I’m currently praying something similar… devastated by news about my dog who is sitting next to me at the moment… he is my soul dog, and I will have to euthanize him in the next few days… I cannot bear the thought… and I’m praying for relief from this deep deep grief. Chip is truly my best friend…
Please God. I need you to help me stand on these weak wobbly legs. 🙏
Oh, and please help our country navigate these incredibly perilous times.
I totally understand and empathize with you. I just put to sleep my certified licensed service dog two days ago because she had dementia. She gave me her all for over a decade but it was time to release her to Jesus. Psalm 36:6 says we’ll all be in Heaven together. God is good! My prayers are with you…
If I didn't have my cats and dogs throughout my life, I'm not certain I would be here. Chip will always be by your side. George, my soul cat, is always with me, he's been gone 10 years but always with me.
It is truly heartbreaking to lose a soul dog. They work their way into our hearts in a way that never leaves. I lost my soul dog nine years ago and still can get choked up when I talk about her. It is especially difficult to experience such a loss during these dark and perilous times. My heart and prayers are with you.
So sorry about your dear dog, Chip. Small frame, big soul. I truly believe in the kind of heaven C.S Lewis connected with - that great field where we can once again play with our beloved companions; feeling the breath of their joy and abundance of love.
Leslie, I’m so sorry. I’ve had to do the same, a number of times, and it hurts, every single time. You have my prayers for an easy passage for Chip, and all kinds of comfort blessings for you. God bless you.
No wisdom, no advice, yet an abundance of empathy, virtual hugs, and prayers Leslie, that comforting providers surround you and Chip in these coming days. 🙏😘
After yesterday's vote, it is hard to find joy right now. I know it is there, I need to keep looking and naming it every single time I experience it. We will regroup and help make this a better world. But, maybe not today.
Today I received the latest newsletter from Hand in Hand, an organization that runs integrated schools in Israel, a place that truly has the right to feel hopeless. Yet they are teaching children (in an environment where there is true danger all around them) to be hopeful and to look to the future. How can I do less?
Like many of you I want things to improve...and I am not so sure they will. Kind of like a cold shower I am going over and over some lines from a recent "Moment" from the "WakingUp" app: "Most of life is a struggle to make things better. Truly accepting the way things are in this moment is the foundation of psychological well being." I know I have to do that for myself - you can't do that for me...and it feels so good to know I am not alone in working at it.
Thank you for this shitty little but oh -so accurate prayer. Sometimes, the big fancy prayers just don't say to God what i mean. I'm glad you can put these things into writing, Nadia.
I woke this morning with a Civil War Union song singing in my head, "oh, we'll rally 'round the flag boys, we'll rally 'round the flag, shouting the battle cry of freedom, the Union forever, hurrah, boys, hurrah, down with the traitor........" It's A good day. On mother's day, my husband fell and broke his neck, he spent 8 days in ICU and 3 + weeks in rehab. He is alive, he is moving not paralysed, he's home. News from Washington sucks. I can't handle much news right now, I'm keeping us afloat. I'm disabled, I had polio at 3.5 months, I can't stand or walk but I am keeping us afloat. I have peripheral neuropathy in my hands and arms and will be seeing a neurosurgeon regarding "slippage" in my lower spine. But! I AM KEEPING US AFLOAT! I have my siblings, me cats, my kid and her family and angels all around. (all night, all day, Angels watching over me, my lord! negro spiritual) I thank God for prayer and prayer warriors in my life.
Sometimes we do all the right things and there is just no payoff. Like all the effort was for nothing. I’m not one to handle that very well, so I totally feel you on this one. Something did shift for me this spring. I plunged deep into suicidal thoughts but got, miraculously, back up again. Now some weeks later it is amazing to me how much I wanted to not live then, when I really do now. And I know it wasn’t me doing all the right things that got me on my feet. It was the simple stuff. The small graces. Friends. My job. Making the kids breakfast. Forgiving someone (that was God’s doing for sure). I guess what I’m trying to say is that life sometimes surprises death by just slipping in one morning and make you want to eat pancakes. Even when you think you wanna die. Even if the world has gone mad and all the maple syrup in the universe can’t fix it. Suddenly we remember there is also goodness, if only a few drops of it. So maybe we can allow for the tired, weary and desperate moments. And trust that joy, or at least some nudge to carry on, will come knocking eventually. Wishing you the best. - Astrid
Such a hard day. I am struggling and heartbroken for our country. I am working on the On Being Hope Portal project and cannot get past the first part of the first episode. Question: What is filling you with despair right now? I just am kinda stuck here, adding thoughts constantly. Am supposed to move on to Question 2: What is giving you hope? I got nothing
Right there with you on all counts. Thank you for this today. I have a hard time putting my thoughts and feelings to word, but you do and I am grateful for your gift. Like you are writing from my insides when I can't. Doing for me what I can't do for myself. Again, grateful.
It is a comfort that I'm not along struggling through this bog of anger, pain, confusion and hopelessness. And my son believes what he hears on Fox. I know he is my child--but he seems a stranger and that my give me the most pain.
My partner of 19 years has been battling a very aggressive form of MS for the last 16 years. She and I have been so worried, scared, and down right sick, from just thinking about what she, and millions of others might be losing with the cuts to Medicaid and Medicare. It’s such a scary uncertain time now. Always money to kill, never any to heal and feed. I’m beginning to suspect we might not be a Christian nation after all. Not with the way we take care of the people that are the most vulnerable.
Nadia, thank you for the prayers you post. It reminds me that it's important to keep up a conversation with my higher power throughout the day, the same way as I talk with friends and colleagues over Teams at work and via texts ir phone calks the rest of the time!
PS, don't worry about AI. It's just a tool like any other. Pray for the people who code it and train it because they are the ones who put the guard rails in place so that it can't be used for harm. They are so overwhelmed with work and worry because some owners see only the profit margins instead of the humans who make it work. Peace.
Thank you for this prayer - and all of the previous and yet-to-come prayers! Yesterday felt somber and heavy, and still feels that way today. But I reflected on our history and realized we’ve been through many difficult and dark times in our history and we’ve come through them to better (though imperfect) times. We must mourn and rest, and then do what is ours to do. Resting and finding beauty and small joys are my job today.
I’m currently praying something similar… devastated by news about my dog who is sitting next to me at the moment… he is my soul dog, and I will have to euthanize him in the next few days… I cannot bear the thought… and I’m praying for relief from this deep deep grief. Chip is truly my best friend…
Please God. I need you to help me stand on these weak wobbly legs. 🙏
Oh, and please help our country navigate these incredibly perilous times.
I totally understand and empathize with you. I just put to sleep my certified licensed service dog two days ago because she had dementia. She gave me her all for over a decade but it was time to release her to Jesus. Psalm 36:6 says we’ll all be in Heaven together. God is good! My prayers are with you…
If I didn't have my cats and dogs throughout my life, I'm not certain I would be here. Chip will always be by your side. George, my soul cat, is always with me, he's been gone 10 years but always with me.
Oh Leslie, I am so sorry for your heartbreak. Sending love and prayers for comfort for you and for your good boy, Chip.
Leslie, thinking of you and Chip and sending love ❤️😍💕
It is truly heartbreaking to lose a soul dog. They work their way into our hearts in a way that never leaves. I lost my soul dog nine years ago and still can get choked up when I talk about her. It is especially difficult to experience such a loss during these dark and perilous times. My heart and prayers are with you.
So sorry about your dear dog, Chip. Small frame, big soul. I truly believe in the kind of heaven C.S Lewis connected with - that great field where we can once again play with our beloved companions; feeling the breath of their joy and abundance of love.
Leslie, I have two senior cats both in failing health, and I understand your pain. Prayers for you and your beloved Chip!
Leslie, I’m so sorry. I’ve had to do the same, a number of times, and it hurts, every single time. You have my prayers for an easy passage for Chip, and all kinds of comfort blessings for you. God bless you.
🙏 for you, Chip, and all who are sick and suffering.
I can’t say it better than the other replies but I want you to know that I’ve been there and I care.May God bless you and give you strength and peace.
I’m so very sorry Leslie. It’s such a heartbreaking loss. I care. 🙏🌹
No wisdom, no advice, yet an abundance of empathy, virtual hugs, and prayers Leslie, that comforting providers surround you and Chip in these coming days. 🙏😘
So deeply sorry for your loss, Leslie.
After yesterday's vote, it is hard to find joy right now. I know it is there, I need to keep looking and naming it every single time I experience it. We will regroup and help make this a better world. But, maybe not today.
Today I received the latest newsletter from Hand in Hand, an organization that runs integrated schools in Israel, a place that truly has the right to feel hopeless. Yet they are teaching children (in an environment where there is true danger all around them) to be hopeful and to look to the future. How can I do less?
Thank you for reminding of those kinds of things.
Like many of you I want things to improve...and I am not so sure they will. Kind of like a cold shower I am going over and over some lines from a recent "Moment" from the "WakingUp" app: "Most of life is a struggle to make things better. Truly accepting the way things are in this moment is the foundation of psychological well being." I know I have to do that for myself - you can't do that for me...and it feels so good to know I am not alone in working at it.
Thank you for this shitty little but oh -so accurate prayer. Sometimes, the big fancy prayers just don't say to God what i mean. I'm glad you can put these things into writing, Nadia.
And thank you, Barbara, for reminding me that there are lots of us kind of people out here/there.
I woke this morning with a Civil War Union song singing in my head, "oh, we'll rally 'round the flag boys, we'll rally 'round the flag, shouting the battle cry of freedom, the Union forever, hurrah, boys, hurrah, down with the traitor........" It's A good day. On mother's day, my husband fell and broke his neck, he spent 8 days in ICU and 3 + weeks in rehab. He is alive, he is moving not paralysed, he's home. News from Washington sucks. I can't handle much news right now, I'm keeping us afloat. I'm disabled, I had polio at 3.5 months, I can't stand or walk but I am keeping us afloat. I have peripheral neuropathy in my hands and arms and will be seeing a neurosurgeon regarding "slippage" in my lower spine. But! I AM KEEPING US AFLOAT! I have my siblings, me cats, my kid and her family and angels all around. (all night, all day, Angels watching over me, my lord! negro spiritual) I thank God for prayer and prayer warriors in my life.
Sometimes we do all the right things and there is just no payoff. Like all the effort was for nothing. I’m not one to handle that very well, so I totally feel you on this one. Something did shift for me this spring. I plunged deep into suicidal thoughts but got, miraculously, back up again. Now some weeks later it is amazing to me how much I wanted to not live then, when I really do now. And I know it wasn’t me doing all the right things that got me on my feet. It was the simple stuff. The small graces. Friends. My job. Making the kids breakfast. Forgiving someone (that was God’s doing for sure). I guess what I’m trying to say is that life sometimes surprises death by just slipping in one morning and make you want to eat pancakes. Even when you think you wanna die. Even if the world has gone mad and all the maple syrup in the universe can’t fix it. Suddenly we remember there is also goodness, if only a few drops of it. So maybe we can allow for the tired, weary and desperate moments. And trust that joy, or at least some nudge to carry on, will come knocking eventually. Wishing you the best. - Astrid
When joy doesn’t come despite all my efforts, I try to say ‘I am waiting for God’ helps me
Beautiful thanks
Such a hard day. I am struggling and heartbroken for our country. I am working on the On Being Hope Portal project and cannot get past the first part of the first episode. Question: What is filling you with despair right now? I just am kinda stuck here, adding thoughts constantly. Am supposed to move on to Question 2: What is giving you hope? I got nothing
Thanks Nadia for giving it all voice.
Right there with you on all counts. Thank you for this today. I have a hard time putting my thoughts and feelings to word, but you do and I am grateful for your gift. Like you are writing from my insides when I can't. Doing for me what I can't do for myself. Again, grateful.
It is a comfort that I'm not along struggling through this bog of anger, pain, confusion and hopelessness. And my son believes what he hears on Fox. I know he is my child--but he seems a stranger and that my give me the most pain.
This. I needed this today.
My partner of 19 years has been battling a very aggressive form of MS for the last 16 years. She and I have been so worried, scared, and down right sick, from just thinking about what she, and millions of others might be losing with the cuts to Medicaid and Medicare. It’s such a scary uncertain time now. Always money to kill, never any to heal and feed. I’m beginning to suspect we might not be a Christian nation after all. Not with the way we take care of the people that are the most vulnerable.
Nadia, thank you for the prayers you post. It reminds me that it's important to keep up a conversation with my higher power throughout the day, the same way as I talk with friends and colleagues over Teams at work and via texts ir phone calks the rest of the time!
PS, don't worry about AI. It's just a tool like any other. Pray for the people who code it and train it because they are the ones who put the guard rails in place so that it can't be used for harm. They are so overwhelmed with work and worry because some owners see only the profit margins instead of the humans who make it work. Peace.
Thank you for this prayer - and all of the previous and yet-to-come prayers! Yesterday felt somber and heavy, and still feels that way today. But I reflected on our history and realized we’ve been through many difficult and dark times in our history and we’ve come through them to better (though imperfect) times. We must mourn and rest, and then do what is ours to do. Resting and finding beauty and small joys are my job today.
This was a perfect prayer for my gloomy thoughts. After what felt like a draining day yesterday, I wrote this poem a few minutes ago:
Who do you say that I AM?
Who do YOU say that I am?
Two questions meet at a crossroads
on a quiet, cool, cloudy morning.
The prediction was for a clear sky sun-
I heard it with my own ears just minutes ago.
Now, I open the door, welcome the cool air
and wait for light to dance across the floor,
to travel up the walls of my cluttered room.
Now I sit alone with yesterday’s shadows
of thoughts and questions. And I invite them
into my crowded room; I do not close the door.
Then I see a pale sunbeam that has come
to sit beside me, that finds my feet on the ground
at the crossroads where two questions meet.
I love you Nadia. And thank you for that prayer for gloomers. It fits perfectly.
Amen ❤️✌🏻