The Season of Awareness

Posted on by beautybeyondbones

I think I’m going to call this season of my life, The Season of Awareness.

Before I get into tonight’s post, I have to quickly mention a sponsor. It’s hard to believe that it’s almost time to start thinking about Christmas shopping. But, if you’re anything like me, I like to use Amazon to get everything delivered right to my door. I have a special 30 day FREE trial offer for Amazon Prime – which gives you free 2-day shipping on anything you order. So give it a try for 30 days – get your Christmas shopping done and shipped for free, and help BBB out in the process 🙂 Thank you!

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OK – back to the post 🙂

The Season of Awareness.

I had a really incredible experience this past weekend when I was home in Ohio.

It was one of those beautiful fall afternoons in the scenic Ohio River Valley where the leaves are so vibrant that the trees look like they’re on fire.

And my mom invited me outside to sit at the pool bar and just have a little mother daughter time.

Ever since my mom’s stroke, she has become so perceptive at reading people. It’s like she has a sixth sense or something. But anyway, she could tell that I had a heavy heart, and just invited me to unplug and go enjoy the crisp fall afternoon outside.

And while we were out there, she invited me to pray.

Now, I’m going to be honest, I haven’t really prayed in front of someone in a long time, and I was pretty self conscious…even though it was my mom. I just felt…really vulnerable. Almost…phony. And maybe that is a glaring red flag that my prayer life needs work, but whatever, I digress.

She went first.

And I’m tellin’ ya…it was one of the most moving experiences of my life.

My mom has always had a special connection with the Lord, but ever since her stroke, it’s like she literally has God’s ear. All the time. It’s like she has a direct connection with Heaven.

But she started praying, and I kid you not, at that moment, the wind started picking up, and I felt this beautiful breeze on my cheeks. It was honestly as those God Himself was giving me a little kiss on the cheek. And while she was praying, the wind chimes started gently playing a little melody in the breeze. And that smell of fall just filled my nostrils. I was having a total sensory experience.

And all I could think about in that moment was the closeness of God.

How, He is all around us. And how, I need to be more aware of His presence. I can be so wrapped up in worries or technology or fears or the little stresses of the day, that I literally can miss the nudges of love from God – be it in the form of wind chimes, a gentle breeze, the smile of a child, a song lyric, etc.

We had a beautiful prayer time that afternoon. My mom is so in tune with her loved ones, always praying for exactly what they need. We both ended that afternoon in tears of gratitude and love.

Coming back to New York City yesterday, I was really trying to hold onto that awareness of God’s closeness.

I’m only here for 48 hours, and then I have to go back to Ohio for a photoshoot. But yesterday evening, I decided to take a little walk.

And that night, I was blessed with literally the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen in my life. And I have seen some pretty incredible ones in my lifetime: Wisconsin, Iceland, Utah. But this one took the cake.

And I stood there watching the sky absolutely ablaze in all different shades of coral and pink, and I just smiled, knowing that God was again revealing His love for me in that moment.

For the last couple years now, I’ve been on the quest for love, and one of the things my mom prayed for that afternoon was for me to allow someone to love me.

And perhaps this is the first step.

Recognizing all the ways in which God loves me. Learning to see and be aware of all the little love notes He leaves.


Because as soon as I can believe that I am worthy of His love, the sooner I can believe that I am worthy of a man’s love.

Like I said, The Season of Awareness.

What are some of the ways that you recognize God’s love for you?

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beautybeyondbones

BBB: Because we're all recovering from something. // For speaking/business inquiries: beautybeyondbones@yahoo.com

216 thoughts on “The Season of Awareness”

  2. Holy Spirit, show Caralyn who she is. She is loved by her Father, He thinks that she’s beautiful. He loves her so much!
    Love you sister! You’re amazing!
    Think about it.
    KEEP THE LIGHT ON!

    Like

      3. You have so much to offer the world, Caralyn, and He wants you to know that you have not been put on a shelf somewhere and forgotten. Yes you’ve had your hang ups and a horrible past, but He’s taking the ashes and making something beautiful. You’ve already helped so many and you’re going to help so many more.
        Blessings!

        Liked by 1 person

  3. This is one of the most profound questions I have ever come across. I have always felt there are two places where there are no accidents – politics and God – of course, it begs us to focus on one over the other. And with that in mind, your post is the perfect thing for me to read as I met with my priest a couple of hours ago and I took issue with him telling me to look for blessings in my life. That’s really what it’s about isn’t it? We can’t really see, hear, feel, or experience love if we are unable to see how God offers Himself to us, right?

    I have always enjoyed your blog, because it is so honest and you are so focused on God…
    …and I think I need to focus on my prayer life, as well. Thank you, for the reminder.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. If you happen to read my most recent post, could you please tell me if it made sense? It is such a hard thing for me to write about I may have rambled. Thank you!!

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  5. How blessed you are that your mom has such a connection with God. I don’t think we ‘deserve’ God’s love and grace, but it’s not about merit. This world is about merit and that’s why we cannot conceive of something so radically different. I hope God fills you with more and more each say with confidence in his eternal love for you!

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  7. Praying with your mom gave me all the feels. You’re absolutely right, tuning into awareness is the first step on our path to love. Good mum and good dad 😉

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  8. What a beautiful and tender moment between 2 great loves in your life… your mom and your God. A great start for opening a heart for someone that God wants to give you. He knows that someone needs love too… from you! ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Dear Beauty, As soon as I see you have a new blog post, I pull it up and read it! I enjoy so much the journey you have told us about and how it continues as you grow closer to Jesus. Thank you for inspiring me to keep going on my blog and to open up to my readers. Lately I have been blogging for a closed entrepreneurs group, also called BBB, instead of my own personal blog. So you inspire me to go back to writing to inspire others. Thanks so much! Mary T Wilkinson at http://www.marytwilkinson.com

    On Thu, Oct 26, 2017 at 7:00 PM, BeautyBeyondBones wrote:

    > beautybeyondbones posted: “I think I’m going to call this season of my > life, The Season of Awareness. Before I get into tonight’s post, I have to > quickly mention a sponsor. It’s hard to believe that it’s almost time to > start thinking about Christmas shopping. But, if you’re anythi” >

    Like

  15. Each day that I wake up to a brand new day, I know that God loves me, and even when I have my sad or down days. It’s like some kind of warmth comes over me, and it may not be from my room’s heater. Everyday that I step outside and see the surrounding trees, streets, and views around my home, I smile because without Him, all of it would not be here today if it wasn’t for Him taking care of it all, including us. God is so amazing! 🙂 Glad to hear that you were able to pray and spend time with your mother.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. I went on an eight day silent retreat last year. I wanted to deal with my own issues with anorexia and bulemia and to try to silence the destructive voice of ED who doesn’t want to let me go. God gave me something I needed even more at the end of that week. If I had to describe what I received on a t shirt, it would read – I am a child of God; treat me accordingly. I believe God wants you to receive the same message.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Wow! Such a beautiful post. I’m so glad you were able to experience God. Sometimes with the business of life, we forget God and prayer but he just wants to talk to us and draw closer.

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  19. I’m a few days late on this. Busy. But as for how I recognize God’s love, I don’t have a good answer, except that this has come up recently as something I need to work on. And part of that is because I feel like I haven’t had the complete experience of human love… of course, that pales in comparison to God’s love, but in many ways, I feel like I don’t know what it’s like to be loved in the first place… does that make sense? I’m just rambling now. I need a nap.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Thank you for your touching story of your time with your Mom. I feel God’s love through my relationship with my wife, friends, our dog Abby. I feel the presence of God in the colorful leaves of the fall, the sparkling snow of winter. I am sending you much light and love as you move through the transitions you are experiencing.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. That was beautiful…almost like reading some similar experiences I’ve had. Isn’t it amazing how He knows exactly what we need when we need it? And thank you for what you said about being worthy and deserving of love…I’m going through something similar right now. Blessings to you dear lady 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  25. God is always there and will help you as soon as you honestly need and want His help. When I reached a very low point in my life long ago, I asked God to remove my emotional and physical pain. By way of firm reply He told me that He never asked me to walk alone, but it was I who had previously told Him that I did not need Him. The more you lean on God, the more His presence is evident in your life. God Bless, R. I.

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Great post. Always refreshing to see vulnerability and honesty from folks who have overcome/are overcoming real struggles while pressing towards the mark. To answer your question of ways I recognize God’s love…I think of all the times God has been faithful to take care of me, even and especially when I don’t take care of myself very well. And I think of two Scriptures that remind me squarely of who He is and how He loves: “God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8) and “Behold how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called the children of God” (1 John 3:1). God loves and cares for His wayward children, and delights in our seeking Him with our whole heart. And He loves to give us (no-so) little reminders like the one you’ve so beautifully described in your post. Carry on, Souljah of Love. 🙂

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  28. I recognize God’s love in all the many ways He calls me by name. Sometimes in whispers and still others in a strong booming voice. I am so grateful when I am open enough to hear Him and seek forgiveness for the times when I am so caught up in the world, in self, in others that I fail to recognize He is calling out to me. I am glad you heard Him recently and that you were able to share such a beautiful moment with your mother in prayer, as well as the wonder of His creativity in the sunset. Stay open…and I look forward to hearing just how magnificently He will reveal your “true Love” to you. Hugs & Blessings!

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Wonderful to read and watch God move in both you and your mom’s life. You are so blessed to have a mother who prays with you; there are so many who are spiritual orphans like that, including yours truly. But God sends other spiritual parents our way in any case.

    WHAT a sunset!!!! I had a brilliant silver sunrise like that recently. There are definitely times that we are privy to such beauty and it is no coincidence, it is personal – just for us – and warming. But we need to be awake – and aware – of when it happens.

    Praying for you on the journey; your joy is contagious.

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  32. Awesome, Awesome and Awesome! You are exactly right – there is a time and a season for everything and this is your Season! I know that God will fulfill your needs and guide you throughout your life. YOU too are “in tune” – just know that God is in control and let it be what it is going to be. xoxo

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  33. Dear BBB,

    Isn’t that cool to see the Lord shift things like your mom’s stroke. It is as if she is shifting closer to Eternity with that physical change. How the world right now needs people who are lots connected to the Lord and reality as the reality they are grounded in is shifting under them. I will pray as this season comes, you will see the Lord to things like that for you and those around you. Gotta love those God moments. Hope you have more,

    Gary

    On Thu, Oct 26, 2017 at 4:02 PM BeautyBeyondBones wrote:

    > beautybeyondbones posted: “I think I’m going to call this season of my > life, The Season of Awareness. Before I get into tonight’s post, I have to > quickly mention a sponsor. It’s hard to believe that it’s almost time to > start thinking about Christmas shopping. But, if you’re anythi” >

    Like

    1. Hey Gary! t is SO cool. Amazing really, to be able to see in such a tangible way the power of God. Thank you for your prayers and friendship. I know it’s cheesy, but I am so grateful for your friendship! you’re a blessing to me! hugs friend xox

      Like

  34. Good morning, how are you dear? Definitely it was an awareness season for me as well. I see god’s love mostly when I am with my family and cats and kittens (over joy!!) anyways I can’t thank you enough for all the support you are showing to my blog page. Once again thank you for liking my post and I am glad you are liking my ideas. Have a great day angel and take care 💝

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      1. Hi dear, me too I adore kittens and puppies!! your words and kindness are making me speechless. It is an honor to be your friend. You deserve all the best and good from this world ☺️ much love and hugs on your way!!

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  35. Good morning, how are you dear? Definitely it is been an awareness season for me as well. I see god’s love in everything, mostly when I am with my family and cats and kittens. Anyways, I can’t thank you enough for all the support you have been showing to my blog page. Once again, thank you for liking Above Lows & Beyond Highs Pearl. I am glad that you are enjoying my posts. Have a great day and take care angel 💝

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  37. Such a beautiful blog post! It’s definitely important to be aware of God’s love for us. I’m finding your blog so inspiring, thank you for sharing your journey and your thoughts! I hope your mum’s doing great, take care!

    Liked by 1 person

  38. Strong post about possibilities! Isn’t it a bit ironic that the sunset/ the ending of a day can give us hope about new beginnings?

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  39. Wonderful post, Caralyn. It truly sounds like you’re entering the season of awareness. May you continue to find God’s love wherever you go. I recognize God’s love in my physical well being, in my inspiration, in my partnership with my wife, in our six cats, and my ability to find posts like this one, to name a few. Thanks for asking. It’s good to think about. I pray we are all able to feel more and more worthy of God’s love. And I think you’re right about the connection between God’s love and a man’s love. Give it time and have faith. Bob

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  42. This reminds me of the first time I really felt God. It was as if he was right there laying awake with me in the middle of the night! 🙏🏾 Loved this post! 😊

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