Author: rkcdlitt

retired literature and writing professor; I write spiritual, meditative, and prayerful blogs. My life is devoted to prayer and healing prayer for all I meet.

Love is the Given Gift

by rkcdlitt

In our relationship with God, In our relationships with each other, we have nothing to offer, because we have nothing of our own. We are born with nothing, and that is the way we die, Except for one important element in our lives. One very important gift Is what is given by God. This is love. It is the gift that we cannot keep! It is ours only to share, to spread far and wide in the world we inhabit. When a helping hand is needed, we give it; any way we can.
Unlike God, we may not have Heaven and Earth to share or promise, but we do have Love, God’s built-in attention of our hearts and intentional love of our insufficient human brains that carry us to help each other in times of need. These make up the Love of the Given Gift of God.

©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.

If you are inspired, read my latest book.

Photo by Roman Apaza on Pexels.com

Our Troubles lead to Hope

by rkcdlitt

Now that we have already broken most of our new year’s resolutions, let’s take a look at our lives and honest virtues that are always with us. First and foremost, we have our family. And we all have a family that nurtures us. Our traditional family, we all know about, but for too many of us, a non-traditional family that also is one of support and love, lives on the streets of our towns and cities. They too have their codes of friendship and family, one of hidden love and support. But do not despair the love of God is always with us and the darkness is not permanent. Regardless of what our life circumstance is faith and virtue can be and are ours to live and love. Fear and doubt can be left behind by the faith and love of the ever-present love of God leading us through the tunnels of darkness to a full life of meaning. A life of struggle and doubt at times, yes; but a life that is always a life of faith, virtue, and always, love.
©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.

If you are inspired, read my latest book.

Photo by Griffin Wooldridge on Pexels.com

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Dark hours

by rkcdlitt

In the dark hours of the wee morning, I lie awake thinking of the day ahead. The weatherman promises more snow tonight; great, that means the plows will pile more at the end of my driveway, freezing me in the cave called my home. But I fear not, that is my protective moat, keeping the forces of the dark knight from overtaking my castle of brightness and light. The barricade of snow at the end of my driveway is God’s protection against all evil forces trying to take the life from my 81-year-old bones. So, I rise from my bed, step into my armor of my walker, proudly strut to my weapon of choice, open my computer, and face the morning, ridding my fears of the darkest hours. I say to you all, “May God walk before you on the day, predicted of snowfall; may your shield of armor protect you from all the evil forces from the dark hours of your life, and may you always walk with love and peace filling your heart and flowing from your lips.”
©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.

If you are inspired, read my latest book.

2 responses to “Dark hours”

  1. Cathy J. Stiltner Avatar
    Cathy J. Stiltner

    That was really good. I guess I am not the only one blocked by the road plowers. I am praying I can get out before I run out of food. I have a handicapped son who loves to eat! Thank you for this. I enjoyed reading it. I know God is with me and grateful for it.

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  2. Liz Sampson Avatar
    Liz Sampson

    Very well written. A storyteller indeed

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Life is Good

by rkcdlitt

In the spiritual adventure of what we call life we discover that our life is like a drop of water in God’s eternity. With our family and friends always walking beside us, catching us when we falter, we are always assured that we are on the safe and treasured path that God has given is yesterday, today and tomorrow, allowing us to walk in His grace. When we forever take God’s Love and Grace as our everyday mantra, we treat all whom we meet with love and peace in our hearts and on our lips.
Truly, Life is Good.

©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.

If you are inspired, read my latest book.

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Restless Minds and Restful Hearts

by rkcdlitt

Each day we rise to new challenges we think that only we can solve. Then things begin to not work out the way we want; we become restless; our minds begin to run in all different directions running amok before we know it. We must keep alert and not allow this to spread to our hearts, keep firm in our faith, in ourselves and in our faith in the God that is within us giving the strength to get through the “amok” days, because we know they won’t last. God that is deep within us always. . . gives us a new hope, today, tomorrow, and every single day of this new year that is upon us.
©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.

If you are inspired, read my latest book.

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Love (God) Casts Out All Fear

by rkcdlitt

I was raised in a wealthy family, but not how you think. My father took a train to work every morning (we owned no car). My mother arose at four AM every morning to work in a bakery across the street from our third-floor apartment in which we lived. My sister and I walked to school every day carrying our deluxe lunches of lettuce and mayonnaise sandwiches. My father always told us before he left for work that God loves and protects us, and we should not be afraid of anything as we go to school. It was a code we were taught to live by.
That was over 70 years ago. I have had a very good life, a sometimes-rough life, but a good life. My wife and I (together 57 years) live quietly, enjoy our children and grandchildren and occasionally get the chance to travel. My father was correct, God does not expect us to go it alone. Every time I fell, God was behind me to help me get back on my feet. With love of both God, my wife, and a lot of hard work, we gave life with lots of love to a healthy family hopefully raised in the old-fashioned way.
As we begin a new year, we see our world as a very scary dangerous world. I see the headlines and there are no safe places to hide from those who want to do harm to whomever is in the way. New Orleans, Arizona, Virginia; individuals or groups have the intent to do harm to innocent people everywhere. My only defense is an offense, and that is to have love and peace in my heart and on my lips at all times, and to know that Love casts out all fears. So, trust God. You are not alone. God loves you.

©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.

If you are inspired, read my latest book.

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A New Year

by rkcdlitt

Here it is, the end of another year! As true with all years, we have had to climb a few hills, but we also had some smooth paths to walk also. Generally, God has been good to us. As we approach the new year let us all keep on the path that God has paved for us. Greet others with a smile and share with them God’s love. Know your own heart and its ability to grow every time you meet others. Be in good health and trust your instincts; God put them there for a reason.

©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.

If you are inspired, read my latest book.

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It Just Makes My Heart Want to Sing

by rkcdlitt

It’s December 26th. Our small family celebration of Christmas has peacefully passed; my brother-in-law returns home tomorrow, and my grandson returns to college on Saturday. It was truly two days of love, arguments, and love. We exchanged gifts in good humor, many were frivolous jokes, grinch related, but there were serious gifts also.
My daughter prepared two feasted feeding many more than six people could eat, but somehow we ate it all. Of course, my brother-in-law will take some back home, and my grandson will have much for his coffers on returning to college.
I did notice one oddity: my highly successful iron-willed daughter and my steel-secured wife were disagreeing about basic things and mothers and daughters often (replace: always) do. This so much reminded me how much my young successful iron-willed wife and her steel-secured mother were constantly disagreeing over every insignificant detail possible.
Family, ah, family, we ain’t perfect, but we are all love. It just makes my heart want to sing!

©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.

If you are inspired, read my latest book.

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God’s Beautiful Child

by rkcdlitt

So misunderstood,
yes; . . . but loved by God!
In his lack of misunderstood grace,
his genius hidden by disability,
and feared by those he seen,
but shines through to those
who take stop to wait,
to listen to offer. . . God’s Love
to this beautiful man.

©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.

If you are inspired, read my latest book.

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I Wish You Happiness

by rkcdlitt

Gracious and Loving God,
I open our minds to the goodness
and strength You bring in our lives.
When we searched for beauty
You blessed us with human warmth and Love.
Poured us aplenty with doses of blessed goodness and strength.
You created within us a compassionate
presence that is so much greater than ourselves,
so much greater than our imaginations
could ever take us on our own.
It is then that I remember
God steps forth as the loving arms of Mother.
Giving us true happiness.

©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.