Tag Archives: Gratitude

Looking Ahead

January 1, 2024 By in Lightning Juice Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Coming to you live from Realm Central ~ it’s the first day of the New Year 2024! I never make New Year’s resolutions, but for 2024, I have a goal.

Over the past year, I made the effort to set my face forward. One of the ways I achieve this is by praying that Adonai will show me His hand in every situation I encounter in daily life. This is when He teaches me many lessons, and if I’m truly paying attention, I learn something valuable as I move from moment to moment.

Contemplation of my experiences is important, but I don’t stop there, especially if the lesson was a hard-learned one. It’s too tempting to wallow and play the victim. Rather, I continue facing forward and moving ahead by applying my newfound wisdom, understanding, and knowledge toward myself by working on my soul in partnership with Adonai.

This has built amazing trust in my relationship with HaShem as I progress from faith, which is mostly an intellectual exercise, to faithfulness, which is the act of structuring my life in such a way that reflects what I believe. Some of the building blocks in my process are the expression of gratitude, paying it forward, humility, forgiveness, learning to absorb the (metaphorical) arrows released against me, returning kindness for evil, and refusing to (physically/verbally) act upon or (emotionally) react to the drama others manufacture and try to lay at my feet.

I have good days, and sometimes, I have a less than good day. Thankfully, Adonai is patient, loving, and has more faith in me than I have in myself. We’ll keep working on me and continue building on the above-mentioned foundation. The next step, i.e., my goal for 2024, is to maintain this high standard of character (as defined by HaShem) and implement it in everything I do: writing, relationships, homemaking, Torah study, prayer life, etc.

 

I’m looking forward to 2024 and the plans Adonai has for me. Admittedly, when I stop to think about it, it’s scary and exciting all at once because I know I’ll be stepping away from certain things while moving toward others. It’s a beautiful dance that aligns my will with HaShem’s, and it’s for my good but more importantly for His glory.

Here’s to authentic joy and true shalom in 2024!

Quotation Station

November 24, 2023 By in Quotation Station, Writing Toolbox Tags: , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

I usually post a Quotation Station with Shabbat blessings for everyone on Friday, and today will be no different. However, this time, you’re going to receive a little more because Thanksgiving was yesterday, and I’m still experiencing an abundance of gratitude that I’d love to share with you. If you noticed that my post is late today, well, that’s also because of Thanksgiving and the days of preparation leading up to it!

If you follow me on Facebook, you may have noticed a post wherein I mourned the loss of my challah rising bowl. The unexpected destruction took place with my own hands as I lifted the bowl from the bottom rack of the dishwasher, knocked the edge against a plate, and then cringed when I heard the sickening sound of glass breaking.

I thought for sure the plate was a goner because my challah bowl was thick and sturdy. Unfortunately, a chunk of the edge of my beloved bowl was missing, and a crack had snaked up the side. I literally expressed my disbelief and grief aloud.

So, yes, I posted on Facebook because we all know how much misery loves company. What I didn’t expect was the outpouring of sympathy over the loss of my bowl. I was so touched. Better yet, my dear friend, Theresa Weber, offered me the option of one of two bowls she had on hand.

Flash forward to Shabbat services that week where Theresa allowed me to choose a bowl. They were both lovely, the type of bowls one hands down as a family heirloom. I chose the larger of the two because my challah recipe makes two loaves.

In addition to this heartwarming story, I’m going to share my new challah recipe with you. The dough in this recipe is more forgiving, more pliable, and I find that it meets my challah expectations. It’s a great beginner dough if you’ve never tried challah or bread baking. I tweaked the recipe just a titch, incorporating a little from the first challah recipe I shared on my blog, and I’m quite pleased with what I’ve achieved.

Heather Gibson’s Foolproof Challah

I hope everyone who celebrated Thanksgiving had a most wonderful day full of opportunities to express gratitude for all the blessings experienced throughout the year. Shabbat Shalom to everyone. Don’t forget that Shabbat is a weekly opportunity to express gratitude and enjoy fellowship.

Back in business!

With Gratitude

November 21, 2022 By in Lightning Juice Tags: , , , 2 Comments

As we use every moment between today and Thursday preparing for celebration, the Gibson Household would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. We have much to be thankful for this year in the way of friends and family. Please know how greatly we treasure you.

Our goodwill wishes are in no way diminished toward those we don’t know personally. Thank you, faithful followers of my blog, for your presence here. It’s because of you, too, that I write at the higher standard I do.

May God bless each of you and may all your creative dreams find fulfillment.

~The Gibsons