Count 'em...1-5

Lately I feel I'm on an uphill climb and I can't see the top yet. When I feel I'm overwhelmed I notice that it becomes easier to see the negative things...even if they are little. I reminded myself tonight that in times like these, when I feel like things spin faster and faster and I can't keep up, I have to settle down, and count my blessings. This helps focus me, grounding me to what is happening in the present, and reminds me that God is right there where He promised He'd be...by my side.

So, here are my 5 blessings I count tonight, in no particular order:

1. Tomorrow is Friday!


2. I reached out to help a long lost acquaintance.


3. It's raining tonight and the fall weather has been so comfortable.


4. My husband painted for our family.


5. I'm not on-call this weekend.

To sum this up I feel it appropriate to quote a song my mom and one of my good friends loved by Garth Brooks:

"Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you're talkin' to the Man upstairs
Just because He doesn't answer, doesn't mean He don't care
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers."

Have a blessed weekend!

The King and The Pawn

Being that La Donna Benedetta is Italian for The Blessed Woman, I searched for Italian Proverbs tonight. I came across this short quote, which I feel has many possible interpretations, both earthly and spiritually.

After the game, the King and the pawn go into the same box.

At first I read this and immediately thought of an earth-bound interpretation, thinking more literally along the lines of games and life, etc. But when I read it again, I saw it as more than just a literal "we're all equal" kind of sentiment.

Simply summed up this proverb supports a lot of what I've been learning spiritually lately: if we live under God's expectations, and use the blessings He gives us to our potential, we all go into the same "box," or heaven. No matter how important, known, or successful we see ourselves, if we meet His expectations for our lives we will all finish the game here on earth and go into heaven together.

Kings and pawns, rich and poor, healthy and weak, smart and simple: all are welcome in heaven's "box." My interpretation may only be relative to me, but as a lover of analogies and comparisons, this Italian proverb "hit home" with me tonight (sorry for the game pun!) LOL.

Many blessings!