Meditation Monday
Receiving a Blessing
We've been talking here for a while now about the practice of Metta—sending lovingkindness to ourselves, then others.
When was the last time you fully received a blessing? One bestowed upon you by someone else? Turned your palms up, bowed your head, or just arched your body back to receive a full-blown blessing smack dab in the middle of your heart?
Will you receive one today and fully take it into yourself? I suggest you read this through slowly and allow certain words to resonate with your heart. Or, invite a dear one to read this aloud to you and let the blessing wash through. Either way, enjoy!
As you rise up in the morning with a smile in your heart
May you feel the warmth of the sun on your face
And smell the beauty of the season in the air
May gratitude fill your being
For health of body and mind
And for food that nourishes you and keeps you strong
Gratitude for the presence of animals and pets
Who give love without conditions
Who wait, depend, and serve so loyally
May appreciation of family and friends course through your veins
Thanking them for love well given
For good times and bad
For helping you grow into who you are today
May your heart be filled with tenderness
As you gaze upon the wizened faces of the elderly
Grateful for their hard work and leadership
May your spirit run and dance and play with the children
As they soar across the playground
Free from cares or worries, moment-led creatures
May you remember the possibilities of Love
When you witness a seasoned couple devotedly gazing into each other’s eyes
Gently caressing hands and spirits
May you see the uniqueness of each human being who crosses your path today
Letting go of all judgments or opinions that keep you separate from them
Sending them a secret blessing as you pass on the street
“I honor you, my friend, for simply being who you are.”
For those who suffer and struggle through their days
May your heart be rooted in compassion to transform their suffering
May you experience them as Children of God with hopes and dreams
May you be respectful of all who live and worship differently than you do
May you see them through angel eyes
Beings of beauty and brilliance
Your brothers and sisters
May you remember daily who you are and who you can become
Of all that is available to you as a Child of the Universe
How Love can be the cloak you wear
Peace be the shoes with which you walk upon the Earth
May you remember this day to mirror the Divine
And be peace and Love to all…
Will you receive one today and fully take it into yourself? I suggest you read this through slowly and allow certain words to resonate with your heart. Or, invite a dear one to read this aloud to you and let the blessing wash through. Either way, enjoy!
A Blessing for Love
May you feel the warmth of the sun on your face
And smell the beauty of the season in the air
May gratitude fill your being
For health of body and mind
And for food that nourishes you and keeps you strong
Gratitude for the presence of animals and pets
Who give love without conditions
Who wait, depend, and serve so loyally
May appreciation of family and friends course through your veins
Thanking them for love well given
For good times and bad
For helping you grow into who you are today
May your heart be filled with tenderness
As you gaze upon the wizened faces of the elderly
Grateful for their hard work and leadership
May your spirit run and dance and play with the children
As they soar across the playground
Free from cares or worries, moment-led creatures
May you remember the possibilities of Love
When you witness a seasoned couple devotedly gazing into each other’s eyes
Gently caressing hands and spirits
May you see the uniqueness of each human being who crosses your path today
Letting go of all judgments or opinions that keep you separate from them
Sending them a secret blessing as you pass on the street
“I honor you, my friend, for simply being who you are.”
For those who suffer and struggle through their days
May your heart be rooted in compassion to transform their suffering
May you experience them as Children of God with hopes and dreams
May you be respectful of all who live and worship differently than you do
May you see them through angel eyes
Beings of beauty and brilliance
Your brothers and sisters
May you remember daily who you are and who you can become
Of all that is available to you as a Child of the Universe
How Love can be the cloak you wear
Peace be the shoes with which you walk upon the Earth
May you remember this day to mirror the Divine
And be peace and Love to all…
Now, does your heart have anything to say?
~~~~~
This blessing was created by Brad and Jan Lundy, originally appearing in their book, Perfect Love: How To Find Yours and Make It Last Forever. This month it is published in Healing Garden Journal.
Image courtesy of ehow.com.
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21 comments:
All my heart can say is Thank You Jan! This was beautiful and well needed.
Hi Jan,
That was beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing it with all of us.
Life is so much about love and gratitude. People often think about getting love and gratitude but to give it is far more powerful and truly does help heal the world.
With palms together, I bow in gratitude to you! Namaste! :)
Sometimes we forget about our pets when we think of gratitude. After watching my cat Puddin this morning, racing around and doing jumps and flips over the tiniest little catnip ball, at 7:30 no less, I'd like to add one thing to your list ... "Who wait, depend, serve and entertain so loyally." She started my day with a smile :)
Jan,
This is so lovely and I feel so blessed. Your love for each other comes shining through. Thank you.
Shine on!
Received and welcome. Thank you. May you be happy, at peace and free from suffering.
Jan, this is such an amazing blessing. I love the phrase "angel eyes" and hope to use my eyes in this way more and more. Coming to your blog is like visiting an oasis...you have created a beautiful, peaceful, blessed place here. thank you....
Your blog is very lovely
:) best wishes
Ribbon
Tabitha,
You are so welcome. Glad to hear this soothed your heart. :-)
Nadia,
Yes, giving surpasses the other in my book, though we all get caught up in "what's in it for me" now and then. Focusing on the other seems to shift everything. Namaste to you too!
Joanne,
Pets do offer us unconditional love, I absolutely believe that. So glad that your Puddin brought you joy this morning. Cat antics can certainly do that!
Tess,
Thank you. Love in all its forms is grand, isn't it?
Bonnie,
Thank you, and thanks for stopping by and leaving a heart thought. May all be happy. Blessings to you too!
Diantha,
I am thrilled to hear you speak of angel eyes. It is a very nice image to work with, isn't it? May we all be angels to one another...
Ribbon,
Thank you! Your blog is very lovely, as well. I will visit more often. A soulful spot...
My heart says "peace"...
Thank you, Jan, for this today.
What a beautiful Blessing, Mediation,Prayer. It is what I needed today and will forever place in my heart and soul. Thank you. Love and Light, Nina P
my heart says with that cloak, those shoes, and the mirror, I am blessed so I may be a blessing
thank you Jan,for this beautiful meditation!
sema
Hi Jan,
This is wonderful! Thank you so much for posting it here. It makes it all the more special that both you and your husband wrote it! Learning to accept a blessing, or someone's gratitude, or someone's love is an important part of learning to really live. This post is a really beautiful reminder of all the ways in which we are loved and all the ways in which we can feel love. Thank you!
Lance,
Oh, I love it when our hearts breathe,"Peace." :-) Be well.
Nina,
Always happy to know that words well-placed touch another's heart. Blessings!
Kel,
Yes, you are. May we all be blessed in this way so we may continue to be Presence...
Sema,
Most welcome. May you be at ease today.
Jodi,
Yes, accepting is hard for some. I remember reading something once by Sarah Ban Breathnach about people being "mean receivers." Implying that we do not really let in the compliment or the blessing or the gift. There is great joy in truly receiving and opening ourselves in a more vulnerable way...
Beautiful - and so must be the experience of writing something like this with someone.
I do believe I am going Right Now to let the bath tub and some bubbles bless me well. And I will wholeheartedly and wholesouledly receive the blessing in its entirety.
Hello Jan,
My heart sings a song of gratitude for this blessing. Thank you so much.
Paul,
Thank you. Well, my husband and I are pretty good creative partners, so we are truly blessed in that. :-)
Jannie,
Great minds must think alike as I did the same thing this afternoon—cold, dreary, rainy so a hot soak was spirit soothing. Glad you will take the blessing in...
Keith,
I appreciate your singing heart. :-) Be well!
I want my heart and being to be cloaked in love. I adore that sentiment. I'm so glad I read this!
Megan,
Yes, cloaked in love is such a powerful image. Let's imagine that beautiful coat enfolding all of us in warmth and compassion. Blessings!
...sigh ... that was so beautiful. I feel utter contentment.
“I honor you, my friend, for simply being who you are.”
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