Tag Archives: life

Restored and Renewed

Restored and Renewed

“The Early Bird,” circa 1979, colored pencil drawing by Felecia R. Weber, OntheWingofaDove.com

Restored and renewed – life worth living…experience a restorative grace that beckons renewal and refreshment.

“The reason birds can fly and we can’t is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings.”  J.M. Barrie, “The Little White Bird”

Restored and renewed – life worth living.  Do you ever question what your purpose in life is?  Do you ever wonder why your life is worth living?  Those are tough questions to answer when life begins to seem like one unending day full of mundane events, peppered with annoyances and issues that cause us a lot of grief.  Or when happy and exciting times start to fade into the background, collecting dust and getting shoved behind the curtains.  What does it take for us to answer them in positive ways?  What is it that causes us to reach beyond the ordinariness of our daily grind…to be restored and renewed – full of life worth living?

Now that the weather has suddenly changed from an almost frigid darkness to a warming brightness, I’ve noticed subtle changes that fill me with the hope and restorative power of spring.  I love to feed the wild birds that find their way to the tree in my front yard throughout the year.  The way they flutter around and gather at the feeder can mesmerize me for several minutes at a time.  During the winter months when wild food becomes scarce, it seems mealtimes at the bird feeder are feverishly hectic.  My little flock of feathered friends seem to frantically wait for me to fill the feeder every day.  Now, however, with the marked onset of warmer temperatures, they seem only to pick, taking a mouthful of seed here and there.  No longer desperate to find food, their frenzied chirps have turned into delicate, soothing melodies filling my ears with a restorative grace that beckons renewal and refreshment.

Like the wild birds feeding outside my home, when we are hungry for restoration and renewal deep within us, we hurriedly hop from one problem or crisis to another.  We try to resolve issues that never seem to end; only to become flustered in the process and not having accomplished anything.  It doesn’t have to be that way, for we need only to ask for help.  God is always there ready and willing to provide the answers and to abundantly supply our needs.  I can tell you this from experiences in my own life.  When I begin to flap my wings seemingly to no avail…I stop and, in faith and confidence, cry out to God for help.  He not only provides the answers, (and always in the most amazing ways, I might add), my heart is calmed and filled with a peace that only He can give.  During those times, I truly am restored and renewed – full of life worth living!

As we enter into this beautiful season, may you pause and seek God’s help…let His love provide the answers that you are seeking and cause you to be restored and renewed as well.

A happy Spring season to you!

Peace and love,

Felecia

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On Enjoying Life

On Enjoying life

on enjoying lifeA Quote to Carry You

March 9, 2015

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”  Eleanor Roosevelt

On enjoying life…I always feel more alive when I am heading in what seems like a zillion directions.  I move about faster, my mind thinks more sharply and clearly, and I have endless energy…I just can’t sit still!  I no sooner finish one activity than I am beginning the next!  Life, having a life bursting with purpose and meaning…that’s a big part of what makes it worth living!  I am on the brink of starting an exciting new chapter in my life and I have every intention of enjoying every bit of it!

What about you?  How are you experiencing life?  I challenge you to live your life as fully as possible…enjoy!

Peace and love,

Felecia

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On Companionship

On Companionship

companionshipA Quote to Carry You

February 2, 2015

“To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.”  Mark Twain

Having to adjust to living on my own, I know now more than ever before the true value of companionship.  I do not mean to diminish the treasures that can be found when we are alone. In fact, I believe that time spent by ourselves is essential.  But there is no denying that life becomes fuller when it is shared with someone else.  Not only do we get to experience life for ourselves, but we get to experience it through the love and caring that we receive from another.  Hmmm, it’s kind of like life…doubled!

Peace and love,

Felecia

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Where I Belong

where i belong

“Where I Belong,” photo graph by Felecia R. Weber 2014, OntheWingofaDove.com

 

Where I belong…there is much comfort and safety in truly knowing where that is…

I have been doing a lot of thinking about past times lately.  Given the new and difficult experiences I’ve had to face over these past several months, it appears as though my daily life has been turned upside down.   I am likely not alone when I say that I enjoy a certain degree of comfort and security in following a familiar routine, one where I have a good idea of what to expect from day to day.  It may sound odd, but now that each day has been a bit topsy-turvy, sometimes I honestly don’t know where I belong!

Where I belong…there is much comfort and safety in truly knowing where that is.  Yes, of course I know where that is in terms of who I belong to, my husband, my family; all of those whom I love dearly.  In terms of my daily life, however, sometimes the answer is unclear.  I am secure and confident in the many different roles that I play at home, work, church; handling those things that I am responsible for.  But when life takes me by surprise, when I am forced out of my comfort zone, then where do I belong?  The answer is clear…

“I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Where I belong is where my heart is…knowing that makes all the difference in the world.  My sense of belonging is complete when I am in the midst of the people and things that make my heart swell.  Being where I belong is more than a place; it is a state of being. It is when I feel a sense of vibrancy, calmness, safety, that no matter what is going on around me I know that being there is exactly where I am supposed to be.  It is not something that I’ve found on my  own, rather, it is where God has placed me…it is where I belong.

Peace to you,

Felecia

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Awakening

Awakening

“Madame X (Madame Pierre Gautreau),” Detail, 1883-84, John Singer Sargent. Image from a page of the 2013 Desk Calendar, courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Store

Awakening…a discovery, starting anew, a time full of vision and hope.

Awakening

From behind the curtain,

With boldness and grace,

She glides onto the stage…

Awakening

“How Beautiful!” “Gorgeous!” “So elegant!”

The audience applauds her appearance.

“Is it me they speak of, and not someone else?”

Awakening

She opens her mouth; all eyes are upon her.

Her words soothe their ears like a song.

“What I have said, do they truly understand?”

Awakening

The last line is spoken; she begins to take a bow.

A tear forms in her eye.

“Is this all there is?  Is this the end of the story?”

Awakening

Life can seem so empty when we expect too much.

Many times things are not what they seem.

Keep searching though, do not give up hope…

Seek  the truth…for it is there your light shall beam…

Awakening

Felecia R. Weber, OntheWingofaDove.com

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”  John 8:32

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A Quote to Carry You – October 14, 2013

A Quote to Carry YouA Quote to Carry You 

October 14, 1013

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Where I have been, where I am heading…the longer I live, the more I ponder such things.  Even more so, how what fills my mind fills my heart, and in turn, fills my life.  What lies within you? What shapes your thinking? What fills your heart?  It is my hope that they are the things that will provide you with everything that is good in life.

Peace,

Felecia

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9/11 A Tribute to Life

9/11 A Tribute to Life

“Tribute,” photograph by Felecia R. Weber, OntheWingofaDove.com

9/11 A Tribute to Life; may we always remember and may we always be grateful.

I have recently returned from a brief visit with my family during the Labor Day holiday weekend. My mind is full, my emotions tossing to and fro.  I am happy to have had a chance to visit with those whom I love so much, yet sad that the time is already behind me.  The old African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child,” comes to mind as I remember excerpts of my life; the experiences that I’ve had and the people who have influenced my life, helping to make me the person that I am today.  It is hard to fathom how many acquaintances intertwine in one person’s lifetime.  My, how precious life is and how fragile. Continue reading

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A Quote to Carry You

A Quote to Carry you (On the wing of a dove logo)A Quote to Carry You

July 8, 2013

 

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you have imagined.” Henry David Thoreau

By now, you may have noticed my fondness for quotes; those little nuggets of wisdom, humor, or just good common sense that I include in many of my posts.  I have collected many quotes over these past few years and I am eager to share them with you.  So, may I introduce to you a weekly series that I have chosen to call, “A Quote to Carry You.”  It is here that I hope you will find a bit of inspiration, encouragement, or whatever it is you may need to get your week off to a pleasant start.

As always, I encourage you to comment as often as you wish; I always look forward to hearing from you!

Peace,                                                                                                                                          Felecia


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