Grateful Daily

November began with a Facebook challenge to journal our daily moments of gratitude. Well of Mercy has taught me over the years to focus on gratitude even in the face of challenging events completely out of my control. I’m finding how nice it feels to be truly grateful for the small things and to focus on who is responsible for these items I’m enjoying.

I awoke recently reveling in the fact I had 30 more glorious minutes to stay in my comfortable bed; a wonderful time to meditate and focus on gratitude. I became very grateful for my pillow - but what shifted is I lifted gratitude for all the people responsible for creating and manufacturing this particular type of pillow with the right amount of loft and squishy for my personal sleep preference. It’s like sleeping on a heavenly cloud. With each word of gratitude, the pillow became even more comfortable.  

Gratitude also hit me this month traveling to/from Well where I often encounter farm equipment which on occasion slows my travel if I’m behind a tractor, or pushes me to the edge of the road if the large combine is wider than its lane, or the smell that challenges one's nostrils when the honey wagons spread their “product” on the fields.  

One evening as I was leaving, the field harvesting was creating a large dust cloud. It was late and the farm work was far from complete. I began thinking of the various challenges farmers face during the planting, growing, and harvesting seasons - completely out-of-their control. Once again, Well teaching prompted me to be grateful for the farmers and all those responsible for bringing food from farm to table for me to enjoy.

Dear God, thank you not only for the food and comforts I enjoy but more importantly, thank you for the people who make it their job to create and share their talents and produce. Blessings on all your children of creation. –Amen

Blessings on your process of finding gratitude in your life.

Sandra H. O'Brien
Executive Director

~ NOVEMBER 2022 ~

~ DECEMBER 2022 ~

~ JANUARY 2022 ~

~ FEBRUARY 2022 ~

• Tuesday - Friday, 2/21/23 to 2/24/23 - Art of Self Care & Compassion -
  3 Nights
• Thursday, 2/23/23 - Into the Wilderness: Journaling Through the Lenten Desert - Virtual

• Thursday - Saturday, 3/02/23 to 3/04/23 - Silent Guided Retreat - 2 Nights
• Tuesday - Friday, 3/14/23 to 3/17/23 - Celtic Spirituality - 3 Nights

~ Giving ~

We are grateful for the recent St. Francis & St. Claire retreat. During the three days, participants created a beautiful nature mandala from the property and several lovely poems. Picture yourself in nature at Well while you read the poem shared by Jane Coburn.

Do people go their whole lives never sitting still and hearing the leaves fall through the branches to the ground?

Do people go their whole lives never sitting still listening to the babbling of the water as it meanders over rocks?

Do people go their whole lives not standing still and gazing up into the bright blue sky through the tops of trees?

Do people go their whole lives not watching a fallen leaf float on top of a river until it is out of sight?

Do people go their whole lives not turning their face up to the sun, eyes closed, smiling and taking in the warmth?

Do people go their whole lives not stopping to watch a spider weave her web?

This...these moments in nature feeling connected to everything, knowing I am not alone, still, quiet, listening...

This is what I want for everyone,

This is my prayer.

~ Connecting to Our Core Values ~

~ Giving Tuesday – Donate Early ~

~ Wish List ~