Thank you for addressing the shortening days. The older I get, I’m more bothered by the shorter days and longer nights. Darkness can breed sadness, regrets and fears and this prayer is just what I need. Thank you for blessing me this season of waning daylight.
I’m definitely noticing the shorter days more, and I hadn’t connected the noticing to the aging process, but you have made a good point, and I’m super happy that the letter landed at a good time for you!
Michele, what a beautiful post! For most of my life I have dreaded (too strong a word, but strongly disliked) the encroaching darkness. Everything about light is symbolic to me. Yet at the same time, I embrace the coziness, the drawing indoors. My Norwegian ancestors prepared for the season of short days (VERY short in Norwegian winters) with lots of candles, warm throws, firewood - what we do as well. I have also used "happy lights" to reset my metabolism, having suffered with SAD a great deal when I was younger. Thank you for your thoughtful and well chosen words!
And thank you for reading! I am already enjoying the little white lights in my windows--and this morning the car doors were frozen shut, so I guess we’re beginning...
Love the way that prayer addresses universal needs and blankets everyone with blessing. When I can't sleep, I often recite uplifting scripture, like Romans 8 or Psalm 103. Often I wake up later in the night and realize I never finished!
We notice the darkness of the late afternoons. I keep a blanket on the couch in the living room to keep myself ward. Today, it is raining and chilly. When I finish this, I am going to make myself a cup of hot chocolate and then crawl under the couch blanket and take a nap. Every one is noticing the blah weather and the coldness of the rain.
Who would have guessed how dark it would become when you penned this post friend. Here's to healing and hope and peace for you and yours in Maine. He is able.
There are nights my prayer goes for hours
And no Amen, right?
#neversayamen 😉
Thank you for addressing the shortening days. The older I get, I’m more bothered by the shorter days and longer nights. Darkness can breed sadness, regrets and fears and this prayer is just what I need. Thank you for blessing me this season of waning daylight.
I’m definitely noticing the shorter days more, and I hadn’t connected the noticing to the aging process, but you have made a good point, and I’m super happy that the letter landed at a good time for you!
Michele, what a beautiful post! For most of my life I have dreaded (too strong a word, but strongly disliked) the encroaching darkness. Everything about light is symbolic to me. Yet at the same time, I embrace the coziness, the drawing indoors. My Norwegian ancestors prepared for the season of short days (VERY short in Norwegian winters) with lots of candles, warm throws, firewood - what we do as well. I have also used "happy lights" to reset my metabolism, having suffered with SAD a great deal when I was younger. Thank you for your thoughtful and well chosen words!
And thank you for reading! I am already enjoying the little white lights in my windows--and this morning the car doors were frozen shut, so I guess we’re beginning...
Love the way that prayer addresses universal needs and blankets everyone with blessing. When I can't sleep, I often recite uplifting scripture, like Romans 8 or Psalm 103. Often I wake up later in the night and realize I never finished!
That’s certainly one of the fringe benefits of memorizing scripture. It’s handy even when the lights are off!
Love it! Thanks.
I appreciate your reading and your input!
I did but probably should go back to it. Tnx.
I dread those first few weeks of the time change. (When are they going to drop it??) I will copy that prayer and try to memorize it. Thanks Michele.
Did you read Tish Harrison Warren’s Prayer in the Night? It’s really a commentary on this prayer and it is SO good!
We notice the darkness of the late afternoons. I keep a blanket on the couch in the living room to keep myself ward. Today, it is raining and chilly. When I finish this, I am going to make myself a cup of hot chocolate and then crawl under the couch blanket and take a nap. Every one is noticing the blah weather and the coldness of the rain.
Hot chocolate and a warm blanket sounds like excellent planning to me.
Thanks for reading, Cecilia!
Love this! It’s getting darker here in Oklahoma, too.
I’m determined to get outside for as long as I can! I’m noticing that the brightness of the leaves shines more against a gray sky!
Who would have guessed how dark it would become when you penned this post friend. Here's to healing and hope and peace for you and yours in Maine. He is able.
I had no idea...
It does serve to put the seasonal challenges in perspective.
It’s a beautiful prayer.
And it’s good for my heart to hear about people like you who love the cozy aspects of the season.