04.11.10
Blink of an Eye …
Life is a precious gift and we don’t know the hour or the day of when we will leave this life. At that moment, there is mourning and our focus changes to a time when we no longer focus on life but upon death. Death, a projection of opposite imagery of Life meets in the middle to share a common bond, a precious gift.
We lost my great Aunt a week and a half ago to pancreatic cancer. She fought a long 17 month battle with the most painful cancer. She knew there was a better place than this suffering and did not fear death, she welcomed it – to her and all those who loved her, we embraced that day thru tears as a precious gift … an end to her suffering.
On Saturday they held the memorial service. I sat there listening to the Pastor paint this absolutely beautiful picture of my Aunt’s life. Different people shared with him things that she had done which had impacted their lives. I sat there with tears streaming down my face because I was so proud that she was MY Aunt. She lived a true life of Love. She wasn’t a pastor, she wasn’t one to go around sharing her beliefs … she lived it. As a result, it made others want to be like her … to live that Love because her entire life spoke Love without a single word. Thru my tears, I thanked God for the gift of both my Aunt’s Life and Death. God then whispered within my heart “The Dash”, encourage others to live the dash. Please watch this, it will be a true gift to you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch8oOWkGd8Y&feature=related
As I sat there in the memorial service so proud that she was MY Aunt, it was sealed within my heart that no matter what discouragement I may face in this world that I am to continue to live that Love and encourage others to do the same. What an honor it would be to think that some day the words spoken at my memorial service could be a gift to each person there.
This blog is dedicated to my sweet Aunt Ocie Wise, who left this world 03/31/10 at the age of 78.
May you live your life in and thru Love being mindful of the mark you will leave in this world … your dash.
Much love to you all!
Sandi Rauwolf
12.25.09
Christmas Every Day …
This entire Christmas season it has been on my heart, if we all had the Spirit of the Season within us every day of the year we would truly live in a different world and what a wonderful world it would be! It’s not about the commercialism, the gifts, not event the traditions … it’s about the Spirit of our hearts, that heart tug. Chris just said to me, “I can’t believe Christmas is already over.” He then said exactly what has been on my heart this month. He said, “You know, as soon as Thanksgiving is over everyone’s attitude seems to change. They began to be a little nicer, think a little differently, they give unselfishly to others, they are happy and kind.” He then paused and said, “Once Christmas is over, things change and go back to the way they were.” Then I said, “Yes, wouldn’t it be great if every day people could have the heart they do at Christmas.” He said, “Yeah, like the end of that movie Scrooged. Once you have that feeling, you want it every day.” I smiled and said, “My thought exactly!!!”
Here’s the clip he’s talking about (Warning: clip is from You Tube so I did not create it thus could not edit – it includes adult language at the end of the clip, view at your own discretion):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2Rq50NFgCc
My heart then talked to me a little louder and the realization settled in … it really is up to us. We can choose to do something about it. And “the something about it” isn’t about religion, it isn’t about skin color, and it certainly isn’t about social status. It’s about the condition of our hearts. See if we each decide to have our hearts changed and learn to live true unconditional love in all we do, we would live in a different world one that I have imagined living in since the time I was little. When we act in love thinking of others before ourselves, when we ensure our actions are kind, sincere, caring and considerate, when we give of our time to help others even in the little things we do … like going out of the way to open a door or help someone pick up something they dropped – we are making a difference. It brings a peace and joy that all the money in the world couldn’t buy. Give from your heart whether it is sharing a smile or being able to buy a meal for someone who can’t afford one – when we do those things from our heart, we are one person in this huge world making a difference.
I encourage you to keep the Spirit of Love going, every day. Go and do a random act of love for someone else after the holiday. Commit to doing something once a week or if that is too much start out once a month. Every day before my kids walk out the door, I give them a hug and kiss, tell them I love them and (both of them will tell you) I always say, “Do something kind for someone else.” I promise you the gift you receive for giving love from your heart to others is priceless. If you want some ideas of sharing kindness (or if you want to download a free note card – example, let’s say you decide to make a meal for someone unexpectedly, you can download the card, write a note and not only does it touch someone’s heart but the print on the back encourages them to keep the love going by doing something nice for another), go to www.inthespiritoflove.org. Please know that making a difference starts with “one”, will you join us?
Have a very blessed holiday season to you and your family!
With much Love,
Sandi Rauwolf
