THE GRATITUDE OF QUIETUDE

Being thankful for peaceful quiet moments, thankful for friends I can talk with, email and send greetings cards, quiet still moments, as still and quiet as a Chapel that contains a Torah scroll behind Ark cabinet doors, as still as being at a pond where there is little movement in the water, as quiet as sitting next to a flower bud and watching a bee settle on it to make honey. To be in a quiet Sanctuary, just me and G-d, to walk down the street on a quiet day when there is little automobile traffic, to sing in a hum, and to have a song in my heart that repeats and calms the body and mind.

To make all words into mantras and to have a constant meditation whether I am sitting or standing. To look out a window at treetops and to see large bird nests where baby chicks are fed and kept warm in feathers.

To not hear noise, to have no noise anywhere, to walk as on a velvet carpet, no shoes squeaking and no heels pounding.

To watch a sunset out my window, seeing the sky get redder and redder, then purple and like at a theatrical play, a curtain as a blanket of darkness overcomes everything I see, and a blackness of quiet peace closes my eyes to dream about having another peaceful day.

TO EAT KOSHER TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT

Foods. Using foods to nourish, eating spiritual kosher foods, dietician-approved foods, foods that taste good, foods that look good, visually pleasing, colorful foods, foods cooked by a chef, a trained schooled chef and dishes cleaned in hot dish water, a machine to take many plates, plates separated by  meat and milk, kosher eating, kosher plates and kosher silverware. Serviced food on trays, a waitress who carries them, foods picked out as healthy foods, foods that she services me with a smile on her face. Always getting a "thank you."

Others not eating, scrimping and saving, eating foods that have no taste, money buys good foods, not have the money to buy good foods. Eating pork because it is cheap, disobeying the Mishnah and eating less and less. Dropping weight and being small. Depression or sadness setting in and not having a healthy appetite, no one to care what you eat, no one to serve you, you must instead service others.

Having a motive and reason for being--to feed the world. So no one goes hungry, kosher foods for everyone on Earth, foods that look and taste good for everyone. Food that spiritually elevates the soul in the body. Foods that are not argued over, foods that are in abundance, fresh foods, lean kosher meats, cooked vegetables straight from one's garden, a garden that grows all year long, no hunger during the winter, jarred foods, picked and frozen, stored foods to eat all year round.

To feed oneself, and to feed another, to eat lavishly, to eat to satisfy hunger,  to eat as a gift to G-d. To pray the Before and After Meals Blessings, to laugh and be joyous after you eat and to be thankful to G-d that you are not starving. To be glad for another to see them eating, to be thankful to G-d that there are others who are eating good foods too. Not to covet the foods on another's plate. To be happy with your lot. To eat kosher to your heart's content.

A LOVE THAT IS ETERNAL

Computer access, a miracle! Internet connectivity, a time to say hello to someone who lives miles away, a chat to type  words to someone, to be in the same sphere, a chance to use writing skills, researching information, expressing one's views in a freedom of speech on a blog, being a blogger.

Writing because no one is talking, talking is chit chat, useless words and useless speech, unheard words. No voice inflection sounds to cause someone pain as aggressive conversing, all words are gentle as gentle as its print type, soft type, sort words, the same words but with a twist of intellectualism, no anger expressed, tolerance everywhere, freedom of the press.

Texting by phone, fingers agile and accomplished, saying something with words of loving-kindness, no one stabbing another with a quick word of insult, no chance to lie, telling someone they are a "sweetie" but not placating, not using someone for your own gain, understanding why someone loves you. As a child loves his mother, and as a mother loves her child, or at least she can make the attempt.

Having children so there will be someone to love you. G-d opens the womb of a woman who was not loved when she was a child by her parents, so that there will be her children to love her in her old age.

Not having children to be loved, but instead to love them. Not a selfish endeavor, not expecting your children to love you in a one-way-street.

Showing unconditional love and loving everyone equally.

Being loved by G-d Himself. Having love that follows you everywhere, as He follows you everywhere, love from G-d being stronger than a love from a parent to a child or child to a parent. A love that is eternal.  

THE MIRACLE OF A SHINING KNIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

The miracle of his kind words, the miracle of his smile, a mile wide enough to attract the honeybees to make sweet honey dripping from one's mouth, a smile of sincerity, awesomeness, greatness, his linage shines with purity, he notices all good things, he compliments when he sees goodness, he reveres others' accomplishments, he tries to encourage, not discourage, his goodness abounds, he is gentle like a teddy bear, his honesty shines forth like a light from his face after being with G-d, seeing G-d's righteousness, he comments to show love, his approval is genuine, he wants love to be everywhere, his heart sings the Song of Songs, gently but firmly he honors me, honors all good things, his kindness made me feel good, a true heart, a niceness, a bandage over a wound, a man who loves, a man will live on to love again.

WHEN JACOB KISSED ESAU

The miracle of getting a box of gifts that contained every single thing you ever wanted and ever needed. Lotions and soaps that smell good, candy of chocolate that tastes good, clothes that decorate and clothes that fit right and feel good. Gifts for Chanukah with a Chanukah card included, a menorah on its cover that is bright enough to lighten the darkest winter day and night.

Having a love of the gifts, a feeling to protect them as children, possessions that cause proud ownership, thanking G-d for His generosity and the generosity of the gift-giver.

Having a reason to sing out loud, rejoicing as gifts are exchanged, not comparing my gifts to his, being satisfied with every item and throwing competition out the window, not coveting someone else's grass as greener than mine.

So incredibly thankful for material items that bring joy. Having things one needs as well as things one desires. Having everything and not wanting or needing anymore. Being happy with the quantity as well as quality. Wondering how I got so lucky.

Wondering how all my needs became satisfied with just one box of gifts. Chanukah gifts. Gifts that mean everything to me, gifts that changed my world. A droopy downward curvature of the mouth spreading into a upwards growing grin, and then a big toothy smile!

Jacob showered his brother Esau with gifts, then Esau stopped his armies from attacking Jacob, and the two brothers kissed when they saw each other, happy, and loving, a unity of a family.

SEEING SPARKS OF YELLOW WITH FIERY OPEN EYES

The miracle of fiery eyes, passionate thoughts and significant philosophies from an imagination that lives on and never quits, the fire never burns out, it smolders, but gets relighted on every holy day, holiday, to feel G-d's strength and almightiness, His commitment to do goodness, to overcome evil with righteousness, His strength as reflected like Chanukah candle lights from the pupil and retina of a healthy eye, burning passionately as one stares at a miracle. A miracle coming true. A desire that one works for becoming a reality, a lifelong commitment that becomes true with continued labor. A retirement spent resting and also working, after seeing the fruition of one's dreams materialize.

Burning eyes that see the unseen, having wonderment in all facets of life wondering when and where one will see the next miracle.

Sunrays shining brilliantly like genius out of the eyeball sockets, guided to truths as G-d sees them, and knowing what not to look at, which sites to avoid, what sites will cause a flushing of the burning eye, a site that one need not observe, a site that colors the lightness with darkness, a site to turn one's eyes away from, to observe the beautiful as it comes your way.

To see the color yellow in all things brightly burning like a flame, like a sunray, a color that turns doom and gloom into happiness. To rejoice in this yellow-ish mood after eating and while thanking the Almighty G-d for giving us colors.

THE MIRACLE OF AN AFTERNOON CAT NAP

Curling up like a kitty, a cat nap, remember to always let sleeping dogs lie, sleepy and snoozy, catching some shut eye.

Working one's muscles hard in the morning, stretching and running, leaping and jumping, waking up with a sunrise, seeing red and pink in the sky.

Doing yoga in a classroom, watching it on TV.

Walking with pride, chin up, confidence, shoulders back, huffed up chest, streaking forward like a leopard after prey.

Climbing trees, building treehouses, sliding down chutes, chasing squirrels away from birdfeeders, hearing morning gulls screeching, watching them fly across the sky and dive down into lake water coming up with their breakfast: a fish out of water, a well fed bird.

Morning Glory in bloom, glorious mornings, waking up as the bird chirps a song of alarm into the air, always alert, always ready for an afternoon cat nap.

Falling into bed after a full morning, a well deserved sleep, a head on a pillow. Finally waking up again to an afternoon cup of tea.

Yes, this is my cup of tea!

THE MIRACLE OF A KOSHER MEAL

Foods that satisfy, foods that fill, foods that taste good, foods that are colorful and look beautiful as well as are tasty, foods that fulfill the Commandments in the Torah.

Foods that are kosher foods. Foods that are separated between meat and milk.

Foods that are crisp vegetables and fresh fruits, foods that have been drained of blood, foods from the front of the cow, foods that come from an animal that was blessed upon his death.

Foods that are free from impurities on a spiritual level. Foods that encourage ethical behavior, foods that when eaten elevate our spirit. Foods that are clean.

Meat of a cow that when slaughtered the cow felt no pain. Foods that when entering the body do not start a battle in your stomach.

Foods that teach us to be good and righteous. Foods that discourage arrogance and evil intentions. Foods that come with 613 Commandments to follow. Foods that when eaten cause us to remember G-d's Words as He spoke them to Moses, Miriam, and Aaron.

Foods that treat us kindly, foods that are honest, foods that feel good, foods that G-d has instructed us to eat.

Kosher foods. Foods we can love.

THE MIRACLE OF THE APPROACHING 4TH NIGHT OF CHANUKAH

Today on The 3rd Day of Chanukah, the weather temps are springtime-ish, and there is no snow, no ice, no stumbling on a frosty sidewalk, synagogues' Chanukah Dinner Parties are filled up not able to take on anymore participants due to overwhelming responses.

As each Xmas song sings to try to force people to buy, buy, buy, we can change the songs to songs about the baby Moses, and like a miracle in my life, the yellows get brighter all around me and the songs sound more beautiful! The light of the afternoon sunshine pours down warmer into my bedroom and toasts my body parts as I lay there in bed resting after a full Chanukah lunch.

Chairs without cushions become softer as the lights become brighter, computers seem faster than usual, and creative ideas are increasing like blessings are lighted as each Chanukah candle is lighted. Pure Cerulean blue flames shooting upwards like fireworks, blues and no reds, like the colors of the Israeli Flag, blues so pure that the blue waters could not be purer than these blue flames.

Hot fired nights, darkness disappearing, truth abounding, a true miracle has happened, a cup of oil that was meant to last for one night, lasted instead for 8. We have a true miracle, the Jews won the battle against the Assyrian Greeks with only one cup of oil to light our way, just a few Jews against thousands of hateful attacking Greeks, we won, we won, we will always win.

What we won is the truth of Torah to guide our lives, lives filled with miracles, and the unity of the family/community of Jews, supporting each other as landsmen, as comrades, as brothers and sisters, having The Promised Land of Israel as our eternal Homeland, we now are One, as in One G-d. Echad.