God’s Grace
To Live One day at a time
Eyes that See the Beauty of any moment
Ears that Hear the sounds of nature
a Body that moves with ease
Imagination to Create Art
a Grateful Heart
gifts of surplus to Share with others
Gratitude for Blessings received
these are what I wish for you
~ Anita Adams 4/2/22
Those who know me, know that I often refer to Gratitude.
You may ask How did you know or get introduced to GRATITUDE? While listening to Krista Tippett’s podcast On Being, early one Sunday morning, she was interviewing Brother David Steindl-Rast, Founder of Gratefulness.org . This podcast was such a pivotal moment in my life as he described so many things, people, experiences, sounds, sights, smells, he was grateful for. I am a contributor to Gratefulness.org through monetary donations and my Photography. The practice of Gratitude I continue today. When I feel stuck in a ‘funk’, and I can’t think of anything to be grateful for, I begin with the letter ‘A’ and list whatever I am grateful for that begins with that letter and proceed through the alphabet. It’s amazing what comes out. Here’s a list of late:
A = Alicia (my daughter), Art, Air, AFG, Apple Trees
B = Brothers, color Blue, Blue Berries, Books, Birds
C = Chocolate (Dark Chocolate), Church, Couch, Catholicism, Creating Collages, Crows, Camera
D = Dawn, Doves, Daffodils, Drawing
E = Elephants, Ears that hear, Eyes that See, Europe
F = Faith, Father, Friends, Family
G = God, color Green, Grayson, Greeting one another
H = Home, Hot water, Hiking, Hawks
I = Imagination, Irises
J = Jesus, Juicy Pears and Apples, Job, Joy
K = Katharina (a faithful friend), Kites, Kibbeh, Kayaaks, Kayak, Kelly
L = Love, the sound Laughter, Lincoln
M = Mom, Memory, Mountains
N = Nandina, Notecards
O = Ocean waves and sound, Oxygen, Oranges, Orchids
P = Patience, Prayer, Pink Tulips, Peruvian Lilies, Photography, Pencils, Pens, Paper, Pope Francis
Q = Quiet moments, Quilts
R = Rest, Richard (son), Red Poppies, Robins
S = Steve (husband and friend), Sailing, Swimming, Seeing Smiles again
T = Trees (all kinds- Oaks, Redbuds, Weeping Willows, Dogwoods, Beech Trees), Today, Travels
U= Umbrellas (bright red, poke-a-dotted)
V = Sound of Violins, African Violets, Vacation
W = Water, Willow Trees, Writing
X = eXtraordinary moments
Y = Yellow Sunflowers and Finches
Z = Zealous moments
What does your list look like?
~ Anita Adams 3/2022
a look back on 2021
A year of loss
A year where a Leap of Faith was taken into the unknown
A year of Trusting the God of my understanding, the Divine, Jesus, the Mystery, the Whisperer
Creating Art
Letting Love in
Trusting that ALL is well and ALWAYS will be in God’s time and in God’s way
Choosing Gratitude for the gifts given and the ones shared
God thank you for the Serenity to accept those things/people/situations I can not change
God thank you for the Courage to change those things/situations that I can
God thank you for the Wisdom to know the difference
Wishing you all a year of focusing on what you have, sharing what you can, good health, good food, good choices, peace of mind, body and soul.
Hearts pure at birth
Minds untainted by the whispers of others telling us what to think, do, perceive or believe
Maturing slowly from children to teenagers
Grasping to know who we are, what we truly believe
Asking ourselves what or whom would I most like to be
Then the sun breaks through in shades of pink, gray, white with a blue sky behind those clouds
And we know, we aren’t perfect
We are ALL doing the best we can to be a human, an adult, a sister, mother, situ, wife, friend, co-worker, neighbor
Traveling and navigating a Spiritual existence in a human body
We aren’t perfect
If I don’t say the right words at the right time, or misinterpret something you’ve said or done, don’t take it personally, kindness will return, if apologies are needed they will surface and be said, if not, know that this imperfect human is doing the best they can
So to you my brother or sister in Christ, know that in my heart, underneath layers of life’s experience, exists pure love
©Anita Adams 8/2021
A typed note rests on my desk with this question Where am I headed?, and I read it every day.
I don’t know where I am headed
I do know that I am being prepared for something else; And I will recognize that calling or destination when the door or window opens
My prayer each day is your will for me God, and others
I listen and wait
Look and notice
Close my eyes and grow silent
Working and growing in compassion to meet the challenges of the day before me, as best I can
Nature and prayer are the balms that soothe my soul
Bathing under the canopy of the forest
Listening to the wind as it sways the trees’ trunks and limbs, they join in song, singing to one another is the music of my heart
Early morning, the birds’ song and banter brings a feeling of comfort like a flannel blanket on a cold day
Creating art from photos or gathered pieces of paper and moss, paint on canvas, herbs wrapped in string and presented as bouquets
Where am I headed?
Perhaps the answer is to grow deeper in gratitude for all the gifts I’ve been given – a compassionate heart, a listening ear, eyes that see, arms and legs that move and carry me from place to place, a knowingness that all is well …. and, more will be revealed – Hope.
~ Anita Adams 5/30/2021
to feel the wind on my face
to hear his voice
to hug my grandsons without masks
to retire and enjoy my days writing and creating art
to go to Mass and receive Communion
to sit on the shore at the beach, and listen to the ocean’s song, to feel its waves wash upon my feet
to bathe in the forest and breathe in the fragrance of pines and flaming azaleas
to finish a book or two
to be guided to where and what my true calling is
to love and know myself so well that naturally, love overflows to all those around me
to be more grateful
to be present in this moment, in this breath
~ Anita Adams 5/11/2021
Tell me what I missed….
Today – I missed the basking in the warmth of the sun
Yesterday – I missed a walk in the evening
A Year ago – I missed celebrating Good Friday with my Mom
Missing the smiles behind the masks, the hugs from those I know and love, and those I like, but know not – yet
All the moments and hugs from my grandsons from September 2020 until now
Life and its fluidity
Making the most of those moments and grateful for the comforts I have – a partner, a home, eyes that see, ability to feel with my heart and mirror the love back that’s been gifted to me.
Prayers that go something like this….
I am Tree
Tiny seed placed in the ground
Watered and nurtured with sunlight
God’s spirit poured out on me
Help me grow a little at a time
Roots clinging to the earth
Filled with the Spirit
Nourished with nutrients to grow
Branches stretched up toward the Heavens
Swaying in the wind
Dancing, singing with birds and bees
Giving thanks to our Creator
Singing songs like I Believe
Thank you – Love, Me
©Anita Adams 2021
Definition of Epiphany: a sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something
Epiphany
This week I’ve had two –both with men, both familial.
The first with my son during a telephone conversation from him, which I listened as he spoke to me about his life, responsibilities, wants and needs. As I listened, what I heard was a type of discontent. And, it dawned on me that this may be what I have often echoed to my own parents, and how sad it must have been for them to have heard this same discontent from me for years. I decided right then to consciously change this language to content, possible and hopeful with all persons one conversation, one day at a time.
The second epiphany came last night when I shared with my father the first epiphany and he listened and looked at me and then said, you must have forgotten how you were as a young girl – I did NOT expect to hear these words or the examples of heart ache he described thereafter. Yet, I listened. I apologized for the heartache I bestowed unknowingly on him and my mother.
And then, I shared my perceptions of what happened in my life at that time. As he listened, and he did, I knew he was hearing my recollection and realization much differently. It was a lot to absorb for both of us. And even as I share this now, I know that we will both never be the same. For me, I will be more compassionate, listen more, talk less, need less, and continue to strive for that balance, that art of contentment.
As Easter approaches, and Lent comes to a close, I will share something I offered up during my Lenten journey with Christ. My Lenten Fast was this – to choose NOT to engage in any negative communication with others or toward myself, and if I slipped up, I would deposit $1 in a jar to be given to an organization for those who are less fortunate than myself such as MANNA FoodBank recipients or Catholic Charities. I may have $10 in the jar to distribute – not bad for 40 days of commitment and what I’ve learned is that this will be an ongoing way of life for me – listen more, talk less, if I must talk, be aware of my choice of words. An acronym for the word ‘THINK’ is this: Is what you are about to say: Thoughtful, Honest, Intelligent, Necessary and Kind? If so, it’s okay to proceed, if not, it’s best to just listen or move on.
Happy Easter – Spring !
rain falls outside in the dark
the sound is comforting
the ground is drinking
worms are swimming
keys are tapping
water splashing
another day has passed
it’s dark and time has lapsed
tick tock goes the clock
another day gone
work sucks the energy from me and he
another day inside
deprived of the trees
longing for the weekend
the forest
the trail
the streams
another day
tick tock
a favorite Holiday
anticipated joy
clean slate
white magic
everything – clean
decorated – the trees and branches
an invitation to play
sled
an unexpected – art day
Snow Magic!
©Anita Adams 2021
Called to Write 