MAY NEWSLETTER 2015
BE
THANKFUL
Inspirationally
received by Alysia Pape
People often
complain about the things they do not have. They complain they do not have
bigger bank accounts, a nicer and/or bigger house, a fancy and/or new car, or
expensive distractions like boats, jewelry, lots of new clothes every season,
and many other things. They want more, it's always more. They want a summer
vacation, they want a raise at their job, and they want and want.
Spiritism
teaches that there are reasons why we get what we get in this life, and why we
do not get EVERYTHING we want. We all have done wrong in past lives, but the
point I am making simply is that people often forget to thank God for all the
things that they DO have.
I thank my
family, my spirit guides and God for all the care, love, generosity, support,
reminders and much more I get from them all. God gives us what we need not
necessarily what we want, and only God can truly know what we need. I thank my
spirit guides for helping me with difficult decisions and situations and for
helping me to sustain my faith, strength, and trust in God.
I thank God
for the vehicle that I do have and that is doesn't break each day. I thank God
for the home that I do have when others have less or no home. I thank God that
my home and vehicle also does not need repairs and that God keeps them safe
from vandals or thieves every day.
I thank God my
loved ones, here incarnated, that their health remains good, and if they are
sick that they do not get any worse. I thank God for the care of loved ones
that have passed on to the spirit world.
I thank God
for those leaders of this planet that keep their focus on helping the people,
keeping peace, and advancing this planet to make it a better place.
There are many
things to ask for, and to complain about, but make sure you thank God for what
you do have and ask God for what you need. But, always remember Gods knows what
is best and we can only ask, never demand or expect anything.
NEWS: KARDEC’S SPIRITIST
MAGAZINE
The Revue Spirite or Spiritist Review – Journal of Psychological Studies for the year
1858, originally in French, has been for the first time translated into English
and is available for English speakers.
It can be bought
on www.amazon.com where the description there
states: “The Spiritist Review was
written and published by Allan Kardec from January 1858 to April 1869. In total
there are 136 monthly issues of the Review,
bundled in volumes of 12 issues per year, yielding 12 volumes….” And these show
“the evolution of Kardec’s thought” during the research which formed the principles
of Spiritism.
The United States Spiritist Council
announced the 1859 translation will soon follow. Wonderful! - Y.L.
PATIENCE
Inspirationally
received by Yvonne C. Limoges
Patience is calm, sure, and with it one has
the ability to take life as it comes, one day at a time.
Impatience can cloud the mind; distort
thinking, and raise unwarranted fears, cause dissension, frustration, and
agitation.
Impulsiveness can lead to inappropriate
decisions with regretful repercussions and strong emotions can cloud judgment.
What can help us with the inner conflict,
that back and forth confusion, between what one thinks and what one’s strong
emotions feel?
Time; and how we view and experience it!
Over time, what is true and good, will survive.
So, be patient; what will be, will be –
especially those important events in our lives (many we planned prior to
reincarnating) that will occur through the force of things, in good and perfect
timing.
Try daily to balance the emotions and passions
of the heart and the reason of the mind, by allowing both plenty of time to
unfold peacefully, trying to keep oneself in an inner state of spiritual
equilibrium.
EMOTIONS
Written by Narciso Trevilatto
... it is difficult to select and discipline thoughts… but they
are what generate conflict or peace, joy or
sadness, enthusiasm or apathy, or indifference or hope…take care of your mind...
INFLUENCES
Written by Julie L. Harper
It
is important to stay focused within one's true character.
Outside
influences, whether by a human or spirit entity, can persuade one towards detrimental
behavior in order to meet a self-serving motive.
Affects
may result in one not feeling and/or behaving like him or her-self.
You
may avoid uncharacteristic actions and unwanted results. Know thyself and
practice prayers of protection to maintain personal grace and integrity.
Since
every action has a like consequence, let each act be true to your good
character.
GROWTH
Written by Julie L. Harper
Life
is eternal and each of us is on a personal journey of expansion in spiritual
growth.
Progress
by good thoughts, words and deeds to elevate your being and your soul…
The
condition of your existence depends upon the condition of your being.
Grow
by betterment to elevated integrity and greater happiness.
BALANCE
Written by Narciso
Trevilatto
... keeping our mind at a high [moral]
level is healthy for our spiritual and physical health.
HOW WE VIEW OTHERS
Written by Jacira Jacinto Da Silva
Looking around
us, wherever we may be: at home, work,
in the street, in charity with a community of neighbors, in the park, at the
Spiritist center, at school, etc., no matter the place, we will always see,
hear,
or feel something
that we do not agree with. There is no one place in the land on which two
people see, feel and think the exact same thing or way…
We are definitely
different. And, the difference is fundamental to give flavor to life, because
it wouldn't make any sense to just repeat what the other does; perpetuating a
habit, a way of being, of dressing, of developing, in the end freezing
knowledge. It is precisely the differences that alert us of others’ possibilities,
arouses our curiosity, impel us towards change…
Paradoxically,
however, we reject differences, at least those that come from people, to our
eyes, below us; the least beautiful,
less intellectual, [those with] less purchasing power, the less recognized, the
less famous, all human beings who are “worth less” seen by any angle of our
cloudy vision; [seemingly] they do not deserve our full respect.
And, so if there
is any doubt of our dissatisfaction with that other [type of] human being, we are
also bothered by those who are above us.
Perhaps out of envy, insecurity, lack of confidence in our own potential, we
have difficulty identifying the value that promoted their ascension; therefore,
our eyes get bigger looking to find, all and any possibility to “justify” the
success of these, without recognizing their possible value.
I thought it
necessary to make this reflection to try to understand the reason why we always
are making compensation regarding the defects of things and people. Always we
take into consideration the defects, errors and failures, usually for evaluating
our teachers, bosses, mayors, governors or presidents, authorities, neighbors,
friends, husbands and wives, parents, brothers and sisters. It is true that
many times we recognize some value…but mainly,
the focus of attention is on their weaknesses.
Perhaps the
explanation for this human uniqueness could be found if we understood that we
see in each other in what we are, therefore, in others, we reflect our own feelings,
values and emotions.
The Spiritist
philosophy offers a particularly significant contribution to improve our
relationship with each other, revealing the importance of humanism within its
ethical domain…the best proposal seems to be tireless investment in people.
The Spiritist
philosophy exalts the human being; it works with its reality, its existence and
realization.
Spiritist thought
continues its projection of growth beyond physical death…
Us Spiritists
should be even more committed to the duty of providing for the improvement of
people under all aspects; obviously, in
the first place starting with ourselves…
For this reason,
the promotion of education in its greatest dimension is urgent.
There can be no
greater fountain of learning than that of the laws of Nature; just solely
thinking about reincarnation offers endless opportunities to redo a process,
restart a path, and revise concepts.
But, while the
natural law of evolution pushes us forward towards the new, to overcoming, we often
stop at the old… as prisoners of crystallized convictions and without
sufficient openness to see the new…
Therefore, we
form a paradoxical world in which the most ingenious humans do not know how to
enjoy every day simple life experiences; the fortunate ones often abdicate
everything to just wander through life; and those who have nothing, smile and
sing, celebrating life…
(Extract from the
Spain’s 2015 April/June Issue of the Spiritist Flame from the Portuguese
in Abertura, no. 299, May 2014, in Santos, Brazil and translated into Spanish by Pura Argelich.
The Spanish translated into English by Yvonne C. Limoges. In the above article,
there are many points to ponder. – Y.L.)
RENEWAL
Written
by Narciso Trevilatto
…evolution always
pushes us, inviting us to leave old values when NEW VALUES, IF BETTER,
ARISES...
OPINION:
on MANNERS
Written
by Alysia Pape
My whole life has been built on a solid
foundation of family-supports-family and having manners. We, my brother and I,
used to get slightly dressed up to go and visit my great-grandparents when I
was little. We would sit still and we would not speak unless spoken too, we
simply behaved like quiet well behaved children. We didn't run around yelling,
making loud noises and messing up their house, or crying because we didn't get
cookies. We said “please” and “thank you” every chance we got. We would say “thank
you” when they invited us to come into their house.
Even when we visited our grandparents or if
our grandparents babysat us when we were little, we still behaved fairly well.
If not, the good old smack on the butt would have worked, but they didn't need
to do that. All they had to do was give you that, “I'm not proud of you or
happy with you, you should know better” look, and we would normally straighten
right up.
But, as time has gone on as it does, new young
children have come along, that should know better, but appear to be less and
less behaved, and they actually say “no” to their parents and grandparents!
Saying that to a grandparent would be the equivalent to the very definition of
the word disrespectful and ungrateful.
Let's take a look at the definitions for those who may
have forgotten what these two words mean...
Disrespectful: discourteous, ill-bred, ill-mannered, impolite, insolent, rude, uncivil, ungracious, unmannerly, unpolished.
It seems to me
that a lot of the behaviors of children growing up nowadays seem to fit into
these two word categories.
However, maybe
it's not all the child's fault either. Perhaps the parents of these small human
beings growing-up, have not taught their children how to be respectful and
grateful. If that is the case, perhaps the parents need a reminder that these
things are needed to live life smoothly among society. It is more challenging
for one to live if one is rude and thankless, then when one is courteous and
appreciative.
Either way, I
very much miss the old days when children behaved more or got a timeout. I miss
eating in a quiet restaurant; I do not miss eating across from a screaming kid
that wants ice cream with their dinner, with their already generous parents
taking them out to eat at all.
In general, manners
seem to have been slowly forgotten. I whole
heartily hope you who are taking the time to read this, can help bring some
kindness and manners back into this
world.
God only asks…that you do
your best in all you do!
A
PRAYER
Written
by Yvonne C. Limoges
During the long
transition of this planet from one of trials and tribulations to one of regeneration,
we pray for those who suffer…those who are treated unjustly in any way; those
affected by natural disasters; those who are afflicted by mental or physical illnesses,
disabilities and/or pain; those who grieve inconsolably for loved ones who have
passed on; those who suffer humiliations, who are fearful or insecure; those in
the throes of addiction; those without hope in prisons; those who suffer hunger, thirst, homelessness,
torture, the brutality of violence, and the ravages of war.
May all gather within
themselves the moral courage they need, if not to completely triumph over, but
at least to steadily support their sufferings; we Spiritists know they have a just cause. Also, we are never alone in
our sufferings. The purpose of material life is to evolve and purify our souls,
which as we advance ever higher, provides for a much happier future each and
every life time. So have faith and hope! AMEN
**************************************
Edited by Yvonne Crespo Limoges, Director
E-mail: ylimoges@aol.com
Spiritist Society of Florida
5042
22 Avenue North,
St.
Petersburg, Florida 33710
Website: www.spiritistsocietyfl.com
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