Shannon's Pearls

Shannon Lewis,
Her Pearls of Wisdom....

Here is my sage advice...

"Do not waste time worrying about things that are out of your control." Invest that energy on your kids, your marriage or yourself. Worrying gives you wrinkles.

I try and live my life by this. That's why I look so young!!

Diana's Pearls

Diana Buono,
Her Pearls of Wisdom....

I am a happily married woman of 19 years with three loving children ranging in age from 7 to 16 years old.

My faith and love of God are the driving forces in my life and permeate all that I attempt to do to give Him glory. The foundation of which is to live by the “Golden Rule” which is, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Translated for each of my children since they were toddlers as,

“Treat other people the way you want to be treated.”

I am a Type A person with a running to do list always in my head. I've noticed that sometimes I get so caught up in my agenda of accomplishments that I plan to make for the day that I lose sight of living in the moment and being open to the non-agenda "obstacles" that are frequently placed in my path. I've come to learn that it is good to have a tentative plan for the day that is flexible enough to be open to God's will and agenda as well. The following quote from a Lenten reflection book this year really sealed my commitment to strive to live this daily:

"Life is not so much about what we accomplish but what God does in us with our consent."

I also begin my morning with the following personal prayer in the fervent hope each day that, as Ralph Waldo Emerson so beautifully stated in his poem about a measure of success being, if “even one life has breathed easier” because He chose to use me as his instrument.

Dear Lord, Please bless me with an abundance of all the gifts of the Holy Spirit that I need today to be a better daughter to you, a better wife to my husband, a better mother to my children and a better friend to my neighbor. Help me to see the world through your eyes so that I may have the proper spiritual perspective to do Your will in all situations I encounter. Please grant this through the Immaculate Heart of your mother Mary on whose intercession I continually rely for help. Amen.

Joanne's Pearls

Joanne Darcy,
Her Pearls of Wisdom….

Here's what I live by...

"Don't worry about things you have no control over". Why waste good energy worrying, if something I have no control over is going to happen, it will happen whether or not I worry about it.

JoanneDarcy
Country Fair
www.CountryFair.us

Karen's Pearls

Karen Johnson,
Her Pearls of Wisdom....


[The first women I contacted about "her pearls of wisdom" were my family members and my sister. Karen is a nurse and works at Bay State Medical Center in the quality assessment department. ]


"this too shall pass" - I use this one often to remind myself that a difficult period in time will pass and things will get better.

It seems whenever I am feeling particularly sorry for myself or my situation - God puts me right in the path of someone who clearly has it much worse than I. I can't tell you how often I am walking through the halls of the hospital enjoying my own pity party when around the corner comes a critically ill child or grieving family. I always say, "Thanks God, I got it". As George, my husband, says, you don't have to look very far to find someone who is having a harder time than you. It is sometimes hard for me to remember, so I am always grateful when God reminds me.

Doing something for someone makes me feel better too. Sometimes I pay for someone's coffee in the cafeteria line and then there is always the Christmas Family and the foster kids we buy for- At work we also buy back to school stuff for the school across the street from the hospital - the inner city kids at Lincoln school would not have school supplies without our help. We send supplies to the troops in Iraq, and collect for collegues that are having a tough time, etc, etc-

Pearl of Wisdom Card #1

Download the first Pearl of Wisdom Card, a PDF you can print out and keep for your inspiration. Check back periodically for new cards, which will feature the best of Her Pearls of Wisdom.

First Pearls....

I felt it only appropriate to begin "Her Pearls Of Wisdom" with a pearl from my Auntie Joann, who passed just three short weeks after the birth of my daughter Grace Sarah Rose.

She was an amazing women who seemed to be able to shed God's shining light on the darkest hours. When I first began my business at the young age of 22 years old, my family was cautiously optimistic for my success. It was my Auntie Jo who would visit me weekly and check in on how the whole new endeavor was running. She listened from the heart and filtered out the unncessary with God's Grace to help me get to the root of the issue. Then she would quickly respond with this gem:

"Don't let the turkeys get you down"....

I took it to mean to be aware of peoples' intentions and motives and don't let them drag you into their issues. I'm sure you have been in situations where you find yourself owning another person's burdens, troubles or issues that they have created within their choices. It is within this pearl that one gains a moment to reflect and verify to see if whatever is happening really is yours to take on.

In loving tribute to Joann Darcy Hewes, my aunt, friend and other mother.