Category Archives: Inspirations

Inspirational art, photo and writing collection relating to lifestyle themes.

Dag & Che – Getting Along

getting along

Meet Dag (left) & Che (right), the furry, four-legged “grand-dogs” of my dear friend Claudina (Dini) Owen

Dag & Che – getting along, that’s what they do; the two of them together, is a friendship tried and true!

“Don’t walk in front of me…I may not follow.  Don’t walk behind me…I may not lead.  Walk beside me…just be my friend.”  (Anonymous)

Dag & Che – Getting along

Dag & Che – getting along, that’s what they do.

The two of them together is a friendship tried and true!

getting along

Dag – Posing pretty!

getting along

Che – What a good boy!

Both Dag and Che have unique stories to tell,

But they are truly best pals, they get along so very well!

Dag can be feisty, but deep down she’s so very sweet.

getting along

Dag – All smiles …or snarls?

Che, is playful and one of the friendliest dogs you’ll ever meet.

getting along

Che – Chilaxin’!

Dag & Che – getting along, best friends they’ll always be.

The companionship they share shows how wonderful friendship can be!

getting along

Che (left) & Dag (right) – Always full of fun and mischief!

Poem by Felecia R. Weber 2015, OntheWingofaDove.com; photographs courtesy of Claudina (Dini) Owen

I had the pleasure of meeting these two four-legged friends a couple of months ago.  Both Dag and Che are rescue dogs, and the stories of how they both became welcomed  additions to Dini’s family are truly heartwarming.  There is no mistaking that both dogs have their own unique quirks and personalities; but getting along is something that they do so well!  I can see why their “grand-dog-mom” Dini loves them so much!

“Calling all dog lovers!”

If you have a four-legged furry friend that you’d like to have  featured in a  poem on my blog, email your cutest pictures and a short bio to me, Felecia at frosew04@gmail.com.

I hope to hear from you soon!

Peace and love,

Felecia

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On Respecting Others

On Respecting Others

respecting othersA Quote to Carry You

October 19, 2015

“So God created man in his image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”  Genesis 1:27

On respecting others – Respecting others goes far beyond getting along with them, or even being nice to them.  I believe that respecting others means to honor them as individuals, uniquely made, even when their views or behaviors represent something completely against what we believe or value.  To me, respecting others has less to do with a person’s actions, and more to do with the person’s value and worth as a human being. We’ve all been given the gift of life, a treasure bestowed upon each of us by God.  In that regard, each and every one of us is precious in his sight.  That being the case, shouldn’t we all, at the very least, go about respecting others?

“…the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life…”  Genesis 2:7

No matter what society says, we are all fundamentally equal.  After all, each of us enters into the world and exits from it in the same way.  God breathes life into us when we are conceived.  We take our first breath of air when we are born, and life escapes our physical bodies when we breathe our last.  The act of respecting others, honoring the dignity of each human life seems so basic.  Yet, according to the tragedies we hear of in the daily news, it is apparently one of the most difficult things to uphold.  It often makes me wonder why?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

I believe the answer lies within the lines of the above verse. When I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart as a child, I did not fully understand what an awesome sacrifice was made for me, and all mankind, to make it possible to receive not only a new life in him, but life eternal.  In essence, Jesus gave up his life for ours; the ultimate sacrifice, born out of love. The older I get, the  clearer and more important that truth has become to me.  If God so loved each and every one of us that he would demonstrate that love in such a way, isn’t all human life worth respecting?

Respecting others is something that calls for us to peer into our own hearts and face what lies within it.  For, all of us being equal, respecting others essentially means respecting ourselves.  When we value and love others as we do ourselves, just imagine how amazing life can be.

May your respect for others lead to loving others…and may that love lead to a life that is truly worth living.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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Enough

enough

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater‘s Linda Celeste Simms. Photograph courtesy of Andrew Eccles

Enough – Enough you say when you are at the end of your rope…

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you’…”  1 Corinthians 12:9

Enough

Enough you say when you are at the end of your rope,

When times become so tough that you simply cannot cope.

Enough you say when all you face is struggles and strife.

You ask,”How can I face another day of this life?”

When you reach that point when enough is enough,

That is when you realize nothing really needs to be that tough.

For God has promised to supply your every need;

And the flow of his provision, nothing on earth can impede.

Felecia R. Weber 2015, OntheWingofaDove.com

The past few weeks have been so full for me.  With working, traveling, devoting time to my creative projects, work around the house, ministries at church, and making time for my little dog Bilbo, not to mention trying to spend time with friends and family, sometimes I want to say “ENOUGH!”  No sooner do I think that, do I start to consider, do I really have enough?  Is what I have in my life enough to keep me going?  Believe it or not, sometimes I honestly don’t feel that it is.

Losing my beloved husband left a huge hole in my life.  The longer the time between his passing and the present grows, the more intensely I feel the resulting emptiness.  Granted, I know that the Lord’s will for my life is perfect and I do trust in him completely.  I must admit, however, I do sometimes find myself dwelling on what is absent rather what is present in my life.  I can tell you, without a doubt though, that I truly do not lack anything in my life, because indeed, God’s grace is sufficient.

This truth was lovingly illustrated to me earlier this afternoon. I was having one of those Saturday mornings when I was missing the ones when my husband and I would sleep in, slowly make our way down the stairs to the kitchen to make the morning coffee, enjoy a walk with our little Bilbo, taking in autumn’s beauty, and catching up talking and laughing about different activities that had filled our week..simple things really.   But, oh how mush I miss such times.  When I ventured out later in the day to collect the mail, the Lord gently reminded me that no matter what it is that I feel I am lacking in my life, what he provides at any given moment is all that I need.

As I sorted through the mail, I noticed an envelope that was from one of my dear aunts.  As I read the words that she had written in her letter to me, it was as though God was whispering words of comfort directly into my heart.  I could almost feel my tears being wiped from my eyes.  An indescribable sense of calmness came over me.  Although he has not removed my loneliness, my Heavenly Father showed me that no matter what I am going through, or how I am feeling, indeed, he is enough.

Sometimes we do not realize that enough is all that we need until we reach the point of saying “enough!”  It is only then that we understand that God is enough.

May his grace always be sufficient for you, because he is certainly all that you need.

Peace and love,

Felecia

 

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On Sufficiency

On Sufficiency

sufficiencyA Quote to Carry You

October 12, 2015

“The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.”  Vincent Van Gogh

On sufficiency – Sufficiency, having enough, is a wonderful thing.  It provides us with a sense of security and satisfaction.  After all, we do not know what tomorrow will bring, and what fills today’s hours are sufficient enough to see us through until we get there.  Living for today, however, does not mean just that…we do have a responsibility to prepare for what lies ahead in the future.  What I’ve just written sounds a bit contradictory, I know, but is it really?

There is a delicate balance between so many things in life…being full of worry and anxiety verses being concerned but walking in faith about a situation for example.  We walk the tightrope between trekking through today and stepping too far into tomorrow constantly…or at least I do.  Sometimes I have wandered so far into tomorrow that I feel I’ve already lived it and I’m ready to leap into the day after.  When I continue to forge ahead into the future, I find myself stumbling back to the present, often times frustrated and exhausted too.  Indeed, the principle of living on the sufficiency for the day proves to be the best way to maintain a sure-footed stride through today…and there is plenty left for tomorrow.

Walking in balance between today and tomorrow always seems to be the wisest way to go.  For when we strive always to do our best with what we are given today, I believe the results of our efforts will pave the way for a rewarding tomorrow.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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Why?

Why?

“Curiosity,” graphite pencil drawing by Felecia R. Weber 2005, OntheWingofaDove.com

Why?  Why am I living in this time and place?

“There are two great days in a person’s life – the day we are born and the day we discover why.”  William Barclay

Why?

Why do I say the things that I say/

Will they make a difference to others today?

Why am I living in this time and place?

Can I truly overcome the challenges that I face?

Why am I always searching, wanting to do more?

Will I have the courage to step through the next open door?

Why was I born, what is life’s purpose for me?

Will I ever discover who I am truly meant to be?

Felecia R, Weber 2015, OntheWingofaDove.com

Life is full of questions isn’t it?   Granted, they are not always as heavy as the ones I asked in my poem above, but surely we’ve all asked similar ones from time to time.  Given the life changing events that I’ve experienced recently, I find myself asking “why?” quite frequently.  Sometimes the answers are revealed to me quickly and quite obviously.  Yet there are many for which I am still seeking a response.

“Trust in the Lord and lean not onto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

I’ve come to realize that I may never know or understand the reasons for the “whys” in my life…and honestly, that’s okay.  When it comes to asking “why” I suppose the “who” is the more important question.  For I know that God holds all of the answers in my life…what more could I ask for?

When your heart is full of questions, who, what, and why, may you turn to the Lord God, for goodness, love and mercy you will always find in His reply.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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On the Unknown

On the Unknown

unknownA Quote to Carry You

October 5, 2015

“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear and the oldest and strongest of fears is the fear of the unknown.”  H .P. Lovecraft

On the unknown – October is a month that brings with it an air of mystery.  Not only does it seem to usher in the sharp contrast of noticeably shorter days and a heavier mask of darkness during the nighttime skies, the undressing of the leaves from the trees all combine to create an eeriness to nature’s canvass.  Lately, I have found myself not wanting to venture outdoors once the sun starts to set, and I’ve turned on more lights indoors than I have during the past months.  I seek out the warming comforts of a hot cup of tea and nestling down under heavy blankets or wrapping myself up in my cozy sweaters, as if to shelter myself from the wiles of the outdoors.  I never know what to expect from one day to the next…the blazing sunshine of an Indian Summer day can fade into a blustery snow squall seemingly overnight.

Fear of the unknown has a similar quality.  When we face new situations or volatile times, we become uneasy and seek out the comfort of familiarity.  The unknown, no matter if it is something as common as the weather or as major as a life altering event, the mystery and uncertainty of not knowing what’s ahead can be frightening.

There is one sure way to face the unknown with confidence and security…his name is Jesus.  When we cast our cares upon him, the unknown becomes known, because he will reveal it to you perfectly in his timing and in his way.  When we yield to his love and care, there is nothing that we will ever face that he hasn’t already equipped us to handle.

“Fear not tomorrow, for God is already there.” Author Unknown

When the mystery and fear of the unknown threaten to creep into your comfort zone, may you always step out in the boldness of knowing that our Lord has already cleared the way…you need only follow him.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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A Beautiful Harvest

beautiful harvest

“Camille Monet in the Garden at Argenteuil,” 1876, Claude Monet. Image from a page of the 2015 Desk Calendar, courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store

A Beautiful Harvest…the magnificent gift that you are to others never fades…

“For you created my innermost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.   I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”  Psalm 139:13-14

A Beautiful Harvest

Just think of how tiny you were, not much more than a thought.

Like a tiny seed that sprouts the most delicate leaves;

You were formed hidden in darkness…then you were born…

A beautiful harvest

As you began to grow and explore this amazing world,

Like petals of a flower, your talents began to blossom.

Your fragrance enhanced the world as only you can…

A beautiful harvest

As you matured through the seasons of your life,

Facing the storms, embracing the sun, enduring the harsh cold.

The magnificent gift that you are to others never fades…your life…

is a beautiful harvest

Felecia R. Weber 2015, OntheWingofaDove.com

I love to nurture my garden and watch it grow as it changes from season to season.  It’s so exciting to see how a single blossom starts out as a tiny spec, pinched closed so tightly that it is hard to determine what type of flower it will become.  Then, little by little, as each bud absorbs all that it needs from the brilliance of the sun above, and the rich nutrients of the earth below, until they unfold into the most magnificent flowers.  When my garden is fully adorned with its colorful bouquets, indeed it brings forth a beautiful harvest.

I believe that a similar beautiful harvest happens, when we surrender our hearts over to an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.  In the quietness of the soul, a miraculous transformation takes place.  There, through the work of the Holy Spirit, like seeds in nature, our hearts are reborn, nurtured and matured.  In time, the beautiful harvest of what God has planted within us is revealed to the world.

May you consider yielding your heart over to Jesus Christ…and may what he plants within you produce a beautiful harvest to share with those around you.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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On Planting Seeds

On Planting Seeds

planting seedsA Quote to Carry You

September 28, 2015

“Every problem has in it the seeds of its own solution.  If you don’t have any problems, you don’t get any seeds.”  Norman Vincent Peale

On planting seeds – Every season brings with it winds of change.  With every change comes a host of challenges.  I believe how we choose to deal with challenges that enter into our lives, determines how we’ll succeed at overcoming them.  No matter how large or small a problem has the potential of becoming, once the seed is planted, the way we prepare and sustain ourselves through it, determines whether we will harvest a bunch of weeds or a beautiful bouquet of wild flowers.

This concept makes me think of how I go about preparing for the transition from summer into autumn.  As a crispness fills the air, and the days grow shorter, these changes in nature remind me of the harsh weather that is sure to follow in a few months time.  As I spend time deep cleaning my home and packing away the lighthearted leisure of summer, I begin focusing on the contrasting heartiness of autumn, filling the rooms with the deep, earth tones that it brings.  I begin pulling out sweaters and jackets to shelter myself from the daytime chilliness and layer myself with blankets to keep warm when the briskness of the cooler nights bites.

I liken all of these things to planting seeds that stout and grow, enabling me to face an entirely new environment as the new season continues to move in.  Like fertilizing and watering soil for healthy plants to develop, knowing that I have prepared for the transition of one season to the next, somehow gives me a sense of comfort and security that an abundant harvest brings.  When I am confident that I have everything in order and ready for the coming months of seasonal change, I can truly enjoy all of the beauty that blossoms and surrounds me.

Like summer fading into fall, when we get through one challenge, another one is there awaiting our attention.  When the winds of change begin to blow in your direction, may you go about planting seeds that will yield a most enjoyable and magnificent bounty for you.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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