life more meaningful…not just this time of year, but all year long.
“Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see.” The Polar Express
What I Believe…
I believe… in God and His son Jesus Christ! I believe in God because I have experienced His goodness and mercy; I know He believes in me too!
“For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16
I believe… in the power of prayer. I believe that prayer is the most powerful weapon against trials, the most effective medicine against sickness, and the most valuable gift to offer for someone you love!
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in sincere prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24
I believe… in working hard. My parents taught me early in life that if you work hard and are kind, amazing things happen!
“Some people dream of success…while others wake up and work hard at it!” Winston Churchill
I believe… that forgiveness is the ultimate act of love. It takes a strong person to say sorry, but an even stronger person to forgive; and perhaps the person we need to forgive the most–is ourselves!
“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37
I believe… that with hope all things are possible. One of the first things I learned in nursing school was to never give my patients a reason to lose hope; with hope your spirit soars and miracles happen!
“Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times.” Romans 12:12
I believe… that most people are good! If you listen to the nightly news, you might lose faith in mankind–but I choose to see the goodness in others…until they show me otherwise!
“Do to others whatsoever you would like them to do to you.” Matthew 7:12
Mostly, I believe… in love! As I’ve gotten older, I have come to realize, more than ever before, that time has a way of showing us that what really matters most is opening our hearts and loving genuinely–everything else is just extra sprinkles on our ice cream sundae of life!
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:9-10
Merry Christmas everyone, and best wishes for the happiest New Year!
What are some of the beliefs you hold dear in your life?
Sunday morning always seems to have a special feeling…whether I’m attending church, going to work as a nurse in the NICU, or enjoying a leisure breakfast with my husband, I love the unique pace of a beautiful Sunday. More than ever before, it has become a day to reflect and take the opportunity to truly be grateful for all the many blessings I enjoy. My cute hubby, who is a news junkie of sorts, has also deemed it a good news day–a much-needed break from the grind of the regular work week and a day to nurture our souls so that we can be better fortified to live our best lives. For some time now, we have recorded the CBS news show, “Sunday Morning” that used to be hosted by veteran TV journalist, Charles Osgood. The unique stories shared on this wonderfully produced program, spotlight the innate goodness found in most people and their genuine desire to serve and uplift others. After all–when it’s all said and done…isn’t that what life should really be about?
“Wishing you a happy Sunday! Let’s do what makes our souls shine!” Steve Hartman on “Sunday Morning”
Taking The Time To Nurture Our Souls!
In today’s society, we tend to have the need to constantly push ourselves to achieve and always show strength–and while these are admirable attributes in and of themselves, we run the risk of making life more about accomplishments and less about being loving and doing more of those things that bring us happiness. If you’re feeling a bit stretched to your limits–you just might find that any given Sunday morning is the perfect time to be a little introspective and take a personal inventory of the things that nurture your soul and create more joy in your life. My husband is a financial planner and makes the analogy on occasion, that if you don’t make regular deposits into your bank account of life, so to speak, there will come a time when you won’t have anything left to withdraw. Wise insight! How then, do we go about nurturing our souls so we can open our hearts and be more caring?
♥ Count Our Blessings
It’s sounds a bit cliché, but perhaps one of the best ways to find more contentment and joy in our lives is to really recognize what we have to be thankful for…whether you write these things down in a journal or just take time for a moment or two of thoughtful meditation, acknowledging our blessings seems like one of the best ways to nurture our souls!
Most anything from generic spiral notebooks to small pocket planners work well for jotting down some thankful thoughts, but if you’d like a special gratitude journal, Rifle Paper Co.has a good variety of unique ones!
It goes without saying, that a personal thank-you is always the best way to express gratitude!
My mom always used to say, “Gratitude unexpressed is not gratitude!”
♥ Unplug And Look Up!
I know this seems to be the “catch phrase” of this generation, but with the influx of information from all the technology readily available at our fingertips, it does seem that more often than not, our eyes are constantly looking down at our phones or they’re affixed on some other sort of screen. As I’ve made a conscious effort to put my phone away during those times that I’m playing with my grandkids or out for the evening our with my husband, I can vouch for the fact that a big part of nurturing my soul has come from looking up and being truly present in the moment when spending time with family and friends. In fact, I’ve even gone so far as to find excuses to plan special occasions with family and friends, where we get together and socialize the old-fashioned way with fun games, good food and lively conversation.
I think every family has a few favorite games that they love to play together, but if you want some great ideas for some hilarious and technology-free fun, then check out the“Unplug and Play” game book by Brad Berger!
♥ Create A Home Sweet Home!
I’m a firm believer that your home should be that comfortable safe haven from the outside world; the place you go to surround yourself with the people and things you love the most! While I don’t necessarily adhere to overly strict rules when it comes to keeping a nice house, one of the first things I learned in nursing school is that a neat environment lends itself to our overall well-being! The rhythm of a good weekend where equal parts of work and play are enjoyed, always serves to help me nurture my soul, especially when a little quiet introspection while relaxing at home on a lovely Sunday morning is included!
“A Sunday well spent…brings a week of content!” Old Proverb
♥ Strengthen Our Body And Minds!
All too often, we prioritize everyone and everything else in our lives except for time to care for ourselves, leaving us feeling a bit exhausted and overwhelmed. As a result, we find we’re living in a state of chronic stress without fully realizing it. Living this way can take a huge toll on our physical health, as well as our mental state of mind. Recognizing that our bodies and minds…and ultimately our spirits are all connected, gives us a powerful incentive to do better at including some regular physical exercise and mindful creativity to help us live a more balanced and vibrant life style. Taking time to do these things helps us to have a sense of inner peace, which is key to nourishing our souls. Creating simple routines to include a little self-care is obviously a very individualized process, but taking care of ourselves is integral to being more fully present for others.
“A happy life is manifested in a more balanced union of the body, mind and soul.” Tribute Journal
♥ Love More Fully!
Ultimately, when it comes to nourishing our souls, I think you’ll agree, that loving with a generous heart is what seems to matter most. In her article, “Rx For The Soul” psychologist, Dr. Judith Rich, states that “the soul is here to learn to love it all, even and perhaps especially, those things the ego thinks are unlovable.” Maybe by loving the unlovable parts of ourselves and others, we’ll see the good and decent parts of one another more clearly and our souls will find peace and a greater acceptance of people from all walks of life!
“At the end of our life, our questions are simple: Did I live well? Did I love fully?” Jack Kornfield
As I close this post, I want to share a good news story by TV journalist, Steve Hartman, on a recent “Sunday Morning” episode.
Happy Sunday…and best blessings to everyone!
“Do not face the day until you have faced God in prayer!” Bible Quotes
Now it’s your turn…what do you do to nourish your soul?
There’s nothing I love more than seeing flags waving in a summer breeze, military personnel, both past and present, being honored, parades and family gatherings.
“Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion, but a tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.” Adlai Stevenson
As patriotic, American citizens, we have a deep and abiding love for this great country. We know America isn’t perfect–but we love it all the same. How then, can we live every day in such a way that shows our gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy and contribute to our nation’s success?
Everyday Patriotism!
Real patriotism doesn’t mean we have to wait for a holiday or a special event to show our pride in America; it doesn’t require a red, white and blue dress code or fireworks. Patriotism, in its truest form, should be discernible in our everyday actions…by the way we speak and in the things we do!
Study America’s History!
Learning about American history and what made us the strong, independent country that we are should be an ongoing venture. I was lucky enough to have parents who discussed historical and current events at the dinner table and more often than not, they talked about political leaders with respect, even if they didn’t necessarily agree with their viewpoints.
There are so many amazing books dedicated to celebrating the American spirit and crucial turning points in our world’s history; read them together as a family. (See some of my favorite pickshere.) My daughter recently introduced me to a new innovative book series by Lauren Tarshis called “I Survived” –about historical stories that are told through the eyes of boys and girls who lived to share their tales. My two older granddaughter’s were quick to tell me how much they love these books.
My husband and I recently watched a television program where a young girl shared the history behind the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln, then she recited it in its entirety–watching her do this inspired us to learn it too. Doing things like this can’t help but make the rich history of the United States become more meaningful!
Also, if you want to keep up to date with a brief overview of daily news headlines without all the usual political spin, I like the iPhone App Skimm.
Support Your Community!
Our local communities are obviously the most real and important part of America to us as average citizens, so it makes sense that getting involved in our hometowns and neighborhoods is a good place to start when trying to find ways to be active and contributing members of society. At the very least, we can work to earn a good living to support our families, maintain our homes, and raise responsible children who recognize the many privileges that they are afforded by the cooperative efforts of the their city’s elected leaders and concerned local residents.
I always treasure the opportunity I have to engage in the voting process; attending caucus meetings gives you the opportunity to advocate, lobby and learn more about the candidates up for election and helps you make better decisions on the issues you feel will best support the overall well-being of your community. In addition to elected officials, showing respect for police officers, firemen and others who put their lives at risk for the sake of their communities is something we should all be happy and willing to do.
“My vote is my voice…and the voice of all those who struggled before me so that I may have my voice.” Lydia C. Obasi
I also found that volunteering and helping out at the schools my children attended was a good way to not only help their teachers, but stay informed about the curriculum being taught and how my husband and I could add to their learning experience.
Work Hard, Serve Others!
Whenever my father would share stories about his parents, he always spoke about them and their tremendous work ethic with the highest regard. As young immigrants from Norway, they had the utmost appreciation for a land that allowed them the freedoms to establish a family farm and business during the great depression of the 1930’s. Despite their own meager circumstances at times, they were always quick to lend a helping hand to others in need and offered food and jobs when needed.
“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but we can work to change a small portion of events, and the total of all those acts will be written in the history of that generation.” Robert Kennedy
My parents also worked hard to provide a wonderful life for our family, while making sure that each of their children had a good education and were self-reliant. It’s rewarding for me and my husband, as well, to see our hard work pay off as our son and two daughter’s work to achieve their goals and dreams in this great land of opportunity.
Above All…Be Kind!
American patriotism, at its best, is understanding that we are a melting pot, so to speak, of many ideas, cultures and concepts…let’s celebrate them by being kind. Kindness is an expression of caring…even the smallest act or deed done for another person can make a life-changing difference. The ripple effect of kindness is unity despite diversity, and a genuine desire to share what we have with others while being grateful for the opportunities we have to learn from one another.
When my husband and I first saw the video below about Preston Sharp, a young boy aptly known as “A Pied Piper Of Patriotism” –it reminded us once again, of just how far reaching a simple act of kindness can truly be:
I hope our American patriotism may be seen as a chance for us to show kindness!
“True independence and freedom can only exist in doing what’s right.” Brigham Young
May we each live so that we are always a blessing to America!
Please share how you would describe true American patriotism.
