The Gift of Learning

We are back home from our Christmas traveling trip. There truly is "no place like home"! Spending the holidays in another state that is not home takes something from you. It’s hard to explain. But most importantly we were with our little family….our daughter and her husband = time well spent. I’m now spending time reflecting…..Reflecting on the past year. 2009 is closing and coming to an end. I have counted my blessings and will continue to do so. I have enjoyed spending time with you all here in bloggerville, getting to know new friends with BIG hearts who open their home and world. Thanks to each and every one of you who faithfully read my thoughts, ideas, and nothingness. An even bigger thanks to those of you who take the time to leave me some heartfelt thoughts as you visit. I love that. I also love the little surprises in the mail! *smiling*
 I have learned a lot over the years. Life is all about learning.  I’ve learned that:

Jesus should be at the top of everything I do.
That the little things matter more.
That patience is earned.
That your time is not always appreciated.
That the people you love can hurt you.
That blogging is fun.
That joy can be found in a small gesture.
That some people have lost Christmas in their hearts.
That I am not perfect and never will be.
That God always hears our prayers.
That giving is a reward in its self.
That everything is NOT understood.
That things don’t always turn out the way you want them to.
That God and the devil are constantly battling for my attention.
That there is good in everyone but sometimes it is so far down inside them  that it’s hard to see it.
And……
That I’m not through learning.

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I do not make New Years Resolutions. I never have and I never will. Why? I don’t like disappointment. I know all year long that I need to eat healthier, drink more water than I do now, and exercise. ~Note I did not say exercise more!~ I know these things. Making a silly resolution will just set me up for more disappointment; I know me better than anyone and do not need to disillusion my own self. So I will take each day as it is given *not promised* to me; I will do the best I can and I will live with whatever is handed to me on that day. I pray that this coming year will bring more enjoyment, more delight, more wonder, and more pure happiness. *Bliss~

With each hardship that I encounter I hope to overcome it as a better person; having learned in the process. I will live with less of the unnecessary things and focus on the more important areas in my life. Most importantly I will forgive and put the past in the past where it should stay. I will just live each day to the best and pray that when I am gone that it all was not in vain….and hope that maybe I made a difference to someone or that I left something…a legacy perhaps, a contribution, the gift of adoration…

Speaking of gifts; here are some I received this Christmas:

*The touch of a child…the chance to hold her head in my lap while she slept quietly listening to the purring on her chest.

*The joy of a BIG kid receiving a Red Ryder BB Gun (A Christmas Story). Yes, I reminded him that he could shoot his eye out!

*A sense of peacefulness. 

*The taste of sweetness….all things good and plentiful.

*The gift of Jesus’ love for me~totally unconditional.

 

I hope all your gifts were equally as good as mine and that this

New Year will bring you more than you deserve.

"If in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy,

not only we, but everyone will profit from it.

This is the most basic kind of peace work."

~Thich Nhat Hanh

My life is the sum of all my choices.