Thank you, Precious Friends, with all my heart, for every expression of birthday love.

I want to acknowledge a couple things. First, I seldom have a tough day. I stumble, but I stay on my feet. And in the process, I know the sweetness of hard work. And sometimes it doesn’t even feel like hard work. It feels more like, yes, I’m doing this! I feel the reward of growth before actually reaping it. That’s not so tough. And that describes my Sunday. I fell asleep crying, but it was a soul-searching, contemplative cry, not a sad cry.

And then there was Monday, my actual birthday. I could anticipate the sweetness of the pain, but I was hurting. And there were moments when the reward didn’t seem worth the pain. I knew it was, intellectually, but there were moments when I didn’t feel up to it.

On Tuesday, yesterday, I made this post: “My capacity for joy can’t exceed my capacity for pain. And so it is with a brave and grateful heart that I face both.”

By last night, I was reveling in love’s peace and joy again, the kind that always follows a good round of pain.

I don’t ever want to forget that pain is inherent in growth, empathy, and compassion.… More

You can’t really turn a frog into a prince. But you can mistake a prince for a frog! In fact, everybody is somebody’s prince! Don’t pass yours up because he doesn’t wear a crown.

Some men have yet to realize their royal blood. You can’t do it for them; but you may want to offer them a kiss, without getting too attached. Others don’t strut their crown; because they have nothing to prove. Try to see past the green and the crown to what’s inside.

What matters can’t be seen or touched. Don’t be fooled, though; as within, so without. Look for evidence of love!

~ Is he healthy and well groomed?
~ Is his home well cared for?
~ Is his mind nurtured by the truth?
~ Is his spirit free?

Every frog is awfully cute in his own right. Find one (male or female) that feels like going home, home to love.

Happy kissing! … More

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