Thank you!

August 22, 2015 Sharon Jacobson

So I was sitting here this morning about all I have been through in my life and I know that I have made it here because of my personal relationship with you. It is through you and my relationship with you that I have come to experience an intimacy that I have not been able to experience with a human person, not even Zoe, and I know you sent her into my life.

I think about all the times I came close to dying and you would whisper in my ears, all is well my daughter and then you brought me through. I think about all the times I wondered how I was going to make it through the summer financially and you always provided for me one way or the other. I think about all the times I doubted if I was doing what you wanted and needed me to do in my life and you would send someone to say thank you. I think about the times I had those moments of doubt as to whether I could do something or not and you would say, come Sarah Bella, let’s do this.

How I Express My Devotion

June 26, 2015 Sharon Jacobson

So I have been thinking this month about devotion and what I am devoted to and how I express my devotion. Recently, someone asked me how I can express my devotion without being a part of a formal worship community. I smiled as I realized that for me, I am part of a formal worship community. I gather each day with my readers around the world in our own way and in our own time and we meditate on a thought you have led me to each day. Then I give thinks for at least five things that have happened or I have become aware of in the last 24 hours. Sometimes I feel like there are more than five, but I always feel as if I am supposed to stop at five for some reason. Maybe that is because the number 5 is about your grace and goodness. I remember reading once that the Ten Commandments are really two sets of five commandments. The first five have to do with our treatment and relationship with you and the last five have to do with our relationship with others.

The Thanks Continue

April 10, 2015 Sharon Jacobson

Last week I wrote a letter to my Mom thanking her for being one of my spiritual and moral mentors. She and my Bubby are the first two, which came to my mind. As I have thought about all the spiritual and moral mentors in my life I have come to realize that while some of them were people I knew, others were people I have never met. Some of my teachers have been people who served as examples of how I did not want to be because I saw the harm they inflicted on others. Yet I need to give thanks to them as well, although I will not mention them by name as the lessons they taught me were decades ago and I would not want them to be judged, by this one incident.

This reminds me that Sister Helen Prejean, one of those women I have never met, taught me a valuable lesson.

Thank you Mom!

April 4, 2015 Sharon Jacobson

Last night I was watching a video Zoe had found about gratitude and happiness. In the video, people wrote letters to someone they were grateful for in their lives. Then they were asked to call that person and read them the letter if they could. This morning I woke up thinking about my mom. I am so grateful for all she taught me during her time here on earth. One of the things she taught me about was how to be compassionate towards others. Mom, I hope that you can read these words as I put them out into the Universe, that place where we are of one (uni) verse. That place where we are one with each other. I love you. If you were here and I had to read this to you, I would probably go through about three boxes of tissues.

Being in your Presence

March 29, 2015 Sharon Jacobson

Dear God,

I have been sitting here the last few days thinking about a question somebody asked me about what my spiritual rituals are like. What do I do to stay connected, focused, and balanced? As I have been thinking about this, I realized there were multiple ways for me to answer this question. On the one hand, you are one of the first things I think about every morning. I get up, go to the bathroom, and come to the computer, think about our theme for the month and post a thought to give others and myself something to think about. Then I open my gratitude journal and write down five things I am grateful for in my life. Most days I also try to write down why I also appreciate that which I just gave thanks for in my life. Then I write one thing that is inspiring me each day. Finally, I think about what I want to manifest in my life that day. That is one way for me to talk about what I do to stay connected with you.

However, that is more about what I do, and while it is a part of what keeps me feeling like I am in your presence, there is so much more to it than that.

Just say thank you!

July 18, 2014 Sharon Jacobson

So today, I just want to thank my Bubby for teaching me how to seek out the gratitude in all situations. This message has been hitting home for me repeatedly this week. Each day, as you know, I start off the day with five things I am grateful for that day and then before going to be tell Zoe one thing about her I am grateful for or one thing she did for which I give thanks. My Bubby used to tell me that if I could see the positive in any situation, then I am going to be okay. Just say thank you for the gift, she would say. Hmm, I wonder if she said the same thing to Meister Eckhart, or if at least spirit conveyed those same words to him. He once said something similar. He said, “if the only prayer you said in your whole life was “thank you,“ that would suffice.” At the end of each Oneness Blessing gathering, we take a moment to say, “I am blessed, and full of gratitude. Today, my affirmation was “my life is blessed, and I am so grateful.”

My Whale Story

May 2, 2014 Sharon Jacobson

This morning I awoke to a picture and a story a friend has posted on Facebook of a humpback whale. This is what it said:

A female humpback whale had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, a line tugging in her mouth.
This is her story of giving gratitude.

Thank you for loving me

February 22, 2014 Sharon Jacobson

Every morning one of the first things I do is to take time to thank you for at least five things I have been blessed with in my life. Sometimes they are not things in my life, but the absence of things in my life. When I hear of people who are struggling with and dying from addictions to drugs, or in abusive relationships, or homeless, and the list goes on, I am reminded to give thanks for all that I have not or am not experiencing in my life at this time.

One of the things I am eternally grateful for is that you love me unconditionally. You know my heart, and all the thoughts that float through my mind and you still love me unconditionally. You have loved me even when I have not always loved myself.

The Simple Questions

January 10, 2014 Sharon Jacobson

Sometimes the simple questions provoke the deepest of thinking. I was at the funeral for Zoe’s Aunt Neeny this past week and had a chance to talk to one of her family members (well actually the husband of her cousin). We have had virtually no chance to talk at all the last 8 years, so I think what happened between us was powerful for both of us. It all started with a comment about our favorite television channels (foodnetwork and the cooking channel). This led to me talking about The Zenful Kitchen and to a broader discussion of faith and spirituality. He seemed interested in knowing more about Inspiritual and I am ALWAYS willing to share the work we are doing here. I guess it is my form of evangelism – lol.

What I appreciate

December 8, 2012 Sharon Jacobson

Most of this week, I have been thinking about my recent blog about the distinction between gratitude and appreciation. “Melody Beattie said, “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Gratitude is the base from which we can gain a greater appreciation of life and its offerings. Appreciation involves awareness and mindfulness. Our ability to appreciate all of what life is revealing to us is dependent on our being present, aware, and actively reflecting on why we are grateful for what we are. It is through our awareness that our appreciation of that which we are grateful grows and blossoms.”

“I am here to enjoy life to its fullest!”

July 14, 2012 Sharon Jacobson

I have been thinking about my relationship with my body for a while now, as it has not always been the healthiest of relationships. Some teachers in my life have tried to tell me my body is a prison which limits my spirit. Others have taught me my body is the love of my life. What I know is that my body is what it is at any moment of my existence and it is what houses my spirit which lives within it. Whether it is a panacea or a prison, I have come to this place where I must appreciate and enjoy it for what it is while my spirit is in it.

Using my Bubby wisdom

October 26, 2011 Sharon Jacobson

As I lay in bed this morning, feeling Zoë’s arms wrapped around me, feeling the warmth of her breath on my neck and the gentle sound of her snoring, my heart just overflowed with love. I didn’t want to get out of bed, but I did have to go to the bathroom. One of these days, we will figure out how to be able to do both things at one time. Until then, I guess I will have to do with interrupting those special moments. It is not that her touch, breathing or snoring is any different then it has been for the last 10 years, it just has taken on a completely new meaning. My Bubby, Yiddish for grandmother, used to tell me when you can see the good in a bad situation then you know you are going to be ok. I am not going to lie to myself or anybody else.

And It Rang Again

August 15, 2011 Sharon Jacobson

I am at this place in my life, where I have a love hate relationship with the phone. It keeps us in touch with people and for that I am grateful. It allows me to talk to my friends, family members, and others. However, lately it has also been the vehicle through which we have received challenging news. August 5th, Zoe got a call telling her that she had breast cancer. This morning, August 15th, she got a call letting her know she needs another biopsy because they found a lump in her right breast as well. In the midst of this all, I am consciously remaining grateful. I have had those moments when I find the tears rolling down my face and of course that means I have to blow my nose 17 times :(, however, it is the best I can do at this moment.

Week 8, Day 4 – Gratitude

February 5, 2011 Sharon Jacobson

Writing a list of nouns for three minutes was harder then I thought. I found myself going room by room in compiling my list which included the following: Cat, Dog, Fish, Mother, Father, Sister, Brother,, Lover, Wife, Teacher, Writer, Spiritual Companion, Computer, Books, Shell, Bed, Desk, Kitchen, Food, Music, Glasses, Soda, Plants, Catnip, Treats, Schedule, Course, Paper, Printer, Keyboard, Mouse, Walker, Wheelchair, Bed, Cover, Pillow, Hamper, Toilet, Shower, Sink, Sofa, Futon, Loveseat, Desk, Bookcase, Lamps, Curtains, Table, Chairs, Refrigerator, Stove, Dishwasher, Cabinets, Towels, Toothbrush, Medication, Juice container, Pots, Pans, Blender, Toaster, Waffle iron, and Food processor. As I look at this list, I realize how much I have to be grateful for. First and foremost, I am grateful for my wife. I tell her that all the time, but I truly am grateful for her.

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