PEBBLE
We aren’t always free to change things, but we are always free to live through them in faith, hope, and love so that in every situation we grow humanly and spiritually.
~Fr. Jacques Philippe, shared by Kelly in Grantham, NH
BOULDER
I was once told only in dreams do dreams come true.
But I’m to tell you, here and now, your dreams are up to you.
Like “The Rose”, we may pass through life “Not Understood”.
And maybe we won’t make all the friends we should.
But always treasure what you have and in the mirror what you see,
Then strive to get all you can and be all that you may be.
On the rocky roads of life, you must be strong to fall apart.
But, I tell you from my soul — to keep Faith, Hope, and Heart.
~Nicci Pagan, written and shared by Nicci in Wisconsin
PONDER
I was really moved by the poem Nicci wrote and submitted, even more so when I learned that she wrote it at a particularly low point in her life–when she was just 16 years old. She recently, and quite randomly, came back across her 16-year-old wisdom when she once again found herself dealing with some big (big) stuff.
“I should be nervous, scared, or even at my wit’s end,” she wrote when we traded messages, which made sense to me when she hinted at what’s going on for her. “But I’m not,” she continued. “I’m at peace, calm, and dare I say even a bit excited about what is in store for me next. There’s no big plan, just a loose storyline and a list of goals as I walk towards the cliff’s edge on this mountain.”
It seems like she’s really connected to the Faith, Hope & Heart that even her younger self identified with: “Stumbling upon this part of my history is synchro-destiny…the universe’s little reminder that I’ll pull through bigger and better than I can imagine—just like I did then, and usually do, because it all has to fall apart before it can all fall together.”
Whatever’s dragging you down lately, whether it’s a bunch of smaller stuff or some great big ole hard stuff, let this week’s quote remind you of the three-legged stool that can support you through your struggles:
Faith: trusting there is more to your story than today’s pain
Hope: staying open to the likelihood that better days will eventually return
Heart: continuing to show up with compassion and kindness for yourself and others
These three won’t magically erase the hard stuff, of course. But they just might provide a little more steadiness, courage, and grace.
Peace,
Paul