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because i just can't say/quote enough.......

"the authentic spiritual life finds its basis in the human condition, which all people--whether they are christian or not- have in common." ~Henri Nouwen

"we pray and continue to do our work, counting on God's grace to give each of us enough light to take the next steps of the journey."~Fred Rogers

"goodness is no guarantee of a long, abundant life, and in my limited human comprehension, that seems so unfair."~Tim Madigan (author of the book)

"this life is fragile, and at times, terribly hard"~Tim Madigan

"i come to realize that love and goodness are indestructible, utterly indestructible, cannot be reduced by time or death, or any other barriers we humans attempt to impose on those sacred things."~Tim Madigan

"real friendships work both ways.your trust confirms my trustworthiness, your love, my loving." ~Tim Madigan

"what counts are not the special and unique accomplishments in life that make me different from others, but the basic experiences of sadness and joy, pain and healing, which make me part of humanity."~Henri Nouwen

"mourning and joy can now both deepen and quiet my desire the day when i realize that the many kisses and embraces received today were simply incarnations of the eternal embrace of the Lord himself."~Henri Nouwen

"after the grieving will come the forgiveness (the only thing that evil-Evil-can not stand.)"~Fred Rogers

tim goes on to tell about a time when "he (fred) told me how his own father had wept at the death of fred's grandfather. 'allowing me to see him cry was a great gift to me ,' fred said. 'it gave me permission to shed my own tears."

i don't think sometimes we as parents with living children do that (cry in front of our kids)not thinking that maybe they (our children) need to see us crying to feel validated to cry themselves.

and this next part, well this next part, i just liked.

tim finishes with this, "fred also spoke that night about his beloved grandfather McFeely, 'who used to tell me,"freddy, i love you just the way you are.'"

and isn't that just the most important thing, that whoever we love, whether big or little, young or old, they know that we love them just the way they are!

"few things in life are more pleasurable than doing a good deed anonymously and being discovered accidentally."

"each and every act of kindness done by anyone anywhere resonates out into the world and somehow, mysteriously,and perfectly, touches us all.

so maybe these last few entries aren't exactly blm entries. but that isn't the only thing this blog is about, this blog is also about me and what helps me cope and what gets me through. and i have done some of the recommended reading and they are sweet and touching, but they just don't seem to touch me. this book, well it did. and it made want to go out and get a friend/mentor who will believe in me the way fred believed in tim.

hope you are having a peaceful week.

paula