This quote encompasses two life-changers for me: other people and gratitude.
If I tried to list all the people who have rekindled my spark when it has gone out … well, this would be the never-ending blog post — and I’m certain I would still forget someone.
People have prayed for me, shared hugs at just the right moment, spoken an uncannily timely word … and sometimes they’ve just been there when my soul’s ached and my heart’s flame flickered.
And the year I devoted to practicing gratitude? That year changed me on a soul-deep level. This glass-half-empty gal determined to give thanks in all things. I wrote thank you lists to God — and you know what? My perspective changed. I saw all the reasons I had to be grateful. The glass overflowed.
So yes, Albert Schweitzer got it right: we should be thankful for those who have “lighted the flame within us.”
In Others’ Words: I say this with all sincerity, friends: Your comments encourage me daily. Thank you. My prayer is that you are surrounded with others who rekindle your flame with words of hope and affirmation.
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Comments 14
Wow, you say more in sometimes few words in your posts than anyone else I know. And I like your quote from Schweitzer better than anything else I’ve read from him. Thank you for how your words, encouragement, laughter, wisdom, and more, strike that spark for me and so many of us.
We all know the example of a dark room or stadium being changed by the light of a single match or candle. Actually, there’s some cost to the match struck or candle lit. Thanks for being that and offering your light to so many.
Author
Yes, Dee, there is a cost to the match being struck or the candle being lit. Wise observation.
And you, too, often share your light with so, so many others. Me, incuded.
This is an interesting subject for me. A medical crisis a few days ago, caused “the light of memory” to flicker and dim.
My wife has been helping me to relight it. Long-term memory is int act, but medium and short term are spotty, including most of our life together. She has showed me how to use the Internet again in hopes that I can jog memory that way.
I came “here” to this spot in the Internet because, you, Beth, wrote to me a warm and supportive email yesterday, and when I saw the announcement for this essay in my “inbox”, I looked at it. It took some time to re-learn what to do to write this.
Another candle, or spark, for which I am grateful. Enough of them, and memory will return, I hope.
Perhaps we are all sparks, our transience joyously collected by God to build the fire that warms His heart of love.
Please pardon the awkwardness of my words. It has taken well over an hour to write this, and I am very tired.
Blessings to you today, Andrew. I pray for God to lift your spirits and allow you to soar above all that attacks you. Today, His face will shine upon you, and He will bless you. And many are praying for you.
Thank you for reminding me to be grateful for all the things I take for granted.
I hope I am doing this correctly by moving the pointer to “reply”. We will see, I suppose.
Thank you, Patricia. Prayers are definitely in order, because I am feeling caught out of time, in a very confusing world. They say it will get better.
I am meanwhile living with things that seem very recent, but now represent only friends become dust.
God, however, will provide. Memory, I hope…but definitely solace, and the boost up to reach the lowest rung of Faith’s ladder.
Now I will press “post”,and we will see if my interpretation of how to do this is correct.
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Well done and well said, Andrew.
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Andrew,
It pains me to know that your days have been so very, very hard.
Know that you have rekindled my spark many, many times.
You, my friend, shine brightly. Very brightly.
Thank you, Beth. It feels like so much has retreated behind a veil. I am told I am a writer, with a published book and that I write a ‘blog’. None of it seems real. At least I seem to have worked ahead on the ‘blog’, giving me time to get my head back together before I have to write more.
It is very dizzying, and I would prefer it not have happened.
I am glad that I have been able to be a light for you.
Author
Just in case you don’t remember, Andrew: You are also very brave.
Like you Beth, I couldn’t begin to thank all the people who have lighted the flame inside me. You’re one of them, and Delores, and Andrew…
I have had so many who’ve rekindled my spark too, and friends like that are keepers:) Have a blessed holiday, Beth!
Author
Blessings to you, Susan.
And thank you for sharing your spark with me.
You may have no idea how this impacts me as a person struggling with bipolar disease. It is so important to have gratitude for those in our lives, especially when the spark has gone out. It is sometimes difficult to determine if the spark even has been re-ignited. Thank you for this post.
Author
You are most welcome, Amanda. Thank you for joining the conversation today. I am certain you’ve been an encouraging spark to others.