Sharing with others daily words, thoughts and meditations that bring myself hope and renewal during my own daily battles and frustrations with COPD/Asthma.  Sharing, because as we all know – without that horizon of hope, our daily renewal of faith and fight can dim in a hurry.

Take, read, meditate and hopefully find some of the same hope in your daily battles with a chronic illness and/or disability as I have within mine….

The Word – “If only you would be altogether silent.  For you, that would-be wisdom.”  (Job 13:5, NIV)

The Thought – When people begin a relationship they should reflect together in silence on the wisdom that Herb Vander Lugt once wrote, “Deep relationships are built on acceptance, understanding, and listening.”

One of the biggest problems in relationships, especially those where you are blending two families together is acceptance of what all is already present, understanding what all is already present and listening to what all is already present.

Several years ago, a couple I know married, the second marriage for both, a marriage that combined two families and four kids, two each for each spouse.  From there a couple of things would happen, either both the kids are all accepted by the families of both spouses or they are not – and a lot of that acceptance may come down to perception.

One of the ‘Great Spirits’ greatest gifts is that of grandchildren and the love bonds that develop between them and the grandparents they are given at birth.  Most folks that are or have been grandparents of little ones know the absolute joy that comes from building that bond of security and love between them and sometimes the perception of that bond can and will be misperceived.

Without knowing it, a child feels the work of hope, faith, love and grace that comes from the ‘Great Spirits’ and a relationship with a grandparent, many times to the point where the grandchild will express that appreciation before the grandparent has a chance to convey it and the parents have a chance to understand it.

The signs of this relationship between grandchild and grandparent can sometimes be misperceived as favoritism, especially to those bringing new grandkids into a blended family environment.

Another sign of misperception can come when someone in the either family becomes ill and needs special acceptance for such an illness, especially when the illness is like COPD and/or Asthma and the signs of it sometimes are very unpredictable.  Can the blended family both accept the illness and the necessary time one of them may need to devout in helping the family member with such an illness, or will they misperceive that need as favoring one family over the other.

When it comes to additional grandkids thrown into the fray of grandparenting, I know most grandparents open the new additions to the flock with very open, loving arms, while leaning on the ‘Great Spirits’ to continue giving them guidance and wisdom on how to heal any hurts the new grandkids may have coming into new, sometimes confusing blended family experience.

This is those times when both the parents of the blended family and the grandparents working at blending equally all grandkids, need to rely on sitting in silence with the ‘Great Spirits’ and finding the guidance and wisdom of understanding how quickly perception and misperception can unglue the four fundamentals of blended family happiness – those of hope, faith, love and grace.

The Meditation/Prayer –  As we take a moment to rest in meditation, we look toward the ‘Great Spirits’ with much gratitude for all that surrounds us in the walk we call life.  We also ask the ‘Great Spirits’ for continued wisdom and guidance to breaking down the walls of misperception that can tear apart families that find love but struggle with blending their families together despite that love.  May our times of silence with the ‘Great Spirits’ give us time to strengthen our work within the four fundamentals of life and happiness – as hope, faith, love and grace all will be needed to overcome that great barrier of misperception.

With that we all say Hallelujah, Amen.

(Copyright@2017, CrossDove Writer – This writing may not be reused in any manner without written permission.)

(More ‘Living 4 Today’ writings can be found at either wheezingaway.com or on Facebook at COPD Travels.)