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SPRING
2001 
Gloria Horvay
Clerk, Salem Quarterly MeetingDear Friends,
Recently I have been concerned about conflicts, both with coworkers at school and with meeting members. The lack of harmony involved is not pleasant.
A pamphlet on gratitude appeared in my mailbox at school from my principal who gives us a reading each week to inspire us with ideas for our teaching. As I read, I realized gratitude was one solution for dealing with conflict. By developing a habit of appreciating the good things that people around me do, I become more positive, and feelings of conflict diminish. That positive feeling spreads to others.
I was reminded of the wonderful emphasis on gratitude that Sarah Ban Breathnach places in her daybook, Simple Abundance. She reminds us of an ancient spiritual law that the more you are grateful for, the more will be given you. Grati tude is an important ingredient of personal happi ness. She recommends keeping a gratitude journal to record five things every day that you are thankful for.
We can nurture our meetings by being grateful for the talents and presence of every member and attender. This helps everyone feel more positive about each other, and creates a good climate for first-time attenders.
I am grateful for Gail Newbold’s piece on page two of the January/February 2001 issue of PYM News about embracing your opponent with love. By surrounding those with whom we are in conflict with love, we allow ourselves to “return to unity with the Light.” This is easier to say than do, but when we can make the conscious decision to do it, our lives are transformed.
Before I close, I can’t resist sharing a wonderful children’s book, this year’s Newbery Award winner. A Year Down Under, by Richard Peck, is a sequel to A Long Way from Chicago. These books take place in my home county of rural Illinois, and the main character could be my grandmother in the 1930’s. Mrs. Dowdell is a hard-working widow who takes justice into her own hands when necessary, to the shock of her grandchildren visiting from Chicago. But the children grow to love her and admire her ability to help others in her own unscrupulous way.
I look forward to seeing you in March at Woodstown when our topic will be nurturing monthly meetings. Until then, practice gratitude and see how your life is enriched.
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Last modified:
Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:19 AM
