“Once we recognize the real power of holidays, we begin to approach them with deeper devotion. A holiday is a holy day, and holiness doesn’t happen to us. Holiness is a choice we make, and holidays are portals of energy through which the experience of things that matter most is increased within us and in the world in which we live.”
—Marianne Williamson
Good morning and happy Monday! This is my favorite time of year, and I’m in a cheery, joyous, holiday spirit! I hope my email finds you feeling cheery and festive this morning, too!
I want to share one of my favorite articles with you today. It’s called, “Everyday Grace,” and it’s written by Marianne Williamson, the best-selling author of many wonderful books, including, “Everyday Grace, “A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Cource in Miracles,” and “Illuminata: A Return to Prayer,” among others.
I think you’ll find Marianne’s article filled with beautiful, uplifting messages of love, light, hope and miracles — perfect for this holy holiday week. (Tip: be sure to read the entire article to find her essay specifically about the holidays!)
Enjoy ♥
“Everyday Grace”
by Marianne Williamson
Starting the Day
At the beginning of the day, the mind is most open to receive new impressions. One of the most important things we can do is to take full responsibility for the power of the morning.
If you want to have a nonmiraculous day, I suggest that newspaper and caffeine form the crux of your morning regimen. Listen to the morning news while you’re in the shower, read the headlines as you are walking out the door, make sure you’re keeping tabs on everything: the wars, the economy, the gossip, the natural disasters…But if you want the day ahead to be full of miracles, then spend some time each morning with God.
Most of us wouldn’t think of beginning our day without washing the accumulated dirt from the day before off our bodies. Yet far too often we go out into the day without similarly cleansing our minds. And our minds carry more pollution than our bodies, for they carry not only our own toxicity but that of the entire world. We carry the fear, anxiety, stress, and pain not just of our own lives, but of our families, our nation, and millions all over the planet.
Our greatest weakness is the weakness of an undisciplined mind. We need not let fear steal the morning; we can consciously choose not to allow our minds to be programmed by the worldly viewpoint that dominates the earth. We can set our day upon another course. Each of us has an inner room where we can visit to be cleansed of fear-based thoughts and feelings. This room, the holy of holies, is a sanctuary of spiritual light. The light is not a metaphor, but rather an actual energy of mystical vibration. When we begin our morning within it, the mind receives a radiance that illumines our thinking as we go through our day.
Imagine yourself sitting in a perfect, comfortable spot for meditation. It might be a chair in your bedroom or living room. It is a place of relative quiet and calm, where you go on a regular basis to find the peace that only God can give. You have come to realize that this time of rest, in its stillness and peace, is beneficent to both your mind and body. Here you come to surrender to God, using a prayer or mantra to move beyond the frantic and overwhelming thoughts that stalk us night and day. You are making your daily pilgrimage home, where your life will be renewed.
While the power of such quiet time can be profoundly healing, we often resist it fiercely. We have scores of reasons why we don’t have time to meditate: “The kids have to get off to school…I have to go to work…My partner wants to be with me…I have early appointments…,” and the list goes on. Yet none of those excuses would be used to avoid taking a shower or getting dressed. It would be ludicrous to say, “I’m just too busy. I had to give up showers.” And yet “busy-ness” is a common excuse for why we do not take the time, or give the time, to meet regularly with God.
Just think about it: We turn down the chance for a meeting with God. It’s a meeting He is always available for, and perhaps that is why we fail to take full advantage of the opportunity. Perhaps it’s hard for us to embrace what an astonishing gift is being offered. We figure if it’s really that easy to do, then how could it be that powerful? That’s how much we underestimate how important we are to God…
Click Here to Continue Reading “Everyday Grace”
Copyright Marianne Williamson. All Rights Reserved.
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Wishing you a blessed and miraculous day!!
Soulfully,
Valerie
