This morning, first thing I pull on my husband\u2019s coat
\nand big boots
\nand I go outside
\nto feed the birds<\/p>\n
the sky is overcast and
\ndull
\nbut the air
\nis
\nfresh
\nand though I am barely awake
\nI breathe deep and smile
\nin gratitude<\/p>\n
here\u2019s what I\u2019ve been doing lately,
\nI have a friend whose heart is aching
\nmissing a beautiful light of a sister
\nwho became a dear friend of my heart
\ngone just,\u00a0 much too soon
\nand I wish to hold her hand when she aches
\nI have friends who are grieving the loss of their mother
\nand holes that cannot be filled
\na mother who touched my life with great kindness
\nand love
\nand the only way I know to fill these holes
\nare of giving, much of the same
\na few days ago my friend at work loses her sister-in-law
\na peaceful ending to a struggle for wellness
\nthat still strikes the heart as
\nsimply too soon
\non Monday I come in from work to news that my great Uncle Tony has died
\nmy Gran\u2019s brother
\nsuch a lovely kind man
\nwho talked to me of books, and knowledge
\nand
\nkindness
\ncome to the end of his life, leaving behind him
\na gentle and profound legacy of love
\nTuesday evening, I come across news that my friend Michael has died
\nand I search for a time to find answers
\nyou see Michael and I don\u2019t really know each other, well
\nwe became friends, I think through our appreciation for PBS
\nwhen I received a friend request, and a message that said,
\n\u201cI like your vibe\u201d
\nthat touched me and made me smile
\nlater comments from Michael would include
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know who you are\u2026\u00a0 but you make the world better\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael had a wonderful smile,\u00a0 a husband named Stephen
\ncats and many friends, that he loved and that
\nloved him
\nand…
\nI wish that
\nI
\ncould have hugged him
\nour friendship was bonded by an offering of Love and Kindness
\nto the world
\nand this is where I\u2019ll hold on to Michael Durand
\nin my heart<\/p>\n
so again\u2026
\nwhat I\u2019m thinking about today .. is love
\nand
\nloss
\nand how each day we can be touched by
\nboth
\nand either has the power to gather us in
\nor bowl us under
\nand in each moment we can choose
\nto shrink
\nor
\nexpand<\/p>\n
and all I have to offer…\u00a0 is this
\nas I say most often it seems these days,
\nhold on to each other
\noffer someone a kindness
\na shoulder
\na connection
\nin your day to day –
\nvalue someone\u2019s worth
\nas well as
\nyour own
\nsay Thank you
\nand I appreciate you
\nand
\nsay I love you
\nA LOT
\ntouch hearts
\ntouch hands
\ntouch
\nlives
\nand be kind
\nand be kind
\nand be kind<\/p>\n
time passes\u2026<\/p>\n
As I am pouring my coffee
\nI look out the window
\nto see
\na new bird at the feeder
\none I have never seen before
\nbrilliant and beautiful in colour
\nI know I will never make it to the camera
\nand back
\nbefore he goes,
\nso I just stand in awe, and in
\nGratitude
\nI bring my hands together\u2026 (as I do)
\nI thank him for coming,
\nand I name him
\nMichael.<\/p>\n
Peace be with you, my friend
\nand
\nThank you<\/p>\n
and to you,
\nMay peace
\nbe with you too\u00a0 \u2665<\/p>\n
\u201cThe things that matter most in our lives are not fantastic or grand. They are moments when we touch one another\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/span> This morning, first thing I pull on my husband\u2019s coat and big boots and I go outside to feed the birds the sky is overcast and dull but the air is fresh and though I am barely awake I breathe…
\n~ Jack Kornfield<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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