"In any situation of fear, anger, sadness, or conflict, it is helpful to ask, 'Which gift can best help me now?' Personally, I'm often reminded to start with hope. When I remember to trust in the goodness of life, I am led to experience yet another gift, then another, and soon the situation is transformed.
Use any one of your gifts and experience the transformation."
~ from The Twelve Gifts in Marriage Afterword
I wrote the above in 2005 as The Twelve Gifts in Marriage went into publication.
Hope has long been a gift I greatly value. In fact, I remember writing two poems about hope in my childhood.
While reverence is the gift I feel we most need to cultivate in our culture now, hope remains the leading stepping stone for me as I make my way from any "trouble" toward a transformation.
Which, if any, of the 12 gifts seems most helpful
to you now?
Have you noticed that when you turn from a heavy emotion toward any one of the lighter ones, that you find yourself experiencing several of them?
Plato said something to the effect that these qualities all keep company with one another, like friends, and when we choose to be with one of them, we find ourselves with the whole gang of them.
Let's think of The Twelve Gifts as good friends today,
the kind of true friends that will always be there for us and help us to be our best. They are always ready to welcome us too.
With gratitude for hope and friendship,
Charlene
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