Thursday, July 29th, 2010
I love to share the really exceptional things I run across, so here’s one taken from Tough Times, Tough People in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Written by Johnna Stein, it reminds us of two of the primary spiritual principles: Less is More, and Attitude is Everything:
Good Times in Bad Times
The economy’s failing is what they all say, Don’t worry ’bout tomorrow, appreciate today.
Those stocks and 401Ks have shrunk and gone down. It’s my own choice to wear a smile or a frown.
The gas prices shoot sky high, then lower than low. I have learned to conserve wherever I go.
The cost of heating our home makes me want to weep; I don double socks, then curl up in deep sleep.
Beans and rice make great protein when meat prices soar. There is no gas shortage in our home anymore.
Our drink of choice has become good ole H2O. We have it on the rocks to put on a good show.
We snip out coupons and dream of discounts galore. We await final sales in our favorite store.
No more nights on the town; we eat more homemade fare, Which leads to conversing and becoming aware.
Forget box office tickets and the movie debut; Renting DVD’s is cheaper, with no ads to view.
The TV reminds us of things we can’t afford. Turning it off provides its own great reward.
We’ve rediscovered board games and the fun they bring. Free books from the library, another new theing.
Getting back to basics has brought us joy and fun. Could it be this cutting back has merely begun?
There’s always someone worse off than we are, they say. Which remins us we’re blessed in a really big way.
In good times or bad times, we know one thing is true: Having faith in our God, helps us see our way through.
The conomy’s failing is what they all say. Don’t worry’bout tomorrow delight in today!
Tags: attitude of gratitude, Living for today, Paradigm shift, Postive Encouragement, Practical Spirituality
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Thursday, July 15th, 2010
Dr. Hans Selye, “The true pioneer in discovering the impact of emotions on health,” “named vengeance and bitterness as the emotional responses most likely to produce high stress levels in human beings. Conversely, he concluded, gratitude is the single response most nourishing to health.”
I love the Dayenu, a portion of the Seder celebration at Passover which lists God’s gifts and our response:
“If He had rescued us from Egypt, but not punished the Egyptians, We should have been content!
If He had punished the Egyptians, but not destroyed their gods, We should have been content!
If He had destroyed their gods, but not killed their frist-born, We should have been content!
If He had killed their first-born, but not given us their property, We should have been content!
If He had given us their property, but not divided the Red Sea before us, We should have been content!
If He had divided the Red Sea for us, but not drowned our oppressors, We should have been content!
If He had drowned our oppressors, but not supplied us in the desert for forty years, We should have been content!
If He had supplied us in the desert for forty years, but not fed us with manna, We should have been content!
If He had fed us with manna, but not given us the Sabbath, We should have been content!
If He had given us the Sabbath, but not brought us to Mount Sinai, We should have been content!
If He had given us the Law, but not brought us to the Land of Promise, We should have been content!
If He had brought us to the Land of Promise, but not built us His temple, We should have been content!
If He had built us His temple, but not provided permanent salvation, We should have been content!
If He had provided permanent salvation throught the sacrifice of Jesus, but not indwelt us with His Holy Spirit, We should have been content!”
But, Praise the Lord! For God has provided us with it all and His power to succeed!
Reading this list always puts me in a profound attitude of gratitude.
Tags: attitude of gratitude, Dayenu, Gratitude, health, Passover, Seder
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