The Spirit of Father's DayWritten by Lawrence Vijay Girard
The Spirit of Father’s DaySome time ago I received a gift from both of my children. It was spontaneous and had nothing to do with Father’s day. Yet, at same time it had everything to do with Father’s day. My son, Kai, - he was 17 at time - was attending a private boarding high school in Colorado. While we were talking on phone he shared some wonderful news with me. Kai said, ”You know Dad, I am really happy with my life. I can’t think of a thing that I would change about way that I grew up, or way that my life is now.” My daughter Sabari, - also 17 at time ...yes, twins! - , who was living with her mother in Northern California, said almost same thing to me just a few days later. Of course, I was delighted to hear this from both of them. What parent wouldn’t revel in good spirits of their children. And I told them both how happy I was, not only that they were happy, but that they expressed it to me. The heartfelt communication that we shared is as dear to me as news itself. And that, I reflected, was gift that they were giving me. The gift of heartfelt, open, communication. Certainly I hope for good news when I hear from them. But mostly I love that they will share their real feelings with me. Happy or sad, I love to be touched by their innermost thoughts and feelings. That is how I can really share in their lives. The spontaneous sharing of my children reminded me of our relationship with Spirit. Our open, honest, heartfelt innermost thoughts and feelings flowing towards our Creator, good news or bad, is at foundation of our ability to have a real conscious relationship with God. Many people think that God is present only at a distance. Some think that if God is any way knowable, that knowledge can only come after death. But saints of all religions have proclaimed that God is knowable here and now if we will just take time to communicate with Him/Her. Unfortunately many religious traditions have lost touch with this most essential truth. It isn’t satisfying to soul to just read or talk about our connection with Spirit. We yearn to actually experience reality of our relationship with God. As an earthly father and a child of my Infinite Father I offer this Father’s Day gift to you. A simple reminder that God is real and present in your life. Consciously enter into your relationship with Spirit by inwardly having a conversation with Him/Her during day. Let God be your inner companion and friend. Let this communication be natural and heartfelt. You don’t have to make deep pronouncements to God - unless you really want to. Experiment with type of exchange that feels most comfortable to you. The only really essential part of this is that it must be sincere. Even sincere doubt is better than insincere praise.
| | Summer Anti-Boredom ListWritten by Deborah Shelton
Publishing Guidelines: Feel free to publish following article in its entirety in your ezine, website, or print newsletter. The resource box must be included with an active link. Please send a copy of publication in which article appears to: Deborah@fiveminuteparent.com Word wrap to 60, (291 words)****************************************************** Summer Anti-Boredom List By Deborah Shelton Before summer vacation turns into a boredom fest, sit down as a family and make a summer anti-boredom list. Write down a mixture of long overdue chores that you’ve been meaning to get done, along with goals and dreams that you’ve always wanted to accomplish. Don’t leave out fantastic! If you’ve always wanted to ride on a unicorn, even though there is no such animal, write it down. You may read list one day when you’re bored, see unicorn wish, and decide to take horseback riding lessons. With an anti-boredom list displayed prominently on refrigerator, fun is just around corner. Take a look at my family’s summer anti-boredom list to get an idea. By way, can you tell which entries belong to our five-year-old son?
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