August 2020 Love Letters: Day 7
Hello, my darling!
It is a beautiful Friday here on planet Earth, ain’t it? There are so many things to be grateful for: I mean…the sun came up today, you’re breathing, you are cherished, you are still here and have another day to make your mark! Before starting this series of love letters to you, I had not written anything of great length in a *very* long time – at least a year or so. You are challenging me to level up my game in the sweetest way possible, and I love that you push me to stretch outside my comfort zone. That’s where the growth happens, remember? 😘
So, how comfortable are you feeling today? How much space are you taking up, and what are you filling that space with? What can you do, today, to improve your environment, whether it’s on a small scale and personal, or large scale and global? (Psst…it changes both.) Whether it is cleaning your house, getting creative, reaching out to a friend, taking your dog for a walk, getting some fresh air and exercise, etc., there are still actions you can take even if you are staying at home. There are still ways to connect with others and bring a smile to your darling’s face.
Today, my big action item, aside from this love letter to you, is to help a dear friend move. We will both be masking up and social distancing as much as possible. I’ve already cleaned my kitchen this morning and made my bed (something I have recently been doing every morning as soon as I wake up). Always more of the messy type, I would keep things “organized” in small piles all over the floor…okay, my stack of laundry was giant…but while I was in the hospital, two of my best friends organized my entire space for me. What an incredibly welcoming sight it was to see when I opened my bedroom door! In that moment, I felt so deeply loved and had never truly realized how much better it feels to have a space that is a sanctuary. The piles of stuff had been so stressful without me even realizing how it was affecting me. Since then, I have a renewed sense of determination to keep my space tidy, a sanctuary and a retreat.
Where do you retreat when you need sanctuary? Is that space tidy? How many skeletons are you hiding in the closet, and how big is your laundry pile? What actions are you taking to refresh your home? What are you holding onto that you need to give up? Of course, this is not just a material reference, but metaphysical as well: how is your soul? Yes, my love, I am asking many questions today. They’re for you to ponder, and answer if you wish. I know intimately what it is like to be without a space that feels like home, even if you are fortunate enough to live in a house. Alternately, I know what home feels like even when you don’t live in a building with four walls and a roof. For me, God is home, no matter where I’m living.
You can always tune in and find home, darling. It’s a simple task, but it is not necessarily easy. Jesus tells us in Luke 18:17 that to find the kingdom of heaven, we must be like little children. You may be older now, but “you” now still carries all the ages you have been, all the YOUs you have been in your lifetime. There is a child within you that you must honor and remember. Much humility is found when you embrace your inner child. That’s where we develop our imagination and sense of wonder, our sense of awe. Being gifted with time on Earth is truly an AWESOME journey, and we must not lose touch with the child inside who walks in wonder.
As children, we are pure and born without ego. As we start to develop our sense of self, we also start to forget what we were born KNOWING: everything is connected. There is no separation from our Creator, and it all comes down to what we choose to believe. (John 3:16 tells us as much, you probably have heard of that verse even if you have no other biblical knowledge.) What we believe sets the foundation for how we view others and the world, for how we view reality and our life’s purpose, for how we interpret what we experience. What gives your life purpose? What makes you feel connected?
Our purpose, I believe, is being of service to each other. No matter what role or job title you may hold, you are important and you have power. No matter the size of your house or bank account, you can still be of service to each other by *choosing* to be kind, compassionate, and loving. You can choose to tap into the unlimited grace, mercy, and forgiveness from our Heavenly Creator that is available for all of us. We are all vessels, all channels, and we get to choose what we are channeling. I choose to channel love, joy, peace, and patience (that’s a tough one for all of us, here’s a great sermon on it, if you’d like to watch), although, just like you, I’m a perfect work-in-progress. What are you doing to be of service to others today?
Okay, my beloved…that’s all I have for now. I’ve given you a gift of many questions to contemplate. I hope that you dig deep and start to uproot the weeds in the garden of your mind. Philosophy is still very important, and a wonderful thing to study when you are seeking self-awareness. Psychology is, too. We must face the dark within ourselves, as much as we embrace the light. Though forgiving ourselves is often the most difficult thing to do, it is a holy pursuit and wholly worth it. We sometimes say we are our own worst enemy; well, today, right now, I am challenging you to love your greatest enemy. Heap blessings on blessings on blessings on them. I love you, and hope you wander in wonder today, my darling. I’m heading off to stoke my creative spark with a little painting. Go create! Play! Dance!
Always all my love,
Lauren
