8/24/15, Whisper Thanks…
Hi Everyone,
I tackled a massive project recently: my desk. On the corner of my desk is a stacked “outbox”, where everything seems to wind up, bank information, literary contracts, birthday cards from my children, poems I’ve written, Christmas lists, and religious articles. Anything I’m not sure where to file, I put on the stack in my outbox, until it resembles the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and if anyone moves too quickly, bumps into it, or adds a single piece of paper to it, it slides into an avalanche onto the floor. I clean it all out every few years, though I rarely go through it all. With a few hours to spare recently, I decided to attack it, put away the sentimental things, photos of friends….a photo of a man I dated a dozen years ago, birthday cards from my husband from longer ago than that. I decided to get rid of what was no longer relevant, file the business papers in my office, and get rid of the towering stack. There were things in it that went back twenty years, and I found some real treasures, some things that made me laugh, and of course a lot of junk. But some truly great stuff from my kids!!! I saved everything that was special or meant a lot to me, and put it all in a box.
And among the papers, I found some things that had inspired me and I was happy to find. And I thought I’d share two of them with you here, about love, and life.
The first one was written by Mary Baker Eddy: “I make strong demands on love, call for active witnesses to prove it, and noble sacrifices and grand achievements as its results. Unless these appear, I cast aside the word as a sham and counterfeit, having no ring of the true metal. Love cannot be a mere abstraction, or goodness without activity and power”. I like that one a lot.
And the other one is anonymous but touched me too:
“If life is funny, it’s okay to laugh.
If it becomes too difficult, it’s okay to travel with a friend.
If life becomes tragic, it’s okay to cry.
If life becomes impossible, you still have to go on, you can never, ever give up.
If life becomes too lonely, look for someone to take your hand.
And if by some miracle, you find your dreams and they actually come true, remember to count your blessings and whisper thanks.”
I love that message a lot. Have a great week!!
love, Danielle
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Dear Danielle. Thank you for this inspiring post. Made my day. 🙂
Hey Danielle.
great messages.
the second one makes us think that we dont thank God enough. we only ask for what we want.
Ive learned to say thanks. Sometimes i say thanks only because im alive, healthy and well.
thanks for your writings. Thanks for being who you are. (i think everyone should say thanks to you, youve changed our lives)
Love always,
Keyla Marques
As a Christian Scientist, have to say I love the first one and never before read it–thanks for sharing.
I just finished reading PURE JOY and loved it. I am in love with my Bichion frise, named Finnegan and enjoyed your stories and advice. Give Minnie a birthday hug for me since it is her birthday tomorrow. (I saw that at the end of the book)
[…] 8/24/15, “Whisper Thanks….” […]
Danielle,
Thank you for both of these gems.
I was moved profoundly by the first quote as a student of Christian Science. I also had a grandmother who was a Journal listed CS practitioner and the greatest influence in my life for love and goodness. I think of her all the time. She was the real deal.
Mrs. Eddy’s quote arrived from you right on time and was demonstrated recently by the people who stopped the attack on the French train. Three of whom were Americans and friends traveling together. Perhaps they were divine Love in action.
Anthony Sadler said Sunday that when he saw his friends charge forward his instinct was: “Do something.”
“Hiding, or sitting back, is not going to accomplish anything,” he said. “And the gunman would’ve been successful if my friend Spencer had not gotten up. So I just want that lesson to be learned going forward, in times of, like, terror like that, please do something. Don’t just stand by and watch.”
Your second quote moved me with the simple lesson of not giving up. I went through unthinkable hardship and adversity and felt like giving up over these past years. But the writings of Mary Baker Eddy gave me the courage not to even when I wanted to give up. It reminds me of the legend of the two wolves fighting (Hope v Despair). Which one wins? The one that you feed.
Keep you light shining!
Truth, Wisdom, Love and Sincerity, to You and ALL Mankind.
Rob Scott
Chicago, IL
This is the love of Christ or God, is not it? Or is this a transposition of your human needs? What are they today? Impressive, this great spiritual and emotional needs … Second message is humanist and christian, full of tolerance, wisdom, generosity, tenderness and humility. The author conveys his whole life long and well lived. I prefer this one, we retains the evidences only with its head, its own criteria, the felt with his whole body! Bravo for the Pise tower, your horizon ahead widens literally and figuratively, it is brave to do sorting, to look back, not always happy, the French say “faire table rase”, do you remember ? A Golden State Warrior’s breakfast is a black bowl of coffee (like chocolate!) with 50 cm approx. bread, butter and jam! The pretty woman on her big trunk is Aphrodite! It is also a mischievous young girl who says, laughing at Brigitte longtime partner, “I want to hide myself for everyone looking for me, or I feel like “j’ai envie de me faire la malle “! Good chat!
Hello Danielle,
My name is robyn I writing to you because when my mom got older and started learning about who you were. She started to collect your books. I inherited them when she died. My mom’s best friend was keeping for me so when go to see them I would bring some of them at a time due to me flying. I’m a big fan of your’s. Have been since in my early 20s. I’ve got most of your books. I’ve got most of your books but I want the whole collection. So if I win I will be a happy camper.
Robyn dorton
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