Slowing Down

Thank you for subscribing-may these words bring a quiet moment of peace and reflection to your day.

Backstory

Over the last four years, I have been dealing with many symptoms of chronic illness. Some days it is hard for my body to do very much. I have realized that I need to let my body rest on those days. I was talking recently with my therapist, who has also gone through her own health issues. She helped me realize that I need to check in with my body and pay attention to how it is feeling. I did that a few days ago while walking my dog. I came home grateful for my body, even though it has its limitations. I think we need to slow down and check in with ourselves more in our fast-paced world.

A Gift Beyond Its Limitations

My body is a gift from my loving Father above,
And I should treat it with greater love.
I wake up not feeling well every day,
And the fatigue and pain is more than I can say.

Even though my body doesn’t function like it used to,
I can still be grateful for it instead of feeling blue.
My eyes help me discover the beauties around me,
And I am so grateful for all that I can see.

My ears help me hear beautiful music,
And for me, those sounds are pure magic.
My mouth helps me to sing God’s word,
And through me, His messages can be heard.

My shoulders and back help me to carry each burden,
Even when the end of my suffering is uncertain.
My legs allow me to walk on the ground,
And as I feel it beneath my feet, peace can be found.

So, even though my body doesn’t function properly every day,
I can still be grateful for whatever blessings come my way.
As I reflect on my blessings when I come to my Father on bended knee,
His love and goodness for me I can more clearly see.

The Takeaway

My body has its limitations due to chronic illness symptoms. But I can still be grateful for what it allows me to do every day. Our Heavenly Father gave us our bodies as a gift. We should take more time to slow down and reflect on our bodies and our other blessings.

💬 To My Readers: How do you take time to slow down and check in with yourself when life gets busy or hard? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Enjoyed this piece? Click here to read more in this series, or visit the main blog to explore more reflections.

Watch the YouTube Short here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JcHYD9XoOlk

My Daily Musings-October 6th, 2026

“Old roads, old dogs, old stories, and old souls still have something beautiful to teach a hurried world.”

For some reason, I have always been drawn to older people. I was close to all of my grandparents, but especially my maternal grandfather. I never wanted to leave after I visited him. I was always fascinated by his stories. I felt his great love for me every time I was with him. That’s probably why I was so close to him. I could feel his love for me.

Another good old soul I was close to was a neighbor who used to live across the street from me. His name was George Ford. Every time I visited him, I was fascinated by his stories and his life. His wife had died many years before, and even though he had family close by, I could tell that he was lonely. He was always very glad to have visitors. He had survived many serious health challenges. I could tell when he talked about his wife that he longed to be with her again. But he was content to be on this earth for as long as his Heavenly Father needed him to be.

I have always been fascinated by stories of my ancestors that have been passed down to me. Their courage and determination, in spite of their hard trials, helps me have greater faith when I’m going through a difficult time.

I think we can all learn a lot from these things as this quote tells us. I think sometimes we need to slow down and listen to those who are older than us. We can learn a lot from them and their experiences.

Is there an older person whose stories or wisdom have had an impact on your life? What is something you have learned from an older family member, friend, or neighbor?