In the hustle and bustle and often frazzled feelings from grocery shopping for Thanksgiving, gift buying and decorating for Christmas, I find I need to just stop, pray, give thanks not only for what is going well in my life and also to pray for others who are suffering great loss and think about how I might do something to help someone other than myself.

Recently I’ve become emotionally connected to and affected by the people I deeply care about and their losses.

My son-in-law’s brother recently dying of a drug overdose, now he, his parents and siblings are at the vet putting their loyal and loving long time family dog down.

My daughter’s best friend’s father got shot and killed in a hunting accident a few days ago.

Another friend lost her uncle and 7 days later her father, just last week, who are brothers.

I continually work with clients on the verge of breakdowns; one recently told me about living in a car not too long ago and now struggling financially to buy new shoes.

I think of the people I know, who were suicidal, knocking on the door of death.

For the last week I’ve woken up after having nightmares. My head aches and heart hurts.

I think about the fires in California, people and animals life’s lost and those who survived and the hardship ahead. I think of the people; firefighters, soldiers, police officers, sacrificing their time, income, and life for the sake of easing someone else’s life.

I think about people I know who have lost their life partner, their parent(s), their child, their pet and the sadness they’ll feel over the holidays.

And honestly I feel moments of despair when I see the strife caused by political, religious, gender and racial conflicts. Watching TV or reading the newspaper for me is toxic, even reading posts on facebook where people are fighting with each other, their unkind responses and actions which often crush others voice to prove their position, breaks my heart. The ability to discuss, to hear other’s reasoning, or to even go deeper into your own beliefs and how they came to be, to question how true they are and do your research, seems to be a rare occurrence.

I even keep thinking about a squirrel I seen hit by a car a month ago. I watched it struggle to crawl from the middle of the road to safety using its front legs because it’s back ones seemed to be broken…

Gazing out my rear-view mirror I seen it drop down, stopped crawling, it couldn’t make it another step. I turned my car around, pulled off to the side of the road and picked it up with some flip flops. I carried it and gently laid it in the soft grass, hidden in the brush so the hawk flying overhead wouldn’t make it a meal. I felt tormented for days about what I should have, could have done differently. Why didn’t I bring it to the animal rehabilitation center like the other two baby squirrels that fell out of a tree and I rescued and raised for 3 months? How can I explain the pain I feel as one so deeply connected to animals?

I hear hunters outside, shooting, knowing the deer I love and feed might be sacrificed for their sport. Once I joyfully saw 3, 10, or more of them daily, now they are a very rare sighting.

Life so precious, quickly can turn overwhelmingly painful.

Truly this thing called life can try our patience and faith. It can drain us of energy. It can test us and reveal our ability to rise above the pain and still hold onto that light within that says keep going. It’s not always easy to find the strength, the belief, the resilience to endure all the negativity. It’s truly difficult to rise above the differences in personalities and beliefs, the disagreements, and the hardships. As I write this my eyes are full of tears.

Even still, I will not dwell in the problems of the world, yet I will not ignore my sad feelings either. I will feel them, observe them, and let them have a voice as I’m doing right now. It is in my heartfelt honesty, my okness with feeling through my perception of what I feel and why, that allows me to heal. Stuffing it only makes the pain gain power.

And after I work through this inner tsunami, this I know to be my truth; when I can give thanks for what is good, counting my blessings; and trust me I’ve had times in my life where it was thin pickings, I gain my breathe so to speak. And also, when I forget about myself for a while and step into someone’s shoes that is hurting (which for me as an empath I feel others pain as if it were my own), and help in some way, the day is somehow brighter.

So this morning I took some time to pray. In my pj’s, a warm robe, and putting a blanket over my body and head, I went outside where I find a strong connection to the One I call God, in the Spirit of my deeper mind.

As what often happens, I start out releasing what clutters my worldly worried and troubled mind. Then I seek to be emptied of it so I can be filled with a clearer and healthier perspective. I seek the deeper understanding that I’ve learned is only found when I reach a place of inner peace and invite the presence of the Creator to connect with me.

I lifted up my prayer requests, I praised God, I sang. Then my attention drifted from the river and land to the trees on our property. My eyes caught the sight of two eagles perched in the tree. The eagle being one of my spirit animals, and especially appearing in double, definitely caught my attention and affirmed my thoughts.

-The Eagle spirit animal is an inspiring messenger. With the ability to soar to heights other birds merely dream of, the Eagle is a powerful animal totem that offers lessons about looking closely at the most minute of details in order to see life from a broader perspective.

-When this powerful creature comes into your life, it’s time to look inward with a careful eye. Allow your heart to guide you, and opportunities you never dreamed were possible will present themselves when you least expect it.

-Eagles have feet with four toes. Four is a symbol for having a solid foundation and being grounded. Those who are guided by the Eagle spirit animal are grounded. Even though the Eagle can soar to great heights, they are still strongly connected to the earth. Among being grounded and connected to the earth, those guided by the Eagle are also resilient and in complete harmony with the spiritual aspects of their lives. Unafraid of the unknown, these seekers accept life’s challenges with unshakable courage, determination and confidence.

-Nearly all religious and spiritual traditions embrace the Eagle as a symbol of salvation and hope. Those working with the Eagle spirit animal are often healers.

After sighting the two Eagles, I noticed something else. A small squirrel, definitely quite young, had playfully hopped from branch to branch toward the tree where I put out corn to feed them. It clearly was unaware of the two Eagles, until it got close. Then it stopped, as if paralyzed on the branch just a few feet from them. Both of the Eagles were staring right at it. Eagle eyes meeting squirrel eyes. I could not bear to see the tiny squirrel become their meal. So I walked out into the yard and made my knowledge of them and their plan known, which prompted them to fly off and perch elsewhere. My action thwarted what could have been an end, and likely saved the squirrel’s life today.

Thinking about what might be an analogy of what just happened, I paused and allowed whatever thoughts entered my mind to provide insight and inspiration. I realized that my previous prayer was for casting out the darkness and bringing in the light of protection and healing, especially for my granddaughter who has a terrible cold. I felt that in my love and action protecting the baby squirrel; it affirmed that my prayer for my granddaughter was heard. She will be well. Maybe you think this all is silly. Yet I sure don’t.

Without a doubt, I know that prayer has power. Our prayer as a unified people has tremendous power. And it is so important to remember that there is so much we can do from afar to bring protection, healing, and the light into others’ lives. I am so grateful to know this truth, to see miracles happen in my life and others as a result. It enables me to find my way back to inner peace knowing that our Creator is with us, guiding us, loving us, protecting us and empowering us to do good, even when it feels as if we are alone and on our own.

In closing, I write this article to give strength to those who might be weary as I have been lately. The Winter, colorless and cold season, seems to be when my emotions are more intense. Maybe this is you as well especially if you are an empath or a high sensitive person. My intention is not to divide, not to seek your affirmation of my beliefs, nor do you even have to agree with how I feel or think. We all have freedom to choose our path. It is merely written for those it might inspire, touch, lift up and bless in some way. If my words are somehow in opposition to your finding a place of inner peace, then you certainly can pass them by. I have nothing to gain or lose by your acceptance or rejection. I simply share what’s on my heart because I strongly sense there is someone who needs this message.

Thanks for allowing me to share my story.

If you are a Christian or even if you’re not, maybe these scriptures will bring you some insight to help you move forward in your life with hope, healing, and greater inner peace.

  • Isaiah 40:31 But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
  • Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
  • James 5:13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
  • Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Be blessed my friends.

With Abundant Love Lori

Note: Time of article completion 11:11

Angel Number 1111 is a message from your angels to be very aware of your persistent thoughts and ideas as these are manifesting quickly into your reality.