HEARTSONG, ISSUE 13, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2006

WELCOME TO HEARTSONG!!!

In This Issue:
Quote From The Heart
A Note From Kim
From The Lighthouse, With Love
Hope And Healing
Prayer From The Heart
Heartsong Reflection

QUOTE FROM THE HEART
In each issue of Heartsong, I will open with a quote, poem or lyric, which I have found inspiring and uplifting. Today's quote is really my wish for all of you, my readers, and for all the world, now and always.

"May there always be work for your hands to do, may your purse always hold a coin or two. May the sun always shine on your windowpane, may a rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you, may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you."

Irish Blessing

A NOTE FROM KIM
Welcome to today's issue of Heartsong! The magical holiday season is here again, and if you're anything like me, you're rushing around trying to get all your shopping done, and other preparations for your festivities underway. This is always a joyous, if chaotic time of year for me, and I usually get pretty stressed trying to get everything done. Nevertheless, I always keep the feelings of love, joy and delight associated with this blessed time of year in the uppermost of my heart and mind. I wish you joyous preparations and as little anxiety as possible, as you get ready for your holiday celebrations.

Due to the holiday season, I want to extend a special offer on my services to you, my beloved Heartsong readers. Through December 31, I am offering a 10% discount on any individual session, to you, my subscribers. This offer does not apply to packages or multiple sessions, but if you'd like to have a single session of any of my services at a discounted price, now's the time to do it. This is my holiday gift to you. If you're interested, please just email me telling me which service you'd like, and I'll send you a PayPal invoice for your discounted payment, or tell you the discounted price via phone or email if you'd prefer to send me a money order. To check out details of my services, please visit:
http://www.kimloftis.com/services.htm

Until next time, have fun doing all that shopping, cooking, gift-wrapping, etc, and enjoy the rest of today's issue!

Love,
Kim

FROM THE LIGHTHOUSE, WITH LOVE
A lighthouse serves as a beacon of hope in a violent storm. A lighthouse sheds light on our worries and troubles, and brings us joy and peace. Therefore, in each Heartsong issue, I will include an article, which will help to guide you through the dark and troubled times, or lighten and brighten your heart and life in a special way. In today's Lighthouse article, let's reflect on the people and things that are truly important during this season of celebration.

Gifts of The Season

Now that December is here once again, many of us find ourselves completely absorbed in preparing for our various holiday festivities and celebrations to come. This is a time of tree cutting and trimming, hunting down last-minute holiday bargains, traveling across the state or country, scrumptious aromas and fluffy blankets of pristine snow. It's a chaotic time, and it's easy to become overwhelmed, overworked, and dare I say jaded at times?

During this crazy period of the year, it's important to remember that the presents, delicious foods and delightful décor, as wonderful as they are, are only material possessions to be treasured for a short time. The new sweater you receive will keep you warm and fashionable, but it will eventually grow worn and tattered. You'll gorge on fantastic dinners and holiday favorites, but those too will only last for a short time.

Yes, all these gifts are precious, and they should be treasured as such. But, for me, there are more important, subtler gifts that we give and receive this time of year. One of these does relate to the physical things... the gifts, presents and décor, and that's the spirit involved in the preparations and giving and receiving of these material possessions. When we prepare the tasty holiday meals, decorate our homes and give our gifts to our beloveds, we do this with a cheerful spirit, and hearts filled with love and joy. So, in essence, we're giving much more than material things... we're also sharing our love, our joy, and our whole hearts as well. Because we give and receive love and joy as we make these exchanges, the season is truly made sweeter and more precious.

Another gift of the season is the family, friends and fellowship involved in our celebrations. No matter what religion or spiritual path we follow, this is, for many of us, a time of sharing our spirituality and celebrating the bonds of family and friendship. Our homes and hearts ring with the sounds of playful arguments, laughter and happy chatter. We are blessed this time of year with the ability to reconnect with our loved ones, and given the chance to truly express our feelings to those we care about. What better gift can there be than that?

Finally, when the final gift has been opened, the last leftover eaten and the last decorations carefully tucked away, we will have the gifts of our memories of this wonderful holiday season. We can't go back and physically relive holidays past, but we can always revisit them in our minds... laugh at the fun times, smile at the memory of the dinners, and delight in the remembrance of the expressions on our loved ones' faces as they opened a cherished gift. Oh yes... these are indeed precious memories, to be treasured always.

May you find great joy in all the wonderful gifts of this beautiful holiday season... both the material gifts and those that tuck themselves into your hearts, spirits and memories.

HOPE AND HEALING
All of us need to take the time to be gentle with ourselves. Therefore, in the first issue of each month, Heartsong will include tips with which you can nurture, pamper and transform all aspects of your life. Enjoy!

Giving Back

During this season of giving, I especially find myself thinking of those less fortunate than myself. We won't all have presents to open, holiday treats and goodies to indulge in, or some special people to share in the holidays with us. This is a time when many people try to give to others who don't have all the luxuries or even necessities that we so often take for granted.

There are many ways in which we can give back to others. Money, in the form of donations to favorite charities, is probably the first way that many of us think of to share our blessings with others. However, there are other, just as important things that we can do. Perhaps if you enjoy cooking or baking, you might like to prepare some food for a local family in need. Perhaps you might want to donate some clothes you no longer wear, or some toys your children or grandchildren no longer play with. Or maybe you'd prefer to volunteer your time to a charity of your choice. All these ways are great methods of giving to others.

I've also found that there are even more subtle, but perhaps even more precious ways to share with others. A kind smile, warm greeting or a friendly conversation often means as much or more to someone as a physical possession. However you choose to give back this holiday season, find the joy and fun in the process of giving. Often the giver is even more blessed than the receiver, so however you give, do it with joy in your heart, and you'll be sure to touch the hearts of others in the process.

PRAYER FROM THE HEART
Each issue of Heartsong will feature a prayer, either from my own heart, one which I hold dear in my own life, or one suggested to me by others. I hope they will speak to your spirit, as well.

How wonderful, O Lord, are the works of your hands!
The heavens declare Your glory,
the arch of the sky displays Your handiwork
In Your love You have given us the power
to behold the beauty of Your world
robed in all its splendor.
The sun and the stars, the valleys and the hills,
the rivers and the lakes all disclose Your presence.
The roaring breakers of the sea tell of Your awesome might,
the beast of the field and the birds of the air
bespeak Your wondrous will.
In Your goodness You have made us able to hear
the music of the world.
The voices of the loved ones
reveal to us that You are in our midst.
A divine voice sings through all creation.

Traditional Jewish prayer

HEARTSONG REFLECTION
Until our next issue, reflect on the gifts and blessings of this wondrous season. How can you give back and bless others? Count your blessings, and enjoy your celebration preparations!

Love, Light and Blessings,
Kim

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Heartsong is a biweekly publication, and is published on the first and third Sunday of each month. All content is copyright Kim Loftis, unless otherwise indicated.
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Have any questions or comments about this issue, or about Heartsong in general? If so, please don't hesitate to email me.   Kim@KimLoftis.com 
And who knows? Your questions may inspire an article for an upcoming issue! Your questions and comments help me to make Heartsong as engaging, fun and inspiring as possible, and I thank you in advance!
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For compassionate, personalized spiritual healing and coaching services straight from my heart, please visit my website: http://www.kimloftis.com   I would be honored to serve you today!
Until the next issue of Heartsong, let your heart sing, and I send you all my love!