Serenity Please

I've been listening to Debbie Ford's 21 Day Cleanse on Oprah.com, and although right now I'm having a hard time doing things that require a lot of mental concentration, like write a letter, or write out statements about forgiveness, it's wonderful to discover that this is just one more drop to quench my thirst for peace, for meaning, and for love. It is, in a word, joy rising. Even with my physical limitations, how wonderful to discover that nothing can stop my spirit.

One thing I've come to realize is that I want serenity in my life. Just that: a little serenity, please. I want to be able to respond to life with serenity in the same way tend my garden--with love. In my mind I see those images of a Buddha who's laughing, unbothered by the challenges of life, because he sees beyond the trivial.

And so for me, today, I breathe slowly and deeply, sit back and take a back seat in my own life as I become an observer of the things that cause me pain that isn't real, but part of the story of my past. My knee-jerk reaction to go shopping when my husband does or says something that even remotely reminds me of my first husband and my incredible poverty, is just that: a reaction. I realize that Patrick doesn't even know he's doing it.

My prayer: Father, bless me with forgiveness. Fill my heart with the gift of compassion, because forgiveness can't come without compassion. In Jesus name, Amen.

Comments

[shakira choong]

Hi Karey,
Nice post. It is so hard to forgive. I have a horrible ex husband and sad past too where I was disowned by my family.
You are never alone.
Take care now.
hugs,
shakira

[karey]

Thanks, Shakira. I'm sending many wishes for peace and a great desire to create something good out of your life not in spite of, but because of what you've experienced. I believe you can use what you've learned for great good.