It has been a serendipitous kind of a day...

It has been a serendipitous kind of a day...

But it didn't start that way.

I woke up tired and it didn't take long for the frustration to kick in which was quickly followed by annoyance. And after a less than stellar drive to school, I dropped my kids off and tried to do some breath work on the drive home, to no avail.

I forced myself to sit and journal despite the annoyed state I was in and as I journaled, I realized I what I truly wanted some encouragement (and love). Quickly a part of me, said "start with yourself. If you want others to encourage you, you must start with yourself". And so, I set the intention to move a bit slower today and to not rush from one thing to the next. As I prepared to sit down and start my work, a small bird perched itself on my window and looked at me for several moments and then flew away.

I felt the annoyance began to wane.

About an hour later, while I was returning a phone call, there was something about the woman I was speaking with that just put me at ease. She was so grateful for so many things and as we finished our call, she said "thank you for encouraging me and giving me hope. And I pray you are encouraged today as well."

I was taken aback.

I shared briefly that I had asked for encouragement this morning and she quickly mentioned the Emily Dickson poem, "Hope is the thing with feathers".

Hope is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul,

And sings the tune without the words,

And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;

And sore must be the storm

That could abash the little bird

That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,

And on the strangest sea;

Yet, never, in extremity,

It asked a crumb of me.

Today was a beautiful reminder, that you cannot receive what you do not ask for.

Are you asking clearly for what you want?