Recently I have incorporated a new routine into my day. Every morning, before rushing out into the busy world we all inhabit, I now take about 15 minutes of prayer time. My favourite way to begin is to light a candle. I always start my prayers with a beautiful poem by E. E. Cummings:

i thank You God for this most amazing
day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday; this is the birth
day of life and love and wings: and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any - lifted from the no
of all nothing - human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

- by E. E. Cummings

Since beginning my daily prayer routine, I have found renewed energy, a more positive outlook and a greater understanding of my future direction.

I credit a website called Prayables.com with reminding me of the importance of adding more prayer to my day. The founder and publisher, Susan Diamond, has designed a spiritual website for women of all faiths. I am honoured to be a contributing writer to Prayables.com. The wonderful feedback I have received from members of the Prayables Team has been very instrumental in helping me reclaim my true identity as a poet.

The daily ePrayables that will come free of charge to your email, upon request, will inspire you to greet the day with courage and confidence. There are many other wonderful initiatives taking place on Prayables.com and I highly recommend that you visit this uplifting website.

I’d like to share two passages from the bible that have accompanied me on my Life’s journey. The first is Proverbs 3, Verse 6: “In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.”

This verse has had special meaning to me ever since I found it inscribed on a plaque belonging to Mrs. Nuhn, the local midwife who had delivered all the children in our family. After Mrs. Nuhn passed away, my nephew Glenn, a talented auctioneer, was in charge of selling her worldly goods. Knowing it was at the home of Mrs. Nuhn where I was born, I wanted to have a small keepsake. I bid on a little box of treasures that contained a plaque, all chipped and worn from years of handling. I marveled at the appropriateness of the bible verse and whenever I turned the plaque over, I discovered that it had once been a birthday gift to Mrs. Nuhn from Brenda and Brian Copeland, my first cousins. This “coincidence” impressed me and from the day that the plaque came into my possession, I have felt a special bond with the message in Proverbs 3:6...I consider this verse to be a bit of advice sent indirectly from the woman who delivered me into this world! (A poem called “Life’s Legacy - The Home of Mrs. Nuhn” is included in the collection “Water From The Moon.”)

Another favourite verse is Psalm 16: Verse 11: “Thou wilt shew me the path of life. In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” As I begin a new direction with Shalamar Enterprises, I embrace these comforting words from the bible and I look forward to the unfolding of their promise.

If you have a favourite bible verse or uplifting poem or inspiring quotation that has special meaning to you, I invite you to let me know. If you tell me a little about how the words relate to your life, and give your permission to share your story with others, we can become part of a larger movement seeking to uplift and inspire a world in great need of such positive energy.

You can email me at . I look forward to hearing from you!

 

Keeping Score Thank You for simple pleasures that fill my heart with gratitude: the kiss of color in a masterpiece of sky, the refreshing coolness of yogurt in the morning light, a clean, comfortable bed at the end of the day. In my blessed abundance, help me to understand why there is such disparity in the world. Help me to recognize the need in another’s eyes, and help me to use the resources You have given me to make a difference. Please help all Your children find the will and the way to share our incredible wealth. Help us to remember that, as children, we learned to play fair. - by Sharon Sinclair © Prayables.com

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