BALANCED BEAUTY - day 31 TIFERET sh b'HOD

Psalms of My Soul

ספירת העומר

Kabbalistic Sephirat HaOmer day 31, that is 4 weeks and 3 days of the Omer

Balanced Beauty Within Splendor ~ Tiferet sh b'Hod

If only I could be balanced beauty and within Splendor, as are these flowers in my garden and Edith's cat, Caty aka Sparkles.

I have inner beauty, and that does require cleansing, cleaning off smudges. Balance needs rectification. I'm too reactive and with consequences. I react to these flowers with absolute joy, awe, wonder and delight.  The cat positions herself in a place of balance and feline beauty. Maybe hers is with dignity and ownership. Caty was scared when she arrived, probably abused. I have Tiferet/compassion for Caty. It has taken Caty aka Sparkles a couple years to accept the fact that the current home of hers is where she belongs, she will be cared for, and she can be loved. There is truth at her home, and finally Caty acknowledges this balance in her life. Caty will now even sit on 'mom' Edith's lap. She now allows me to massage her head. (Wish I wasn't allergic to Caty.)

I like to think I know truth, even the inner 'shadows' that I learn about. I am filled with Hod'aah/gratitude.  I love to awaken to beauty, love, compassion and splendor in our world. I celebrate the Presence of The Holy One. I can be better at opening my heart towards others, and also self; I try.

Chabad's Rabbi Simon Jacobson asks: 

Is my humility compassionate?

Does my humility cause me to be self-contained or does it express itself in empathy for others?

Is my humility balanced and beautiful? or awkward? 

Express a humble feeling in an act of compassion. 

I know that I am a compassionate Jewish woman and express through my actions, and with deep empathy for others, whom I may not even know in person. Our souls are all connected. 

At times I am not able to do long-distance, all that I want to be in compassion, doing Bikur Cholim/visiting the sick as a friend. I'm sad and feeling badly that I can't when I want to, but at times, I can not for physical reasons. But, I've even had the courage to sit at the hospital beds of friends, which was the same bed on which my husband, z"l, was dying.  Daily I do Bikur Cholim by sending E or snail mail messages filled with pretty flowers and with Tiferet/honest loving greetings filled with healing blesSings.

At times my Hod/humility has been questioned by another, because she didn't understand that I react and express exuberant JOY when something good happens to me, and maybe I am given kavod/honor.  My expression of joy is not a question of lacking humility, but instead appreciation and wonderment within our world. I feel the joy and I want to share it. When I am recognized, I am fulfilling my given potential as a human being, and spiritually serve G*d and community with joy in a continued greater way.

Today I'm happy that I can give away many heavy filled bags and boxes of grapefruit to "Food Forward" for Citrus Sunday. I paid 2 guys to climb into my tall Grapefruit tree and bring down hundreds of fruits to give away to those in need. I called Food Forward, and they promptly came to pick up the boxes and bags of delicious organic picked fruit.  I think this too is Tiferet sh b'Hod.

The grapefruits are gorgeous, juicy, firm, fresh, flavorful, and healthy.  See photo below.

How can awareness of beauty help me to be all that I am, and also to uplift and inspire others to be all they can be in truth, balance and harmony?

- Joy Krauthammer 

Face of G*d
... and many more
so much beauty in our world:

http://joys-favorite-fotos.blogspot.com/2012/05/nature-plants.html

Canna

Garden of Joy 

© Joy Krauthammer  5.14.2014

Edith's Cat, Caty

© Joy Krauthammer  5.2014

Bunny Rabbit

Garden of Joy 

© Joy Krauthammer 

Doves 

Garden of Joy hosts Doves' nest

© Joy Krauthammer 

Rose

Garden of Joy 

© Joy Krauthammer  4.2014

Rose

Garden of Joy 

© Joy Krauthammer  5.2014

Tulips

© Joy Krauthammer 

Wood Iris

Garden of Joy 

© Joy Krauthammer  5.2014

Water Lilies

Getty Villa

© Joy Krauthammer 

Hibiscus

Edith's Garden 

© Joy Krauthammer 

Grapefruit for Citrus Sunday via Food Forward

Picked boxes and bags of fruit to give away. Grateful grapefruit was picked up to share.

Garden of Joy

© Joy Krauthammer 

more:

http://joys-favorite-fotos.blogspot.com/2012/05/nature-plants.html

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