GotPassion?

Day 3. Forgive

There wasn't a particular opportunity to forgive today, which in itself was a good thing (good that I haven't felt wronged and so have the need to forgive), but it made me think - some forgiveness is constant. You need to do it every day, every time you think about that person or that situation, you need to remember to forgive.

Maybe it is the small things, someone made a decision that upset you. Maybe it is the big things, someone hurt you or hurt someone you love.

One trivial situation I can think off was a few weeks ago. You have to understand, that growing up with a Dad and two older brothers I got to be a fairly fast walker. My commute to work includes an hour's worth of walking everyday and I am competitive where walking is concerned.

Unless I'm ultra tired, I can't bear to be overtaken or to walk behind slow people. I like manners on the pavement. People who have no manners on the pavement best keep out my way. Well the other week I was on the inside nearest the wall, several girls walking towards me left me no room, forcing me towards the wall. I stood (or walked) my ground, stuck out my elbow to protect myself and so the girl nearest me got the full force of my elbow in her side. She was not best please judging by the colourful language, and it took all my self control to not have a go at her and just walk on.

She could have ruined my day, but in my mind I forgave her and moved on. I like to think if I should meet her again in the course of life, I would not hold that incident against her. And I like to think that forgiveness helps people become more than who they are and not be trapped in a box labled 'My Mistakes'.  As a Christian, I know I have been forgiven by Jesus. But I also believe forgiveness is not just for Christians. For a more peaceful community, society, world - it is imperative that we forgive, the small things and the big.

 

Day 2. Love

So today was definitely about the loving.

The most interesting things I noticed were how much it was about choice and how directly my behaviour influenced the behaviour of others.

At one point, a friend said something which I didn't particularly want to hear. Not that it personally hurt me, but more about their own actions. I was washing up at the time. Then that small voice in my head. I says it's God, although you may say I'm delusional! But nevertheless that small voice piped up... "love always', and I remembered my blog and my mission for the month. I took off my washing up gloves and went and hugged my friend. I like to think it made a positive difference to them as well as to me. I could have been frustrated, irritated but no I felt nothing but peace.

I hope my friend knows and in fact I hope all of my friends, know that they can expect that of me, that they can tell me something and trust I won't have a go at them or be grumpy. That I can always be loving.

My other chance to 'love' was when we had a door-to-door charity collector. These people usually drive me a little bit crazy, when they turn up on the door step it makes me feel ambushed. However this girl came and rang the bell, and it was actually fine. I listened to her spiel which she gave passionately, cheerfully and genuinely. As she ended I asked her if she had a leaflet and her first words, 'you will read it won't you?' with such a look of vulnerability that I am now totally compelled to read it (and will do, once I've had my beauty sleep). 

It was also that look of vulnerability that made me glad that I had not just so no thanks, and shut the door. I promised I would read it, and that whilst I may not give money, I would love to be better informed about this charity which I had never previously heard off and who knows. We had a little chat, I told her I admired her for being out in this rough weather (hail, anyone?), she complained off her soggy shoes. I wished her well and we went on with our days.

Loving made a big difference.

 

Day 1. Smile

It was definitely a smile kind of day, I am that odd speciman that likes Mondays. Mondays give me every reason to smile.

Smile: because I walked to work in the rain with a pretty umbrella, smile because I really like my job, the girls I look after are funny, kind, sweet, because I feel like I do something rewarding. 
Smile because I know I have a blessed life. Maybe it is not where I expected or wanted to be but it does feel like the right place to be right now.
So many reasons to smile.

What about you, do you have any reasons to smile today?

 

Always Love, Always Forgive and Always Smile.

Someone I know, once told how she kept a gratefulness diary, and I always found the idea inspiring. Except, I am generally quite grateful and I don't like diaries.

So I have a different kind of challenge for a month I shall blog my attempts to love, forgive and smile, I would say I am challenged at doing at least one of the above each day.

Feel free to leave encouraging comments and also I'd love to hear how others have achieved these special moments in their days.

To always love, always forgive, and always smile.

 

Happy Mother's Day

We celebrated Mother's Day (or Mothering Sunday as we call it) in the UK back in March but for those who have it today; this one is for for you... Happy Mother's Day. 

{Photo: practicing still life and playing with lighting on my willow tree collection}

PS To my mum, you are definitely the best!

 

The World, But Green.

It is such a wonderful time when you realise how green the world around you has become. How vivid, bright, so full of contrast, so intense, so green. It is the joy that is Spring, and it makes all the rain worth it.

 

 

Josh. 8 Months

You may remember Amy and Lee from their Rochester wedding. Now, they are parents!

It is the first time, I met this little chap and what a boy he is. His Mum took him out the car and gave him to me to bring in the house and there was not a wimper from him but lots of smiles, I was charmed. Josh knows to how to act for the camera, and needless to say a total delight to photograph.

 

 

 

Not the photo I expected.

I was actually trying to take a photo of the rather beautiful railings. Then 1 child came in the picture and then her younger siblings joined her. What could I do but take a photo?

The photo is so far from technically good, I didn't use the right lense that I would use for such a photo and so they look soft, almost blurry. But the pose, I could not have bettered it - and I'll take this photo for all its technical mistakes and keep it for its soul. 

Lissa, posing as though she were Audrey Hepburn herself. Cass smiling away. Jojo, watching his sister. 

The I turned around in an effort to take a photo of the railings behind me without children, but what do you know. They came round there too.

Self Portrait.

 

Where did all these freckles come from?

Rainy Days.