Speaking of Spirit

On this day, thirty plus years ago, I became a mother for the second time.  Waking in the early hours this morning, I wondered how best to celebrate my daughter, who is many states away, enjoying family and friends on this auspicious day. Spirit has a way of nudging me when I ponder like this. "Give thanks!" she whispers in my soul, "Give thanks!" Of course!  So, for all my girls, I give thanks. THE BLESSING OF DAUGHTERS Blessed Parent of us all, I lift up my heart and soul to you in eternal gratitude  for the blessing  of daughters! I am rich beyond measure,  because I share in each of their lives. I treasure each smile, each tear, each bump and bruise, each triumph, each broken heart, each joyous event, each question and each bit of wisdom. Thank you for our times together - and our times apart - for those times especially, help us see how precious "together" is. Thank you for our differences, for these differences make us...

Entwined - photo by L.M.Neas Scientist recently released a study that said that trees communicate with each other through their root systems . One tree becomes linked to all the other trees in the forest by means of soil fungi and neighboring plants. This got me to thinking... The grandmother trees in the forests of our world are connected one to the other across acres and acres of land. We humans are also connected one to the other through thousands of millions of DNA strands.  Just as a tree has one core but many branches fed by many roots, we humans have a common essence but our branches and the roots that feed us are many. This idea fueled my thoughts further... Mother's Day is difficult for many people for various reasons. Some people have had no relationship with their mother, others have had painful and abusive relationships. For those people, I offer this. Think about the people, female or male, that nurtured you. Many children had a Dad who supported...

Image via Wikipedia In the Face of Adversity The winter wind blows cold. Walking down the street, my heart aches for warmth. Fear nips at my heals. I pray for the strength to meet this new day, drawing out what sunshine I can find lingering in the dark corners. Grandmother’s Prayer While holding this little one  who still smells of angel essence, so fresh from Your hands to mine, I pray for my child - the mother - that she may have the wisdom to guide your gift to us through the perilous paths of life. Grant that I have the pleasure to watch - without interfering - to guide - without preaching and to love - without end, as You do. As the Sprouts Form Image via Wikipedia Creator of the tiniest atoms, we sing praise,  as from this warm soil sprouts begin to force their gentle green bodies into the sunlight we sing praise,  as from skeletons of wood the smallest of buds ...

Image via Wikipedia “A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts”. --Washington Irving God our Creator, we pray: for new mothers, coming to terms with new responsibility; for expectant mothers, wondering and waiting; for those who are tired, stressed or depressed; for those who struggle to balance the tasks of work and family; for those who are unable to feed their children due to poverty; for those whose children have physical, mental or emotional disabilities; for those who have children they do not want; for those who raise children on their own; for those who have lost a child; for those who care for the children of others; ...