Gratitude is the sign of noble souls ~ Aesop


Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving ~ Kahlil Gabran


Joy delights in joy ~ William Shakespeare


Monday, January 17, 2011

In appreciation of lemons

Joy is not always a Pollyanna sunshine and rainbows thing (although Pollyanna is a hero of mine, just for her sheer will, her determined CHOICE to see the good in things -- and it is a choice.) Joy is a deep, spiritual, hard earned thing. It is being grateful beyond measure for having made it through the darkest storms of life -- or if you're in the darkest storms, it is gratitude in knowing that you have made it through before, and you will again. Joy is raw. Joy is faith in action. It is tenacious. It is a pit bull that grabs onto the limb of goodness on the tree of life and locks its jaws so it can't let go, no matter what. Joy is not dumping a bunch of sugar onto the sour lemons of life to make lemonade -- it is about learning to appreciate the lemons in a different way. I love lemons for their bright, beautiful color and the smell of their zest, how it awakens the senses! They might taste terrible on their own, but what depth they can bring to otherwise bland dishes -- how they brighten flavors with their tang, and even bitterness. The Chinese have a word for it -- Chi ku -- "to eat bitterness" -- meaning to endure hardship. And for me, that means to allow yourself to experience the lemon for what it is, and then to find a way to use it as an ingredient in your life as a whole -- allow it to enliven your sense of gratitude and awaken the joys of what is sweet in your life and what is good.
Also, they can be used as lovely decorations...

3 comments:

  1. The most beautiful lemon meringue ode to joy ever confectioned [should be a word].

    Wonderful, Kara.

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  2. Thank you:) And lemon meringue pie is my favorite!! I've actually had it instead of cake for my birthday before. Wish I had some right now...

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