While many of you have decking your halls and shopping at malls I have been pondering the thought of resilience. I sit here beside a half decorated tree in a house adorned with a bit of outdoor garland and somehow this year it seems enough. Due to circumstances beyond my control I have been pushed beyond my physical and emotional limits in recent weeks. I am awed by the design of the human mind, body, emotions, and spirit and its resilience.
The fact that after deformation that any of these can return to their original shape after being pushed to or beyond their limit amazes me. I found myself bone tired and weary at each days end last week and yet during the night my body regenerated itself and the next day I was able to carry on with resilience, buoyant from the act of sleep.
Heart wrenching circumstances sent me into a flurry of worry that churned up my thoughts and emotions and yet after a time of meditation and prayer a quiet calm reigned over both, resilience, buoyant from the act of acceptance and surrender, peace and calm restored.
My flagging spirit felt crushed under the weight of the responsibility that was thrust upon me so suddenly making this the most challenging holiday season I have ever known and strange as it seems it might be the best one I might ever remember in years to come, resilience, buoyant from the act of rising to meet an unexpected challenge.
Tears, fears, laughter, and thanks have filled my heart and head this holiday season, tacked on is a silent prayer of gratitude. In the kitchen a candle burns and a kettle simmers. Sweet spice scents of cinnamon and cloves linger in the air along with the rich aroma of resilience. I dart a glance around at my minimalist Christmas decor and think of everyone so wrapped up in the holiday hubbub, stretching themselves and their purse strings to the limit and beyond, and whisper another kind of prayer of resilience for them...one where joys fills hearts, happiness reigns in emotion, peace fills the mind, and uplift is the posture of the spirit. May this be the most memorable, blessed holiday season for you all!
P.S. Due to unforeseen circumstances I will be on an extended blog break until after the first of the year. May your Christmas be filled with all that is merry and bright and your New Year be filled with delight!
Dearest Sandy,
ReplyDeleteI wish you a very merry Christmas and peace for your heart, soul and body. Take time to recover from what ever it is that isn't making you happy. We will be here waiting for you!
Sending you many heartfelt hugs and much love
Karen B. ~ Todolwen
Oh I am distressed to read that things are so intense just now that you must take a break. I saw a box labeled "Christmas Lite" and it has, so far, been enough. It may not be in a few more days and then I can dig about some more.
ReplyDeleteThis is pretty flip, but I read this comment: "and yet after a time of meditation and prayer a quiet calm reigned" as "and after a time of medication and prayer a quiet calm reigned." Oh dear. My old eyes.
You certainly have found the calm center in the howling vortex. God is so good. He'll see you all safely through.
Much love to you this season. Take good care of yourself...those holiday aromas sound delightful! I'm going to emulate you right now.
Oh did you find me scrounging about in the archives? Advent information I was looking for and found. Thanks for that these several years later...
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear you are in a difficult season in your life, Sandy. Hard times seem harder at Christmas and yet there is a place we find that we have all we need; it sounds like you are in that place. Prayers are with you and your family, that all will be well and that God will work in your lives in a powerful way and bring you the comfort and overwhelming knowledge of His presence. Wishing you a blessed Christmas through it all. Hope to see you again in the new year. Linda
ReplyDeleteHolding a place for you of strength, peace, courage and support...
ReplyDeleteand big hugs coming your way ~
Be gentle with yourself.
Praying for peace to settle softly yet firmly upon your soul during these hard days. May Christmas joy, which can be quiet or exuberant flood your being as you remember God's gift of Christ Jesus. Immanuel: God with us: God with you: God with me.
ReplyDeleteAs for the decorating, do not worry about it; less is more as they say! As for everything else, what will be, will be. Enjoy your Christmas no matter what. I look forward to your return after the holidays. You and your art have been an inspiration to me for quite some time. Sue
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas - much peace to your heart. Lots of us are lifting you in prayer.
ReplyDeletethe fact that you can continue to so eloquently write about your trying experiences speaks volumes about the resilence of your soul! I hope that taking a break - whether by choice or circumstance renews you - I wish for you a peaceful holiday season filled with whatever brings you joy!
ReplyDeleteHowdy
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you sweet Sandy !
Praying for you as you press forward.
What is Christmas?
It is the tenderness for the past,
courage for the present,
hope for the future.
It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal,
and that every path may lead to peace.
By : Agnes M. Pharo
Until we meet again
Hugs wrapped with love,
A Happy New Year and
Happy Trails
Miss Sandy - Sending you big hugs and wishing you a merry and hopefully bright holiday season - I´m in that same box.
ReplyDeleteMany blessings to you my sweet friend.
Sandy, Thank you for sharing so much of yourself. Praying for strength through your trial.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter recently went through a difficult trial. The message in the card I gave her seems applicable to you:
"In hard times, she had learned three things - She was stronger than she ever imagined - Jesus was closer than she ever realized - and she was loved more than she ever knew." ~ Abby
As always, sweet Sandy, my prayers are with you. I am having the same feelings about less is more on decorating this year. Small bits of decoration along with two candles are in our living room window for our little grand~daughters; angels in heaven. Have a peaceful, loving holiday season & take all the time you need.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Cindy
Dear Sandy
ReplyDeleteI admire you for drawing back and accepting some inner peace, balance and serenity during this Festive season.
This is what we should all be striving for at Christmas - some inner rather than outer awareness.
Bless you,
Suzy
you are way ahead of me. I haven't done any decorating yet and may not because I am considering flying to Oregon to spend Christmas with my brother and family. I just got back from a cruise to Mexico and did I ever have fun!
ReplyDeleteDo take care of yourself and I look forward to your return. What you wrote, I am sure, spoke for many of us. Funny how at just a glance we cannot tell what someone is going through... be it good or just a huge challenge. I think we need to be reminded of that and I appreciate your honesty! Take time to heal and I will be checking back often patiently waiting to read what you are up to.
ReplyDeleteTake care dear Sandy, put your hand in the Lord's and He will take care of you.
ReplyDeleteLove and hugs
Shane ♥
Your post is heart wrenching yet honest and pure. Resilience is powerful. My heart is sending you Healing Hugs and Peace...
ReplyDeleteDear Sandy... I am so Glad that through the unforseen Challenges & Crisis you have found the Peace that passes all understand. Been there and resilience coupled with inner strength that you don't even realize you possess is indeed Awe Inspiring isn't it? You have so eloquently Shared your Spirit in this Post and I am confident that with the wonderful Attitude you have embraced this all with that you will rebound and your Test will become a Testimony to Share with others who may be going through similar Trials.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... the Bohemian
Love and warm hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteHave a peaceful break.
xoxo
I hope you are well now. I have Lupus and many other chronic pain and autoimmune issues and I have pushed myself almost to collapsing, feeling as if I haven't done enough decorating or cleaning, keeping myself up until midnight, pushing my children out of the room to get things "finished"... only to find the events of last Friday taking away a lot of my Christmas joy, but making me realize that I have had my priorities in the wrong place and allowing me to refocus on what is important.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and peace to you this Christmas.
May the Lord bless you and comfort you during this time of stress Sandy. Life is always full of surprises, some good, some a challenge, etc.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and yours -
Sherry @ Creations by Marie Antionette. I'm teaming up with Marie to help her with her blog for a bit. You can visit us here http://tonidolls.blogspot.com/
BIG hugs, Sherry