Inspirational Quotes, Compiled by CiBelle

Self Reflection

1. “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Gandhi

2. As the plant springs from and could not be without
the seed, so every act of a man springs from the
hidden thoughts and could not have appeared
without them. James Allen

3. As a man thinketh in his heart so is he. Proverbs 23:7

4. A man can be either a Buddha or a beast within
his own mind. The Book of Buddha

5. I’ve known countless people who were reservoirs
of learning yet never had a thought. Wilson Mizner

6. But the counselor, the Holy Spirits, whom the father
will send in my name he will teach all things. John 14:26

7. Liberty of thought is the life of the soul. Voltaire

8. A man who reforms himself has contributed his
full share towards the reformation
of his neighbor. Norman Douglas

9. The only conquest which are permanent and leave
no regrets are our conquests over ourselves. Napolean Bonoparte

10. And be renewed in the spirit of your minds. Ephesians 4:23

11. Our opinion of people depends less upon what we
see in them than upon what they make us see in
ourselves. Sara Grand

12. I shall understand fully even as I have been fully
understood. 1 Corinthians 13:12

13. Do not be conformed to this world but be
Transformed by the renewal of your mind… Romans 12:2

14. The door to the human heart can be opened only
from the inside. Author Unknown

15. Anger ventilated often hurries toward forgiveness
anger concealed often hardens into revenge.
Edward G. Buliver Lipton

16. Hearing is one of the body’s fine senses, but
listening is an art. Frank Tyger

17. I have never met an aggressive person who wasn’t
a fearful person. John Bradshaw

18. A gentle tongue is a tree of life… Proverbs 15:4



“Oneness” The Human Race

1. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
slave nor free, there is neither male nor female,
for you are all one in Christ.

This is the way Christ and God sees all of his
children, not just Christians. Galatians 3:28

2. Are you looking for the Holy One? I am in the
Next seat. My shoulder is against yours. Kafir

3. If God is thy father, man is thy brother. Lamertine

4. Maturing is the process by which the individual
is conscious of the equal importance of each of
his fellow men. Alvin Goeser

5. … All of you are children of the most High. Psalms 82:6

6. The law says “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with
all thy strength and with all thy mind… and
thy neighbor as thy self." Luke 10:27


Compassion Loving Kindness

1. Loving kindness gives birth to a natural compassion.
The compassionate heart holds the pain and the
sorrow of our life and of all beings with mercy and
tenderness. It is the tender heart that has the
power to transform the world. Chögyam Trungpa

2. Embracing both joy and sorrow, our heart can
remain tender and wise.

We can walk through the darkest night with
the radiant conviction that all things work
together for the good. Martin Luther King Jr.

3. I always felt sorry for people afraid of feeling,
of sentimentality, who are unable to weep with
their whole heart. Because those who do not
know how to weep do not know how to laugh
either. Golda Meir

4. The meeting of two personalities is like the
contact of two chemical substances: if there
is any reaction, both are transformed. Carl Jung

5. ….Comfort one another… 1 Thessalonians 4:18

6. We are all so much together but we are dying
of loneliness. Albert Schweitzer

7. You give but little when you give of your
passions. It is when you give of yourself that
you truly give. Kahlil Gibran

8. The point is this: He who sows sparingly will
also reap sparingly and he who sows bountifully
will also reap bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6

9. … Having compassion one for another… 1 Peter 3:8

10. The only gift is a portion of thyself. Ralph Waldo Emerson


Making Judgments

1. Judgments are our personal ego reactions to the
sights, sounds, feelings, and thoughts within
our experiences. W Timothy Gallway

2. First take the log out of your eye and you will
see clearly to take the speck out of your
brother’s eye. Matthew 7:5

3. Judgments block learning from and acceptance
of what exists and create emotional reaction
that have consequences in themselves: guilt,
defensiveness, immobility. To become
nonjudgmental as I’ve come to understand
it, is to see clearly and add nothing to the facts.
It does not mean ignoring flaws, errors and
mistakes; it simply means not adding
anything to them. Bobbi Sims

4. Judge not that you be not judged. Matthew 7:1

5. Examine the contents, not the bottle. The Talmud


Peace

1. God did not play dice with the universe. Albert Einstein

2. Do not be afraid to take a chance on peace, to
teach peace, to live peace… Peace will be
the last word of history. John Paul II


The True Teacher


1. If he is indeed wise he does not bid you to enter
the house of his wisdom, but rather leads you
to the threshold of your own mind. Kahlil Gibran

2. In this passage Christ was speaking metaphorically
about meditating on the word that you may come
to the fullness of your understanding.

3. And when he had ceased speaking, he said to
Simon, “put out into the deep and let down
Your nets for a catch.” Luke 5:4

Holiday Blessing & Prayers from CiBelle

Holiday Blessing

Today, is the Day, Now is the time,
To live in joy and let your life shine.

Open your heart and do your part,
Let your compassion flow,
Like a love-filled dart,
Sent from the Divine archer’s bow.

We are all “One,”
But humanity has remained undone,
Let your being fill with “Light,”
As you sing the carol “Oh Holy Night.”

In doing this we shall be,
The heaven on Earth we wish to see.
Our hearts shall sing with love,
As we are blessed from above.

Gods love-filled “Lights” we shall become,
Upon the tree of life as “One,”
Peace, Love, & harmony will be the norm.
Our Beautiful Planet shall be free from harm.

Manifesting, “As above so below,”
Holiday Blessings will continue to flow,
Long after the ground is free from snow.



“CiBelle of the One Heart♥”
©2005






THE DIVINE PLAN


Violet flame burning bright
Transmuting all into light.
Accepting both the light
And the dark, merging
Them into the human heart.

I walk the middle way. In
Gods power day by day.
Accepting all that “IS”
Being in the present where
God lives.

All that I have and all that
I am are manifestations of
God’s divine plan.

I am balanced, healthy, wealthy,
And whole, manifesting God’s
Great promise as Christ foretold.

Today, moment by moment
I lovingly will, to will, My will
To Thy will. Allowing God’s
Divine plan to fulfill…. NOW!







Master Kumara & The Brotherhood
Channeled by
GlaDienne “CiBelle of The One Heart♥”
© 2000





Daily Prayer Know Thy Self Along With the Divine Plan



Dear Lord give me your Grace to look within. Help me to
watch my thoughts, words, and deeds for they will be my
guide within on this journey. All these are but a mirror to the
darkness that lives within me. All these things are things that
I want to forgive and love. Only then will I be set free to see
the light within myself and others. Only then will I have
your Joy, Love and Peace. Amen.



GlaDienne “CiBelle of the One Heart♥”©2004

One Love in Christmas, from CiBelle

(Continued from CiBelle's Christmas letter)

As my gift, my love in action, I compiled these “Devotional Quotes” along with wisdom
from my reflection on the events of this year. The “Devotional Quotes: have been taken
from two of my favorite books.

“Making a Difference In Your World" by Bobbi Sims.

"The Art of Forgiveness, Loving Kindness and Peace" by Jack Kornfield who
authored “A Path with Heart”

All that I create, poems, affirmations and writing are inspired. They come through
me but not from me for I am but a part of the “One.” I am a spark of the Divine
working moment by moment to manifest The Divine here and now upon Planet Earth.

In sharing with you the poem “Holiday Blessing,” “The Prayer,” or affirmation
“The Divine Plan” I invite you, the reader, to draw personal growth from these
words as you travel along your own path or journey. Each of us can only be
brought to the dawning of our own understanding. Wisdom and enlightenment
is a journey not a destination. As a Christian the gift of Christ to me was his
manifestation of “The Will of God”, Love, even for those who killed him,
his acceptance of everyone, his forgiveness for those who persecuted him,
his obedience to the Will of God. All of these gifts were made manifest in
his non-judgment.

May the gifts of “The Christ” Light your hearts now in this Blessed Season
and in every moment of your lives Now and Forever More.

P.S. As most of you know “we teach what we came here to learn.” I have been
waiting all this time because I didn’t want to lead someone the wrong way. Every
moment I am looking back at what I think, say or do. Then I ask for “Grace” to
change-“recalibrate.” If we were perfect, we would not be walking on Earth.
We don’t have “Ascension Sandals On.” Being human and knowing keeps our
“Ego” in check. But, if we don’t look at ourselves, be honest, and continue to
grow, our personality will be in control, not our soul. Until both totally become
one, “As Above, So Below” we will continue to struggle.


In The Heart of The One With Love
GlaDienne “CiBelle of the One Heart♥”
©2005

Merry Christmas 2005!

Merry Christmas to You!


Mick and I are happy to have found The Creek Church and made new friends there. During one sermon, a pastor was talking about how Jesus often performed miracles among ordinary events—that people don’t need to look far, or search for thunderbolts crashing in the clouds, because God is with us always. In this way, I look to Jesus during different points in life. Sometimes Jesus is handy with a plunger. Yelling “Stop! Stop!” didn’t do any good because Davin shoved something in the toilet anyways. Sometimes Jesus is the friend, at the other end of the prayer, whose shoulder I can cry on. Sometimes Jesus is the cheerleader (really cool how he can set those pom-poms on fire with just a wiggle of the eyebrow) giving me encouragement or hope. But right now, Jesus is a toddler. Watching Davin and Jaelynn grow so much during the year, literally taking leaps and bounds with each step, has made me wonder what Jesus was like as a child. My thoughts about Jesus as a child are endless… What were the first words Jesus spoke? Did Jesus ever get into trouble, and how do you give the Son of God a spanking? What kind of toys or games kept Jesus entertained? Did Jesus even feel like a child? These questions led me on a journey, both in motherhood and in faith.

Quite unexpectedly, I received an insight. One night I put Jaelynn to bed, and cuddled next to her. The winter sky was clear with moonlight shimmering through purple clouds. As I said a “good-night” prayer to Jaelynn, she lifted a small hand and tugged at my hair. The answer seemed so simple—unconditional love. Throughout his adventures, mischief and growth—Jesus was learning. All of these experiences, beginning in childhood, became the foundation for which Jesus would reach out to humanity through his ministry. Unconditional love guided Jesus to walk on this Earth, embody the human experience, and through his death, receive salvation for all. Our children are a blessing, to open our hearts to give and receive unconditional love, and through love gain a deeper connection to God.

I wish all of you a Merry Christmas! My gift to you is the following verses, which I found to be very inspiring. May your heart and home shine with love, happiness, and the grace of God.

Lynn Mari, ©2005
____________

Love With All My Heart: Inspirational Verses About God’s Love

John 1:16-18, “Out of the fullness of his grace he has blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another. God gave the Law through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is the same as God and is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.”

Rumi, A Just-Finishing Candle. “ A candle is made to become entirely flame. In that annihilating moment it has no shadow.”

Isaiah 40:26,” Look up at the sky! Who created the stars you see? The one who leads them out like an army, he knows how many there are and calls each one by name! His power is so great—not one of them is ever missing!”

Rachel Naomi Remen, MD, Kitchen Table Wisdom, p. 118. “ Suffering shapes the life force, sometimes into anger, sometimes into blame and self pity. Eventually it may show us the freedom of loving and serving life.”

(Psalm 139 was read at Jaelynn’s Dedication in July 2005) Psalm 139: 13-16, “ …You created every part of me; you put me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because you are to be feared; all you do is strange and wonderful. I know it with all my heart. When my bones were being formed, carefully put together in my mother’s womb, when I was growing there in secret, you knew that I was there—you saw me before I was born. The days allotted to me had all been recorded in your book, before any of them ever began.”

Khalil Gibran, The Prophet, p. 26. “And all work is empty save when there is love; And when you work with love you bind yourself to yourself, and to one another, and to God.”

Isaiah 66:12-13,” The Lord says,’ I will bring you lasting prosperity; the wealth of the nations will flow to you like a river that never goes dry. You will be like a child that is nursed by its mother, carried in her arms, and treated with love. I will comfort you in Jerusalem, as a mother comforts her child.”

Jewel, Spirit. “We are loved beyond our ability to comprehend.”

Colossians 1:20,” Through the Son, then God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son’s death on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.”
_________________________
*Bible verses from the Good News Bible, American Bible Society, 1976.
______________

Visit The Creek:

The Creek Community Church - Maple Grove, MN

www.thecreekchurch.com

Food for Thought, Inspired Writing from CiBelle

CiBelle and her husband, JD, are two of my closest friends. The Christmas letter and devotional thoughts they worked on are really beautiful, and inspiring so I thought I would share this with you. I have separated the Christmas letter into two entries so it is easier to read. The first part is "Food for Thought" and the second part is "Devotional Quotes for the Heart". The funny thing is that I was thinking about adding an entry on food, and how friend & family developed celebrations, recipes, and traditions from food. Then CiBelle calls me and asks to add "Food for Thought"--what a "coincedence"! Enjoy!
_______________________



Food for Thought
and
Devotional Quotes
For The Heart



Compiled By

“CiBelle of the One Heart♥”



“CiBelle of the One Heart♥”
©2005


Table of Contents


Topic Page

Introduction 3-7

Holiday Blessings Poem 8

Affirmation/Divine Plan 9

The Prayer 10

Self Reflections 11-12

“Oneness The Human Race” 12

Compassion Loving Kindness 12-13

Making Judgments 13-14

Peace 14

The True Teacher 14






Introduction


Greetings Dear Ones,

Many of you may know that I was ordained as a Non-Denominational minister in 1994.

I rarely tell people because I believe titles and the way we define ourselves can separate

us rather than unite us “All” as One.

For over 30 years I have been on a deeply spiritual and very personal path surrendering

my will to the will of God and being His instrument upon Earth. Also, balancing my own

negative and positive sides bringing them to the Neutral Position where the Divine dwells

manifesting the Grounded Ascension “As Above So Below.”

The only person we can change is ourselves by allowing the Divine Healer/Teacher to

work in our lives. We were given the Divine Gift “Free Will.” No one can take away

this God-given gift as long as we continue to use this gift, we are left to our

own devices. God wants us back out of love not fear. If in our desire to unite with the

Divine-All- Oneness, we gladly surrender our will to the will of the Divine, then we will

reside in unity with the Divine-All-Oneness.

Years ago a minister asked me, “what does being a Christian mean to me?” I said “it

allows me the Grace of God to see my shadow side, my own ugliness whether it is in

thought, word, or deed.” It is only by being aware that I can ask for Grace, be

transformed and brought into balance. This is truly a gift. Everyday we see people

justify their actions from the Words of a Holy Book. As we transform ourselves, our

darkness, the light goes out to transform the world. This is the greatest gift

you can give humanity and the planet Earth.

Thoughts and words are real; they have a vibration, usually negative or positive. They

go out and combine with the Collective Unconscious. The Collective Unconscious

eventually becomes conscious and from that all becomes manifest. “As a man

thinketh in his own heart, so he becomes” Proverbs 23:7. I personally know

someone who is unkind to everyone. What they have said to justify their actions is “I’m

just hard hearted.” It is no wonder that this person is alone, dying from COPD, has lost

five inches in height, and has Osteoporosis giving them a hump on their back. They have

congestive heart failure and are on full Oxygen. As this soul thought and acted, they

manifested as this has become their final days. This soul has lived their life as an angry

person. Before we can love and forgive others, we must love and forgive ourselves as we

look within and ask for Grace to recalibrate the negative vibration- fear or shadow side-

to neutral- “All Oneness.” Only when we can see the God or Light within ourselves can

we see God in the rest of humanity.

2005 has been a devastating year around the world. There has been so much suffering

be it by war or terrorism the unworthy deeds of humanity towards their brothers and

sisters. Or be it by Mother Earth “Heaving” trying to cleanse and balance through natural

disasters.

As I traveled this year I was amazed to hear people voice ugly, negative opinions and

judgments toward those suffering. There is no such thing as “Those People.” We live in

a time of mass communication. Even though it is hard, we can choose to watch the

suffering of others, let it pierce our hearts, expand our compassion or we can remain

closed-off because it is too painful to look at the suffering and truly feel their pain in our

hearts. Or, we can try to place judgments on their suffering. If we choose to do either of

the last two choices, we will have to experience it first-hand. I teach through examples or

parables. Two examples are as follows:

Example One:

When Hurricane Katrina brought so much devastation the terrorists
were celebrating in the streets “Allah had punished the United States”
they said.

“What you sow, so shall you reap.”

It wasn’t long before there was a devastating earthquake in the predominantly Muslim areas in Pakistan, Cashmere and Afghanistan. God returned their ugliness to them quickly. Many innocent people suffered for the actions of a few.

Example Two:

When I was in Naples, one of the richest counties in Florida, a
woman said some awful judgments about the people in New
Orleans to me. I will not repeat them because of their negative
vibration. I told my dear friend of 34 years that I was worried
for her because this woman is her friend. If the rich do not have
compassion for the poorest of the poor, God will teach them first
hand. We are “All One.”- no one is higher or lower. My darling
friend does not feel like her friend, but all of us who know better
need to speak up or we will be held responsible for not speaking
the truth- sowing seeds of goodness and light on the ground of
darkness.

BEING CAREFUL NOT TO JUDGE THE WORDS OR ACTIONS
BUT- JUST STATE SEEDS, TRUTH AND COMPASSION.

Within days Hurricane Wilma was heading her wrath on Naples.
I prayed and anchored the light before I left to drive home to St.
Louis. The storm moved slightly south, Naples was spared the
worst part but South Florida where the wealthiest live was
devastated. Many suffered for the thoughts and deeds of a few.

To give of our money and goods is wonderful and needed. We can choose everyday to

give of ourselves by keeping our hearts soft, open, non-judgmental, compassionate and

loving in our thoughts, words and deeds. God always hears the prayers from our hearts-

Light begets Light. As you give, so you shall receive.

John and I are a part of a World Wide organization to bring light, peace and above all,
“Oneness,” to the Earth. It is called "Nvisible" and is comprised of all faiths, all people,

all paths. Did you know there are over 3,600 known Religions on Earth? 99% of all the

brutality is brought by the three major religions which are from the children of Abraham.

The Christians, Muslims and Jews. Because Abraham and Sarah did not believe what

God said, they used their “own free will” not the will of God. Hence, mankind was

destined to fight over who was the rightful heir of Abraham. “The sins of the fathers

shall be visited upon their children.” Humanity was scattered with different languages,

different faiths or beliefs, different features, and different colors.

The “Differences” become our separation from God’s Truth and Grace. “What you

have done unto the least of your brother so you have done unto me.” Our challenge

is to will our will to the will of God. To know our brothers and sisters “Are Ourselves”

past, present and future.

Now, became my time to step out. Stand in my Integrity. To live the truth I am

learning every moment of every day. Gandhi said “be the change you wish to see in

the world.” Ralph Waldo Emerson said “the only gift is a portion of thyself.”

As my gift, my love in action, I compiled these “Devotional Quotes” along with wisdom

from my reflection on the events of this year. The “Devotional Quotes: have been taken

from two of my favorite books.

“Making a Difference In Your World by Bobbi Sims.

The Art of Forgiveness, Loving Kindness and Peace by Jack Kornfield who authored “A Path with Heart”

All that I create, poems, affirmations and writing are inspired. They come through me

but not from me for I am but a part of the “One.” I am a spark of the Divine working

moment by moment to manifest The Divine here and now upon Planet Earth.

In sharing with you the poem “Holiday Blessing,” “The Prayer,” or affirmation

“The Divine Plan” I invite you, the reader, to draw personal growth from these words
as you travel along your own path or journey.

_________________________

Please continue the journey in "Devotional Quotes For the Heart"

Did You Know? Connections Between Land & Kin

Martin

A.J. Martin, of Orrville, once owned a plantation and kept 79 slaves on it. J.D. Campbell was the overseer of the plantation. In 1860, A.J. Martin’s real property was valued at $44,400 and his personal property was valued at $95,200.

The land my Martin relatives is said to have farmed is outside of Selma, near Walter Craig’s gun shop. Some of the land is still farmed, most of it is a housing development.

I learned from an older cousin that, when kept as slaves, the Martins were farmed out to work as laborers at Keenan’s Mill. Their work involved grinding corn to make meal out of. Keenan’s Mill is in Dallas County, Alabama.

With the help of an older cousin, I was able to trace the beginning of the Martin family to 1880 with our grandparents Jane (“Judge”) and Jordan (b.1833-35) . They lived in Woodlawn and in Summerfield. Jordan was a farmer.

The Robins family next door to the Martins, also were farmers, in Summerfield. Simon Robins married Sarah Jane Martin (b. 1871), and had one child, a daughter named Mary.

My great-grandmother, Mary (nicknames were “Mel” and “Molly”) worked on several farms. She worked the Crawford Place on Rangeline Road in Valley Creek as a cook. When she married Percy Morton, she lived on the Stringer Place on Marion Junction Road in Union.

Mary’s oldest child is my grandfather “Bud”. The same older cousin shared with me that he often rode his bicycle to the country to visit Mary, and thus grew close to her son. When Bud was an infant, Mary fashioned a sling on her hip, and carried Bud in it, so her arms were free while she was working in the fields.

As an adult, Bud married and lived on a farm outside of Brent. The farm is no longer standing but once was near some railroad tracks. Hogs were kept on this farm. Bud was also known for being very good in handling and training dogs.

Green(e)

The Greens are cousins to the Martins (any help on making the connection to the Greens and Martins or making a family tree would be much appreciated!). The Greens also married into the King family, the Ford family and the Phillips family. One of my older Martin aunts, Julia (b.1881), married William Phillips (b. 1861). Mary Martin, first cousin to the Greens, married Pettus Ford.

Many of my Green relatives lived in Summerfield or Valley Creek. Others worked the Morgan Place.

Ford

My Ford relatives originated in Perryville, Alabama then migrated to Dallas county and elsewhere. There are three main families of Fords living near Perryville.

I have traced the beginning of the Ford family to Caroline Ford (b. 1825) who had 15-18 children born in slavery. I believe this branch of Fords is my kin, because of information given from an older relative. I would appreciate help with any information about these Fords, as I know very little.

I am related to a Paul Ford who married a Laura Radford and lived in Perryville. When Laura died, Paul married a woman named Lucretia. There were 11 children born between both of these marriages.

A son of Paul Ford, Columbus, continued to live and farm in Perryville.

I have heard that some of the Fords moved to Pleasant Hill (Dallas County).

Still Curious? Check Out These Links:

About Sharecropping

http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/a_f/brown/sharecropping.htm

Black Families of Alabama's Black Belt

http://www.prairiebluff.com/blackbelt/

Alabama State Black Archives & Research Center, Campus of A&M University

About.com: http://www.aamu.edu/archivemuseumcenter/

A Place Called Home: A Return to a Lost Past

Amos 9:14-15 (Good News Bible, American Bible Society, 1976), “’… I will bring my people back to their land. They will rebuild their ruined cities and live there; they will plant vineyards and drink the wine; they will plant gardens and eat what they grow. I will plant my people on the land I gave them, and they will not be pulled up again.’ The Lord your God has spoken.”


I trudged out in the snow today, making my way to Davin’s Christmas program at Teddy Bear Pre-School (in First Lutheran Church). It was so cold outside, that any exposed skin would crack and redden with instant frostbit once exposed to the frigid temperatures. So cold that when a glass of milk spilled in the car, it instantly froze and formed a kind of crystallized ice cream. I made sure to buy Jaelynn’s “Dora the Explorer” jacket one size too big, so she is insulated in warmth. As an added bonus, the jacket almost reaches her knees. Last year, I bundled Jaelynn up in a jacket with a fuzzy sleeper over the top, may have to do that again this year so Jaelynn doesn’t turn into a snow baby! My arms are piled high—a trademark of motherhood—with a diaper bag, two loaves of warmed corn bread (one loaf is topped with my special honey-brown sugar mixture), my purse, and my video camera bag. Mick is trudging behind with Jaelynn, morning coffee has not quite kicked in and he is half-asleep, stumbling around like a frozen caveman. The warmth is immediate as we open the door to First Lutheran, the laughter of children rings through the hallway. Jaelynn squirms out of Mick’s arms, her chubby legs race towards the festivity.


The theme of the Christmas program is “Christmas Around the World”. On the cover of the brochure is a picture of a globe surrounded by children, of various ethnicities, who hold hands, dancing around the world. I am touched by the words written on the back of the program: May your Christmas be bright with promise, warm with love and blessed with joy from JESUS whose birthday we celebrate. Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift…Jesus. I don’t understand the people who try to make Christmas a controversy, when the majority of people in America celebrate Christmas. When all of us share in the blessings from God, whether you are religious or not our very freedom, our very intelligence is bestowed from a Higher Power—is not of a human invention. I am so thankful for the celebration of Christmas at Teddy Bear Pre-School, as truly being a celebration, and a time for coming together. My soul felt deeply nourished by the warmth, the love so fully present in the room. Davin’s teacher, Mrs. Betty began with a short introduction then opened to the floor to Pastor Jan, who said a prayer. So sweet, the children then chose a prayer in which they all participated. After praying, the families flocked to a buffet table loaded with Mrs. Betty’s home-cooked Italian dinner—a sumptuous feast! When the Christmas program began, the children walked around the dining room, waving flags that represented many countries. The children also celebrated their heritage by dressing in costumes that represented their nationality. There was a little girl who dressed in a beautiful lavender silk tunic embroidered with flowers, and wore loose pants underneath—dressing in the traditional garb of India. There was little boy with a green vest decorated with shamrocks who wore a bowler’s hat that had a ribbon it that said “Kiss Me, I’m Irish!”. There was a little boy who dressed as a knight wearing a long tunic with a cross on front, and carrying a sword to represent his English heritage, another that dressed as a Native American in a buckskin vest, beaded moccasins and a colorful bandana. A sweet little girl stood next to Davin, wearing a Christmas dress trimmed with white fur. The little girl was so proud of her shiny, patent leather Mary Janes which, she said “Are just like Grandma’s shoes!” The Christmas program was unique in that the children sung Christmas songs from around the world—Germany, America, Italy, Sweden/Norway. So cute, when the children sung “Feliz Navidad”, the little girl in the flowery tunic, who had been hanging back during the entire program suddenly lost her shyness. As the piano belted out the notes, she swayed from side to side rhythmically. Her smile lit her whole face with radiance. In her smile, I felt the Spirit of Christmas was best represented—a carefree joy, a celebration, a playfulness that lightens the body to move with ease.


Designing Davin’s costume for “Christmas Around the World” was more than picking out clothing from the closet or encouraging Davin to smile really cute for the camera, it became a time to reflect on my family’s past, and an opportunity to pass some of those memories down to Davin, and to you. I jokingly told my Dad that Davin has such a diverse background that we could dress every part of his body in a different costume. Davin’s mixtures include: African-American, American Indian (Black Sioux, Bear Creek, Cherokee), German, French, Polish, Czech, Yugoslavian, Lithuanian, Norweigan and Finnish. The common thread between all of these ancestors is the land—most of our ancestors worked on or lived on farms. I also struggled because I knew the hardships, the oppression my grandparents faced working as sharecroppers. Family research—listening to the stories, seeing the places my family came from, reading historical documents—gave me a glimpse of those hardships. I often sense or feel the pain, the frustration, even fear that has lingered in our family memory. At times I have to stop my research because those feelings get so overwhelming. I strive to heal those feelings, to seek resolution for the pains of the past. Prayer has offered comforted, and a sense of release. I also feel a strong purpose in giving voice—in acknowledging my grandparents for all they have done to build the foundation of the life I now enjoy. I work to find their names, to walk the land they lived on, to ask the tough questions because when I can call my ancestors by name, I can hold them up in prayer, lift their memories up in love.

Many of my relatives chose not to talk about the past, so their lives were lost to the next generations. Or, the younger generations did not ask their elders questions about their past or family history so the knowledge was lost. Another scar on my family memory is racism. I will never forget the time I was looking through a slave census on the Internet, in neat cursive the name of each slave was written in a column. The column included the estimated age of the slave and a description of their complexion (the terms used most often are black, yellow, mulatto). I was startled to come across an entry, that clearly was a person and written next to his name was “Worthless”. My mind screamed as I read that entry—a primal scream of anguish. I wanted to take “Worthless” into my arms, and kiss his brow, and tell him I had found his shame, and would give him a new name. I imagined giving him a strong name like “Honor”, or “Isaiah” after my favorite book in the Bible, or “Kayin” an Yoruban name meaning "celebrated child". Worthless was the attitude, the injustice that the older generations of my family faced every day of their lives. In an era where racism guided social norms, Jim Crow laws kept Blacks not only segregated but perpetuated cycles of poverty and despair. Lynching and beatings were justice for Blacks who stepped out of “their place”. Black mothers gave birth to children they could not protect, children who were told where to take their first steps—and where not to; children who were often exploited for labor and denied an education. The world for these children was so much smaller—within the confines of family, church and community was the only real sense of belonging. I cannot imagine the pain, the horror, the helplessness of being a mother who has to see her children suffer in this way. So many sacrifices had to be made—children were sent to work in the fields and were denied an education, self-respect meant making yourself small and unseen in the face of torment, those who worked the hardest were denied the most. I noticed that a pattern has emerged in my family—you either found a source of strength, something to keep your spirit alive or you turned to anger and bitterness, and lost your life in the struggle. A cousin who remembers my older family members, Nile, once told me that a source of strength in my family is the church. Many of my older aunts were known for singing spirituals, and using those songs to soothe their hurts. Food has also brought family together. The simple act of cooking became a sort of ritual to bring people together. The satisfaction of a good meal became more than just feeling full in the belly but feeling full in the spirit as well. The act of cooking became a gesture of comfort in which emptiness was symbolically filled.

As I helped Davin dress this morning, I thought of how blessed I am to have so many freedoms and so many opportunities in my life, and in the lives of my children. I thought of how much better life in America has become for all people. For a moment, I closed my eyes and imagined how my ancestors would have begun their day, centuries ago…how it would feel to stretch in the morning after sleeping on a straw pallet, how the hard packed dirt floor would feel beneath my bare feet as I stood and moved towards the pot bellied stove, how the kitchen would be warmed with grits simmering in the pot, how it would feel to eat in semi-darkness knowing I would greet the first light of day while stooped over a row of cotton…. The truth is, I could imagine but never could I really comprehend; my life is too far removed from the world my ancestors lived in. I am humbled by this realization. As Davin begins to dress, I silently say a prayer of thanks. As I exhale, I imagine the shame and hurt being of the past being washed away. As I take another breath, I whisper my gratitude. Davin dressed as a farmer today—representing the very people on whose sweat, whose faith, whose dream built what America is today. Davin wore denim overalls, a plaid shirt passed down from his cousin, Elijah; a handkerchief, a straw hat with a blue star on front and black cowboy boots Mick wore as a child. In Davin’s pocket, I tucked a piece of cotton and flower, in remembrance of my ancestors, my grandparents. I watched Davin sing today, joining children from a variety of backgrounds. I watched Davin play, romping around without fear. I watched Davin walk with confidence, a twinkle in his eye. I watched Davin help “Sissie” out of bed after a nap, hold her small hand as her unsteady feet wobbled towards me. Once Jaelynn was settled in my lap, Davin stroked her hair tenderly. He left the room for a moment to return with “Bob the Builder” coloring sheets, which he was so excited to show her. I don’t take any of these acts for granted, they are small freedoms but freedoms that grant each one of us to create a life that is uniquely our own. I am living the dream that has been denied to generations of my family. In living that dream I feel a responsibility to honor the memory of those who made this life possible. Through memory, I have returned to the land of my ancestors. My children are the seeds they have turned the earth for. Though the years have been rough and tears have been shed, hope has given new life to the buds of the next generation. I may not be able to gather all the memories, but I will pass down what I know. I will pass down the hope that connects us, invisibly, one generation to the next. In this way, a garden has been planted, a land we can finally call home.

Lynn Mari, ©2005

Christmas Around the World

Hello Friends and Family,

On Thursday, December 8th 2005 Davin will be having an Italian Dinner (I will be baking my special recipe of cornbread for the event, too!) and presentation of "Christmas Around the World" at Teddy Bear Pre-School. Davin has been asked to represent his nationality in dress or costume.

Davin wants to share with you that he will be singing "Feliz Navidad", "Jingle Bells" and a song that sounds "Bon be tow wee-means Merry Christmas to You". Davin also wants you to know that the Christmas presentation "is going to be w-eally big!" Side note: When discussing Santa Claus with Davin, he has informed me that Santa brings beer to children who are naughty. So please try to stay on your best behavior!

Question: How do you think Davin should dress for nationality day?Davin's lineage is pretty colorful he is: Finnish, Czech, German, Polish, French, African-American, and Native American. Or maybe, we could dress Davin up in the style from the past?

Side Note: Did you know that adding a mixture of honey and brown sugar makes a crunchy topping for cornbread? Add this mixture to the cornbread in the last 10 minutes of baking for best results, and let it cool because the sugar will be hot!

Holiday Blessings, Lynn

Special Thanks:
Religions Art Gallery, J. Dominguez, M.D.
http://www.religion-cults.com/art.htm

An Interesting Christmas Link:
Merry Christmas in 350 Languages
http://www.flw.com/merry.htm


Update:
Davin dressed as a farmer for "Christmas from Around the World". You can read more about this exciting day at school in the December 8th post titled "A Place Called Home: Return to a Lost Past".