Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Posts tagged ‘responsibility’

Embrace Confidence

These two little darlings exude happiness, confidence, pure joy…
I can’t help but smile when I look at them. (I bet you’re smiling, too)
I’ve been saving this photo for just the right time.
Today is it!

In my devotionals this morning, I read an article by Brenda Wade, Ph.D.
Brenda is based in San Francisco. She hosts a radio talk show, “Modern Love”
and she facilitates trainings on relationships. Her article in the Jan.-Feb. Unity magazine,
Daily Word, is titled, “Overcoming Racism, Healing from Shame, Opening to Love.”

“The love and peace we want to know in our lives begins inside of us,” Dr. Wade wrote.
“This has been on my mind lately as I’ve dug deeply into … my work, leading anti-racism trainings.”

In her article, she went on to describe an incident in her life that deeply affected her self-image. She was only 6-years-old.

“One day at school, my classmates and I were told to line up two by two and hold hands. I extended my hand, but the girl standing next to me refused to take it. ‘I can’t hold your hand,’ she said matter-of-factly. ‘My mother told me your skin is brown because it’s dirty.’ I was confused. My skin was brown, but it certainly was not dirty.”

Photo by Matheus Viana on Pexels.com

It took years for that little 6-year-old to deal with the hurt. Her young brain just didn’t understand. She felt immediate rejection, pain, and the sting of shame. The notion that there was something wrong with her kept her from telling the teacher or her parents. She just carried that message of inferiority with her and it was reinforced by a high school principal who ignorantly expressed surprise that someone of her color could score so high on her tests.

It was further reinforced in graduate school when a department chair “was more interested in my race than my qualifications” – and as an adult when “a landlord candidly admitted he was denying me housing because I am African American.”

Photo by Kat Jayne on Pexels.com

How does someone overcome
such prejudicial treatment
and regain the confidence
that ALL PEOPLE deserve?


That is the question Dr. Walker
deals with in her profession.
She conquered it in her own life with
“years of psychological work,
spiritual practice,
self-care, and healing.”

Dr. Brenda Wade wrote,
“When we feel too hurt or afraid
to let ourselves out,
it becomes impossible
to let others in.”

Photo by Oleg Magni on Pexels.com

Embrace the confidence
that there is
hope and a future
and a return of self-confidence
when self-insight
and self-love
can be applied.

The pain of those early wounds go deep.

We know that
we ALL have a responsibility
to respond to one another in love,
with compassion and respect,
and to stand together hand-in-hand
to obliterate oppression and prejudice.

Embrace that future
with
confidence and determination!

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Pastoral Prayer

Yesterday during our ZOOM church service, our pastor, Steve Hundley, offered the following prayer. It is just what I needed to hear as I embrace with confidence the power of prayer and the belief that God hears, God cares, and God answers us when we cry out to Him:

“How many times in Your earthly ministry, O Lord, did You touch the fevered brows of those who were ill; or, the trembling hands of those who were afraid; or, the sagging shoulders of those bowed down in grief?

Walk among us now, we pray, and touch us for the same reasons…
* Let those who are ill in body or in spirit feel the power of Your presence, and sense that healing is taking place.
* We pray for all those sick with COVID throughout our nation and world…
* Give those who are constricted by fears and anxieties a feeling of relaxation in Your grace.
* Let peace flow over them like a river, carrying them away from self-preoccupation and into the openness of love and sharing…
* Pour out the hope of Your resurrection upon those who are grieving the loss of loved ones…
* May they walk the Emmaus Road with You and feel their hearts strangely and wonderfully warmed…
* In the chaos and uncertainty of the coming weeks and months, give us confidence of faith in knowing that You are Lord of our lives and Lord of this world, and that You are working Your purpose out…
* As Your children, O Lord, You know how often we recoil from those things that should not frighten or upset us in this world. Comfort us with Your presence, and teach us so to live within the disciplines of faith, so that, we are never without You.”

Amen                         

Embrace with Confidence,
my friends,
the knowledge that you
regard all God’s Children as equals…
and determine never to inflict on anyone
the pain of rejection
or the sting of shame.

As God’s children…
Let us live as One.
Let’s just walk around makng the world a better place!
Embrace Confidence!

Hugs to you.
See ya tomorrow.
JanBeek

Not My Responsibility

z-Responsibility

These are things that are
NOT my responsibility
Look around

Other people’s:

  • ideas
  • opinions
  • actions
  • consequences
  • beliefs
  • mistakes
  • words

These are the things that
ARE my responsibility
Look within

My:

  • ideas
  • opinions
  • actions/efforts
  • consequences
  • beliefs
  • mistakes
  • words

Today
Today
Take Responsibility
for the things
that are yours to control.

Be thoughtful
Be active
Be prayerful
Be kind
Be creative
Be passionate

aged ancient asian buddhism

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Be all that God made you to be.
Ask Him to help you meet
the people He wants you to meet.
Ask Him to help you know what
He wants you to say.
Ask Him to help you do
what He would like you to do.
.
Take responsibility
for
yourself.

Bee loving!
pray-to-see-best
See ya tomorow.

Universal Responsibility

With the flooding in the Bahamas and the hurricane Dorian threatening the east coast of the USA, our sense of responsibility for one another is heightened.

Our friends – people, animals, all – need us.

What can we do to help?

ground group growth hands

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Lock arms with your neighbor. Decide together on some course of action.

hand-children-child-child-s-hand-159827.jpeg

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Reach out across color and ideologies and countries and oceans. Reach out to others with a pure heart and a love for all God’s creations.

man hugging american pit bull terrier puppy close up photo

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Don’t be timid. Take a clue from our animal kingdom. Reach out in love to those near you… … and those far away.

boy wearing blue shirt sitting on swing

Photo by Git Stephen Gitau on Pexels.com

Find the need… a universal need… that you can do something about…

 
man sits on hammock while eating

Photo by Denniz Futalan on Pexels.com

And just do it!

How far can your arm reach today? Stretch out and test it!! Do you have an idea about something you can do? Share it!
opened left palm

Photo by Oleg Magni on Pexels.com

pexels-photo-887349-2 See ya tomorrow. JanBeek

 

Ten Ways to Keep Marriage Alive

Ten Ways to Keep Marriage Alive

 

accessory anniversary band celebration

Bob and I have been married more than 57 years. Our love for one another is more alive today than it ever has been. (I read that statement to him just now and asked if he agreed. Of course, he said, “Of course,” That’s part of the secret, guys! Ya gotta readily agree on things like that!)

How do we do it? How do we keep love alive after all these years? What is a healthy marriage anyway?

Jane Smiley, in her book, At Paradise Gate, wrote the following:

“You know what getting married is? It’s agreeing to take this person who right now is at the top of his form, full of hopes and ideas, feeling good, wildly interested in you because you’re the same way, and sticking by him while he slowly disintegrates. And he does the same for you. You’re his responsibility now, and he is yours. If no one else will take care of him, you will. If everyone else rejects you, he won’t.

What do you think love is? Going to bed all the time? Poo! Don’t be weak. Have some spine! He’s yours and you’re his. He doesn’t beat you or abuse you, and you’ve made the same bargain. Now that you know what it’s like to be married, now that all the gold leaf has sort of worn off, you can make something of it; you can really learn to love each other.”

I love that take on marriage by Jane Smiley. It coincides with my opinion on what it takes to make a marriage work. Here is my list:
Ten Constant Steps toward Being Married Happily Ever After:

  1. Accept and Respect one another’s differences, and celebrate your areas of sameness.
  2. Stick by one another – even as you slowly disintegrate.
  3. Take responsibility for yourself and your actions. Be forgiving.
  4. Defend one another to a hostile world.
  5. Be strong in your faith; pray and laugh and play together.
  6. Be a diligent partner, doing more than your share without bitterness or resentment or complaint.
  7. Praise one another for the little things.
  8. Never take one another for granted.
  9. Always be trustworthy; don’t stab one another in the back!
  10. Practice the art of compromise – with God as your Constant Guide.

Keep Learning

Yes, when all the gold leaf has sort of worn off and you’re each comfortable in your own space, keep the space open and inviting. Invite one another in. Keep on learning to love one another as long as you both shall live.

You’re in this box together. You’re in it for the long haul. Enjoy the ride!

box cheerful color cute

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

img_8408
Hang tight!!


pexels-photo-704748
See ya later.

 

You’re Responsible

You’re Responsible

Healing with Art is a Facebook page I follow. Often, like today, they post something so noteworthy that I cannot help but copy and share it. Here is my inspiration for today.

If I were still teaching, I would create a place in my classroom with a mirror and signs using this idea. And I would add “Contentment” under “Behavior.”

You're Responsible - Healing with Art-FB

Don’t you love it?
What word would you add to the list?

IMG_8238 2

See ya tomorrow!

Universal Responsibility

Universal Responsibility

 

Memorial Day – a day to remember
Those who gave their lives
That we might enjoy freedom.
How quickly that freedom dies!
Some want our soldiers to believe
They are giving their lives so we
Can live in liberty and can behave
However we choose – we are free!

Free – what do you think it means?
Free to worship as we please  –
Free to squander resources at random –
Free to waste and abuse? Jeez!!

Today more than ever before,
We must exhibit a life of respect.
We must oppose the forces of hate
And show love for all … Otherwise expect
Universal Destruction!

Universal Responsibility.jpg

I want to be free to see a world with:

  • no war
  • no hate
  • no hunger
  • no suffering
  • no abuse
  • no prejudice
  • no squandering

May have to wait for the Promise of Eternity, huh?

white and black bird

Photo by Reynaldo #brigworkz Brigantty on Pexels.com

JUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER!!!

Have a Love-filled Memorial Day
Be the Missing Peace!!

See you tomorrow

black and white blank challenge connect

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

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