True Quotes

Changes Coming !!

And YOU can help me make them!

I will be calling my Blog the same name, but my focus will change somewhat.

The format for benefits for today.com has changed and I want to focus my readership on readers who will:

•  know what to expect and
• will come back daily to find inspiration.

I am more than interested in your comments and requests. E-mail me at stouts@nhvt.net or send a comment to this page.  In particular, I would like to know what my  readers would like to see stay the same, and what new things they would like to see

** If you don’t see changes before Jan 22, then come back Feb 1st. I will be in Rome during that time, with limited computer access.  I will pray for you all.

The same with my other blog, God, Family, Crafts  but you may enjoy reading the archives there!

Peace be with you,

Ann

“Pray without ceasing.”

The life of a mother is sometimes a very creative way of praying. I’m sure you will agree!

1. Lord Jesus, may everything glorify You!
2. Whew! thank you Lord that that glass of milk didn’t spill.
3. Our Father who art in Heaven….
4. How am I supposed to handle this, God?
5. They’re late getting home … please protect them Jesus.
6. I’m going to get my [heavenly] reward for this, right? (not sure if that is really a prayer
7. Lord God, your creation is wonderful
8. Thank you God for giving me this opportunity to lift someone up
9. Forgive me Lord.
10. Thank you Lord for forgivng me
11. God, give me strength
12. Jesus I love you!
13. Help me keep my patience, Lord
14. “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost…”
15. Non-traditional prayer: changing a diaper, getting breakfast and lunch for a child, reading a book aloud when you’d rather be sewing
16. Help me Lord to get rid of some of this junk so I can spend more time and attention on you.
17. Bless us O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from thy bounty through Christ our Lord. Amen.
18. By observing the wonder of a child developing, and knowing it comes from God.
19. By spending wholesome time with family
20. By attending Holy Mass, or making a visit to the Eucharist
21. By teaching a child about God

Lying is done with words and also with silence.

– Adrienne Rich

 

How true, how true!  The sin of omission, it is sometimes called.  But that covers many things including our resposibilities.  But to omit to tell the whole story…lying.  To omit to correct a wrong impression given by another…hmmm, lying.  To be silent when great wrongs are being committed, when the truth should be known…lying.

Rich has tapped into a dangerous area of our communication - the silence when there is need to talk. Silence when there is need to speak. Silence when there is a need for words.

To be silent when the truth needs to be told is…lying.

Be sincere; be brief; be seated.

– Franklin Delano Roosevelt

 

Well I really like this quote, and I think I will be taking this advice the next time I am called upon to speak in public.  So often we attend an event to see something, to visit with someone, or celebrate an occasion, and we find a person taking the stage and making a speech or an announcement!  There have been times when I have had to do an introduction, and I try to observe FDR’s advice.  After all, the guests didn’t come to stand around and listen — and while a little of this (standing around, listening) is okay, there are better things to do!

Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self.

– May Sarton

Nobody likes to be lonely. Cultivating a friendship with oneself and one’s own interests could be the first step in conquering loneliness. In today’s world this might be difficult with all the outside distractions we have.  If we live in a home that has the television on at all times, or the radio or other music, it would be hard to cultivate this friendship with oneself.

Solitude on the other hand has a ring of appeal to it. Even the word is peaceful.  Solitude is something we seek, and sometimes we find it.  Sarton calls it a “richness of self”. It is our reward for having worked on our relationship with the person closest to us - ourselves.

Here’s my wish for you: richness of self.

We find no real satisfaction or happiness in life without obstacles to conquer and goals to achieve. 

Maxwell Maltz

Each thing we undertake, each project we set out to do has an end goal.  It is these end goals that that we pursue, it is for these that we willingly confront obstacles, in order to come to a successful end. Something as simple as writing a letter may present obstacles –  finding the time, how to express oneself, who to write to and what to write about.  When all is done, we have a feeling of accomplishment, happiness and satisfaction. We have reached our end goal and we feel empowered.

Of course, the real goals can be much bigger and end in a feeling of greater satisfaction. Whether it painting a room for the first time, making homemade bread with success, or changing a flat time.  All present obstacle, all have end goals, all yield satisfaction.

 Just think of it! Each and every one of us may look “normal” to others - those on the outside. But just like we know that we are not normal, (boring… who wants to be normal?!) it should be obvious by the transitive property of mathematics. If it applies to one, it applies to all.

Seriously, folks, normal is only a state of mind, and what we don’t see we don’t figure into the equation.  This is why we roll our eyes more at family and relative, and maybe are even more willing to tolerate the quirks of others.  Then again, we don’t have to be around them all the time either.

The mouth is the source of much trouble, many problems. Not only do we, as humans, have the tendency to eat too much, and sometimes drink too much, but often we say too much. It is an age-old problem. It is one that could be a problem for us today, or maybe it was yesterday, or maybe it will be tomorrow.

So how is it that we speak then regret, but rarely remain silent and regret it?  Perhaps we need to stop, think and decide if what we have to say is the right thing to say at that moment.  Being impulsive is what causes one to speak before thinking. It can happen to any of us, but with practice, we can speak only when me really mean to.

Well, if this is all I need for assurance that I am not getting too old, too fast, then I’m okay.

The sticky snowman snow, that my young daughter has been asking for, is finally here. As we pushed the Christmas Tree our the door today, in came a bit of snow. We scooped it up, and sure enough it stuck together. Within moments, she had thrown the snowball, as befits her age.

When I am outside with some of my older children, I have to say that the urge catches me too.  Or perhaps it is my husband who get the snowball — up near the collar is always good.

I began wondering if there are other childish signs, whose grasp upon us, show that we are not aging too fast.  What about climbing a tree?  Sound good to me.

 Virtues are placed in our hearts and consciences by nature, by our very creation we are endowed with natural law in our hearts.  As we grow, our consciences guide us to the greater good for mankind and for the world around us.

Education is a part of this important process.  For as we become aware of and reflective upon the virtues, this goodness within ourselves, we can enrich these qualities by learning more, but practicing, by noting the importance of such goodness to all involved.

If virtue is pleasing to the Almighty, then growth by education and cultivation of these is that much more pleasing.  The only pitfall we must avoid is to place education above virtue - for then we have missed the point.