Greetings!
It is December. Wherever we go, we hear merry holiday songs and music. They warm our hearts, and lift our spirit. We smile easily, and feel goodwill towards all.
However, to some people, it can be a month of great stress because they feel the need to buy gifts for their families and friends. Meanwhile, they may not have the money for the gifts they want to buy. Sometimes we need to examine our desires, and see if they are the desires of our ego. For instance, when we want to buy lavish gifts for others that we cannot afford, whose desires are we really fulfilling but our ego's! It is the heart that counts, and not the material value of the gift.
In this modern age of electronic technology, some families have lost touch with the simple joy of life such as the whole family taking a walk in the park, or talking and laughing after dinner time. Many people, children as well as adults, spend more time on their computers and iphones than real interactions with their families. A friend, who is a teacher, tells me many of her students when ask who and what they are thankful for say the name of a toy or a game. Another friend asks her students what they want to be when they grow up. Quite a few of them want to be doctors. All of them, except one***, say that it is because doctors can earn lots of money. Then they can buy whatever they want. It is no wonder Christmas has become mainly a day of opening gifts to some people.
Fortunately, it is never too late to make some adjustments to the way we live. We can begin by spending more time with our loved ones and friends. It is important that we teach our children the true values of life such as loving one another, honesty, and integrity; instill in them the sense of gratitude, the joy of sharing and giving, and the feeling of compassion towards others.
Christmas is a season of giving, sharing, and expanding our goodwill towards all. When we teach our children the true spirit of Christmas, we are passing onto them a lifelong spirit of joy.
Love,
Q of D
***She is a girl who wants to be a doctor so that she can go to Africa and help the children there.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
A conversation on our way to a produce market
Greetings!
We drove to a produce market the other day. It was about half an hour away. I was happy that the road work was finally finished after so many months. I said to my husband: "It feels good driving on the repaved road!" He said: "Don't you remember how it was when we had to drive through miles of traffic cones and barrels?" I smiled and did not say anything. He continued: "Do you remember how bumpy the road was, and the noises too as we drove on this road?" I turned to look at him. Gently, I said: "Right now, the road is smooth and nice. I feel good seeing the newly paved road. That is all that matters. Why would I want to remember how it was as you said?" Hearing that, he said: "Oh..... that's true."
After a pause, he suddenly seemed to realize a truth. "It is the same with life, isn't it? It is important for us to let go, because it wouldn't do us any good if we dwell on the unpleasant things that happened in the past," he said. "Well said!" I said with a big smile.
Like my husband, we all have our moments of awakening or realization now and then. We realize a truth or a correct way of living a merrier, more peaceful life. In other words, we may also say that, at that moment, we realize our wrong view of life. We understand what is holding us back from living a happier life. However, most of us fail to put what we have learned into practice consistently. Eventually, we go back to our old way of thinking and living. Some of us dwell on our pain, hurt, guilt, shame, sadness, and sorrow. We hold onto them as if they are part of us. But, they are not! It is indeed important for us to let go of these unwholesome feelings so that we can live in peace.
I have to admit that there are times I dwell on 'the cones, barrels, noises and how bumpy it was' on this path we called life too. If it happens again, I know I will remember our conversation that day. I will tell myself to stop
because it wouldn't do us any good to dwell on the unpleasant things that happened in the past.
Have a nice day!
Many blessings,
Q of D
P.S. It is also true that without experiencing 'how bumpy it was', we would not feel 'how good' the newly paved road is. However, we should not dwell on the feeling how bad or bumpy it had been.
We drove to a produce market the other day. It was about half an hour away. I was happy that the road work was finally finished after so many months. I said to my husband: "It feels good driving on the repaved road!" He said: "Don't you remember how it was when we had to drive through miles of traffic cones and barrels?" I smiled and did not say anything. He continued: "Do you remember how bumpy the road was, and the noises too as we drove on this road?" I turned to look at him. Gently, I said: "Right now, the road is smooth and nice. I feel good seeing the newly paved road. That is all that matters. Why would I want to remember how it was as you said?" Hearing that, he said: "Oh..... that's true."
After a pause, he suddenly seemed to realize a truth. "It is the same with life, isn't it? It is important for us to let go, because it wouldn't do us any good if we dwell on the unpleasant things that happened in the past," he said. "Well said!" I said with a big smile.
Like my husband, we all have our moments of awakening or realization now and then. We realize a truth or a correct way of living a merrier, more peaceful life. In other words, we may also say that, at that moment, we realize our wrong view of life. We understand what is holding us back from living a happier life. However, most of us fail to put what we have learned into practice consistently. Eventually, we go back to our old way of thinking and living. Some of us dwell on our pain, hurt, guilt, shame, sadness, and sorrow. We hold onto them as if they are part of us. But, they are not! It is indeed important for us to let go of these unwholesome feelings so that we can live in peace.
I have to admit that there are times I dwell on 'the cones, barrels, noises and how bumpy it was' on this path we called life too. If it happens again, I know I will remember our conversation that day. I will tell myself to stop
because it wouldn't do us any good to dwell on the unpleasant things that happened in the past.
Have a nice day!
Many blessings,
Q of D
P.S. It is also true that without experiencing 'how bumpy it was', we would not feel 'how good' the newly paved road is. However, we should not dwell on the feeling how bad or bumpy it had been.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Sometimes a mistake is but part of the divine plan
Greetings!
In my post We are all divine instruments from time to time, I shared with you a story about a friend who acted as an instrument, but she had no idea she was. She spoke up a few times asking questions that did not really concern her, but they were of significance to me. I believed this happened all the time except most of us were not aware we were messengers or divine instruments.
Recently, a man had a heart attack while lining up to vote on election day. He was saved by a registered nurse who happened to line up right behind him. The nurse had originally planned to go to the voting center much later that day. However, 'something' pulled him to go and cast his vote in the morning instead.
Here is a story that shows even a 'mistake' is part of the divine plan.
One day, I decided to pick an angel card out of a deck before I went to a circle. "Ah, it is Archangel Michael. Oh, it means All Is Well." I looked at the card for a while. I put the card close to my heart to take in the meaning of the card. (I did not pick an angel card on a daily basis as some of my friends did. I only drew a card or some cards once in a while when I wanted to.)
At the circle, a friend looked preoccupied as if something was troubling her. She was not a regular of the circle. She only came a few times before. At one point, she started asking us what we knew about Archangel Michael. My friends at the circle told her Archangel Michael protected us; when he was around, sometimes we saw the color blue flashed in front of us. Some told her their experiences with Archangel Michael. It was always wonderful to sit among my friends listening to their talks and stories. However, the friend still looked sad. I recalled she used to look confident and cheerful when she came. For a minute, I looked at her. I wondered what was wrong.
Suddenly, I remembered the card I drew before I came. I said: "This morning I drew a card from my angel deck. I happen to draw the Archangel Michael card. It means All Is Well." Immediately, the friend broke down and cried. When she calmed down, she told us she went to see a doctor that morning. She learned she had a serious health problem. When she heard the words All Is Well, she felt a great relief. She knew that everything was going to be alright. She thanked me and hugged me.
When I was home, I thought of what had happened. Mentally, I thanked the angels. I took the deck of angel cards out, and looked for the Archangel Michael card. To my uttermost surprise, the word Protection was on the bottom of Archangel Michael's card and not All Is Well! However, I clearly remembered the card meant All Is Well before I went to the circle. I looked through the deck. I found an All Is Well card under another Archangel. How could I have made such a mistake? I wondered.
Then I realized a mistake was not a mistake
when the outcome was in perfect divine order.
Months later, the friend came again. She was well and happy.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
As I have mentioned, we are all divine instruments from time to time. Sometimes we realize that we are. At other times, we may not be aware that we are the instruments in the divine plans.
Peace,
Q of D
In my post We are all divine instruments from time to time, I shared with you a story about a friend who acted as an instrument, but she had no idea she was. She spoke up a few times asking questions that did not really concern her, but they were of significance to me. I believed this happened all the time except most of us were not aware we were messengers or divine instruments.
Recently, a man had a heart attack while lining up to vote on election day. He was saved by a registered nurse who happened to line up right behind him. The nurse had originally planned to go to the voting center much later that day. However, 'something' pulled him to go and cast his vote in the morning instead.
Here is a story that shows even a 'mistake' is part of the divine plan.
One day, I decided to pick an angel card out of a deck before I went to a circle. "Ah, it is Archangel Michael. Oh, it means All Is Well." I looked at the card for a while. I put the card close to my heart to take in the meaning of the card. (I did not pick an angel card on a daily basis as some of my friends did. I only drew a card or some cards once in a while when I wanted to.)
At the circle, a friend looked preoccupied as if something was troubling her. She was not a regular of the circle. She only came a few times before. At one point, she started asking us what we knew about Archangel Michael. My friends at the circle told her Archangel Michael protected us; when he was around, sometimes we saw the color blue flashed in front of us. Some told her their experiences with Archangel Michael. It was always wonderful to sit among my friends listening to their talks and stories. However, the friend still looked sad. I recalled she used to look confident and cheerful when she came. For a minute, I looked at her. I wondered what was wrong.
Suddenly, I remembered the card I drew before I came. I said: "This morning I drew a card from my angel deck. I happen to draw the Archangel Michael card. It means All Is Well." Immediately, the friend broke down and cried. When she calmed down, she told us she went to see a doctor that morning. She learned she had a serious health problem. When she heard the words All Is Well, she felt a great relief. She knew that everything was going to be alright. She thanked me and hugged me.
When I was home, I thought of what had happened. Mentally, I thanked the angels. I took the deck of angel cards out, and looked for the Archangel Michael card. To my uttermost surprise, the word Protection was on the bottom of Archangel Michael's card and not All Is Well! However, I clearly remembered the card meant All Is Well before I went to the circle. I looked through the deck. I found an All Is Well card under another Archangel. How could I have made such a mistake? I wondered.
Then I realized a mistake was not a mistake
when the outcome was in perfect divine order.
Months later, the friend came again. She was well and happy.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
As I have mentioned, we are all divine instruments from time to time. Sometimes we realize that we are. At other times, we may not be aware that we are the instruments in the divine plans.
Peace,
Q of D
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