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All content on this blog is copyright protected.~ask permission to use my content (including re-blogging)Margaret Barry Settlement House
I am a perennial optimist
I Am Becoming the Me I Was Born To Be
As I journey through this part of my life I have discovered my next mountain. The key is to be the me I want to be in the world, as my gift back to God.-
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Tag Archives: inspiration
What will you plant in your soul
“Every moment and every event of every man’s life on earth plants something in his soul”. ~ Thomas Merton Our days are filled with a series of moments and hours. Sometimes they fly by, sometimes they move slowly, and sometimes … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, God, optimism
Tagged Faith, Friendship, God, inspiration, Joy, Optimism, prayer
2 Comments
When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high
We all go through storms and glorious moments in our lives. Sometimes those moments are all in the same day. Sometimes we are going through so many different things in our lives ~ perhaps because of the stage of life … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, God, stress
Tagged Faith, God, inspiration, Life, Optimism, stress, when you walk through a storm
2 Comments
Attitude is the mind’s paintbrush
Here is an article that I came across today. I hope it brightens your day. So many times I have reminded myself and others that each day is a gift, and there is a bright side to our situations. Sometimes … Continue reading
Posted in optimism, Positive Thinking
Tagged Faith, God, inspiration, Life, Optimism, prayer
1 Comment
Let it shine
Whether you feel drained or energized, you can give. What can you give? You can give your love, faith, belief in others, hope, steadfastness. Ella Baker said, “Give light and people will find the way.”. Jesus tells us not to … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, God, Positive Thinking, Scripture
Tagged compassion, Faith, God, Godspell, inspiration, Joy, Life, Optimism, This little light of mine
7 Comments
Feeling afraid or lost today?
Are you overwhelmed by circumstances or happenstances today? Is it hard to quiet your racing mind? Believe me, I have been there frequently. We can get so wrapped up in what has to be done that we cannot move. Remember … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, God, Scripture
Tagged Faith, God, inspiration, poetry, Scripture, stress
12 Comments
To sleep, perchance to dream
This morning I awoke feeling refreshed and well rested. Saturday morning I was dragging because I could not sleep a wink on Friday night. I attribute my wakefulness to a big cup of iced coffee while I tutored early Friday … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, God, Scripture
Tagged Faith, God, inspiration, prayer, relaxation, stress
14 Comments
Follow me
So many times Jesus said “follow me”…”come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men”…(Matthew 4:19). “Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also my servant will be. The Father will honor whoever serves … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, God, Scripture
Tagged Faith, God, inspiration, Joy, Life, Optimism
3 Comments
The contented soul is all alone with God
Have you ever had a sleepless night or a stressful week? I know, that’s a stupid question. I think this lovely poem by good old Robert Louis Stevenson provides an apt description of “getting away from the world” and “spending … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope
Tagged Faith, God, inspiration, Life, nature, prayer
2 Comments
What is the point of our daily lives?
Here we are in January. We are past the rush and thrill of the holidays. My students are early in their second semester efforts. Those who are”on top of things” have already started working on their tasks. Magazines and newspapers … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Positive Thinking
Tagged de-clutter, Faith, Friendship, God, inspiration, Life, Optimism
8 Comments
Thankfulness
As we zoom towards Thanksgiving Day, I find myself grateful for so much. I am thankful for my loved ones. I am thankful for my home, my job, my life. I am thankful for my students. “I thank Thee for … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, Friendship
Tagged compassion, Faith, Friendship, God, inspiration, Life, Thanksgiving
4 Comments
Life is connected it is not just disparate events
I tell my students that all of their school subjects are connected. Just because each one is taught in a different room does not mean they are truly separate. Events in our lives and stages of our lives can seem … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Friendship, Scripture
Tagged Courage, Faith, Friendship, inspiration, Life
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A day is a miniature eternity
Ralph Waldo Emerson [oh I know, don’t you just love him?] said “A day is a miniature eternity”. The problem is it is so miniature. Of course when I focus on how short a day is and how much I … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope
Tagged Chesterton, Emerson, facing the giants, Faith, Friendship, God, inspiration, Life, Optimism
6 Comments
Cast your bread upon the waters
Casting your bread upon the waters. What does that make you think of? If you are in a literal mood, perhaps it makes you think of feeding the ducks with day old bread. Gosh, when you do that, the ducks … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Positive Thinking
Tagged Faith, family, Friendship, inspiration
3 Comments
Say only the good things
Paul “Never let evil talk pass your lips; say only the good things men need to hear, things that will really help them. Do nothing that will sadden the Holy Spirit with whom you were sealed against the day of redemption. … Continue reading
Posted in communication, faith/courage/miracles/hope
Tagged Faith, Friendship, God, inspiration, Scripture
11 Comments
How do you want to be remembered?
We create impressions and memories by how we live our lives. How do you hope to be remembered? Perhaps I am thinking about that today, because of the multiple “reunions” I have attended lately. You know how those things go. … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Friendship
Tagged Faith, Friendship, God, inspiration, Life, ocean
3 Comments
Where seldom is heard, a discouraging word
I love living in the southwest. You see, having spent most of my life in other places, it came as a surprise to me that I would love the desert the say that I do. I tend to bloom where … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Positive Thinking
Tagged Faith, Friendship, God, inspiration, Life, Optimism
2 Comments
Is today a day for picking daisies?
My friend Linda is fighting cancer, once again. No, she isn’t just fighting it, she is determined to give it a knock-out, all the time prevailing with joy, laughter, and optimism. She inspires all who know her, with her zest … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Health and exercise, Nature, Positive Thinking
Tagged Courage, daisies, daisy, Faith, Friendship, inspiration, Life
10 Comments
Mustard seeds–from tiny to mighty
Some days I say what can I do? I’m just one woman. There are days, let’s face it, when I feel pretty weak. I’m normally pretty confident, but there are times when I feel anything but confident! How can I … Continue reading
The ebb and flow of life
“When the fog cleared, and I could once more see the ocean again, I realized something. I realized that life often mimics the ocean. A constant ebb and flow. High tides and low. Sometimes volatile and stormy or covered in … Continue reading
Posted in Family Life and Issues
Tagged Faith, Friendship, God, inspiration, Life, ocean
14 Comments
Where is your Rubicon?
I was watching the movie1776. In it, John Adams sings: “They want to me to quit; they say John, give up the fight…..” later in the same song he sings, with great gusto: For I have crossed the Rubicon Let … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Positive Thinking
Tagged Courage, crossing the Rubicon, Faith, inspiration
3 Comments
How do you count your blessings?
I am many things. One of those things is a math tutor, and another is a person who offers encouragement. Generally, when we count items, we tend to count them one by one. But if there are a lot of … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Positive Thinking
Tagged blessings, Books, Faith, Friendship, inspiration, library, Life
11 Comments
Dreams are illustrations – part 1 of 2
“Dreams are illustrations from the book your soul is writing about you”. Marsha Norman. I love this quote. Whether we consider the dreams that happen while we are asleep, or whether we are talking about the dreams that we have … Continue reading
Posted in Writing and Literature
Tagged blogging, education, inspiration, teaching, writing
14 Comments
Every day is a miracle
“You either live your life like every day is a miracle or you live your life like nothing is a miracle. And I believe that. And I’m a happy guy.” ~ Robert Herjavec I love that statement. Think bout that. If … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope
Tagged Faith, inspiration, Joy, Life, looking at life, overcast days
6 Comments
God Really Does Have a Plan
Do you ever feel like a tiny boat made of leaves and twigs, and you are caught in a fast moving creek? God knows how to reach you and save you. Fear Not! ” God Has A Purpose for your … Continue reading
Whistling Once Again–774 days
I began this blog at the behest of my friend Dana. Shortly after Christmas in 2010, I was stricken with Bell’s Palsy. The right half of my face became paralyzed. Gradually some of it came back, but some of it … Continue reading
He Loves Me Despite the Fact
So don’t be discouraged. Dust yourself off, and get up, and keep trying. You may not see it, but you are improving. You may not be improving as quickly and steadily as you desire. But what He desires (and the … Continue reading
Believe Anyway 