Quick quick quick! I’m quicker than you!
For sweet slow and steady are waltzing you through,
While gentle and easy keep making you do
Your diligent double-check dancing on cue.
With rhythmic precision unmatched as you move,
You quicken my quickening heartbeat for you!
—
A “quick” Quadrille in response to De’s prompt at
dVerse.
For Freddy, and the first thing I’ve written since moving a few weeks ago.
I recognize that God is the essence of freedom and independence.
Oneness with the presence of God means living free of the personal ego and its denials of ultimate, eternal reality. Every day I seek God within myself and rediscover the truth that sets me free in mind, body, soul, and spirit.
All that takes place within me affects my outer life. As a result, I allow myself to feel and experience freedom in all areas of my life. For in reality, there is but one life in all things. This life is God’s life, and this life is mine.
Through my daily practice of meditation, I remember and contact God’s presence within me. Shifting my focus beyond outer appearances, I see the truth that God is guiding my life. God’s Spirit of freedom flows through me, now and always.
By the power of God within me, I am open to the abundant life of true freedom, to do and be what God has already planned for me.
Free to be my highest self, I give thanks.
I let it be so. And so it is. Amen.
Click here for prayer support.
As Freddy wrote in
Long-Distance Love: A Gift from the Heavens:
“There are many types of love indeed, but to be blessed to have a true love from afar also has to be one of the hardest. There is an old saying that goes, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” You finally fall in love with someone that you can’t wrap your arms around each and every night as you would want to. Then, you have to start from the beginning and ask yourself: Are you really in love at all?”
Freddy and I are blessed to know the meaning and experience of real and lasting, unconditional love. However, it’s true that nothing in life comes easy, and anything worth having is worth waiting for. It’s a personal choice and sometimes a very conscious choice that takes time and effort. But when you find yourself in a relationship worth keeping, it’s important to make that choice as early and as firmly as possible. In other words, either you’re in, or you’re not. You’ve got it, or you don’t. You put the time in, or move on. Moving on is not the same as failing. No one should judge anyone else’s relationship. And long-distance relationships in particular don’t work for everyone. But if you’re in it for the long haul, here are 3 things you must have to make your relationship work.
1. Care.
It sounds simple, and it is. But life has a way of putting up roadblocks, circumstances, negativity, worries, other people’s opinions, and so on. Any number of things can cloud your judgment and make you lose focus on how much you care for your partner. However, that focus on how much you do care is essential, and without it, no relationship can last, whether you’re separated by a moment, a job, or months at a time.
2. Commitment.
You can have all the care in the world. But without the commitment to express it, it’s just lip service. The phrase “put up or shut up” comes to mind. We’re not talking about renting a plane to write romantic messages in the sky. But without some level of commitment in the relationship, you are separated by much more than distance.
In our case, we both knew we wanted a long term relationship. We didn’t start out looking for that with each other. But deep down we knew we didn’t want a fling, someone to party with, friends with benefits, or anything less than an exclusive, monogamous relationship. If you and your partner are not on the same page with your relationship goals, it may be time to move on. On the other hand, if you can agree on the type of commitment you want, and are willing to give, your relationship will be that much stronger.
3. Communication.
I can’t emphasize this enough. Sadly I know couples who live in the same house and sleep in the same room, spending all their days and nights together, who never truly communicate. And it shows in their relationship. They may argue. Or give each other the all-too-noisy silent treatment. Either way the culprit is a lack of communication.
In our age of technology, we have absolutely no excuse not to communicate. It’s no big deal to post pics to your friends on social media; text your doctor, your lawyer, and your mom all in less than a minute; and schedule a meeting by video chat, all while balancing a cup of coffee between your legs (by the way, don’t do that!) We can do all these things virtually without thought, while listening to a podcast or watching a video. And the key is, we think nothing of it. So why can’t we remember to check in with the person we claim to love?
You’ve all got it easy. You can text, chat, post, swipe, tap, and click your way to all kinds of connections. In other words, you have no excuse for the silent treatment. Freddy and I have always had two things: email and phone calls.
That’s right. I said email and phone calls. No text, no chat, no video chat because we can’t see, no social media content, no posting, no likes and shares, no snapping, crackling and popping (Ok, I’m getting carried away here.) But you get my point. For us every conversation has had our full attention.
And in a very real sense, it’s the attention, not just the act of communicating, that has kept us together. It’s easy to communicate. But it can be difficult to communicate clearly and well. Especially during stressful times, it’s important to choose your words carefully, be mindful of your partner’s feelings, and keep your finger far away from the hang-up button. We all make mistakes, sometimes repeatedly. But in a loving relationship, you can share your feelings, your needs, and ask for and receive forgiveness for those mistakes. Without good communication, this is virtually impossible.
Care, commitment, and communication. It couldn’t be simpler. And it couldn’t be harder. Relationships show us what we’re made of, and long-distance relationships do this exceptionally well. It’s character-building if you can bear it. And if you truly love someone, it’s worth every moment, every misstep, and every mile between you. Because sooner or later, Lord willing, your care, commitment and communication will bring you together physically as well.
If you received this post by email, click the URL to hear this song.
Wishing a happy and blessed Father’s Day to all men with children, father figures, mentors, teachers, leaders, and all those who protect, care for, support, and love others unconditionally, as our Father in Heaven loves each one of us!
And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
–Luke 2:49 (NKJV)
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
–Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)
For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
–Matthew 12:50 (NKJV)
Refrain:
Unconditional love as the Father above,
Means no expectations of what you receive.
Unconditional love as a child of the One,
Means showing compassion and faith to believe.
And the Father is giving, providing and living
Unconditional love through you and me.
1. Let us love with His heart
And do our holy part.
When we reach out our hands,
Let the Father take command.
Refrain:
2. Let us love with His mind
And seek Him till we find.
When we speak any Word,
Let the Father’s voice be heard.
Refrain:
3. Let us love with His soul,
Eternal, pure and whole.
When we fill someone’s need,
Let it be the Father’s deed.
Refrain:
I recognize that God is the creator and father of all. Made in his image, I am a child of light, love, and peace. God is perfect, and I am a child of perfection.
I meditate daily, bringing my awareness to the truth that in the mind of God, the father and I are already one. Only in the personal ego am I alone, limited, lacking, and separate from God. By giving up my personal ego to the father within me, all sense of isolation disappears.
My consciousness is transformed by the indwelling Power and Presence of God. In this state of Christ mind, my life expresses the perfect Will of my Father who sent me. I pray as Christ taught: Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
As above, so below. And in His grace I am perfect, even as my father in heaven is perfect. For He is the only true power, source, and presence in my life. Of myself, I am nothing.
I give thanks that I am a child of God, the father of all. And so it is. Amen.
What a bless-ed friendship
The Lord has given us!
Ev’ry day I thank Him
For this gift from above.
We have understanding,
And something we both know
Is that, whatever happens,
We will always have love.
The Lord has given some gifts
That one can see and hear.
But friendship is a gift, too,
That we should all hold dear.
Thus, when you’re feeling lonely
And think that no one cares,
Remember our great friendship:
It will always be there.
—
From my only creative writing class ever, a high school English class I enjoyed very much. Thank you, Mrs. L.
If you received this post by email, click the URL to hear this song.
I wrote this song when I was 17, after breaking up with my first boyfriend. Years later, after a marriage and divorce and soon to re-marry, I realize the profound truth in this song. Just because a relationship ends, doesn’t mean it was a failure, or that it was all bad. Good things can come out of the very worst circumstances and the most difficult times, just like the Phoenix rising from the ashes or the beautiful lotus blossom growing in the mud.
I pray that you, too, have learned from previous relationships, and that you carry those positive things into your next one!
For spiritual support with this or anything else, send me a confidential
prayer request.
1. I loved you once and thought you were the one,
But time proved otherwise, you see.
And when we parted, I thought I was done.
And yet I came away with things.
And
Refrain:
2. From you I learned to always think of things
Before I go and make mistakes.
You taught me patience and what true love is,
And that is why I’m here to say
That
Refrain: (2x)
Oh I am grateful for our time of love.
Refrain:
With the things I learned from loving you,
I can make another’s dream come true.
With the things I learned from loving you,
I know I’ll be better off.
With the things I learned from loving you,
I can make another’s dream come true.
And so I’m grateful for our time of love.
