Heartfelt Blessing for February 20th: The Pause That Refreshes
The Pause That Refreshes
Listen to Today's Heartfelt Blessing
"The day was innocent. Had a little swing to it, even.
Days like that are fun to be in. I was walking over to the grocery store, wearing my favorite jacket (which by now is severely shape-challenged), carrying a tote bag over one arm. I recall that the sun was winking.
Suddenly a carload of teenagers appeared out of nowhere, like misdirected lightning, and hurled their vehicle around a corner. They missed swiping three pedestrians by a hair. A thin hair.
I jumped. The suddenness of it threw me into an unsettled place, and I began walking overcarefully, as though I were sidestepping broken glass. By the time I arrived at the store I was in a fret. My mind was chattering - always a bad sign. So I needed to recenter. There was a friendly little delicatessen planted right next to the grocery; I went inside the deli. Immediately I was engulfed in that delicious aroma common to all delis everywhere: spiced meats, cheeses, garlic, tomato sauce, creative pastas. You know: food cooked the way you wish mom had cooked it.
There was a huge, eclectic beverage freezer in back; I pulled out a mainstream soda and took it over to a table. Sat down, drank some soda, inhaled the glorious essence of deli. For a while I just sat there with closed eyes, remembering how I felt when the day began, and how the sun had waved hello to everyone.
After I while, my mind got quieter. I thought about how much fun it is to be a teenager, full of vim and vitamins and ready to attempt spirited speeds in your car.
A moment or two later, I began to see they meant no harm, that carful of youngsters; they were simply trying out one of the planet's toys with sixteen-year-old abandon. Their energy scared a few of us; it hurt no one.
As I thought about the way minds work when they are in teen mode, and recalled the years I had worn that very same mindset, I began to relax even more. Not long after, I even managed to start chuckling over the entire incident.
The deli owner saw me smile and asked me why. I told him the soda had turned out to be especially nourishing, and then inquired if he had some fresh sliced turkey. He did. I bought it. It was lovely. On the way home, no car swooshed by me at a dizzying pace, but if it had I would have been ready. I would have stepped back, paused, and tossed a pound of Peace after it.
Fair's fair."
—Elsa Joy Bailey, spiritual writer and teacher
There truly is a blessing contained in every moment, %$firstname$%. Whether it reveals itself as a lesson or an insight or a precious memory rekindled, it is a blessing, still. But sometimes, as Ms. Bailey's story suggests, we must first pause and quiet the world around us before the blessing can be found.
May you always be willing to look for the blessing.
And may you always be aware that you are loved beyond measure and a cherished blessing to me.
Until tomorrow,
May your day be filled
with all things good,
Kate
Loved this Kate.
Keep up the good work.
You are blessing us all by being the Love you are!
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Thank you!
Love, light and blessings,
Kate
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Kate, once again you have hit the spot with your daily blessing. Having at the moment a turbulent situation to journey through, the reminder of stepping back into that place of peace has given me such assurance. For this is the place I have found myself....a place of reflection and peace...spirit at rest kind of place. Thank you for blessing me this day.
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And thank you for blessing me.
Love, light and blessings,
Kate
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The Pause That Refreshes
Kate this was the greatest I Love the story and how that you presented it Keep up the good work and may you be blessed O yes I enjoyed the 30 day blessing
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Thank you, John.
Love, light and blessings,
Kate
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An attitude of non judgement is also possible if we pause to consider age as in Elsa Bailey's piece with the teenagers.The change of experience from a hair raising one to heart warming can be so refreshing!
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How true!
Thank you for posting.
Love, light and blessings,
Kate
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What a blissful story! Truly there is a message in anything happening to us!
Last week I myself was involved in an accident, but was less lucky. I was hit by a car and hurled through the air for a couple of yards.
Still, I am ever so thankful! Apart from a shock and some bruises there was nothing wrong with me. I did not have to stay in Hospital and was able to go home.
But there was something else I was very grateful for: Lying on the ground waiting for the ambulance to come I had started immediately to bless the young man who had caused the accident. When he came for a visit the next day to bring me a beautiful bunch of flowers we had a peaceful, friendly and open conversation which helped to understand and accept what had happened to us.
It is like living in another dimension. I am very thankful for this. I think I have reached a turning point in my life and I suppose a major change may find its expression in an accident, to give us time to come to grips with having landed in a changed world.
Blessings to everybody. Hope that made sense!
Beatrice
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Dear Beatrice,
It made awesomely perfect sense! Thank you so much for sharing your story with us.
Love, light and blessings always,
Kate
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