Categories: orthodox-life, work, family, friends, exercise, study, mental-health, parish-life, food
Date: 09 March 2010 11:02:17
Another good week, for which thanks be to God. I have found myself using this response, Thanks be to God, a bit more regularly of late when I have been asked how I have been. It is used regularly by Arabic speaking people in its Arabic form, Alhamdulillah (الحمد لله) meaning "Praise to God", particularly by Muslims but also Arab Christians and Jews. It is used as a response to the question "How are you?", meaning thanks/praise be to God all is well; and in everyday speech it does indeed mean "Thanks be to God". It is a constant reply of many of my fellow parishioners of Middle-Eastern-background, and I have taken it on and even found in it a sense of comfort.
For even if it has been a tough day, a tough week even, praise and thanks indeed is due to God for his blessing and grace in getting me through it -- even if I feel I only "just" got through it God did lead me through it. Writing these positive weekly reviews has started to put a dint, however small, in the wall I've put up to only allow negative things through: the positives, if only for a short while, are being given time to settle within me. For which thanks be to God.
Enjoyed reading The Lion King to Skye and playing, yet again [but I never tire -- well, almost never :) ], endless Ring a Ring o’Rosey with Eden.
Had a wonderful home-cooked lunch [pasta with salad] and post-lunch discussion with friends on Sunday. And indulged in some [non-Lenten] cookies and my first taste of Nespresso coffee.
Enjoyed reading a variety of books throughout the week.
Called friends to say "Hello"; might not sound like much but my anxiety often means I do not call.
Received a number of e-mails that encouraged or challenged me postively during the week. [Not forgetting the comments here.]
Went to the gym for BodyPump on Saturday.
Got through a rather emotionally intense Friday, which had its blessings as well as struggles.
Enjoyed and was challenged by the first week of the Reading the Classics course and the fifth week of the Moral Life in Christ course.
Found a sense of peace at the services of Great Compline and the Akathist, in addition to the services of Great Vespers, Matins and Divine Liturgy. I do like the more "intimate" nature [as less people attend due to commitments; I am not saying I want less people, but there is a "quieter" atmosphere] and the sense of peace gained through these services during the week.
Thanks be to God.