Surrendering Life…in Order to Live It!

Dear Reader:

In my dreams I still visualize the world of my childhood. It always consisted of a big yellow sun, stars, mountains, birds, trees, seas, rainbows and flowers…always flowers everywhere. I should have known then that the creation of my garden was destined to rarify my later years within the sacredness of a spiritual sanctuary.

It is within that sanctuary that I have come to see some of the most important ethereal  lessons from God that the child in me couldn’t process. Basically what we ask for and what we receive from God might seem initially… opposites. But if we live long enough to reflect back on our lives we understand we got just what we needed… when we needed it.

The following piece of prose always makes me smile and nod in consensual agreement with many others. It is listed as having been written by an anonymous author…but I feel an epiphany each time I come across it. *I think it written for all of us from divine guidance.

“I Asked…”

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve-

I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey

 

I asked for health, that I might do greater things –

I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

 

I asked for riches, that I might be happy – 

I was given poverty, that I might be wise.

 

I asked for power, that I might have the promise of men – 

I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.

 

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life – 

I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

 

I got nothing that I asked for – 

but everything I had hoped for.

 

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am, among all people, most richly blessed.

-anonymous

So until tomorrow…’Tis the season of Thanksgiving…If we leave cynical ‘adulting’ behind and once again see the world through the innocent eyes of our childhoods…then we see the world as God created it to be.

“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

 

Big Shout-Out to Jackson…today is officially her  Ya benchmark birthday! Now the Ya’s are all on board…a new decade with more adventures of friendship calling!

 

 

Mollie’s youngest sister, Whitney, gave birth  three days ago to little Finn…cute name to go along with a precious little boy. Congratulations Temple family!

 

Kaitlyn flew home this weekend to put on a baby shower for her best friend growing up… so Tommy is holding down the fort with all the canine “kids” who got haircuts yesterday….Cute!

 

About Becky Dingle

I was born a Tarheel but ended up a Sandlapper. My grandparents were cotton farmers in Laurens, South Carolina and it was in my grandmother’s house that my love of storytelling began beside an old Franklin stove. When I graduated from Laurens High School, I attended Erskine College (Due West of what?) and would later get my Masters Degree in Education/Social Studies from Charleston Southern. I am presently an adjunct professor/clinical supervisor at CSU and have also taught at the College of Charleston. For 28 years I taught Social Studies through storytelling. My philosophy matched Rudyard Kipling’s quote: “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” Today I still spread this message through workshops and presentations throughout the state. The secret of success in teaching social studies is always in the story. I want to keep learning and being surprised by life…it is the greatest teacher. Like Kermit said, “When you’re green you grow, when you’re ripe you rot.”
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2 Responses to Surrendering Life…in Order to Live It!

  1. Gin-g EdwardsG says:

    Becky…love the poem…it is “spot on”. I never really knew what I wanted to be in life but God knew…if we just have faith to trust Him.

    Guess what…Debbie had been forwarding your nlogs to me tbrough her email and somehow I registered on what she sent me and now I geg it..t it…zyeah

    • Becky Dingle says:

      Yeah is right! Finally! There is more than one way to skin a cat as grandmother always reminded me. Way to go girls…good team work! Do give Debbie a big hug…miss seeing her! Ready for this gloomy weather to move on out…but have really been lazy and given into fire logs, books, and naps. I feel very rested….still looking forward to the sun tomorrow hopefully! Go Tigers!

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