C.G.Ayling

Tag: blessings

  • on Doing Well

    There is so much happiness to be found through the presence of our children.  I’m a fortunate man to have been been blessed with four such sources of wonder.

    Blessed…

    Blessed is such a difficult concept to comprehend.  If we are blessed, who are we blessed by?  Life is a gift.  I know that beyond any doubt, however I have no knowledge as to its source.  Life isn’t a gift from some all powerful entity, I know that as well – for many reasons I won’t raise now as this post isn’t about dogma.  {Perhaps another time, or perhaps I’ve already touched on it elsewhere in my posted thoughts.}

    So, if we aren’t blessed by some divine entity, then by what are we blessed?

    By our children…

    They are each unique.  They are each wonderful.  They are each frustrating in how they are capable of so much more than their efforts or their insecurities indicate.  Some children take a lot longer to realize how their own actions shape them for the future.  As their parents it is very difficult not to fall into the traps set by a system in which the social hierarchy is based on monetary wealth and inherited acclaim.

    We desperately want our children to do well, but in the context of current times doing well doesn’t mean “do good things“, it means “make a lot of money“.  What a sad state of affairs that two of the most prevalent meanings of “do well” are so mutually exclusive.

    I hope your children do well, by themselves and also by others.  I hope they seek and find happiness, and in their quest they bring happiness to others.  I hope they experience compassion, and freely grant it to others.  I hope they feel your love, and learn to love well.

    After all, aren’t happiness, compassion and love the source of themselves?

    Here’s a final chain of thought to take away.  This isn’t a chain to bind, it is a chain to help set you free.

    Our children are the only things we truly create, for without us they could not be.  Our most profound blessings are our children.  We create our own blessings.

  • How Measure You Success?

    ~ How Measure You Success? ~
    ~
    By the count of downy feathers
    with which you line your nest.
    By the plushness of the pillows,
    on which you lay your breast.
    ~
    By the count of coins,
    stashed in your hidden chests.
    By servants you train to pander,
    to your most trivial behest.
    ~
    By the count of people,
    you think you have impressed.
    By the loyalties,
    you so sorely stress.
    ~
    By the count of homes you hold,
    yet in which you never rest.
    By the adversaries you’ve defeated,
    and then have laid to rest.
    ~
    By the count of lovely women,
    who you’ve managed to undress.
    By the tender delicacies,
    that you so voraciously ingest.
    ~
    By the count of supposed friendships,
    put to unnecessary tests.
    By levels of anguish imparted,
    and your enemies’ distress.
    ~
    By trivial counts of truly irrelevant things,
    you’re certain you possess.
    By other people’s woe,
    and pleasures purely of the flesh.
    ~
    How measure I success,
    by the living beings,
    with whose love I have been blessed.
    ~

    P.S. Since it holds very powerful religious overtones to which I do not subscribe, I didn’t particularly like the choice of the word “blessed” to end this piece. However, my intent is to condense a couple of thoughts into a single word and it does seem to fit. Thoughts like… joy granted, both given and received, and any form of aid in even the most rudimentary way. Are these not real blessings that even the most materially impoverished can impart and accept? Share blessings without expectation of gain, and receive them gladly with an open heart. Always be generous with your love.

    {If you enjoyed this then look around, you’ll find [Samples] to read, and perhaps even some pieces that might be considered poetic.}