The year’s lessons

The first lesson, above all others, that we have learned this year is that, unless our King decides otherwise, we will survive what life presents as it is presented.

Plenty of times, it is easy to fling hands upward and utter cries of "I cannot do this!" or "I can’t take this!".  However, this is not so.  Situations may seem impossible, but God will not cast upon us more than what we can bear.

Time can be an enemy or a friend.  It depends on how one chooses to see things.  After years of holding our inner rage toward one dead man, the rage has finally focused upon those who still live.  At this point, it seems like a cancer on our soul.  It feels as if we are being eaten alive by our own vindictiveness and hostility.  Given time, love, and the grace of God, we shall overcome this, as well.  I simply pray that no one is harmed irretrievably in the process of healing wounds.

We just listened to a favorite artist of ours, and she had included in the liner notes of this particular cd a piece which she had written many years before entitled "Feeling the Space".

That is what we have been doing…feeling the space.

So much time in life is wasted on trivial matters and unresolved feelings.  Guilt is held onto when it should be let go.  Hostility should be recognized as the cry for help and nurturing that it really is.  Someone, hold someone.  Love them through the hostility and it will work itself out.  This has been the case since time began…only the space can grow instead of narrowing.  Do not allow it to grow.  Hold tight to those you love, and let nothing, NOTHING stop you from holding to them and loving them.

They may say they don’t love you.  They may say mean-spirited things about you.  They may be the worst they have inside them to be, but remember this, if you can :

We are always meanest to those we love the most.  We know they will still be there when everyone else has turned away, and we know they can take what we dish out, so dish it we do.

Narrow the space, somehow.  Life is too short and far too fragile for grudges.  People need people.  People need love.

Surviving can be painful.  Living can be euphoric.  Either way, life goes on until it is chosen otherwise by He who knows best.  Try to live in addition to surviving.  Squeeze joy out of everything you can.  It is there, if you only look hard enough.  It is, and this I promise.

This year has been filled with triumphs, tragedies, suffering, rejoicing, and many other good and bad events.  It has all taught us, as it always does, that life is full of uncertainties, so we may as well live with aid of what we know is certain.

I love you.  That is certain.

You love me.  That is certain.

We are friends.  That is certain.

You matter to me.  That is certain.

I matter to you.  That is certain.

Come what may, your joy is my joy.  That is certain.

I pray for you because I love you.  That is certain.

You are my brother/sister in humanity and spirit.  That is certain.

If you hurt, I will cry with you.  That is certain.

If you laugh, it will lighten my heart.  That is certain.

If you need me, you shall have me.  That is certain.

Eventually, we all will realize these things are what life is truly worth the living for.

That is certain.

Much love to one and all.  Each who reads this is in my heart.  Each I have met in my life is with me in my soul.  Each I have shared an emotion with is in my heart.  Each hope I have, I gladly share with you.

Thank you for loving me, too,

Barbara Jean et al