6 Rahmat 164 B.E. - Thursday, June 28, 2007
It dawned on me today that when I pray and meditate, I’m breathing in God. My soul is inhaling the fragrance of the beloved. I especially like several Baha’I prayers. My favorite prayers depend on what’s going on in my life at the time. So if someone would ask me today what my favorite prayer is, I’d say the Tablet of Ahmad, but if I was asked the same question tomorrow or the next day, then I’d probably give a different answer. All the prayers are wonderful, but some of them speak to my soul at specific times.
Word by word
I am breathing in God
inhaling the fragrance of his love.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Outpatient Therapy Part II
3 Rahmat - Tuesday, June 26, 2007
We went to the outpatient therapy session this morning. It was interesting; we were a sight going in. Me pushing Mom and carrying her walker, it’s a good thing Mom can help steer her own wheel chair. Mom is getting stronger, but she still has a long way to go. The therapist evaluated her to see what she needed and how far she had came since leaving the hospital.
Before going to the session, we walked from our driveway up to the corner of Bruce and back. We must be a sight. Me pushing Mom in the wheel chair down the driveway, parking her under the stone pine tree and then going back for the walker. When I get the walker back down to her, then I put the Gaite belt around her and we walk up the corner of Bracken and Bruce, then back again one or two times. The number of times we walk in the morning depends on how early we get started and how long it takes Mom to get tired.
Today the therapist gave us some exercises he wants Mom to do. Only one of the exercises was different from what she already does. He gave her a different exercise to do in bed, then those she already knows. The goal of the exercises demonstrated today is at least thirty times in one session. Two of those she has to work toward, but the other two she already does thirty times in one session.
We went to the outpatient therapy session this morning. It was interesting; we were a sight going in. Me pushing Mom and carrying her walker, it’s a good thing Mom can help steer her own wheel chair. Mom is getting stronger, but she still has a long way to go. The therapist evaluated her to see what she needed and how far she had came since leaving the hospital.
Before going to the session, we walked from our driveway up to the corner of Bruce and back. We must be a sight. Me pushing Mom in the wheel chair down the driveway, parking her under the stone pine tree and then going back for the walker. When I get the walker back down to her, then I put the Gaite belt around her and we walk up the corner of Bracken and Bruce, then back again one or two times. The number of times we walk in the morning depends on how early we get started and how long it takes Mom to get tired.
Today the therapist gave us some exercises he wants Mom to do. Only one of the exercises was different from what she already does. He gave her a different exercise to do in bed, then those she already knows. The goal of the exercises demonstrated today is at least thirty times in one session. Two of those she has to work toward, but the other two she already does thirty times in one session.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Outpatient Therapy Part I
2 Rahmat 164 B.E. - Monday, June 25, 2007
This is the 2nd of Rahmat and tomorrow morning my mother begins outpatient therapy. I’m not sure what it will consist of, the therapist who came to the house had her do exercises with her feet and legs while she was laying down, sitting up and standing up. In addition, he had her use the walker to walk from our driveway up the hill to the corner and back again. I suppose the outpatient therapy session will be similar.
The Feast of Rahmat was Saturday night, when we went I took both the walker and the wheel chair. Mom used the walker to go into the Center and she kept it all the way all three portions of the Feast. Sunday she didn’t use the walker much because a place on her leg hurt and we thought that not stress the spot any more than necessary would help it. It did, today the place doesn’t hurt and Mom is using the walker.
This morning, before I took her for her blood test (she has to get at least one blood test a week because of the medications she’s taking), she used the walker and walked from our driveway up to the corner and back again.
When we go for the walk, I put a Gaite Belt around her. She seems to be doing all right. She’s just not making as much progress as she’d like. I suppose tomorrow I’ll put the wheel chair in the trunk and the walker in the back seat when we go to the therapy session. I’m getting fairly good at putting the wheel chair in and taking it out of the trunk. It gets easier all the time and the chair doesn’t seem as heavy as it did when I first started.
This is the 2nd of Rahmat and tomorrow morning my mother begins outpatient therapy. I’m not sure what it will consist of, the therapist who came to the house had her do exercises with her feet and legs while she was laying down, sitting up and standing up. In addition, he had her use the walker to walk from our driveway up the hill to the corner and back again. I suppose the outpatient therapy session will be similar.
The Feast of Rahmat was Saturday night, when we went I took both the walker and the wheel chair. Mom used the walker to go into the Center and she kept it all the way all three portions of the Feast. Sunday she didn’t use the walker much because a place on her leg hurt and we thought that not stress the spot any more than necessary would help it. It did, today the place doesn’t hurt and Mom is using the walker.
This morning, before I took her for her blood test (she has to get at least one blood test a week because of the medications she’s taking), she used the walker and walked from our driveway up to the corner and back again.
When we go for the walk, I put a Gaite Belt around her. She seems to be doing all right. She’s just not making as much progress as she’d like. I suppose tomorrow I’ll put the wheel chair in the trunk and the walker in the back seat when we go to the therapy session. I’m getting fairly good at putting the wheel chair in and taking it out of the trunk. It gets easier all the time and the chair doesn’t seem as heavy as it did when I first started.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
A Natural Process and the Growth of the human soul
17 Nur 164 BE – Thursday, June 21, 2007
Snakes can’t grow unless they shed their skin. The old has to come off before the reptile can increase in size and abilities. The human soul, on the other hand, has to develop spiritual attributes to be prepared for life in the next world. Tests and difficulties reveal spiritual attributes the individual soul needs to develop in order to function in the next world. I didn’t realize how similar a snake shedding its skin is to the soul developing spiritual attributes until someone in my yahoo journal writing group pointed it out.
The similarity between these processes is stress. It’s stressful for a snake to shed it’s skin. It’s stressful for the human soul to gain the knowledge of the attributes necessary for its survival and success in the world of the spirit. The only place we (human) have to develop these attributes is in the material world. We must acquire these attributes before the soul sheds the physical body and passes to the next world.
The spiritual attribute I’ve been having problems with lately is patience. Until recently I thought I was patient and I am in specific cases and in dealing with other under certain conditions. However, this patience doesn’t extend to all process or to myself. When I realized patience was the problem (possibly waiting in traffic during road construction on a hot Las Vegas day), I looked up patience in my Microsoft Word Thesaurus. I found that patience has several facets endurance, staying power, tolerance, lack of complaint, persistence, fortitude, and serenity.
I looked at the ingredients to patience and realized that it’s only specific aspects of patience I have a problem with. One of those aspects is the “lack of complaint”, when I realized this I used it as a journal entry and posted it to the group. That’s when one of the members pointed out the similarities between a snake shedding its skin and the process of growth. In order for the human soul (spirit) to grow, it must shed the certain material attributes and develop spiritual attributes; I suspect this is what’s going on in my life at the moment. My spirit is growing and I have to shed certain aspect of the ego self for the spirit to grow and develop.
Sometimes the processes of nature shed light on how the human soul grows and develops spiritual attributes.
Snakes can’t grow unless they shed their skin. The old has to come off before the reptile can increase in size and abilities. The human soul, on the other hand, has to develop spiritual attributes to be prepared for life in the next world. Tests and difficulties reveal spiritual attributes the individual soul needs to develop in order to function in the next world. I didn’t realize how similar a snake shedding its skin is to the soul developing spiritual attributes until someone in my yahoo journal writing group pointed it out.
The similarity between these processes is stress. It’s stressful for a snake to shed it’s skin. It’s stressful for the human soul to gain the knowledge of the attributes necessary for its survival and success in the world of the spirit. The only place we (human) have to develop these attributes is in the material world. We must acquire these attributes before the soul sheds the physical body and passes to the next world.
The spiritual attribute I’ve been having problems with lately is patience. Until recently I thought I was patient and I am in specific cases and in dealing with other under certain conditions. However, this patience doesn’t extend to all process or to myself. When I realized patience was the problem (possibly waiting in traffic during road construction on a hot Las Vegas day), I looked up patience in my Microsoft Word Thesaurus. I found that patience has several facets endurance, staying power, tolerance, lack of complaint, persistence, fortitude, and serenity.
I looked at the ingredients to patience and realized that it’s only specific aspects of patience I have a problem with. One of those aspects is the “lack of complaint”, when I realized this I used it as a journal entry and posted it to the group. That’s when one of the members pointed out the similarities between a snake shedding its skin and the process of growth. In order for the human soul (spirit) to grow, it must shed the certain material attributes and develop spiritual attributes; I suspect this is what’s going on in my life at the moment. My spirit is growing and I have to shed certain aspect of the ego self for the spirit to grow and develop.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
An Interesting Morning
5 Nur 164 B.E. – Saturday, June 09, 2007
It’s been a very interesting morning. I took Mom to the DMV to get the handicap placard to hang in the window of the car. I thought they would charge a fee, but there’s no fee for the placard. We arrived at the DMV office on East Sahara sometime after 8:00 AM, went in, but we didn’t have a long wait we left about 8:30 AM. We went to the bank, so Mom could withdraw some money, then we went to Food 4 Less and came home.
I still have to pick up some Meds for her either today or in the morning. I think the pharmacy closes about 5:00 or 6:00 PM today. Tomorrow is Sunday, the pharmacy will be open, but not until either 9:00 or 10:00 AM, I’m going to call and check the hours they open and close this afternoon.
Mom’s therapist gave her three different types of exercises to do. One set she does in bed, another setting down and the third standing up. Then she walks using the walker several times a day. She’s getting stronger all the time, but she still thinks she’s not progressing fast enough.
This morning I took two cans of trash and two recyclable bens out to the curb. I’ve got another can of trash working in the garage for Wednesday. I still don’t have a working garbage disposal, so I can’t use the dishwasher. Oh, I probably could, but there is a good chance if I did I’d either be bailing out the dishwasher or mopping up the kitchen floor neither of which is appealing at this time. So, I’ll continue to wash dishes the old fashion way until I can get power to the disposal. You know, it sounds like I’m complaining, but I don’t think that’s what it is. I think I just writing to find a subject; writing to get my thoughts straight.
Before we left this morning, I said the Long Healing Prayer. I’ve been reading that prayer at least once a day ever since Mom came home. Right now I’m just tired. It’s work putting the wheel chair in the trunk and taking it out again. Normally I do it only once a day, but today it was four times and if we go to the pharmacy this evening it will be five. It takes a lot of energy and leaves lots of burses. Someone asked me at Feast why I had so many burses on my arms, it’s from putting the wheel chair in the trunk and taking it out again.
Well I guess that’s all for today. I have to put the trashcans and recyclable bens in the garage. The trash cans used to stand on the east side of the house. When Mom went into the hospital in March I moved them to the garage. It’s easier for me to carry trash to them and to get them to the curb on Wednesday and Saturday. The recyclable bens always stayed in the garage, but I moved them from the worktable against the south wall to the floor near the north wall of the garage, easier to carry them to the curb.
Mom enjoyed going to the grocery store today. However, next time I take her I think I’ll let her use one of those ride around carts they have for the handicapped in the store. It’s a lot easier than trying to shop pushing a wheel chair. Oh, well that’s what life is a series of lessons; not that I expect everything to be easy or to get easier as I get older, but I can make it as convenient and easy as possible.
It’s been a very interesting morning. I took Mom to the DMV to get the handicap placard to hang in the window of the car. I thought they would charge a fee, but there’s no fee for the placard. We arrived at the DMV office on East Sahara sometime after 8:00 AM, went in, but we didn’t have a long wait we left about 8:30 AM. We went to the bank, so Mom could withdraw some money, then we went to Food 4 Less and came home.
I still have to pick up some Meds for her either today or in the morning. I think the pharmacy closes about 5:00 or 6:00 PM today. Tomorrow is Sunday, the pharmacy will be open, but not until either 9:00 or 10:00 AM, I’m going to call and check the hours they open and close this afternoon.
Mom’s therapist gave her three different types of exercises to do. One set she does in bed, another setting down and the third standing up. Then she walks using the walker several times a day. She’s getting stronger all the time, but she still thinks she’s not progressing fast enough.
This morning I took two cans of trash and two recyclable bens out to the curb. I’ve got another can of trash working in the garage for Wednesday. I still don’t have a working garbage disposal, so I can’t use the dishwasher. Oh, I probably could, but there is a good chance if I did I’d either be bailing out the dishwasher or mopping up the kitchen floor neither of which is appealing at this time. So, I’ll continue to wash dishes the old fashion way until I can get power to the disposal. You know, it sounds like I’m complaining, but I don’t think that’s what it is. I think I just writing to find a subject; writing to get my thoughts straight.
Before we left this morning, I said the Long Healing Prayer. I’ve been reading that prayer at least once a day ever since Mom came home. Right now I’m just tired. It’s work putting the wheel chair in the trunk and taking it out again. Normally I do it only once a day, but today it was four times and if we go to the pharmacy this evening it will be five. It takes a lot of energy and leaves lots of burses. Someone asked me at Feast why I had so many burses on my arms, it’s from putting the wheel chair in the trunk and taking it out again.
Well I guess that’s all for today. I have to put the trashcans and recyclable bens in the garage. The trash cans used to stand on the east side of the house. When Mom went into the hospital in March I moved them to the garage. It’s easier for me to carry trash to them and to get them to the curb on Wednesday and Saturday. The recyclable bens always stayed in the garage, but I moved them from the worktable against the south wall to the floor near the north wall of the garage, easier to carry them to the curb.
Mom enjoyed going to the grocery store today. However, next time I take her I think I’ll let her use one of those ride around carts they have for the handicapped in the store. It’s a lot easier than trying to shop pushing a wheel chair. Oh, well that’s what life is a series of lessons; not that I expect everything to be easy or to get easier as I get older, but I can make it as convenient and easy as possible.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Thankful Thursday Gratitude Journal Entry
3 Nur 164 B.E. – Thursday, June 07, 2007
Today is Thankful Thursday and time for another Gratitude Journal Entry. I’ve decided to post today’s entry to this blog. Glory is the name of my Gratitude Journal. Thankful Thursday entries usually consist of 10 items.
Dear Glory,
Today I am thankful for all the helpful reviews I receive on writing.com.
Today I am thankful for my mother getting better. She is using her walker more and more.
Today I am thankful for my sister birthday coming up on the 15th. I have time enough to compose a birthday poem for her and send it with the birthday card.
Today I am thankful for completing two more chapters in the sci-fi story I’m writing for the anthology group I belong to on writing.com. I think I have only two more chapters to complete before I finish the story.
Today I am thankful for a clean backyard and trimmed oleanders.
Today I am thankful for the Long Healing Prayer revealed by Baha’u’llah.
Today I am thankful for another month’s upgraded membership to writing.com.
Today I am thankful for the cool weather we’ve had in Vegas for the past couple of days. When I took Mom to get her blood test it was cool enough for a sweater.
Today I am thankful for the mourning dove that calls every morning.
Today I am thankful for having gas in the car.
Yours Gratefully,
Neva, Prosperous Snow, Poet 999
Today is Thankful Thursday and time for another Gratitude Journal Entry. I’ve decided to post today’s entry to this blog. Glory is the name of my Gratitude Journal. Thankful Thursday entries usually consist of 10 items.
Dear Glory,
Today I am thankful for all the helpful reviews I receive on writing.com.
Today I am thankful for my mother getting better. She is using her walker more and more.
Today I am thankful for my sister birthday coming up on the 15th. I have time enough to compose a birthday poem for her and send it with the birthday card.
Today I am thankful for completing two more chapters in the sci-fi story I’m writing for the anthology group I belong to on writing.com. I think I have only two more chapters to complete before I finish the story.
Today I am thankful for a clean backyard and trimmed oleanders.
Today I am thankful for the Long Healing Prayer revealed by Baha’u’llah.
Today I am thankful for another month’s upgraded membership to writing.com.
Today I am thankful for the cool weather we’ve had in Vegas for the past couple of days. When I took Mom to get her blood test it was cool enough for a sweater.
Today I am thankful for the mourning dove that calls every morning.
Today I am thankful for having gas in the car.
Yours Gratefully,
Neva, Prosperous Snow, Poet 999
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Feast of Nur
1 Nur 164 B.E. – Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Mom attended the Feast of Nur (Light), it’s the first feast she has attended since March. She really enjoyed herself and everyone was glad to see her back. She attended in a wheel chair, but wants to attend the next feast walking in. I think she’ll be able to use the walker by then. She wants to go without the walker, but I’m not sure about that right now.
The hosts decorated center beautifully. There were roses and other green plants. I’m not sure of the names of the other plant because there are only a few flowers I’m familiar enough with to identify. The theme of the feast was love. The opening prayer, revealed by Baha’u’llah, was one I don’t remember reading before. It struck a chord with me, so here it is for all to read and enjoy.
Opening Prayer
Praise be unto Thee, O my God! I am one of Thy servants, who hath believed on Thee and on Thy signs. Thou seest how I have set myself towards the door of Thy mercy, and turned my face in the direction of Thy loving-kindness. I beseech Thee, by Thy most excellent titles and Thy most exalted attributes, to open to my face the portals of Thy bestowals. Aid me, then, to do that which is good, O Thou Who art the Possessor of all names and attributes!
I am poor, O my Lord, and Thou art the Rich. I have set my face towards Thee, and detached myself from all but Thee. Deprive me not, I implore Thee, of the breezes of Thy tender mercy, and withhold not from me what Thou didst ordain for the chosen among Thy servants.
Remove the veil from mine eyes, O my Lord, that I may recognize what Thou hast desired for Thy creatures, and discover, in all the manifestations of Thy handiwork, the revelations of Thine almighty power. Enrapture my soul, O my Lord, with Thy most mighty signs, and draw me out of the depths of my corrupt and evil desires. Write down, then, for me the good of this world and of the world to come. Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. No God is there but Thee, the All-Glorious, Who help is sought by all men.
I yield Thee thanks, O my Lord, that Thou hast wakened me from my sleep, and stirred me up, and created in me the desire to perceive what most of Thy servants have failed to apprehend. Make me able, therefore, O my Lord, to behold, for love of Thee and for the Sake of Thy pleasure, whatsoever Thou hast desired. Thou art He to the power of Whose might and sovereignty all things testify.
There is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the Beneficent.
Mom attended the Feast of Nur (Light), it’s the first feast she has attended since March. She really enjoyed herself and everyone was glad to see her back. She attended in a wheel chair, but wants to attend the next feast walking in. I think she’ll be able to use the walker by then. She wants to go without the walker, but I’m not sure about that right now.
The hosts decorated center beautifully. There were roses and other green plants. I’m not sure of the names of the other plant because there are only a few flowers I’m familiar enough with to identify. The theme of the feast was love. The opening prayer, revealed by Baha’u’llah, was one I don’t remember reading before. It struck a chord with me, so here it is for all to read and enjoy.
Opening Prayer
Praise be unto Thee, O my God! I am one of Thy servants, who hath believed on Thee and on Thy signs. Thou seest how I have set myself towards the door of Thy mercy, and turned my face in the direction of Thy loving-kindness. I beseech Thee, by Thy most excellent titles and Thy most exalted attributes, to open to my face the portals of Thy bestowals. Aid me, then, to do that which is good, O Thou Who art the Possessor of all names and attributes!
I am poor, O my Lord, and Thou art the Rich. I have set my face towards Thee, and detached myself from all but Thee. Deprive me not, I implore Thee, of the breezes of Thy tender mercy, and withhold not from me what Thou didst ordain for the chosen among Thy servants.
Remove the veil from mine eyes, O my Lord, that I may recognize what Thou hast desired for Thy creatures, and discover, in all the manifestations of Thy handiwork, the revelations of Thine almighty power. Enrapture my soul, O my Lord, with Thy most mighty signs, and draw me out of the depths of my corrupt and evil desires. Write down, then, for me the good of this world and of the world to come. Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. No God is there but Thee, the All-Glorious, Who help is sought by all men.
I yield Thee thanks, O my Lord, that Thou hast wakened me from my sleep, and stirred me up, and created in me the desire to perceive what most of Thy servants have failed to apprehend. Make me able, therefore, O my Lord, to behold, for love of Thee and for the Sake of Thy pleasure, whatsoever Thou hast desired. Thou art He to the power of Whose might and sovereignty all things testify.
There is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the Beneficent.
Bahá'u'lláh, Compilations, Baha'i Prayers, p. 52
Mom and I always enjoy attending the Feast. The feast day of each month is the first day. This is normally when the Feast occurs, all though there are exceptions. The Baha’I month consist of nineteen days and the year of nineteen months. Each month named after an attribute of God.
Many Baha’is hold spiritual or prayer services in their homes on a weekly basis, this is something I’d like to do in the near future. Planning a spiritual service is interesting. I’ve planned reading for spiritual services held at the center, but never one in my home. When planning a spiritual service I usually chose a theme and then pick out reading from the various scriptures.
A prayer service is a bit different from a spiritual service (at least to my way of thinking). A prayer service consists of just prayers rather than readings from the various scriptures. If I were planning a prayer service, I’d have prayers from the various religions and provide copies if the attendees wanted to read a prayer rather than say one by memory or composing it themselves as they prayed.
When I prayer, I usually use a prayer revealed by Baha’u’llah or the Bab or written by ‘Abdu’l-Baha. There are several prayers I like and use everyday. There are others that I don’t say everyday and so I have to read them from the prayer book. I’ve found that I usually memorize prayers I read everyday.
Many Baha’is hold spiritual or prayer services in their homes on a weekly basis, this is something I’d like to do in the near future. Planning a spiritual service is interesting. I’ve planned reading for spiritual services held at the center, but never one in my home. When planning a spiritual service I usually chose a theme and then pick out reading from the various scriptures.
A prayer service is a bit different from a spiritual service (at least to my way of thinking). A prayer service consists of just prayers rather than readings from the various scriptures. If I were planning a prayer service, I’d have prayers from the various religions and provide copies if the attendees wanted to read a prayer rather than say one by memory or composing it themselves as they prayed.
When I prayer, I usually use a prayer revealed by Baha’u’llah or the Bab or written by ‘Abdu’l-Baha. There are several prayers I like and use everyday. There are others that I don’t say everyday and so I have to read them from the prayer book. I’ve found that I usually memorize prayers I read everyday.
The Prayers Revealed by the Bay and Baha’u’llah
Each word is a light
Shining through the darkness
Guiding my soul to eternal life
Shining through the darkness
Guiding my soul to eternal life
The Nineteen-Day Feast
At the Lord’s Supper
We consume word by word
Food of the spirit
We consume word by word
Food of the spirit
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Modern Technology
17 ‘Azamat 164 B.E. – Saturday, June 02, 2007
Modern technology is absolutely wonderful when it works. When it doesn’t work it can be a pain and make normal everyday chores difficult. My garbage disposal isn’t working, since it isn’t working I can use the dishwasher. Well, I can use the dishwasher if I want to bail it out. That’s what I had to do on Monday or maybe it was Tuesday.
On Thursday, the garbage the plumber came to fix the disposal. Put in a new disposal and I still don’t have a working garbage disposal. The problem it turns out is a switch under the sink that automatically turns the disposal on and off. Anyway, until the switch is fixed I can’t use the dishwasher without having to bail it out, which I have no desire to do. I’m back to doing dishes by hand, which wouldn’t be a problem if I had a real dishpan. I don’t have a dishpan, so I’m using an extra-large Tupperware container. It works but it doesn’t fit in the sink. So I have it sitting on the side board and the thingy that I put the dishes in to drain in the sink.
I wrote an article a few days ago about How to be thankful in adversity. This is definitely adversity. Therefore, what am I thankful for? Let me count the things (1) the Tupperware container, and (2) antibacterial dishwashing liquid. OK, so this isn’t what most people would consider adversity. A few years ago, I wouldn’t have considered it that either, but birthdays and time changes many things in our lives and creates new definitions for our tests and difficulties.
I’m not going to complain. Doing dishes by hand can be an interesting change in routine, can make life less boring. All though, I don’t think I’ve ever found life boring. There are small segments that appear boring, but in retrospect, they are just rest pits between the tests, difficulties, and adversities that are normal parts of living. Every individual has different events they consider as tests, difficulties and adversities. It doesn’t do any good to complain about them, it just makes them worse.
I think that’s one reason we’re supposed to be “thankful in adversity”. If we’re thankful, we’re not complaining, not focusing on the problems. If we’re thankful, we’re focusing on the solutions. We can find solutions easier if we give praise and gratitude to God or to one of his Manifestations. Doing dishes by hand gives us a chance to meditate on the scriptures or prayers we know by heart.
I’ll probably have the switch under the sink fixed next week. Then I’ll go back to using the dishwasher. I’ll be more thankful for the dishwasher. Doing dishes by hand also makes you thankful when technological items work properly as well. I haven’t made a gratitude journal entry this week, so I think I’ll a thankful or perhaps a grateful Sunday entry. Come to think of it, I haven’t read my yahoo e-mail in a week or even posted to the two yahoo groups I still belong to, so maybe I’d better check do that as well.
Modern technology is absolutely wonderful when it works. When it doesn’t work it can be a pain and make normal everyday chores difficult. My garbage disposal isn’t working, since it isn’t working I can use the dishwasher. Well, I can use the dishwasher if I want to bail it out. That’s what I had to do on Monday or maybe it was Tuesday.
On Thursday, the garbage the plumber came to fix the disposal. Put in a new disposal and I still don’t have a working garbage disposal. The problem it turns out is a switch under the sink that automatically turns the disposal on and off. Anyway, until the switch is fixed I can’t use the dishwasher without having to bail it out, which I have no desire to do. I’m back to doing dishes by hand, which wouldn’t be a problem if I had a real dishpan. I don’t have a dishpan, so I’m using an extra-large Tupperware container. It works but it doesn’t fit in the sink. So I have it sitting on the side board and the thingy that I put the dishes in to drain in the sink.
I wrote an article a few days ago about How to be thankful in adversity. This is definitely adversity. Therefore, what am I thankful for? Let me count the things (1) the Tupperware container, and (2) antibacterial dishwashing liquid. OK, so this isn’t what most people would consider adversity. A few years ago, I wouldn’t have considered it that either, but birthdays and time changes many things in our lives and creates new definitions for our tests and difficulties.
I’m not going to complain. Doing dishes by hand can be an interesting change in routine, can make life less boring. All though, I don’t think I’ve ever found life boring. There are small segments that appear boring, but in retrospect, they are just rest pits between the tests, difficulties, and adversities that are normal parts of living. Every individual has different events they consider as tests, difficulties and adversities. It doesn’t do any good to complain about them, it just makes them worse.
I think that’s one reason we’re supposed to be “thankful in adversity”. If we’re thankful, we’re not complaining, not focusing on the problems. If we’re thankful, we’re focusing on the solutions. We can find solutions easier if we give praise and gratitude to God or to one of his Manifestations. Doing dishes by hand gives us a chance to meditate on the scriptures or prayers we know by heart.
I’ll probably have the switch under the sink fixed next week. Then I’ll go back to using the dishwasher. I’ll be more thankful for the dishwasher. Doing dishes by hand also makes you thankful when technological items work properly as well. I haven’t made a gratitude journal entry this week, so I think I’ll a thankful or perhaps a grateful Sunday entry. Come to think of it, I haven’t read my yahoo e-mail in a week or even posted to the two yahoo groups I still belong to, so maybe I’d better check do that as well.
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