Dear Reader:

On GMA 3…Faith Friday… the guest deliverer was Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich … a Polish rabbi who is helping with the enormous task of finding shelter and safety for the over two million displaced Ukrainian families poring in…mainly women and children refugees.

At the initial on set… Rabbi Michael said he was completely overwhelmed at the sheer numbers and multi-faceted problems arriving daily. He prayed hard to God to help him get a grasp on the situation and keep reminding himself that he must concentrate on each individual coming through the borders after surviving life-threatening attacks and bombings. Most had shell-shocked expressions mingled with sheer relief and gratitude.

He decided to plant a memory in each family’s later recollections of their arrival…a treat for each child… a 🍭 lollipop!

God sent him a message one day from an incident that happened at the border… an exhausted mother with three small frightened children clinging to her… was welcomed and then Rabbi Michael bent down and gave each child a lollipop. Lovingly the mother spoke softly to each child and then in unison they sang out ” Thank you.”

After all they had been through …this mother was reminding her children …( a lesson in God’s gratitude) that ” Thank you” was not an empty expression to be parroted but a recognition of God’s love.

From lollipops now to toys from countries and states around the world …are pouring into border countries to deliver to children arriving daily.

Spiritual gratitude isn’t just for God’s gifts but His Love!

So until tomorrow… the more we simplify our lives the greater our awareness of God’s love and presence accelerates. Live each day in gratitude!

Today is my favorite day -Winnie the Pooh

Yesterday Anne brought lunch instead of meeting at Oscars -we simplified lunch with Philly Cheese Steak sandwiches and time to walk the gardens -been months since Anne ate lunch here… left time to talk plants and flowers … a favorite conversation.