She Gives
Words on expansion, retraction, pause and us. It isn't impossible to create a nourishing life, darling soul. Also, it can be hard to create what we haven't envisioned yet!
She gives
she gives and she gives and she gives and she gives
they and he, too
rarely receiving
never asking for needs to be met
unraveling
no seams left
certain failure looming
in the distance
this is unsustainable and unnecessary
when was the last time
she asked for help?
how recently did he
take the break
life, family, friends offered?
do they know
their value, worth
has nothing to do with giving
at all?
do they know?
and how will we
tell them?
how?
She gives, she gave
It is January. An almost-full moon hangs in the early morning sky and my head pounds just a little bit. Just a little bit was acceptable, until I remembered a time with no pain at all. And now, I yearn for it. I yearn for me as a grounded force to be reckoned with.
Yet, I gave. I gave and I gave and I gave and I gave. I gave until I had almost nothing left.
Way back when they were little, yes. But also, now.
Today, I restored balance. I called in nourishment. Manna. For me, you, them, us. Manna for the masses.
Word of the year
My word this year is manna, beloveds. Manna is the sweet nourishment that God provided the Israelites in the desert. I think it’s important to note that manna was not given to them in the newly-built town square of the promised land. Nor in well-loved homes. Manna was certainly not given to them in enormous temples where holy floors met still-holier hands and knees day after day after day.
No. God provided them a nourishing food called manna in the desert.
Have you ever experienced the desert?
I can’t claim to know all of humanity, but I’m willing to guess we all have at some point in time. Upon watching, waiting, moving toward something good and even beautiful, we find ourselves lost and confused about the condition of our lives.
Shouldn’t this feel better?
Be easier?
Why did that happen, again?
We ask the questions on our hearts. And to our dismay, we don’t receive any answers. Or… do we?
While God seems silent, we forget the sweetest gifts are not loud. I gave, but surely my giving has not broken my mind, body or soul for good. And in this giving, weren’t there blessings?
I say yes.
Also, I’m hopeful one of these years I don’t overdo it. Say a little prayer for me?
Permission to Receive
Counter to what culture asks of us, maybe it’s time slow down or - gasp! - stop altogether the hustle as we enter into 2023. Can we take a moment to normalize a desire to pause? To receive? And if you have such a desire, may I personally give you permission to do so? To be arms-wide-open to whatever it is the Universe has to endow upon your so-very-worthy self?
Open them now if it honors your soul.
Wait, watch, and listen…
Good and God are coming to fill in every gap.
Somehow after all my doubts of the past few years, this I believe with every bit of my own soul.
Sending you all my love always and always.
J. 🌻 @thebarefootpreacher
Feel free to share this She Gives message with a friend. It might just resonate. After all, haven’t we all given too much a time or three?
If today’s words have been of value, let’s continue the conversation below. Reclamation is a safe space for blessed bodies re/claiming peace in all that is wild, beloved. Your thoughts and contributions are held sacred here.
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