Serenity

I feel a sense of serenity tonight, but my life is not serene. I would like to get used to this feeling. It’s not peaceful all the time. There are obstacles, there is conflict, and there is a lot of noise (in my mind). I’ve felt more anxiety this year than I’ve felt before. But I’ve been praying, and I’ve been feeling the calm beyond the storm.

Whenever the anxiety rises, I will remember this feeling. I will replace it with what I know. Those feelings of fear never last. They only appear for a short time. It’s because those negative feelings are false so they cannot remain within us for very long. They disappear so they cannot spread, or stay around.

“Serenity is something we can never have enough of.” ~Zina Hermez

About Zina

Zina Hermez authored the book Not Without God: A Story of Survival and created the Spinal Cord Injury Solutions! online website. Zina works as an English Language Instructor, and has been an educator for nearly fifteen years. Her thousands of students have been from many parts of the world, and she’s worked with all ages.

Zina writes articles on faith and overcoming disability, and her stories have been featured in Christianity Today, Spinal Cord Injury Zone, SCI Access, newsletters, and medical journals among many other various publications. To learn more about Zina visit http://zinahermez.com.

Prayer of Serenity

When we have no control over problems, and when we know that things are not the way they are supposed to be. When fixing the issue is beyond our capability, and when we have tried all that we can. Maybe it’s a loved one’s behavior that needs to be corrected, or a situation that needs a solution fast! We can easily become depressed.

Here is a short well-known prayer that helps me. I wanted to share it with you tonight, in hopes that it will bring you a little peace…

God grant me the serenity

To accept the things that I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can,

And wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,

Enjoying one moment at a time,

Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.

Taking, as Jesus did,

This sinful world as it is,

Not as I would have it.

Trusting that You will make all things right,

If I surrender to Your will,

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,

And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.

About Zina

Zina Hermez authored the book Not Without God: A Story of Survival and created the Spinal Cord Injury Solutions! on line website. Zina works as an English Language Instructor, and has been an educator for nearly fifteen years her thousands of students have been from many parts of the world, and she’s worked with all ages.

Zina writes articles on faith and overcoming disability and her stories have been featured in Christianity Today, Spinal Cord Injury Zone, SCI Access, newsletters, and medical journals among many other various publications. To learn more about Zina visit http://zinahermez.com.

7 Tips to Keep the Holiday Cheer!

Have you thought about your goals this holiday season? Any New Year’s resolutions? Have you thought about ways to stay healthy? Or keep the holiday cheer? Holidays are fun but can be a demanding, busy time as we try to meet the needs of our family and friends. There are gifts to be bought, turkeys to be cooked, and trees to be put up!

During this hectic period, it’s easy to feel a lot of stress. In giving, the giver feels just as rewarded as the receiver, if not more. However, we sometimes forget to give to ourselves. In your time of giving, don’t neglect your own needs. This will help to reduce anxiety, and keep you calm throughout the season.

Would you like to improve your finances? Volunteer? Do you want to feed the poor? Maybe you want to make some healthy lifestyle choices such as eating better, or losing weight? Whatever your goals, I wish you success!

Let’s prepare to stay merry. Here are some tips to keep you in the holiday spirit!

Be thankful – Nurture a thankful heart. It’s hard to be unhappy when your heart is brimming with thanks! By changing your attitude, you can experience joy even when circumstances don’t change.
Trust – Develop the trust that life will provide you with what you need. Serenity comes from contentment with what you have.
Forgive – Let go of resentment and remorse which wastes energy on yesterday. Forgive and live today.
Give to yourself – Give yourself compassion and understanding. Recognize your abilities and value.
Savor life – Enjoy the taste of cranberry bread, the smell of Christmas cookies, the sight of sunrise.
Do something for someone in need – Write a letter to a lonely friend, make a phone call to an ill relative, or bake a pumpkin pie to welcome your new neighbors.
Love – Remember the deeper truth of life – you are loved. When you feel holiday stress, remember the voice of God who beckons, “Come to me when you are weary, and I will give you rest.”