Peace is a Gift
by Elouise
Nurture peace in your heart—
Welcome and savor it
Cultivate it
Water it
Let it rest
Give it space
Take its time for your time
Wrap it around your body yourself
Your shawl becomes you—
Blue as the heavens
Green as the garden
Brown as the good earth
Living, fragile
Strong, unpredictable
Invasive and healing
Tiny alpine flowers
Silken threads of peace
Woven into mortal beauty
Whispers of heaven
***
Peace is a gift waiting to be discovered. Not ‘out there,’ but inside my heart. Sometimes I lock it away. Give it up for dead. Crowd it out because of fear, sorrow or disbelief. Throw up my hands and let it go as an unrealistic dream.
Other times I want someone to hand me peace on a platter. But peace won’t come from anyone else. It’s already in me, waiting to be re-discovered and cared for. Not once or twice, but as often as needed.
Some people talk about their prayer shawls. I want a ‘peace shawl.’ An outer reminder of an inner reality that’s mine when I’m willing to care for it. No matter what’s going on in my inner or outer world.
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 13 August 2016
Photo of Alpine Flowers found at WallpaperWeb.org
Telling the Truth 
Amen. Just beautiful, Elouise. Thank you. It’s good to have this expression of you back “on-line”!
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You’re welcome, Debbie. It’s so good to be back!
Elouise 🙂
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beautiful piece Elouise 🙂 ❤
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Thank you kindly, Kim.
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Thank you for these lovely thoughts. I think of you often.
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You’re so welcome, Debbie. I hope all is well.
Elouise
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It’s a gift indeed.
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Herminia, It’s so good to hear from you again! I hope all is well. Thanks for the comment.
Elouise
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” But peace won’t come from anyone else. It’s already in me, waiting to be re-discovered and cared for. Not once or twice, but as often as needed.”
How beautiful and true. Have you forgotten your prayer shawl is your peace shawl because conversation with God is the only true peace? Love, Aunt Leta
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Hi, Leta. Thanks for your comments. Though I don’t disagree with you, I find that for me, the reality of peace isn’t always linked to conversation with God, or even listening for God’s voice. I find peace when I accept who I am and the situation in which I find myself, without falling into fatalism or apathy. Peace comes when I discover there’s more within my own world of choices and behaviors than I thought. It isn’t quick or easy, and, to be sure, God is in this. Yet the choice to look within and then nurture what I find there is mine alone. In some ways, I think of it as a conversation I must have with myself, especially when things are chaotic within and without.
I do hope you and Waldo are doing well.
Love, Elouise
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Apparently our different points of view are the results of our different backgrounds. I was raised in a home experiencing approval and love. Because my earthly father loved me, I learned early in life that my Heavenly Father loves me. When the Bible taught me I was created in the image of The Father, as I grew spiritually, I gradually came to understand that God doesn’t merely want our service, He wants each individual. (Psalm 37:4) Gradually as I was struggling to learn to pray, I eventually realized my identity was bound in Christ and prayer was conversation with The Father.
Many times when times are rough, I remind myself and others, ” I may not know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future.” Therefore why should I worry? See Mathew 6:25-30. Also John quoted Jesus as saying, “My Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27).
Therefore, all I need for peace is to put my trust in Jesus. He has shown us He is the final conqueror and if we belong to Him, we are on the winning side. If I look inward and find Jesus, I find peace.
There are many references reminding us God is not the author of chaos: “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” (I Corinthians 15:33.) Therefore, if there is chaos my struggle is to re-focus on Jesus. I’m falling asleep, so must go.
WT and I are slowly regaining our strength, thank you for asking. Love, Aunt Leta.
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Dear Leta,
Thanks for this additional comment. You have most certainly been through tough times in your life. I’m happy to hear what has brought peace into your struggles and hard places. Life is sometimes chaotic. I appreciate hearing the wisdom of your experience. I’m also grateful to hear you and Waldo are regaining your strength, though slowly. I understand the ‘slowly’ part, and pray for patience perseverance for each of you–and cheer you on from the sidelines.
Love and hugs,
Elouise
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