LIFESTYLES by Ronda Gates Weekly Message
Weekly Gems from Ronda Gates.


Season's Greetings!

Poet Anne Bradstreet wrote, "If we had not winter the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." This year has been filled with challenges for all readers of this newsletter. I am continually strengthened by our ability to make the best of the events in our lives that cannot be avoided.

Some years ago, when my life was troubled, I entered a bookstore hoping to find something to comfort me. In fact, a book literally fell off the shelf and hit my foot. It was A COURSE IN MIRACLES, a book I'd heard about when I attended a lecture by Dr. Gerald Jampolski, physician to terminally ill children and author of the book, "LOVE IS LETTING GO OF FEAR." I opened COURES IN MIRACLES and the verse was exactly what I needed to read. The book was $40 and I was strapped for cash so I sat on the floor of the bookstore and wrote the verse on the back of a napkin I'd stuffed in my purse. Some time later I saw the COURSE IN MIRACLES at the home of a friend. I sat down and thumbed through it looking for that verse. I never found it.

I am constantly struck by the synchronicity in life. Perhaps the verse, which has meant much to me at each change in my life, will be inspirational to you if you are struggling at this holiday season.

  • Remember. When you come to the place where the branch in the road is quite apparent, you cannot go ahead.
  • You must go either one way or the other.
  • For now, if you go straight ahead-the way you went before you reached the branch, you will go nowhere.
  • The whole purpose of coming this far was to decide which branch you will take now.
  • The way you came no longer matters.
  • It can no longer serve.
  • No one who reaches this far can make the wrong decision-although you can delay
  • And there is no part of the journey that seems more hopeless and futile than standing where the road branches and not knowing which way to go.
  • Once you have chosen, it is but the first few steps along the right way that seem hard.
  • And although you may still think you can go back and make the other choice, this is not so.
  • A choice made with commitment to uphold it cannot be undone.
  • Your way is decided.
  • There will be nothing you will not be told if you acknowledge this.

I wish you and yours a happy holiday season and aprosperous New Year!



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LIFESTYLES by Ronda Gates
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