A Gathering of Poems, Prayers, and Simple Gratitude

Michelle M. Skillen

Description

By using gratitude as a guide we can deepen our relationship with the Divine.
This is a collection of gratitude reflection starters, poems, and prayers for the reader to take to meditation on a daily basis. By using gratitude as a guide we can deepen our relationship with the Divine.

Sujets

• Prayer
• Poetry
• Gratitude

Informations

• Publié par: Balboa Press
• Date de parution: 21 septembre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9798765234105
• Langue: English

Extrait

A Gathering of Poems, Prayers, and Simple Gratitude
 
A DAILY READER
 
 
 
 
Michelle M. Skillen
 
 

 
 
Copyright © 2022 Michelle M. Skillen.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
 
 
Balboa Press
A Division of Hay House
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.balboapress.com
844-682-1282
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
 
 
ISBN: 979-8-7652-3409-9 (sc)
ISBN: 979-8-7652-3408-2 (hc)
ISBN: 979-8-7652-3410-5 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022916137
 
Balboa Press rev. date: 09/16/2022
Dedication
This book is dedicated to all my families: birth families, adopted family, children, grandchildren, in-laws, and my beloved husband Kevin. Thank you for your support, love, and acceptance. I am grateful for all of you!
Introduction
Gratitude doesn’t always come easy when we play the victim. But when we see beyond our ego’s push for blaming others for our problems, we understand that gratitude brings us into the light of the universe. Being deeply grateful for what has been given to us brings more blessings. And more light.
Gratitude brought me out of the darkness of financial difficulties, when I didn’t know if I would be able to buy groceries for my family. It brought lightness into the gray areas and cobwebs of my mind during that time. Simple gratitude gave me hope for the future. A future which I am enjoying now and am deeply grateful for.
This daily reader includes a prayer or a poem at the end of every week of gratitude. It is an ending point and a starting point for the next week. The gratitude sayings are followed by lines for you, dear reader, to create your own gratitude saying for that day. Add your own sayings, what are you truly grateful for today.
Enjoy the adventure in gratitude that this book takes you on. Enjoy writing your own gratitude sayings. Enjoy your life through gratitude each day.
I am grateful for you and wish you a fabulous journey!
I am grateful for today because I am alive.
I woke up this morning. I am established on this planet. I am alive today, and I give thanks for this blessing of being able to enjoy the earth, sun, moon, and stars. I let go of all negative thoughts for this moment. Thank you, Divine Beloved, for gifting me with this day, in this time. Thank you for now . I am alive.
Why are you grateful for being alive today?
I am grateful because my life is abundant.
I have the right amount of air to breathe in this moment. I have a pen to write with and paper to write on. I have a body that houses my soul, mind, and consciousness. I have flowers that greet me with beautiful fragrance. I have billions of stars to see at night. I have trillions of cells that make up my body. I have thousands of thoughts in my head. I let go of the negative thoughts for the moment because there is an abundance of positive thoughts waiting for me to listen. Thank you for abundance.
Why are you grateful for abundance in your life today?
I am grateful for this planet because it is beautiful.
I wake up to a beautiful world every morning, whether the sun shines on me or it is cloudy. Flowers and birds greet me. The beautiful noise of traffic in the streets starts the hum of the day. I find beauty in all things great or small—a magnificent skyscraper or a dilapidated shack. A single rose and its thorns. All of life on this planet speaks beauty to me.
Why are you grateful for the beauty of the planet today?
I am grateful for this body because it is mine.
I live—my consciousness lives—inside this body at this time, and I am grateful that my soul has a home on this planet. My body may be large or small or not to my ego’s liking, but it is how I am able to experience each moment of my life. My body changes from minute to minute; it is not static. My eyes see, my ears hear, and my stomach grumbles… All a beautiful symphony of trillions of single cells in harmony. The essence of me lives in the vehicle of this body, and it is good.
Why are you grateful for your body today?
I am grateful for children’s imaginations because they remind me to dream.
If you have ever played with children, you know that they live in a world filled with dragons and knights and tea parties and mud pies. When we dream with them, we find a depth in ourselves that leads to creativity and joy. Play with your imagination more; find some children to build castles with—or build your own! Dream your future and be grateful for your past, because that is what led you to today.
Why are you grateful for imagination and dreams today?
I am grateful for music because it touches my soul.
Every day I listen to music—all diverse kinds. Something slow and soft first thing in the morning to begin my day. Then I move on to something more upbeat as I go to work. Throughout the day the styles of music I listen to changes, depending on my mood. The gift of music, the gift of harmony, can be a guide for our lives. We all sing one song, and everyone has their part to sing in the song of the universe. Sing it loud and strong!
Why are you grateful for music today?
Hear, Oh World
We are one people
On one tiny planet in our galaxy
In the ever-expanding universe.
We are one people
Who thrive on kindness and love,
Our ills dissolving with a smile and laughter.
Pray for the Christian
Pray for the Jew
Pray for the Muslim
Pray for the Hindu
Pray for the Buddhist
Pray for the Pagan
Pray for the Wiccan
Pray for everyone.
We all bleed the same red color
We all came out of Africa
We are one people
Pray for understanding and kindness
Pray for unity and equity.
Hear, Oh World
We are one people
On one tiny planet
In one small solar system
In one galaxy at the edge of the universe,
And we are loved and cherished
By one Creator, who is All and One
Holy and Light
Pray for expansiveness and love.
I am grateful for my home because it shelters me from the elements.
A home can be anywhere we find shelter from the elements: A cliff overhang becomes a home in a rainstorm on a hike. A vast castle becomes a home when it is lived in. A room in a house can be your own private home as it offers you retreat. Your mind can also offer shelter from the harsh elements of life. You make your home by your thoughts and feelings. You can create a home wherever you are by being at home in and with yourself.
Why are you grateful for your home today?
I am willing to be grateful for any disease in my body because it teaches me life lessons.
Sometimes it is hard to accept a disease in our bodies, let alone be grateful for it. We don’t see it as a good thing for us, but that is just a judgment we put on what is happening in our bodies right now. Our disease can teach us many things, and if we at least have a willingness to be grateful for this, then we can listen and hear why this dis-ease may have come to us and learn how to heal ourselves. There are many avenues for healing: conventional medicine, alternative medicine, complimentary medicine, energy work, etc.; all of them have something to offer us. Be open to learning which path is best for you and your dis-ease.
Why are you willing to be grateful for your dis-ease today?
I am grateful for my faith because it carries me through my week.
Deep inside of me there is a knowing that all is well, and I am held in the hand of God. Chaos can be all around me and may threaten to drown me, but my soul is safe with my faith in the goodness and strength of God. My faith, my belief in the Great Other, assures me that all is well, and I am cared for. I am grateful that I am allowed such faith in the God of my understanding. All is well in my soul.
Why are you grateful for your faith today?
I am grateful for my body because it joins me to the rest of the human race.
We tend to dislike something—or everything—about our physical bodies. Too short, too tall, too fat, too skinny, wrong color hair, eyes, or skin. Ninety-eight percent of us all share the same gene structure; the other two percent have true genetic abnormalities. The body that you inhabit is not the true you, but it is our vehicle to exist here on earth. If we compare our body to anyone else’s we lose, because our body is ours, not theirs, and it is no better or worse than another body.
Why are you