The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. <> Isaiah<>
.
After seeing the painting, a friend asked: "Why a tiger?" (BTW the painting is of a leopard.) He thought I knew a secret. I said, "It is not really a secret and not a secret to you as you are kind to all creatures, including a tiger" __ at least in thought__we should never be intimidated by the tiger, or by the tiger roaming in mortal mind... but let kindness make us feel the sphere of belonging where we appreciate all of God's creation, yes -- always alert to false thinkings manipulation and thus fear, but kind in heart to rise above it__it gives peace to us, and to all near and far, even brings calm to a tiger.
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| Eva-Maria |
When a man boasted, “I am wise, for I have conversed with many wise men,” Epictetus said, “And I with many rich men, but I am not rich.”
But
when I am kind and say I thus have been blessed with many kind friends, and
that these friendships have taught me the power of kindness -- then friendship
plus kindness become a prayer. <>Eva-Maria
Miguel De Cervantes Saavedra's masterpiece Don
Quixote
is the story of a good-hearted but fumbling and impoverished nobleman who
imagines himself to be the ideal knight. In the end, Quixote dies, but the
lessons of his kindness remain as a legacy for his peasant sidekick, Sancho
Panza.
Kindness is at the center of the fellowship between these two
friends. They consistently follow a simple rule: They must listen and try to
understand each another. They may see things differently, but the more they
disagree, the more considerate they are. We'd all like to be treated kindly
notwithstanding our human flaws. We need to treat each other the same way. A
simple act of kindness has the effect of calming turmoil of all kinds, and of
helping everyone to be more receptive to the presence of divine Love.
Across the street from where I live is a little park. One
evening the air was pierced by a voice that came from a man who was apparently
disturbed by something, and who continued to rant for hours. Around 11 o' clock
that evening, a neighbor went to see how he could help, and saw the man sitting
on a bench. Just then, an elderly man with a cane approached. My neighbor felt
concerned that the elderly man was placing himself in some danger. As he was
thinking about what to do, the elderly man calmly seated himself next to the
raving man. Shortly thereafter, all was quiet. I don't know whether a word was
spoken, but the man must have felt the calm presence of that kind man.
Attentive kindness has a way of making us feel secure, because there is love in
kindness.
Although Little Acts of kindness can appear insignificant, they
are nevertheless potent, because they have their source in God. They offer
opportunities to understand the spiritual nature of God and man. God is Love.
Thus you and I, as Love's sons and daughters, have a natural capacity to be
kind. And, in turn, we have His promise: "The mountains shall not depart,
and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee."1 We might say that
God's kindness is a kind of giving of Himself to His creation.
Jesus proved how kindness could be put into action. His
spiritual nature found expression in his humanity, exemplified by his
preaching, teaching, and healing. For example, as a guest at the house of his
disciple Peter, Jesus gently attended to Peter's feverish mother-in-law and
healed her.2 And how apparent his
kindness was in his concern for a multitude of hungry people! He fed them all.3 Or, think about his
immeasurable kindness toward sinners: "Rejoice with me; for I have found
my sheep which was lost."4
Hillel, who was a leading teacher in Jerusalem during the late
first century B.C., taught that kindness is the essence of all the
Commandments. He taught, "What is hateful to you, do not unto your
neighbor." Though lofty, this standard is possible to achieve, and
essential to our progress. The kindness we impart carries its own authority. It
helps to reduce fear, violence, and all other types of human suffering.
During the time I was writing this article, I had a chance to
observe how persuasive the healing presence of kindness is. I was running an
errand. I became distracted and concerned by some children crying nearby, so I
didn't see a step on the sidewalk coming up. I took a hard fall. The pain was
sharp. A young man came running toward me and asked, "Are you all
right?" His thoughtful concern and the words "all right" stood
out to me. I thanked him and got up.
My clothes were badly torn, and I was uncomfortable. But I was
so struck by the boy's kindness, and the way this beautiful quality was God's
way of caring for me, that I immediately understood that my love for the
children couldn't produce pain, even if I had missed a step.
I thought about God's benign creation. This helped me to become
more kind toward myself and more thankful to my God. This quote from the Bible
was my prayer: "I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall
continually be in my mouth."5 Soon, all the pain
disappeared. I finished the errand, and once I arrived home, I cleaned the
blood from my legs and changed my clothes. And a few hours later the wounds
were healed.
Times such as these are almost holy moments. When they occur, we
understand, deeply and beyond all doubt, that kindheartedness is a warm, inner
opening to our spiritual relation to God, and to each other.
1 Isa. 54:10.↑
2 See Matt. 8:14–15
.↑
3 Mark 8:1–9 .↑
4 See Luke 15:1–6.↑
When kindness is a prayer
Eva-Maria Hogrefe
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| Ken<> a dear friend<> who loves all creatures big and small ___and those in between |
 |
Somewhere along the way from Kaladi to Kottayam one makes a left turn in the picturesque hills and comes across......this! <>Ashok ... a dear friend<>
|
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| flowers received from a friend! |
Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born
until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born..
― Anaïs Nin
Should I not first
be my own best Friend?
And if I can, then I can be a good and trusted friend to
those who turn to me for friendship, companionship, and comforting love!
--Eva-Maria
 |
| Eva-Maria |
Light from the sun--
Not orange, not white
Winter roses
--Vincent
Hogrefe
 |
| bird and cat by Charlotte<> a dear friend<> |
A good neighbour is a priceless treasure.
- Unknown
 |
| all flower pictures are by E-M |
<><><><><>
Eva-Maria with family and friends<>
and
still loves you.
 |
| small painting by Eva-Maria |
Clouds
parsimonious of rain, that swing in the sky with dumb thunderbolts, are seen
and forgotten in the same hour; while those with a mighty rush, which waken the
stagnant waters and solicit every root and every leaf with the treasures of
rain, ask no praising. Remember,
thou canst be brought into no condition, be it ever so severe, where Love has
not been before thee and where its tender lesson is not awaiting thee. Therefore despair not nor murmur, for
that which seeketh to save, to heal, and to deliver, will guide thee, if thou
seeketh this guidance.
--Mary Baker Eddy
 |
| all paintings by E-M |
How many
slams in an old screen door?
Depends
how loud you shut it.
How many
slices in a loave of bread?
Depends
how thin you cut it.
How much
good inside a day?
Depends
how good you live 'em.
How much
love inside a friend?
Depends
how much you give 'em.”
It is not a lack of love,
but a lack of friendship
that makes unhappy marriages.
Do I not destroy my
enemies
when I make them my
friends?
― Abraham Lincoln
The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, not the
kindly smile,
nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration
that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is
willing to trust you with a friendship.
Don’t grief … you’re not alone!
Take the
walls down…
For ye were
sometimes darkness, but now
are ye light in the lord: walk as children of
light:
(For the fruit of the Spirit is in goodness and righteousness and
truth;)
Proving what
is acceptable unto the Lord.
--Scriptures, Ephesians 5:8-10
Don’t walk in front of me, I may not
follow.
Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead.
Just walk beside me and be my friend
- Albert Camus
It is wrong
to think that love comes from long companionship
and persevering courtship.
Love is the offspring of spiritual
affinity and unless that affinity is
created in a moment, it
will not be created for years or even generations.
~ Khalil Gibran
One
word frees us of all the weight and pain of life:
That
word is love. ~ Sophocles
The
only way to have a friend is to be one.
My love to each one of you, dear friends!<>Eva-Maria
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