Quotes - Inspired Living SA

The Beauty of Nature

An extract from an essay by Thomas Browne:

Of God in Nature by Thomas Browne (1605-1682)

“There is no deformity but in monstrosity; wherein, notwithstanding, there is a kind of beauty; nature so ingeniously contriving the irregular part, as they become sometimes more remarkable than the principal fabrick. To speak yet more narrowly, there was never any thing ugly or misshapen, but the chaos; wherein, notwithstanding, to speak strictly, there was no deformity, because no form; nor was it yet impregnant by the voice of God. Now nature is not at variance with art, nor art with nature; they being both the servants of his providence. Art is the perfection of nature. Were the world now as it was the sixth day, there was yet a chaos. Nature hath made one world, and art another. In brief, all things are artificial; for nature is the art of God.”

Family, Parenting

Self-worth

Definition: “Belief in self. Confidence in personal value and worth as an individual person”

“Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible.” ~Claude Bissell

I have been waiting around most of my life hoping that someone would grant me the opportunity to speak up and be heard. Until I realised that no one was going to “grant” me anything, if I wanted to be heard I would have to make my own opportunities.

I think that is why it took me so long to actually publish my blog, even thought I had written posts, I was not ready to share it with anyone. It all comes down to a healthy amount of self-confidence, believing in yourself and facing your fear of failure.

I am certain that even the most successful people have had moments of doubt, some time in their lives. It is all about overcoming the doubt and stepping outside of your comfort zone.

So why we are still faced with this issue in a world besieged with every form of self-help therapy known to man? There are so many people out there trying to teach us how to cope with failure and rejection: life coaches, motivational speakers etc. Yet we still find more and more people suffering in silence. Is it possible that we are too afraid to face our fears and admitting to a lack of confidence, would feel like failure in itself.

I believe that we are born with a sense of self – worth and as we grow, outside influences shape and mould this sense of self-worth. Where do we obtain our sense of worth from and how do these external influences affect us? Our parents play a very instrumental part in shaping our self-worth. Friends, teachers, media all play a part in how we perceive and value ourselves.

As parents we have the greatest opportunity to instil self- worth in our children by teaching them self-respect and confidence in their own abilities. I think it is vital that we do not allow the ‘world’ to dictate where our children draw their self-image from, and to not allow our children to fashion their behaviour on the likes of teenage celebrities. This is a very dangerous practice which in my opinion unravels all the principles and beliefs we impart to our children. Simply showing our children that they are loved and accepted will go a long way to shaping a healthy sense of self.

We need to believe that we were all made for a purpose and that we need to love and accept ourselves before anyone else can. This verse from the Bible says more than I can ever try and express:“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.Psalm 139 verse 14. We are “fearfully and wonderfully” created, this is our reality and no matter what life hands us, we are unique and amazing. Our contribution to the world no matter how big or small is significant.

What all this has made me realise, is that it is important, that I live life for me and not for others.

My husband – “the poet” wrote this wonderful poem which I would like to share with you:

To Live – by Grant Rossiter

If this day you can hope and pray

If this day you can find your way

If this day come what may

You can give life you’re very best shot

Then I know someday, you’ll look back and say

‘What a journey, I’ve accomplished a lot’

Along the way you might find you stray

Along the way working night and day

Along the way ‘How?’ you might say

If you can keep on no matter your lot

Then I know one day, you’ll look up and say

‘Thank you for all that I’ve got’

“The promises of this world are, for the most part, vain phantoms; and to confide in one’s self, and become something of worth and value is the best and safest course.” ~Michelangelo

Quotes

Hope

OPE

“Hope is the belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one’s life.”

My husband played me a music video on you tube the other night, of Lady Antebellum song; “Hello World”, the video and lyrics had me in tears! Not that it takes much for me to cry but they really get the message across in this song. I thought I would include an excerpt from the song:

“Well, hello world, how you been?

Good to see you, my old friend

Sometimes I feel cold as steel

Broken like I’m never gonna to heal

I see a little light, a little grace, a little faith unfurl”

I guess that for many people this is how we lead our lives, feeling “cold as Steel”, whether it be financial circumstances, health issues, relationship problem, we all have some baggage. This is when we need to keep the hope alive, no matter how hopeless it all seems. It is trying to look beyond your circumstances and knowing that there is a plan and a purpose for your life.

To quote a verse from the bible that high lights what faith is; “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Heb 11:1. Faith is the substance of what we hope for and without hope there can be no substance to our existence. Therefore even though you do not know the outcome or understand the circumstances, if you have faith and hold on to “Hope”, you can come out the other side stronger.

“Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark.” ~George Iles

Quotes

Today's Quote

The Most difficult thing is making a difference in the world today, just remember that you need to believe in yourself before anyone else will!

“If you cannot be a poet,

be the poem.”

~David Carradine

Family, Mothers, Quotes

Mothers Day

What it means to be a Mother/ Mom
Upon deciding to write a Mother’s Day blog I thought it would be fun to ask my friends and family to give me their description or definition of a mother. Thank you to those of you who contributed. Here is what they had to say:

From Elaine Smith
“God created Mothers to remind every generation of their valuable input ….. A good mother provides her children so much more than a happy home. She teaches them how to feed their souls and gives them a spiritual foundation on which to build their life. She cares about how her child will face the world. A mother is hardheaded about discipline and soft-hearted about everything else. She motivates her children and praises them constantly to help them reach their full potential. She epitomizes strength, dignity and wisdom.”

From Kirsten Rossiter

“Nurturer, the most powerful Christ-like figure to our children… living out His Love, His Presence, His Kindness, His Goodness, His Patience… His Character. ‘ Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.’ Prov 22:6. The language of our actions will train them more than the language of our tongue. “

From Lisa Mouton

“For me mother = unconditional love”

From Amanda Wiemers

“On good days I think being a mum means “a privilege” and an undeserved one. On bad days I think it’s a privilege too, but with a great dollop of patience you never knew you had thrown in too.”

From Ian Rossiter

“For me a mother represents love wisdom, safety and strength. Mom has always been there to give advice and comfort. She has spent many an hour praying for each of us. God’s hands of blessing and protection have been on all of our lives because she forged the way first.”

From Shelley Nell

“Being a mother for me is the following:
– simply the best and worst job in the world
– teaching your child and then days, weeks and sometimes years later seeing that teaching manifesting itself in the most amazing ways
– testing your worst character traits (for me it is a lack of patience) every single day
– letting your child go is the hardest – whether it is something as small as a play date on their own, letting them climb that tall tree to letting them go to a rugby match on their own or away for a holiday without you.
– Nothing else on earth can bring you such immeasurable joy as seeing your child succeed at something they are good at.
– being a mom allows you to celebrate the small victories in life – learning to walk, ride a bike, swim a length underwater etc.
– it also allows me to be ‘silly’ with my boys and enjoy things like rollercoaster rides, building sandcastles etc. without people looking at you funny.
– it is also looking at things which you thought were so funny or cool as a child/ teenager and realising they were bloody annoying for the adults concerned.
– realising how much your parents sacrificed for you”

From Grant Rossiter

“Unconditional love, self-sacrifice and always there to help pick up the pieces. The go-to person when things just don’t seem to make sense and you just need to talk it through. Thanks mom for all the endless hours of listening and input into our lives.”

For me being a Mother has truly been the most amazing, yet challenging experience I have had in my life. It has made me grow mentally and spiritually in ways I never knew possible. I have realised that motherhood is not what I expected or predicted and that I would be willing to give up the world for the love and happiness of my children.

Today I would like to thank all those Mothers or Mother Figures all over the world that are so important to us. They are the basis of society and responsible for so much growth and inspiration the world over. So if we do not say it enough every day, we love you and appreciate all you are and do.

I have written this poem in celebration of motherhood and I dedicate it to my Mom who is no longer with us…

Just One Wish – by Fiona Rossiter

If I had just one wish

What would it be?

Would I wish for riches?

Something I could see.

If I had just one wish

What will I do?

Use it on something just for me.

If I had just one wish

It would be for one more day spent just with you

To tell you all the things I never did

To laugh and cry

To feel your breath upon my face

To see the pride in your eyes

To thank you for being my mom

If I had just one wish

It would be for my girls to meet you

For them to see just how special a mother can be

To know the gran they never met

To ask you all the questions they now ask me

If I had just one wish

It would be for you to know

Just how special you are to me

To say I miss you and love you so much

I would thank you for always being there for me…..

For being all a Mother could ever be.

Quotes:

“I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.” ~Abraham Lincoln

“Mother’s love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved.” ~Erich Fromm

“God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers.” ~Jewish Proverb

Wishing all moms a wonderful Mothers Day!