There isn’t enough darkness in all the world
to snuff out the light of one little candle.
Robert Alden
Category Archives: Words of encouragement
Posted in Favorite quotes, Words of encouragement
Be Bold
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe~
Posted in Favorite quotes, Words of encouragement
The lesson of the pebble (reblog)
A sweet, endearing song that enchants the ears of the listener. A few months ago, I wrote this poem as I was listening to this song. Hope you enjoy.
At dawn she rises, a day like any other
and tries her best to force a smile
again she’ll have to reach down deep
to keep her holding on for a while.
For so long she’s had to battle
this war between her heart and mind
she had not expected in all her life
to find these walls she’d built to hide behind.
Now her sorrow had outrun her
her burden too painful to hold
the joyful song her heart had once sung
was silent and dormant in the cold.
Happiness and peace once the pillars of her soul
in all things she’d found the beauty of a rose
but her world had turned to shades of gray
this is not the life she ever would have chose.
In the still and quiet of the morning
she walked alongside a stream
and wondered why her plans had failed
and deserted her soul in a broken dream.
Beneath the water something caught her eye
a pebble the color of the bluest sky
in the midst of all the others it’s color truly showed
the beauty in it’s solitude made her want to cry.
It was a rock like all the others
it’s journey too was much the same
but in it own uniqueness it proudly laid
alone, yet it didn’t complain nor think of another to blame.
She reached down through the water
and picked up the pebble with care
she would keep it in her pocket
to remind her of her time there.
For nature had spoken and she listened with her heart
and received a lesson that day
that no matter how lonely and forgotten we feel
his love remains near to show us a way.
~ Celeste ~
Away from the sun (reblog)
A WORD FOR THE BROKEN, THE LONELY, AND THE SUFFERING..
There is hope
there is peace
there is light
there is understanding
there is acceptance
there is belonging
there is fellowship
there is promise
there is healing
there is comfort
there is newness of life
there is forgiveness
there is validation
there is happiness
there is laughter
there is joy
there is freedom
there is wellness
there is stability
there is warmth
there is appreciation
there are miracles
yes, these things are real
these things exist
they are attainable
they are a gift
they are yours.
You have the key to all these things
you always have
they have been yours from the beginning
Believe it
seek it
know it
use it
share it
It is not meant to be kept to oneself or hidden
it is meant to bring love and unity to all.
It starts with you.
It starts with acceptance
It continues with your choice
It lives in your heart
It grows through your giving it away
without fear of losing it
of it not being returned.
Remember, it was yours from the beginning
BELIEVE.
Its NEVER too late……..
So lets begin and end on this note:
Bless everyone…..may the sun rise and set upon your precious face, and may the moonlight bring peace and comfort in your darkest nights……. Celeste <3
Posted in My Poetry, Prose, Words of encouragement
Feel so close
An amazing, breathless song with a great beat and awesome lyrics…..great for dancing! Been dancing to the beat in my living room this morning…..I’m twirling, spinning, floating, busting out moves I didn’t know I had! I am out of breath and sweaty, I feel great, and I Love it! lol Just thought I would spread the love and good energy, hoping it’s contagious…..Turn it up and enjoy! ♥
Happy Hump Day!!!!! 
\o/
The lesson of the pebble
I know I just posted this song just a bit ago, but as I was listening to it again, the words for a poem came to me, so I decided to repost this song to this poem….hope everyone will enjoy it….
At dawn she rises, a day like any other
and tries her best to force a smile
again she’ll have to reach down deep
to keep her holding on for a while.
For so long she’s had to battle
this war between her heart and mind
she had not expected in all her life
to find these walls she’d built to hide behind.
Now her sorrow had outrun her
her burden too painful to hold
the joyful song her heart had once sung
was silent and dormant in the cold.
Happiness and peace once the pillars of her soul
in all things she’d found the beauty of a rose
but her world had turned to shades of gray
this is not the life she ever would have chose.
In the still and quiet of the morning
she walked alongside a stream
and wondered why her plans had failed
and deserted her soul in a broken dream.
Beneath the water something caught her eye
a pebble the color of the bluest sky
in the midst of all the others it’s color truly showed
the beauty in it’s solitude made her want to cry.
It was a rock like all the others
it’s journey too was much the same
but in it own uniqueness it proudly laid
alone, yet it didn’t complain nor think of another to blame.
She reached down through the water
and picked up the pebble with care
she would keep it in her pocket
to remind her of her time there.
For nature had spoken and she listened with her heart
and received a lesson that day
that no matter how lonely and forgotten we feel
his love remains near to show us a way.
~ Celeste ~
Heaven
This is such a beautiful, inspirational, upbeat and uplifting song. I get goosebumps every time I hear it. I cannot say enough good things about it, so listen for yourself and be blessed…..
Why God? (Some food for thought)
I stumbled across this today, and I was so touched I had to pass along the blessing to my readers and friends. Love to everyone……………
Food for thought:
Me: God can I ask you a question?
God: Sure…
Me: Promise you won’t get mad!
God: I promise
Me: Why did you let so much stuff happen to me today? … … … …
God: What do you mean?
Me: Well, I woke up late,
God: Yes,
Me: My car took forever to start,
God: Okay,
Me: At lunch they made my sandwich wrong & I had to wait,
God: Hmmmm…
Me: On the way home, my phone went DEAD, just as I picked up a call…..
God: All right,
Me: And on top of it all off, when I got home I just wanted to soak my feet in my new foot massager & relax. BUT it wouldn’t work!!! Nothing went right today! Why did you do that?
God: Let me see, the Death Angel was at your bed this morning & I had to send one of the other angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that,
Me (humbled): OH
God: I didn’t let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that would have hit you if you were on the road,
Me (ashamed)………
God: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick & I didn’t want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn’t afford to miss work,
Me (embarrassed): Ok,
God: Your phone went dead because the person that was calling was going to give false witness about what you said on that call, I didn’t even let you talk to them so you would be covered.
Me (softly): I see God,
God: Oh yea and that foot massager, it had a shortage that was going to throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn’t think you wanted to be in the dark.
Me: I’m sorry God
God: Don’t be sorry, just learn to trust me…..in all things, the good & the bad.
Me: I will trust you
God: And don’t doubt that my plan for your day is always better than your plan.
Me: I won’t God. And let me just tell you God, thank you for everything today.
God: You’re welcome child. It was just another day being your God and I love looking after my children……
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.”- Isaiah 55:8
Every one have a beautiful evening…… =D
Positive Anger
Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.
Maya Angelou
When I first read this quote, it impacted me. But still, I could not quite put my finger on why. So, I have chewed on it for a while and have come to appreciate the wise words of this statement. Anger is a self preserving emotion. It’s function is to protect, defend, and to behold righteousness in truth. Anger is the most base of all human emotions, and in it’s purest form is an effective instrument that drives us to passion, motivation, and even success. Anger is a purging agent that comes in and does it’s job swiftly, and then it is up to us how we will direct the leftover and excess energies of such a potent emotion. Anger is not meant to linger. In fact, even Jesus said not to let the sun go down on your anger. Anger that is left to stew will continue to burn, the embers slowly transforming into a disease, a sickness, if you will. I think most of us are intelligent enough to know when we have crossed the line, been angry over something for too long. When it affects the quality of our lives and interferes with our happiness and peace, we know we have some soul searching and contemplating to do.
I have spent a lot of time being angry in my life, and to this day I still have to pull in on the reins of a fiery disposition. But coupled with love and forgiveness, it is possible to allow our anger to serve a greater purpose for our lives. Anyone who speaks with wisdom and conviction, I assure you, had put a great deal of time in subduing this emotion. They would not settle for a second rate existence of bitterness and resentment. They have creatively found ways to use the life force of anger in different aspects of their lives. We all have this capacity. We are able to be the masters of our anger, monarchs of our indignation. Believe it or not, you can still be angry in a respectful way and not lose your dignity in the process.
I encourage anyone feeling anxiety or depression to look for the root source of these symptoms, and reflect on how it got to be there. I promise you that anger will always be the initial source, coupled with the pain we felt when the emotions were born. Let’s give ourselves a gift, something of lasting value that has the potential to change our lives and impact our world. Seek out forgiveness when you have discovered the triggers. Putting in just a little time to search, discover, reflect and apply in this way will truly bear the sweetest of fruits. We hold the keys to our own happiness and the power to be victorious. To me, that is the most amazing gift of all.
I have previously written a couple of posts that will compliment this message, and aid in advancing to the next steps. For more insight, here are the links:
celestealluvial.wordpress.com/2012/04/01/forgiveness-is-a-process/
http://celestealluvial.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/embracing-pain-a-transformation/
~ Celeste ~
Did you know you helped to change the world today? Thank you….
Personal transformation can and does have global effects. As we go, so goes the world, for the world is us. The revolution that will save the world is ultimately a personal one.
Marianne Williamson
I cannot express the brevity that this statement resounds through my soul, or how excited I get when my spirit believes and bears witness to such a simple yet profound truth. What you do really does matter. It is like a ripple effect. It effects you personally, it effects those close to you in your circle of family and friends, and that extends out to their extended families and friends, and it keeps going and traveling around the world. For those of you who have a hard time believing this, I challenge you to test the waters, and increase your faith and broaden your vision enough to be open to all the small signs and wonders around you…..to every good piece of news and information you receive through close acquaintences, your place of work, the radio, local newspaper, and TV, like the news. I know the news is full of bad news, but there are morsels of good things in between, if you pay attention. There are even websites and magazines and television shows filled with good stories and testimonies. These things have a direct correlation to what we have sown, what we have dared to believe possible. We can use these good news stories as evidence and feedback, that the good you are personally doing does matter.
Now, some of you may think I am a little ‘out there’ with this belief, and far reaching at best, but I know, I am convinced, that each one of our thoughts, words and actions create our reality…..so everything that I see and hear is processed through this personal belief….all good deeds and acts of love begin somewhere, inspired by someone, and was given a life of its own, beginning with a single thought and choice to act on that thought. Who is to say that a good deed you did for someone, an act of kindness, an encouraging word, a hug even, didn’t get passed along through others, and grew in love, and began to create an atmosphere of love and inspiration in which people began to act on your positivity? An example would be…..a young boy deciding to raise money for other sick children…..a wealthy man who donated thousands to a good cause….a group of people who got together to open a food bank for the hungry….a young mother who received the seed of kindness, broke the abuse cycle, and passed it on to her growing child, who did, or will, grow up to be a motivational speaker, or the next president….. the list goes on. Who’s to say your initial act of kindness didn’t create the spark and settled like a flame in someone who received it down the line? It is very possible, and in fact this is how it happens. Of course we could never see it in action and know for sure its exact origins, but are not all things entwined somehow, and work together on a larger scale? It is feasible to say that you certainly had a hand in contributing to the betterment of humanity….all of us working together planting the seeds whenever we can, wherever we go.
To some, this message is insanity….to others, great vision or great faith. To me, it is simply the way things work as I go along trying my best to do my small part in the scheme of things….but I am not naive enough to think that these things do not matter, or that they go unnoticed, or lost somewhere in the universe….no….on the contrary, we all matter and have a hand in our own fates, and impact the lives of many through a single act of kindness. I believe….and now I dare you to believe too. It wont be long before your heart warms with satisfaction at all the small beautiful wonders and acts of love throughout the world, knowing you did your part, giving yourself a little credit for these things, and being able to participate in the jubilant celebration of life. To me, this makes it all worthwhile, and carries me through times of darkness, pushing me into ever greater heights of faith and love.
May your day be blessed, as you give a blessing to another. 
~ Celeste ~
Forgiveness is a process
Forgiveness is like faith. You have to keep reviving it.
~Mason Cooley~
Here are some secrets that I have learned when it comes to the issues of pain, the heart, and forgiveness…..
**Forgiveness is for you, not the other person. Holding resentment and unforgiveness hurts only you. The offender will never feel what we are going through, from the deep remorse to the murderous rage. And stubbornly hanging on to hate will not bring them to conviction or judgement, nor bring us to peace and contentment. To hold someone in unforgiveness for something, no matter how much wrong they have done, makes us the prisoner, and a partaker of that same wrong. Forgiveness is a gift to ourselves for what we have been through…it is the only way to have real peace and lasting contentment.
**Often when we think about forgiveness, we expect the results to be instantaneous. We prematurely believe that if we are ‘good’ and do the ‘right’ thing, that we will be rewarded with all the gifts, wisdom and freedoms that go along with the act of forgiving someone, and are automatically released from its burden. But I think we all know that is not how it works out for us, and usually the opposite of this is what feels truest. We have made our own mistakes and offences, suffered at the hands of others, and made the choice to forgive….but still we struggle with the pain and feelings of resentment, of grief and anger.
**This is because forgiveness is a process. It is a choice that we make initially the first time. And then, we have to make it again and again when the painful memories and feelings surface. We may have to make this choice on occasion, from time to time, or in the beginning, we may have to choose forgiveness moment by moment amounting to numerous times in a day. There are even times we feel we just do not want to forgive. This does not mean that we are weak. But on the contrary, it takes strength and shows we are serious and determined to see ourselves free from the chains that bind us.
**Our emotions do not always line themselves up with our will to forgive, and rarely support our choice to forgive. Chances are you will never be able to use your feelings as an indicator of weather you have forgiven or not. Memories are real, and the experiences that made them were just as real, and not easily erased. And they shouldn’t be. For no matter how terrible or traumatic, or maybe even seemingly petty that past event was, those things help make who we are. We can stay in bitterness over it, or we can move ourselves along and live free of the inner turmoil of self infliction.
**Forgiveness is an opportunity for growth. It does not have to be a crippling and gruesome experience. Often we are so hard on ourselves, we cannot see what progress we have made. We may feel guilty or inadequate in God’s eyes for not being able to forgive in the way he does, or in the way we thought we should. We may feel as though we have missed the mark somehow. Relax a little, give yourself room to be many things in the healing process. Sort it out gradually. No one says you have to accomplish total forgiveness in a certain way, or in a certain amount of time. As I said earlier, this healing virtue is for you. And not everyone is the same, and we all experience the process a little differently and in different timing. But one thing is the same for us all….it all begins with a choice. You choose forgiveness, and you keep choosing it daily, no matter what you may feel. The pain may never totally disappear, but in time, it will lessen, and you will see your personal growth, gaining victory one small step at a time.
**The hardest person to forgive will always be yourself. It is so important and life changing to accept in ourselves the things that are hard to accept, the things we have said and done that we deeply regret. Think of it this way. A child or family member we dearly love has made a terrible mistake, one that has hurt not just themselves but others they love. You see their pain and turmoil, and you long to impart to them the forgiveness that you have sought out for them in yourself. You so desire to see them move on and begin living again, learning and maturing from the wrong they have done. The pain you feel from seeing them in their pain, is how our our own spirit grieves over us when we are in a tormented place….the same way the Father feels for our sufferings. He longs to extend that compassion and mercy to us and help us move away from the dark side of the tribulation. But we can only do this for ourselves. So extend to yourselves the same love and mercy that you would someone you dearly love….for chances are someone is still hurting from watching you suffer, and longs to see you live again. Make yourself this friend within yourself. You are every bit worth it, and the fact that you are alive and breathing is proof enough. Now, you just have to walk in it and bear witness to the miracles that will follow………………………
Feel free to ask any questions, or seek friendly assistance or advise from me anytime. You may contact me at celestealluvial26@gmx.com …
Namaste,
Celeste
Birthday reflections and blessings….
Today I turn 34, and as I sit reflecting back on my life, the good and the not so good, I am finding something positive in everything. It is never too late to mentally review and recall past memories, especially painful ones, and find something good that came from it. We can help ourselves along in the healing process in this way, going back in time to touch a younger version of ourselves with the present knowledge we have gained, embracing ourselves as a child, accepting, relearning, and practicing self forgiveness….I know these things work because I have done them.
So I wanted to share some positive words of encouragement with you today, and pass along my own birthday blessings and wishes to you. I could not think of a better way to celebrate and share the love!
So, here they are, a few of my favorite quotes, poems and photos for you to enjoy. Everyone have a great day and be blessed and prosper in all you do.
Namaste.
To realize
The value of a sister/brother
Ask someone
Who doesn’t have one.
To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.
To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
Who has given birth to a premature baby..
To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane.
To realize
The value of one-second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.
Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when
You can share it with someone special.
To realize the value of a friend or family member:
LOSE ONE.
Remember….
Hold on tight to the ones you love!
Our world is special because YOU are in it-
We all hit a time when we’ve lost hope and need someone to put their arms around us and say, “I’ve got you right now. I won’t let you face this alone.
Bear Hug!
Whatever our hands touch -
We leave fingerprints!
On walls, on furniture
On doorknobs, dishes, books.
There’s no escape.
As we touch we leave our identity.
Wherever I go today
Help me leave heartprints!
Heartprints of compassion
Of understanding and love.
Heartprints of kindness
And genuine concern.
May my heart touch a lonely neighbor
Or a runaway daughter
Or an anxious mother
Or perhaps an aged grandfather.
Send me out today
To leave heartprints.
And if someone should say,
“I felt your touch,”
May they also sense the love
that is deep within my heart.
~ author unknown ~
IN REMEMBRANCE
Serene and beautiful and very wise,
Most erudite in curious Grecian lore,
You lay and read your learned books, and bore
A weight of unshed tears and silent sighs.
The song within your heart could never rise
Until love bade it spread its wings and soar.
Nor could you look on Beauty’s face before
A poet’s burning mouth had touched your eyes.
Love is made out of ecstasy and wonder;
Love is a poignant and accustomed pain.
It is a burst of Heaven-shaking thunder;
It is a linnet’s fluting after rain.
Love’s voice is through your song; above and under
And in each note to echo and remain.
II
Because Mankind is glad and brave and young,
Full of gay flames that white and scarlet glow,
All joys and passions that Mankind may know
By you were nobly felt and nobly sung.
Because Mankind’s heart every day is wrung
By Fate’s wild hands that twist and tear it so,
Therefore you echoed Man’s undying woe,
A harp Aeolian on Life’s branches hung.
So did the ghosts of toiling children hover
About the piteous portals of your mind;
Your eyes, that looked on glory, could discover
The angry scar to which the world was blind:
And it was grief that made Mankind your lover,
And it was grief that made you love Mankind.
III
Before Christ left the Citadel of Light,
To tread the dreadful way of human birth,
His shadow sometimes fell upon the earth
And those who saw it wept with joy and fright.
“Thou art Apollo, than the sun more bright!”
They cried. “Our music is of little worth,
But thrill our blood with thy creative mirth
Thou god of song, thou lord of lyric might!”.
O singing pilgrim! who could love and follow
Your lover Christ, through even love’s despair,
You knew within the cypress-darkened hollow
The feet that on the mountain are so fair.
For it was Christ that was your own Apollo,
And thorns were in the laurel on your hair.
JOYCE KILMER
REMEMBER TO SMILE, AND HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY!
Embracing Pain…a transformation
In my young life, I have found that although pain is real, and we all experience it throughout our lives, how we view it and treat ourselves by it matters….when pain presents itself to us, we can embrace it, welcome it and accept it, as loving a child, therefore giving us the ability to let it go properly and when the time comes, allowing it to grow us and transform us in a positive and lasting way….or we can self inflict our pain, trying to avoid, deny, or fight it, robbing ourselves of the opportunity to learn and earn peacefulness and wisdom….because we hold on too tightly to the pain, too close to our hearts, feeling like we deserve it somehow, or that it came to us as a punishment for something we have done.
So then we punish ourselves all the more, and it becomes an instrument of torment, and unhealthy resources for our souls to draw from, making our souls sick and left feeling empty. So the next time pain knocks on the doors of your heart, open it, welcome it in, accept it and embrace it with all your strength….you will ease and accelerate the healing process for yourself, and become a means of comfort for others around you that are hurting, showing them a lighted path in the darkness. There is nothing greater than extending your love and help to another suffering soul….and you will gain the satisfaction of making a difference in the world around you.
And never forget to be patient in the storm….time itself is a healing virtue….but as stated above, you have power over the outcome of your soul. Things are always changing, and the storm will subside as well. Never, ever exchange your hope and faith for laying down and giving up…although there will surely be days you feel like doing just that. But life will continue on, and so will you….you are capable of more, and have more strength than you could ever hope to think you possess…..and this I know for sure.
~ Celeste ~
A poem I wrote that accentuates this message: http://celestealluvial.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/smile-through-the-tears/
Why?
As I was listening to this beautiful song this morning, the inspiration and the words came to me for this poem I have written below. Hope you enjoy.
Peering up from where I am
I stare into a night sky
So many questions I have inside
So many questions for the reasons why.
Why in my darkest hour
and in my greatest time of need
does my hope and courage fail me
does faith not my heart lead?
Why should so many souls be suffering
with such beauty all around?
Why do the warmest of hearts grow cold,
why can no compassion be found?
Why loneliness, sadness and tribulation
are the greatest teachers of all,
why in order to truly learn
the lessons must be hard.
Why the young grow old and turn to dust
life given to us and taken away
Why the dream of eternal youth
flees farther and farther each day.
Why true love’s kiss upon our brow
turns it’s back on us in disdain
Why promises are broken, what was now no more,
Our souls torn apart in torment and pain?
Oh give me just one reason why
and give me a glimmer of truth
whisper a lifetime of love in my ear
restoring what was mine in youth.
The days and the hours keep passing by
ebbing, flowing with the tide
but I will not from you drop my eyes
will not from you my fears hide.
I choose to be a reason for hope
be all my eyes behold in the skies
I choose to be an answer of love
to a world hurting and wondering why.
~ Celeste ~
Let all the answers to even our hardest questions be love, leaving no room for anything else to remain. ~ Celeste ~
If you like what you see here, and would like to share it just ask! Let me know via email or comment, and make sure you give proper credit and a link back. :)
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Mrs. Sparkly’s Ten Commandments Award
