Simple Acts for the Days Ahead
A Time to Look Forward
During the month of January we will focus on our challenges and hopes for the New Year. We invite you to use this page to share the simple acts you are working on and to encourage other members of our online community in their efforts.
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I made a list of my godchildren. I cut the list into pieces, one name each piece. I placed the names and a box and drew them out one at a time assigning each name to a day of the week. Now, I will contact each godchild and let, him/her know that I am thinking of them and praying for them each week of the year on their respective days.
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Vinita Reply:
January 8th, 2010 at 9:43 am
What a lovely use of list-making! This will make a real impact on those godchildren. Peace–Vinita
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debbie Reply:
January 12th, 2010 at 11:26 am
I love, Love this idea- what a completely unselfish action- and I bet at the end of the day- YOU are the one that feels blessed! Good for you, I for one am going to follow your lead!
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GC Reply:
February 8th, 2010 at 8:10 am
I can’t believe I have come across this website. I have started in inward journey. This website coincides with what I am doing as far as finding myself. I never really paid attention to me. And I am 53 years old! I feel i’m being called to show myself the compassion I show others. This is a very thrilling time for me. I have many questions though. In being on a self-discovery path, I bring to the Lord, the question of where He wants me in His Church? Is it as simple as bringing Jesus to my children? Why do I always have thoughts that I should be doing something more? On a self-discovery path, “others” are not my main concern. “I” am my main concern. I am not forgetting about others, I’m just shifting my energy on myself. Wondering what your thoughts are here. I just ordered your book. (I didn’t get the discount price tho, when I ordered.) ….I hope to join this blog. I find it very, very interesting and it brings me joy to have come upon this!
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Vinita Reply:
February 8th, 2010 at 9:37 am
Hello, GC: It sounds as if this is a transformative time for you. We’re about the same age, and I know that often people are at midlife and beyond before they learn to care for themselves. I encourage you to continue on this journey, only be open to company as you go. This may be a good time to find a spiritual director, someone who can walk alongside you. Exploring prayer is a good way to approach such transformation. And, although you are focusing on yourself, you will find that, in the Body of Christ, there’s really no “alone”; we are interelated, and we grow alone but also in community. So I hope you have a community of some sort–at church, or a couple of friends–who can walk alongside as you learn better how to know who you are and what you need. All peace to you–Vinita
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I also had the same idea. I didn’t have a list, but I plan on calling my parents and siblings at least once a month. I guess you have to understand that I don’t communicate with my family a whole lot:) I, as well, want them to know that I love them and that I pray for them, and hope that we can maintain communication after this year.
I just keep praying.
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Vinita Reply:
January 8th, 2010 at 9:44 am
Best to you as you work on this skill of staying connected. Peace–Vinita
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Were you eavesdropping on my friend Susan and I? (Too much to do…where to start…out of control…not enough time to do what my heart desires… ) I love lists, but have difficulty prioritizing. I often feel obligated to do the things on “Martha’s list” instead of taking time to do something on “Mary’s list”, i.e. housework before songwriting, errands before walking, laundry before praying!!! I need to find a balance between the two.
I have forwarded your message and am inviting friends to join me in a monthly discussion/sharing of your book! I am so looking forward to your e-mails and videos!
I, too, want to make an effort to connect more with my parents. I want to find a way to visit them every other week. But my list is sooo long!
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As a teacher and a parent, I try to remember to share with other parents when I’ve seen their child doing something kind or polite. What parent doesn’t enjoy hearing something nice about their child? Also, I do try to compliment the child (without embarrassing them). I just think we work hard raising or teaching our young people, so it’s nice to celebrate the positives because it seems that whenever our children make mistakes, we hear about it right away.
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Vinita Reply:
January 20th, 2010 at 9:55 am
This is a great practice–for the kids and for the parents. Bless you!–Vinita
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I hope this is the right place for comments on simple steps, but here’s mine that I began in the New Year: there are several people close to me who are choked with anger and it rolls out onto everyone who comes near. Part of me wants to shout at them to wake up, but that would only aggravate the situation, so I began silently blessing them each time I am confronted with their attitude, or even at times when i think of this person. I causes me to pause, stop and think in a positive way. Hopefully these blessing prayers will have the ear of the Lord and work small wonders in time
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Vinita Reply:
January 20th, 2010 at 9:57 am
I strongly believe that our prayers are forms of holy energy, and even our silently thought blessings have power. This is a solid practice, and I thank you for sharing it. Peace–Vinita
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Pauline Reply:
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:20 am
Pat, what a wonderful way to use prayer. I too am surrouned by a lot of anger at the moment and intend to follow your example it can only bring about good.Thank you Lord for this timely intervention in my life.
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I agree with all the comments above. I have a card ministry and I make a list not only of the birthdays of my family and friends but also to the people who need encouragement on a daily basis. I try to send a card per day and sometimes there are four per day. I do feel blessed by sending the cards .
I also keep connected via e-mail to pass on tib bits of things to think about to my three adult children and grandchildren. Family is very important to me and I daily ask the Lord to guide them and send his angels to protect them.
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Vinita Reply:
January 26th, 2010 at 9:43 am
I admire you for being so consistent with sending cards. Even with e-mail and texting, I think most people get a certain lift of heart when they receive a card in the mail. Bless you–Vinita
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I love this idea. The last two emails have been exceptional for my life. I am always the one to volunteer when no one else will step up. As a result, I feel as though so of my volunteering has become life-long commitments. Due to the last email, which my husband and I laughed about and really enjoyed, I dropped one of my duties for Lent and passed it on to someone else with the hope that next year a different person will step up. This last email about not caring so much was also fantastic. I put 150% into my work and then when I go home, I have no energy to take care of the things that need to be done for my family. Cleaning and cooking can be exhausting when all of my energy is used up at the office. My husband and I are going away for the weekend and I hope to come back being less of a perfectionist and a worrier. And, hopefully, I will have more energy to find Lent more of a spiritual experience, instead of just too many sacrifices. Thanks so much for these helpful suggestions. They are all so true! Judy
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Vinita Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 9:38 am
Judy, I’m so glad these posts were timely for you. And I’m glad to hear that you and your husband could laugh a bit, because sometimes taking ourselves too seriously is part of the problem. Blessings on you both as you evaluate the many facets of your life together. Peace–Vinita
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I liked the reminder about priorities and dropping something to not care about. Sometimes I yell, “I can’t take care of the whole world.” It feels good to hear my voice especially when I’m alone. It helps me get perspective on the situation. I mainly get frustrated about getting to my projects. I have to remove the clutter before I begin. My husband tells me to toss things but I have to look through it all so I don’t throw out something valuable. I need a system. I know doing a little at a time will work. File it, recycle, or give it away.
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Vinita Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 9:40 am
I hear you–I, too, need to sort before I pitch, and if I’m not careful I’ll spend way too much time just going through piles of things, over and over. It helps me to set this into a schedule; I can spend an hour and no more doing this kind of sorting, and then I must drop it and do something that’s a priority. Best to you as you sort through your inclination to sort! Peace–Vinita
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It is strange that today, I thought of the very thing you mentioned. “I am only one person…” I feel that I have many gifts and want to share them, but I cannot fix everyone’s problem, or even deal with everything as others would have me do. I can only do what my Lord expects of me, for my Lord made me human….
This is a wonderful website… thank you….
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I always call just a few very close family members. I will have to expand my calling and make time to do it
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I’ve appreciated all the thoughts on the spiritual use of making lists….to do those things that bring me closer to what Christ wants me to be! I have to remember not only in the making of the list, but the following through. I have a habit of thinking of all the people that I want to contact, just to say hi and tell them I’m thinking and praying for them, but when it comes down to actually writing the letter or making the call, I never make the time! You have all given me inspiration to really sit down and make that list and set the time aside to follow through…. Thank you!
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I love the idea of “holy energy”. I think that work is prayer, too, as I go about my daily tasks. Lifted up to God, everything is prayer, even discouragement. I am glad that I found this website before Lent. It will be a wonderful shared holy journey.
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When I receive each one of the posting I feel like someone is looking into my daily life. Each and everyone of them applies to me – and I want to thank you for everything here. I am trying to get myself together, and the “words of wisdom” being passed down are very helpful. Thank you and God Bless. -C
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Vinita Reply:
February 16th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
Much grace and peace to you, C, and thanks for getting in touch with us. –vinita
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Vinita I was feeling just as you described – that life’s responsibilities hang heavy. But yesterday while participating in group “Lectio Divina” the word Rejoice was written on my heart (from the reading for Sunday on the Beatitudes) and then this morning I read your reflection – you must be one of God’s affirming angels – thank you!
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Vinita Reply:
February 16th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Marilyn–trust when the Holy Spirit gives your heart a word like that! Thanks for sharing–Vinita
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