Dear Reader:
I love hearing from everyone involved in the chapelofhopestories.com family….whether through comments, emails, texts, or messages. It reiterates what we already know…that by simply writing how the blog has helped you in some way or starts your day off brighter…(For which I am terribly thankful and humble)…YOU (by taking time to communicate back) have just made my day brighter too! 🙂
Isn’t it funny how life works that way….kindness shown in one direction bounces off kindness shown from another direction…diffusing light to everyone around… lifting all our lives (involved in the kindness explosion) upward for simply sharing a few moments together daily. Most of us will never meet but yet we feel a strong affinity to each other…at least I know I do.
This latest circle of sharing started when I went to the mailbox yesterday…and there was a card from Sharon Joyce, from Forest Home, Alabama. I immediately remembered I had received another adorable card from her before…and was so excited!
(Today’s blog post title artwork comes from the front of her card. Isn’t it cute…and so timely!)
She wrote a note of encouragement to me and a thank you for sharing my life daily with the blog. Sharon, you might not realize it, but by sharing your life and thoughts back to me…my world just became incredibly happier for simply knowing someone like you is sharing a parallel life-time in this complex world we live in.
As Robert Fulghum concluded….“When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.”
This year it was time to get a new license plate for the car…I did miss my old one (AID 500)….but also liked that the state’s motto was on each license plate. “While I breathe…I hope.”
Drivers have asked about the meaning behind the state seal quote on the license plates.
“As long as you are alive–as long as you breathe–you hope, you aspire, you strive. It’s a great state motto. It’s a quote from Cicero and Theocritus, and I think it was first used on the state seal, which was adopted in 1776 during the early days of the American Revolution.”
“The seal also references the Battle of Sullivan’s Island–the first attempt by the British to take Charleston–which took place shortly before the seal was created and adopted. So it was a very uncertain and frightening time, and I think the motto–and the seal as a whole–was born out of that. Optimism in the face of uncertainty.”
Two God Winks today…again encouraging all of us in these turbulent political times and pandemic continuations to stand strong in the ‘face of uncertainty’...and to continue being kind and compassionate to others, regardless of race, socio-economic backgrounds, educational status, political affiliation, or religious denomination. We are all God’s Children. Period. We should treat each other the way God would unconditionally love each and everyone of us.
*And don’t forget…in the year 2020…we have the opportunity to keep our hopes alive by one little tweak off our seal …“While we breathe, we vote.”
No matter your political affinity…please take this time-honored right we have in America and do what so many millions of others can’t do in this world…vote! ( You can’t take this “lecture” away from a retired history teacher!) 🙂
So until tomorrow…..
“Find serenity in everyday living
Envision the gift of this day
When happiness come to visit you
Encourage it to stay.”
“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh
I fell asleep this afternoon and after I woke up…the temperature had really dropped. It felt wonderful. I took my iPhone and walked around the yard and garden enjoying the strong breeze blowing in with just a slight chill in the air….love is a cool breeze on the face.
Here are the photos I took of the remaining garden family.
I welcomed the second camellia to the garden…and introduced her to the rose bush nearby…they have a lot in common…mostly delicate beauty.
Two more rose buds…each spectacular but “Mr. Lincoln” has this deep red royal color about him that distinguishes him from other roses.
My hydrangeas have almost hung it up…the pink ones have turned brown and now are going a great job at playing “dead.” EXCEPT…Look what I found on one branch…new life and so delicate.
My morning glories are making a great comeback…you go gals!
My latest little asters are petite and pink with a very royal name themselves…Aster Henry III Pink. Do… now!!!!!!!!!!!
ichaseferalcats
John Turner
Legally Ohm
Becky Dingle
Good morning, Becky! Thank you for the reminder of the state motto. Made me think about 1776 and now. We have so many more conveniences, technology, industry, development etc. than they did, and yet, this country was really in turmoil and divided then with the Loyalists to the Mother Country and those who would have more freedoms. Family members even against family members, little or no army or navy of their own and what a price they paid. To adopt that motto when they were looking into a very uncertain future was really something. Because as all of us know, to say we were free in 1776, but to actually pay the cost for the next 7 years to realize that hope was a big difference. I say all of this to remember that no matter how tough things may seem now, our country has been through hard times before, and we will survive all the pandemic woes and division and maybe be better for the lessons we’ve learned. So like your picture, we are all in this together, and we will always have hope as long as we breathe. Of course, it always is great to have someone like you with that positive attitude to begin each day on a high note. (I usually charge for my sermons.)
I think you should charge…isn’t that what all celebrities do and politicians when they leave their careers…get on the speaking circuit so they can make a lot of money…you need to do the same girl! Always love hearing from you and a historical reminder…we have been divided before and by the Grace of God have fought to bind the wounds that separate us.
❤❤❤ the motto…
Me too…Think our state motto is the best one of all!