Do you have a set of China that was given to you?
Many women all around the world have a set of China typically given to them as a gift, sometimes the China is brand new and other times it is passed from generation to generation. Twenty years ago my Grandmother gave me a set of China when I was nineteen years old when I had moved into my first apartment. The China set was not a family heirloom like other family’s China sets that are passed from generation to generation and I am sure it has little monetary value because it was one of those deals where Grandma bought a piece every weekend from the local grocery store back in the 80’s until it became a set. Each piece fragile yet solid, versatile with my changing décor over the years, and timeless like the memories that flood my mind each time I look at them. With each purchase another investment made by my Grandmother into my future. I am sure each Sunday after church as she made a purchase of another cup or plate she envisioned how my life would unfold. Little did she know at the time, or maybe she knew all too well, how life unfolds in unexpected ways.
While some people view the number thirteen as an unlucky number, it is an important number in my Grandma’s because she was born on January 13th and was one of thirteen children. Coincidentally I have packed and moved this China thirteen times. Each move holds special memories from the first time I made thanksgiving dinner until today. The thing about memories is that no one can take them away from you. Over twenty years and thirteen moves later, I count what remains of the China. There are nine dinner plates, seven bowls, one dessert plate, eleven saucers, and fourteen tea cups. Quite an odd set of China to have in my cupboard but for whatever reason I keep packing and moving this ensemble like it was something of extreme value to be cherished each time I start a new chapter of my life. Throughout each move another chip of a bowl, a broken plate, a missing piece reminds me of how fragile but precious life is. These are the only dishes in my cupboard now and I make a conscious effort to make each day worthy of bringing out the China.
Somewhere along the way in life you start to listen to that
little voice, intuition, intention whatever you choose to call it about the
path you are on in life. For me that
path is education and finding ways to help the people around me reach their
highest potential in life while I continue on my path. We are all on this journey together… growing,
learning, and changing.
While my Grandma (and many other people I
suppose) believed that heaven is a place that you go to when you die, I have
changed my thinking on that and believe heaven is what you create in your life
right now. Heaven is found in this
moment right now as you are blessed with the ability to take in another breath
of life. Close your eyes, take a deep
breath, hold it in and slowly exhale. You
do not have to suffer and wait until your body dies to get to heaven. You can create your journey to heaven right
now, but you have to allow yourself to change your thinking and let it happen. You
have to ask yourself what you want and focus your attention and energy in that
direction because you get more of what you focus on. As
Mary Poppins says, “Anything can happen if you let it!”.
One more thing, use your China. Make every day count and a day worthy of
bringing out your China. Don’t leave it
locked up saving it for a special occasion.
Today is the special occasion you have been waiting for. Visit my
Facebook page “A Journey to Heaven” and click on the like button. Share your story and a picture of your China. Connect your life
and inspire other people around the world with your story. You are on your journey to heaven look around
you, it’s all right here waiting for you!
Let your light shine…Namaste.
