If We Listen

 

“In the stillness of the quiet, if we listen, we can hear the whisper of the heart giving strength to weakness, courage to fear, hope to despair.” – Howard Thurman

 

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

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Text and photos © 2021 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

Living Gold

 

Live thy Life,

Young and old,

Like yon oak,

Bright in spring,

Living gold;

Summer-rich

Then; and then

Autumn-changed

Soberer-hued

Gold again.

All his leaves

Fall’n at length,

Look, he stands,

Trunk and bough

Naked strength.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

 

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week – flags at the zoo:

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Text and photos © 2020 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

There’s a Strength in Kindness

 

Kindness: loaning someone your strength

instead of reminding them of their weakness.

George Couros

 

Nurture peace. Cultivate kindness. Carry the calm.

Nature of the week – safflower:

Shadow of the Week – sunlight through a climbing structure:

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Text and photos © 2019 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

A Sign of Strength

 

“Don’t ever mistake my silence for ignorance

My calmness for acceptance

Or my kindness for weakness.

Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness,

But a sign of strength.”

– Dalai Lama –

 

Nurture peace. Cultivate kindness. Carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

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Text and photos © 2019 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

A Child Asleep

 

“A heart at peace gives life to the body.”

– Proverbs 14:30, the Bible –

On the way to the mailbox yesterday, I met my next-door neighbor, who happened to be going to her mailbox. My one-year-old grandson was with me, so I introduced them and apologized for his lack of enthusiasm. He’s in a shy stage. Plus, he was tired. It was nearly naptime. My neighbor, who is also a grandmother, beamed and asked, “Do you just hold him while he sleeps?” I admitted that, yes, in fact, I do. That afternoon as he napped in my arms, I thought of the amazing trust that allows a little one to so fully relax. Then I thought of how Jesus advised us all to be like little children. There’s a lot to unpack in that advice, but part of it is trust. I realized that as my grandson fully relaxed in my arms, I could fully relax in God’s.

“[I]n quietness and trust is your strength.”

– Isaiah 30:15, the Bible –

May your heart find peace and quietness, and may you sense the Presence that holds you.

Nurture peace, cultivate loving kindness, and carry the calm.

(The sketch above is one I made of my own son sleeping when he was small. He’s now the father of the grandson I hold during naptime.)

Nature of the week –our neighborhood thinks it’s spring:

Shadow of the Week:

 

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For my posts on life and the wonder of it all, link here.

 

Text and photos © 2018 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.