Category Archives: family

Practice Gratitude During Stressful Times

I spend most of my time listening to people complain these days. No doubt there is more uncertainty than I ever remember in my life. People can not easily vacation, or travel, or plan to see other family members and friends. Some people are wearing masks again, others refuse to do so. The news is uncertain about the Covid viruses. School may or may not return to normal this year. People have lost their jobs. Other people do not want to work because they need to stay home with their children or they prefer to receive support from the government. The weather is hot and humid and the wild fires are starting again. Some people would say “life sucks”. So why would I expect anyone to practice gratitude?

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Gratitude For Life’s Lessons

An activity is suggested that compares two points in time in your life: a younger you compared to an older you. What would the older you tell the younger you? Using personal photographs practice this activity with the author and see what would be your own personal outcome?

This posting focuses on the journey to gratitude for life’s lessons. Five lessons learned on the journey to a State of Gratitude are discussed with examples from the author’s life. The Lessons include the following:

Lesson One: Love Your Family. Two poems are read: My Family, and You Carry My Genes by Marian Elsie Blake in the book, A House Inside of Me by Mary Blake Huer, available on Amazon.

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Gratitude for My Sister

This video shares my gratitude for my younger sister who passed away 17 years ago today. She was only 46 years old and was an exceptional woman whose life was cut short from illness. #RememberMeLullaby from #CoCo #DisneySingAlongs #DisneyMusicVEVO

#gratitudelite

Gratitude for Seasons of Life

This posting reminds us to celebrate all seasons of life, but especially our elderly family members and neighbors as they may not be with us tomorrow. Personal stories highlight special moments between senior couples and also focus on the musical talents of many of our parents. Have gratitude for your older family members.

#gratitudelite

Gratitude for Mothers of Special Children

Mothers of special children are amazing. This posting focuses on one mother of an autistic child who was often disruptive to the family. The awesome mother would sing to her daughter to calm her and to try to teach her. When her daughter was good she would sing “You Are My Sunshine”. When her daughter was having a bad day, the mother would sing “One Day at a Time, Sweet Jesus”. This posting focuses on the lyrics from both songs and reminds us to have gratitude for the good as well as the bad times in life. Especially during the pandemic, the words to the songs offer lessons to us all.

#gratitudelite

How To Find Gratitude Around You

We have just finished 15 months of the pandemic and finally we are able to take off our masks and begin to return to our normal lives. People are stressed and tired of being restricted. This video encourages you to stay positive and to find gratitude around you daily. Reset your life!

#gratitudelite

A House Inside of Me

How do you acquire your moral values and beliefs? My mother was my teacher. Here is one of our favorite poems she would tell us, “A House Inside of Me”, poetry by Marian Elsie Blake available on Amazon.com (2013). I have deep gratitude for what my mother taught me.

A House Inside of Me (Poem)

#gratitudelite

Tomorrow Is Not Promised

My mother, Marian Elsie Blake, was a poet in addition to being the wife of a minister. I found 100 of her poems after she passed away and published them in a book, A House Inside of Me Poetry by Marian Elsie Blake (2013), available on Amazon.com. Marian was always so upbeat, optimistic, and positive about life. She inspired many people, as well as encouraged them during the worst of times (such as the death of a child), as well as the best of times. For today’s post, I selected one of her poems: Tomorrow Is Not Promised

Tomorrow is not promised us,

So let us take today.

And make the very best of it,

For once we pass this way.

Just speak a kindly word,

Or do a kindly deed.

And try to help and understand,

Some fellow creatures’s need.

Tomorrow is not promised us,

So let us take today.

And make the very best of it,

For once we pass this way.

© Marian E. Blake

As I continue to practice “being in a state of gratitude” I find her words provide instruction to us

  • Make the very best of every day
  • Speak a kind word
  • Do a kind deed
  • Help meet another’s need
  • Make the very best of today

These five important directives seem to summarize appropriate “actions” for us today. What do you think?

This is #gratitudelite according to the categories I posted on February 28, 2021.

A Sacred Time for Gratitude

On this weekend I am reflecting on life and death, on sorrow and joy (see my March 4, 2021 posting: Gratitude: May Be a Complex Blend of Sorrow and Joy). It is the Jewish time of Passover, the Christian time of Palm Sunday, and the first day of Holy Week. And, of course, we continue to be in the middle of a global pandemic.This is a time for reflecting back in time, and appreciating this day, as well as the future. It is a time to reflect on life!

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