Relating With Difficult Others.... 9/24/14

      A guest to this inn once said:

"Try doing having acceptance when your almost 8-year-old makes weekly mass an exercise in humiliation!"

      I imagine it must, at times, be frustrating,

The Innkeeper Is Evolving, His Wings Are Unfurling ...... 6/30/14

       My heart is evolving.  No, that isn't strange. In fact, it is good, but, different.  A part of my inner self is transforming. In touch with my feelings, I am.  I live being present. However, my emotions are balanced with

Banana Pancakes: An Opportunity to Transcend Unhealthy Legacies

      Good afternoon, everyone.

A happy new week to each of you.  I'm happy to announce this inn is
improving. We have another person on staff. He has contributed so

Connecting With God: Discovering A Cache of Bread Available to All ...........................11/12/12

To live a spiritual life we must first find the courage to enter the desert of our loneliness and to change it by gentle and persistent efforts into a garden of solitude.  Henri Nouwen

     Good evening,

Today was terrific.  How did it go for you?  Do you get frustrated,

Silencing Critical Dragons: Being Gentle Towards Self ..............................5/17/12

"If you use disappointments as sort of mid-semester exams, for learning, you will
 learn that every disappointment you overcome makes you stronger, and wiser."
And you will learn the value of taking care of yourself by being gentle and loving
towards yourself as you go through processing the difficult time, I might add. 

      Good evening,

Did you miss me? I was gone for

The Benefits of Being Gentle Towards Our Real Self, The Hunchback That Lives Within, Part II ......... ....................2/1/12

         “The six most important words:'I admit I made a mis-

take.' The five most important words: 'You did a good 

job.' The four most important words: 'What is YOUR 

opinion?'  The three most important words: 'If you

 please.'  The two most important words: 'Thank You.' 

The one most important word: 'We.' The least

 important word: 'I.' ”   Author Unknown     

 Image: The California coast: Point Reyes 

       I'll get to the benefits of showing compassion towards ourselves in a moment. I  identify with the idea of showing grace

The Dance Between Grace & Truth..............11/11/11

Each one of us came to earth on a personal mission to be loved or to give love. We are to learn the value and price of love.
Other parts of our mission include learning patience, humility, self-discipline, and other virtues. These attributes are parts
of love. (Betty Eade)        Image: "Autumn Lake" by Tim Blessed. All rights reserved. Copyrighted, used by permission.

       I'll talk about today's topic in a minute. But first,  I'm speechless, a happy innkeeper.  Three comments by guests in less than a week. Gosh. I had to pick myself off the floor today.

       My dear friend Phyllis wrote last Saturday. Today, Paul wrote a comment in the previous post and Lowry did so an hour ago. Thank you, times three. I invest emotional equity, when working as the innkeeper. I'm paid, by the truckload, when I hear from you..

     Silent Readers, those who drop by without posting, may I ask you to express your gratitudes or add to what's written here? Go ahead, give it a try.

      I believe everyone has insight that would contribute to improving this cozy place in cyberspace.  I ask those who hail from beyond the U.S. to reply in your language. We'll be able to translate your posts. Doing so would add to the community we share here. 

        Today,  Lowry wrote a comment for a post written on July 11th. I'll reply here. It's easy to have comments buried within this inn's archives. Somehow, because I cut and pasted Lowry's comment here, the formatting turned his comments into one paragraph. 

He said... 

 

Greetings Innkeeper – 

I really appreciate the pace and caring lexicon used in your blog. It promotes a peaceful and thoughtful atmosphere to contemplate challenges and options to address them .

It always helps to be reminded that we are Children of God - being humble, grateful, loving, yet firm regarding ourselves and our boundaries is so helpful.

I respect and appreciate your discipline to keep the ideas flowing in such graceful and grateful language.

Thank you,

Lowry                    

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       Lowry,                                                                                                                                                       

 I appreciate your kind words. They make me blush, which is hard for me to do. :->   I'm glad to see you back.                                                                                                                                                                        

       Life is about balance. I prefer mine having a combination of love and truth. Seeing the truth, without love, can easily bring judgment. Honesty alone is often harsh. Knowing love, without it being balanced by truth, often prevents me from taking an accurate look, being discerning and seeing reality with clarity.

      However, together, they perform a fine dance.       I grow when I view reality (truth). I become aware of areas where I want to improve. It's tempered, however, when observed through the gentle lens of grace (love). Enjoying unconditional love from special friends (my Balcony People) and family is transforming.  Their support makes it easier to love myself. The grace I receive from them enables me to be more patient with self, and by extension, others.                                                                                                                                                    

      Thanks for your comments, they mean much to me.         

                                                                

      Wishing you the best and a grateful day.

             

Emerging from Confusion:The value of walking a spiritural path. Gaining an encouraging perspective during trying times 5/11/11

      Hey, can you tell me what you are thankful for? What are things that make your heart sing with praise?  Hearing your encouraging words uplifts my spirit.  

     Going through a good time, addressing important priorities, getting them resolved, is heartening. Such has been the recent case for me.  There was a period, a week and a half, earlier, where I faced plenty of uncertainties

Reassuring a Little Girl

   

       Dear denizens of the Attitude of Gratitude Inn,

This story was forwarded to me this weekend. On the off chance that you haven't read this story, which is attributed as true, I share it with you. I especially relate to it.  A cat dear to me is dying: Alexander the Gray. He's an intelligent, spiritual, silvery-tipped, Russian Blue. Alexander has been getting subcutaneous fluids for over two years, due to renal failure.His medications now make him wobbly. His gig is almost up.

       The other day, when I dropped by, he got between me and the laptop I was using while waiting for my friend, who lives at Alex's house.  His big eyes stared into mine, quietly---but persistently---they pled for affection. I'm a sucker when gently entreated. Together, he and I spent time; he received the unique back rub down his spine that I give, which he likes. I sure would like someone from the Dead Letter Department of the local post office to send me a comforting letter, when Alex goes to cat heaven. May the tale that follows warm some cockles within your bosom, thereby contributing to your attitude of gratitude today. 

       May this Lord's Day bless you and yours,  

      The Innkeeper

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     Our 14-year-old dog Abby died last month.  The day after she passed 

away my four-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about 

how much she missed Abby.  She asked if we could write a letter to God 

so that when Abby got to heaven, God would recognize her.  I told her 

that I thought we could so, and she dictated these words:

 
     Dear God,

 
Will you please take care of my dog?  She died yesterday and is with you

in heaven.  I miss her very much. I'm happy that you let me have her as

my dog even though she got sick.  I hope you will play with her. She likes

to swim and play with balls.  I'm sending a picture of her so when you 

see her you will know that she is my dog.  I really miss her.

  

     We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abby and Meredith

and addressed it to God/Heaven.  We put our return address on it.  Then

Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she

said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. 

That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office.  A 

few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet.  I told her that 

I thought He had.

 
       Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front 

porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand.  Meredith opened it. 

Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.'  Taped to 

the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened

envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abby & Meredith 

and this note:

 
      Dear Meredith,

 
Abby arrived safely in heaven.  Having the picture was a big help; I
recognized her right away.  Abby isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here
with me just like it stays in your heart.  Abby loved being your dog.
Since I have a pretty good memory,  I'm sending Abby's picture

back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to 

remember Abby by.
 

      Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping 

you write it and sending it to me.  What a wonderful mother you have.

I picked her especially for you.  I send my blessings every day and 

remember that I love you very much.  By the way, I'm easy to find. 

I'm wherever there is love.

 
      With all my Love,
 
           God

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      Let me know what you think.