Friday Favorites

Just a quick post.

(No time to upload pictures.)

If I started listing my favorite blogs and everything I love about them, you'd all be sitting here a long, long, long time reading!
But I do have to give a little 'shout out' to Cathy @ A Bit of the Blarney because she had mentioned on her blog recently a way of praying that she had just discovered on another blog that she visits, and I loved it so much. It is called Cinquain. I 'googled' it and found that it is a form of poetry inspired by Japanese hiaku. I was going to save this and do it for the next Wordful Wednesday, but I liked this idea so much I decided to include it in my Friday Favorites.

I usually say formal prayers almost by rote (the Rosary [the Our Father, the Hail Mary], etc.), and I'm practically daydreaming the whole time. I do talk to God, as in conversation that I continually have with Him throughout the day, but that's not time set aside for just focusing on Him. So I found this form of prayer very intriguing as it does require me to focus on God alone and my relationship with Him and how I can improve it.

There were so many different forms or patterns of Cinquain. The two that I found easiest and worked best for me were:

Line One: Two Words
Line Two: Four Words
Line Three: Six Words
Line Four: Eight Words
Line Five: Two Words

My Lord
Move me beyond myself
Break the bonds of self interest
Refresh and renew that which lies dormant within
Good Shepherd

(and)
Line One: One Word ~ Noun
Line Two: Two Words ~ Describe Noun

Line Three: Three Words ~ Actions
Line Four: Four Words ~ Feelings (about noun)
Line Five: One Word ~ Noun (another name for the first word)

Jesus
Sacrificial Lamb
Protects, Forgives, Heals
Loving Defender of all
Savior

I'm going to try and do a Bible reading each day and then write a prayer about it in this format in a prayer journal, and then also do another one just focusing on deepening my relationship with God.
Thank you, Cathy, for sharing this!

Here is another favorite thing that happened to me just this week.
The other night I got a beautiful note from my sister-in-law Susie, telling me that she was thinking about me on the Anniversary of my Dad's passing.

In Susie's note she included a quote that not only touched my heart, but helped me realize an incredible Blessing I have been overlooking:

"When you are sorrowful look again into your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight." ~ Kahlil Gibran

If I hadn't had such a wonderful relationship with my parents, if I hadn't had such a happy childhood, if I hadn't been so loved, I would not be experiencing this heartache now.

So I am thankful to God for this gift of sorrow that resides in my heart, for it is the remnants of the gift of love that is at home in my heart.


'Hope you all enjoy a wonderful weekend.