This morning I was allowed to sleep in, and I bounded from bed ready to address my day. I made the bed, did a few loads of laundry, cleaned the kitchen, and worked on the binding for my niece's quilt. I potted up the geranium slips that had grown roots, and got them settled in a sunny window. I watched a little TV with Dear Husband, and tried a new recipe. (It was a dud, but it was the thought that counted.) I fixed a healthy meal for my family, and generally had a relaxing day. All the while my mind was absorbed with the idea that New Years Day is the time when we choose to alter our lives for the better.
I was reading Dear Abby at breakfast and found The Prayer of St. Francis. I don't believe I've read it before, but it stikes me as an excellent guideline for the coming year. Perhaps it will resonate with you, too.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Perhaps we have come to a time when rather than observing random acts of kindness, we need to make kindness part of the fabric of our life. As you make your resolutions.....phrase them in ways that focus outward, and I bet they will brng you great joy!
Happy New Year!
Comments (6)
...you do know it is a hymn?...so you could sing it to yourself all day if you wanted :^)...
Posted by billy | January 2, 2004 5:47 PM
Posted on January 2, 2004 17:47
St. Frank had it right...excellent guide to living.
I pray all is well with you and your family in the New Year.
I'm back in the blogsphere, having survived my oldest son's November wedding...
Peace...PJ
Posted by PJ | January 2, 2004 6:31 PM
Posted on January 2, 2004 18:31
Good idea, that!
Posted by Mad Bull | January 2, 2004 8:43 PM
Posted on January 2, 2004 20:43
True words Buffy.
Posted by Dr. D. | January 2, 2004 10:23 PM
Posted on January 2, 2004 22:23
Happy New Year to you also, Buffy (and Hubby of Buffy! -- DH)
You are right that we need to incorporate kindness more in everyday life. Kindness is just good for everyone, the person being kind, and the recipent, so win-win, what could be better?
Posted by Desiree | January 3, 2004 11:05 PM
Posted on January 3, 2004 23:05
No, I didn't know that's a hymn, billy! I'll have to surf for the music.
PJ! Great to see you back in the blog world. Congrats on your son's wedding!
Desire, it seems to me that doing something kind makes us feel good, so I don't know why we are not kind all the time. It shouldn't be a seasonal or occasional thing.
Doc, and Mad Bull...thanks for stopping by. :-)
Posted by Buffy | January 3, 2004 11:32 PM
Posted on January 3, 2004 23:32