In Gratitude for Shadows

In this morning’s meditation as I breathed in the scent of new clover, I was thinking of all the things for which I am grateful.  I’m sure you’ve done that – made or thought of a list of all the thing for which you give thanks.

For instance:  There is always some food around either in the refrigerator, the freezer or on a pantry shelf so I’ll never starve.  There is a roof over my head that keeps out the rain and wind. In the bedroom is a great mattress with clean sheets to sleep on and plenty of clean clothes from which to choose so I don’t have to go naked.  And I can wash my body any time I want to with hot, cold, warm, tepid, cool or steamy fresh water right inside my house.

I can talk to people without them being there even though face to face is always my favorite.  My eyes can still read books which I hold in my hands and my brain understands.  I also like to read books my brain doesn’t understand right away and has to stretch to encompass a new concept.

All of the above is easy to think about and to be thankful for.  But, you know what I am even more grateful for?  The down times, the dark alleys, the deep shadows, the valleys that I have slid into and then crawled through to face a seemingly way too steep mountain smack in front of me.

Those were the times that I learned about patience, willingness, grief, compassion, acceptance, and forgiveness which brought me to a deeper understanding of what life is all about and why I’m really here in the first place.

The lessons were hard to learn and learn them I did.  Without them I would not be the person I am today.

How would I be able to comfort a friend if my own heart had never been broken? How could I even think of suggesting to a loved one to drop the bag of grudges, hurts and slights if I had not first learned how to forgive by having someone to forgive?

If the hardest one to forgive is yourself then treat yourself as your best friend who you would quickly forgive and forgive yourself.  If you’re having difficulty forgiving a parent then think of them as a little child and forgive the little child. Your parent was probably hurt as a child and needs forgiveness at that level.

Take a good look at your own life.  You’ve come through some pretty hard times and you’re still here.  Why?  You must have a special something that needs to be shared, begs to be accomplished, longs to be experienced.

You’re alive because there is a spark of life in you that shines.  Let it shine.  If you had no spark you would have no life.  Every time you take a deep breath breathe into your heart and fan that spark. 

Give thanks for your shadows.  Without shadows you would have no depth and life would be flat.  Shine on!