“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” ~
Good morning, dear friends. My thoughts this morning are with the Ukrainian people, as they are every morning and all throughout the day. Each morning, I sit with Mike in our safe, warm, and sweet kitchen and ask, “Did anything dreadful occur through the night?” He rises before I do, checks the news, and usually always has the answer.
I have thought about my precious mom and grandmother so much these past few weeks. As much as I would appreciate hearing their wisdom, I am thankful they are not here to see the current evil and horrific, barbaric destruction of another madman, this time in Ukraine. Both my mom and grandmother lived through wars and dreadful times, so they well understand evil. However, this time it seems unbearable because we hear it every day from journalists scattered around the world and our communication is immediate. Also, we live under the looming fear of gruesome nuclear destruction should we try and put an immediate end to the brutality.
When I was about ten years old, I remember my grandmother talking about something she thought was evil. I replied, “I don’t believe in evil.” And, she said, “Honey, unfortunately, if you live long enough you will.” She was certainly correct. When I think there is nothing worse the Ukrainian people will witness ~ it seems as though they do. However, throughout this war, we have been exposed to something beautiful, unlike anything I have seen in my life ~ the Ukrainian’s unfathomable strength.
“You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.” ~ Bob Marley
The Carpathian Mountains in western Ukraine
To me, being strong is the only choice for the Ukrainians. They do not want their lives and the lives of their children and grandchildren to be under the rule of a dictator ~ who would? I pray their strength will endure to the end and I pray our leaders will make sound and timely decisions, oh, how I pray.
“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.”
~
The Ukrainian people have a will that is gold and its light glitters and sparkles for the world to see. And in the end, once again, “the crownless will be king.”
“Either we all live in a decent world, or nobody does.” ~ George Orwell
Dear friends, in closing I believe we all should have a world where, without fear, children can walk to their special friend’s home and hand them a bouquet from their mom’s garden. Lemonade stands will flourish, little ones can jump rope and ride bicycles and neighborhoods will once again overflow with giggles. Perhaps, “from the ashes a fire will be woken” ~ in all of us.
Know I wish you and yours a most beautiful and peaceful Palm Sunday.
Amour,
Sandra
“Remember that all through history, there have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they seem invincible. But in the end, they always fall. Always.” ~
Images: Tumblr and Pinterest
Thank you Sandra for your thoughts on this Sunday morning. Yes, there is evil in this world and has always been since sin entered the perfect garden of Eden. It seems that evil is so much worse. Maybe it is because, like you said, we have 24/7 news and the atrocities play out before our eyes. I continue to pray for the people of Ukraine and may evil be stopped🙏🏻
Oh, Pam, I pray too. I have always tried to believe that good will conquer all and I pray that will be the case in this awful war.
Sandra, you have written compellingly of the spirit and courage of the Ukrainian people and have echoed what it has been like in our homes as we watch it throughout the day. It’s frustrating only to be able to pray and give what we can to help when all we want to do is stop it before another innocent person has to die or flee or be kidnapped. As I watch the new videos each day I think of the video I once watched about the beauty of Ukraine and her citizens once going about their daily business. And just keep praying, knowing there is strength in the combined prayers of people around the world for this evil to be stopped.
It does flavor our days, doesn’t it? And it should. Never have trivialities seemed more trivial.
Your grandmother was (unfortunately, in this case) a wise woman. There is indeed evil even if it takes us a long while to find it. I feel the same about my parents not being able to see this; it would break them apart. I, too, wake daily, worried about what I will hear in the news. I have such respect for these brave souls, both those fighting and those leaving behind so very much. I hope this week will be better. I am quite sure if it is, it is only temporary.
Jeanie, yes my grandmother was a wise woman. This war and this mad man are evil from WWII and others. If Russia is not stopped, we will see it again and again. All so very frightening.