A friend is a loved one who awakens your life
in order to free the wild possibilities within you.

-John O’Dononue, Anam Cara

Welcome to the Reflection for February!

Throughout this month of February, I have been noticing how the light lingers longer with each unfolding day.  Perhaps I am noticing the expanding amount of daylight so much because I have been pondering the many ways that our friendships bring a special kind of light into our lives.

At the very beginning of February, I knew that the focus for this month’s Spirit Garden Reflection would be on the way our friendships brighten our lives.  I had hoped to get this out to you sooner, however, a few weeks ago, a dear friend of mine passed away.  His passing illuminated the unique kind of love that is experienced through our friendships.  These past few weeks, along with the grief, I have been experiencing profound gratitude that our paths have crossed.  I have been reflecting upon the many gifts I have received from this friendship and the way my life has been enriched by his wisdom.

For each of us, there are gifts we are given through our friendships that can make us want to sing a song of gratitude for their presence.  My friend, Don, was one of those people. 

May this Spirit Garden Reflection give you a moment to pause and reflect upon the people whose lives have enriched yours.  May this reflection help us each deepen our awareness of living in the world with a friendliness of heart toward one another.

With warm blessings,
Kathy

The Life We Share

The other day, I left my house to go run some errands.  When I stepped onto the sidewalk leading to the driveway, I looked down.  There, indented in the fresh snow, were hoof prints left behind by the deer.  The hoof prints were the only evidence that at one point through the night, we had visitors in our yard.  For some reason, the sight of those hoof prints lifted my heart.  Although I am not fond of the deer coming and eating our shrubs and plants, there is another part of me that feels so grateful that the deer feel safe enough to enter our yard.  I somehow feel graced by their presence, as though they are friends that stop by for a visit, even though I rarely catch sight of them.

Since that moment the phrase, the evidence we leave behind, has been rumbling around in my heart and my mind.  It has me thinking of the imprints that our friendships leave on our hearts and minds.  If we cast our gaze back over the years and think of the people who have come and gone from our lives, we can see the evidence and the impact of these friendships.

Some friends have introduced us to new music, some teach us how to laugh at life, others listen deeply and teach us how to do the same, some teach us to set healthy boundaries; some friends trek through the woods with us, some cheer us on, and others sit in silence when we need it.  There are so many ways that the gifts of friendship enrich our lives. 

Whether a friendship has lasted a season or a lifetime, these companions have helped us become the person that we are today.  As we move through this month of February, a month that holds up the many shapes and flavours of sharing love and kindness in our world, may we each remember our friendships.  May we take a moment to ponder the imprints those friendships have made on our hearts and minds.  May we offer gratitude for the gifts that have been shared between us.

With warm blessings,
Kathy

In Closing

As the days continue to lengthen and the daylight lingers with us longer, may we carry with us the awareness that reaching out to one another in friendship also brightens our world.  

Blessings,
Kathy

Connect & Share

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