I think a lot of us face challenges to our emotional well-being around this time of year, when the holy hustle-and-bustle of Christmas is over and the lengthy winter sets in in earnest, so I decided to share this quote, which is one of my all-time favorites:
“In the depths of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.” Albert Camus (Look inside your heart and you’ll find it.)
And then there is the prayer that has seen so many through so much for so long:
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” I first heard this prayer when I joined a self-help group many moons ago, and I can honestly say that repeating it over and over, outloud or to myself, brought me through some very dark valleys. My mother embroidered the prayer on a sampler, in fact, and it graces my bedroom wall to this day, reminding me that there is Someone I can turn to when my batteries are running low.
In my opinion, a lot of our problems are caused by wanting things to be different than they are, thinking we should have had (and admit it, there’s a touch of entitlement in this attitude) a better childhood, a better marriage, a better this, that or the other thing. We shouldn’t have had this problem or that one (conveniently overlooking the truth: that we ourselves caused the problem, in most instances). It’s all too easy to clench our fists, dig in our heels, and demand not only that our present be changed, but our past, too. (Despite the obvious insanity of this, we continue to do it.) Fill in the blank. Yes, sir, we want it all made up to us, darn it, yesterday if not sooner. My friends, whole lifetimes have been missed out on this way. The joy we could have had is blotted out.
Been there, done that. Don’t care to do it again.
I’m SO ready to move on, to look for reasons to be grateful instead of reasons to complain, whinge (a British word I particularly love) and whine.
That concludes today’s sermon. 🙂
With New Year’s Day approaching fast, I’m announcing a new contest–for the next four weeks, one person will win a copy of Danielle LaPorte’s fantastic book, THE DESIRE MAP EXPERIENCE each week, along with a signed copy of my new book, BIG SKY SECRETS, the final story in the Big Sky series. Another winner will receive an autographed copy of BIG SKY SECRETS as well, along with a small surprise.
How to win? Get those comments in.
Later today, the trusty Jenni will be contacting the final two winners of either a Barnes and Noble or an Amazon gift card, valued at $50, along with the usual autographed books. Tomorrow, the names will be announced on this blog, so tune in again. 🙂
Now, in closing, repeat after me:
God, grant me the SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change, the COURAGE to change the things I can, and the WISDOM to know the difference.
About Linda
The daughter of a town marshal, Linda Lael Miller is a #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 100 historical and contemporary novels, most of which reflect her love of the West.
Raised in Northport, Washington, Linda pursued her wanderlust, living in London and Arizona and traveling the world before returning to the state of her birth to settle down on a horse property outside Spokane.
