בס”ד

Made-a-move #28: Re-connect with the basics for a strong foundation to build on

The ABC’s of my week are Ammuna, Bittachon, Cavanah

Faith, Trust, and Mindfulness

Ok, a bit of a stretch, but pretty close.  The Hebrew word for Faith, אמונה, begins with an alef (the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet) but is more accurately pronounced Emmuna because of the vowel that accompanies the alef in this word.  When כונה is spelled in English, it is usually spelled Kavanah… but I think the C works just fine, too

In doing a bit of de-cluttering, inspired by my children’s rummage sale this week, I came across my painted stones with these three words on them.  Finding them gave me reassurance in an inexplicable deep way and I found myself becoming more focused and more productive.

This week has been a rollercoaster ride of alternating between helping my children and inner turmoil over the seemingly failed attempts to progress on my own agendas for my own personal accomplishments.  The recognition that my life is, by my choice, dedicated to my kids, doesn’t really lesson the fact that I am a dreamer and have an inner fire to “do and create” things I so clearly picture in my mind… if I could only find/ make/ take the time and money to do so…

The words on the stones snuck into my subconscious and steadied my slipping foundation.

A/Emmuna – Faith.  A deep faith in the fact that everything in this world is part of the Creator’s plan, has an integral purpose, and will come into fruition in the right time.  A very important concept to try to grasp for both teens and their mid-life mothers

Bittachon – Trust.  A trust that “This also is for good.”, or the Hebrew phrase, “Gam zu l’tova.”  – that challenging situations are a step towards a greater level of good.  Trust that means there is no need to worry.  Trust that the Creator will help us carry our load.  Another very important concept to try to grasp for both teens and their mid-life mothers

Cavanah – Putting mindfulness, heartfelt concentration, into prayers and deeds rather than allowing them to slip into routine actions.   Ok, I have a lot of work to do on this one!  And, I am quite sure getting more sleep would be a huge help!  But, working on taking particular times to try to concentrate and focus, is resulting in an ability to delve into a deeper level of spiritual study, better able to teach others about spiritual aspects of our deeds, helping my youngest DD organize her thoughts and putting them into a good first draft of a speech for her, and better connecting with one of my teens to help with ‘growing pains’.

It is so easy to get caught up in the daily to-do demands (like getting the invitations finished and sent out already… tomorrow!..?  Every once in a while we need to get grounded in the basics.

I wish you a successful, productive, and fulfilling week – inside and out.