'THINK on THESE THINGS'

[Guest guest]

'THINK on THESE THINGS'By Joyce Sequichie Hifler

All the world listens for the voice that speaks with its heart.

How important is the tone of voice, no matter what position we hold in life. The voice of authority, the demanding, commanding and authoritative voice has little lasting effect upon its audience. But the voice of kindness, the cheerful and friendly voice creates receptivity that few can resist.

In the words of Longfellow, "How wonderful is the human voice! It is indeed the organ of the soul. The intellect of man sits enthroned, visibly on his forehead and in his eye, and the heart of man is written on his countenance, but the soul reveals itself in the voice only."

The voice on the telephone creates a picture for the listener. With the business of the world being run to a very great extent by telephone, it is of the utmost importance what sort of picture that should be. No matter how sharp, strong, hard, flat, weak or soft, that voice creates an impression. If only we could have our voices played back, we would hear ourselves in one of those categories.

Even animals and children respond to voices as they truly are. All the actions in the world speak loudly, but the voice of love, the voice of friendship, and the voice of encouragement are the sweetest of all sounds.

The truly sincere quality in the voice is from the nature within, springing from concern for those about us, the divine love, the deep feeling for all of life.

[Guest guest]

On the anniversary of Pearl harbor my son reminded me that Hitler was teamed up w/ japan in his world wide compaign. The japanese school told their kids that his words and way of speech were melodic and hypnotizing. I do not understand??? you are so right. k/la

From: Carlene <carlene.grimshaw@...>Subject: Re: 'THINK on THESE THINGS' Date: Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 5:45 PM

'THINK on THESE THINGS'By Joyce Sequichie Hifler

All the world listens for the voice that speaks with its heart.

How important is the tone of voice, no matter what position we hold in life. The voice of authority, the demanding, commanding and authoritative voice has little lasting effect upon its audience. But the voice of kindness, the cheerful and friendly voice creates receptivity that few can resist.

In the words of Longfellow, "How wonderful is the human voice! It is indeed the organ of the soul. The intellect of man sits enthroned, visibly on his forehead and in his eye, and the heart of man is written on his countenance, but the soul reveals itself in the voice only."

The voice on the telephone creates a picture for the listener. With the business of the world being run to a very great extent by telephone, it is of the utmost importance what sort of picture that should be. No matter how sharp, strong, hard, flat, weak or soft, that voice creates an impression. If only we could have our voices played back, we would hear ourselves in one of those categories.

Even animals and children respond to voices as they truly are. All the actions in the world speak loudly, but the voice of love, the voice of friendship, and the voice of encouragement are the sweetest of all sounds.

The truly sincere quality in the voice is from the nature within, springing from concern for those about us, the divine love, the deep feeling for all of life.

[Guest guest]

That is so true and so lovely to read, thanks for sharing that.

Kim

From: Carlene <carlene.grimshaw@...>Subject: Re: 'THINK on THESE THINGS' Date: Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 5:45 PM

'THINK on THESE THINGS'By Joyce Sequichie Hifler

All the world listens for the voice that speaks with its heart.

How important is the tone of voice, no matter what position we hold in life. The voice of authority, the demanding, commanding and authoritative voice has little lasting effect upon its audience. But the voice of kindness, the cheerful and friendly voice creates receptivity that few can resist.

In the words of Longfellow, "How wonderful is the human voice! It is indeed the organ of the soul. The intellect of man sits enthroned, visibly on his forehead and in his eye, and the heart of man is written on his countenance, but the soul reveals itself in the voice only."

The voice on the telephone creates a picture for the listener. With the business of the world being run to a very great extent by telephone, it is of the utmost importance what sort of picture that should be. No matter how sharp, strong, hard, flat, weak or soft, that voice creates an impression. If only we could have our voices played back, we would hear ourselves in one of those categories.

Even animals and children respond to voices as they truly are. All the actions in the world speak loudly, but the voice of love, the voice of friendship, and the voice of encouragement are the sweetest of all sounds.

The truly sincere quality in the voice is from the nature within, springing from concern for those about us, the divine love, the deep feeling for all of life.

[Guest guest]

Thank you Carlene~~I have several of her books. I really like what she has to offer us to think about and bring into our lives. Joyce is Cherokee also.

Love & Hugs

Cyn

-- Re: 'THINK on THESE THINGS'

'THINK on THESE THINGS'

By Joyce Sequichie Hifler

All things in sequence, first the bud and then the flower. We can no more hold back the blossom than we can the daylight. It is inevitably there, beautifully delicate and subject to crushing. Only through very careful tending will it withstand the winds and rain and pressures of the outside.

Sequence is the order of human life. God intended us to unfold as the flower: first the seed in the fertile soil, the birth, the growth, the learning, the discoveries, the knowledge, the desires, the fulfillment as each phase of life follows its own sequence. We hold back the flowering of life only if we want it to be nonexistent, for it must progress. And in some of the most tender spots progression must be slow, easy, and reverently handled, for it can be as fragile as the flower.

There is within us a delicacy of thought which entwines itself throughout our beings, crossing from phase to phase, creating within us conflicts not easily understood. Something out of sequence in one phase may postpone the flowering of another phase. The very roots of our souls must be watered with reverence to successfully follow the sequence of life. If no other human understands or cares to understand, if we do, then continue - first the bud and then the flower.

Of all the intricate and complicated creations in the world, humanity occupies the first place. Our lives are made up of such flexuous combination of body, soul, and spirit that we do not even understand ourselves.

We all desire to know what makes us tick and how to go about making ourselves tick better. Whether we realize it or not, we are in search of the truth of our own being. Why are we here? What step should we take next? One problem after another, question after question brings us to this place again and again.

They are our personal problems and the wisest of persons cannot give us the answers. We will always need help to encourage us in our search but we must go within ourselves to cure, to live, to feel, to believe.

We must win our own hearts before we can find happiness with others. We must know what we want and be willing to share it with others, for it is written that life is made up, not of great sacrifices or duties, but of little things, in which smiles and kindnesses win and preserve the heart.

English divine Mason wrote these words, "By these things examine thyself. By whose rules am I acting; in whose name; in whose strength; in whose glory? What faith, humility, self-denial and love of God and to man have there been in all my actions?"

[Guest guest]

I agree with you Cyn - Joyce's beautiful words and thoughts hit a high

note with me as well. I love her writings. If you have a good

recommendation for one of her books (or I can do a search) that would be

good? I knew she was Native American but didn't know she was Cherokee.

I think you said you were half Cherokee?! Actually I think Ridge (Ron

Forrester) from The Bold & The Beautiful is half Cherokee. And I think

he is gorgeous. So / La when she said that the men are " hot " I

think she is sooo right. lol

Cyn, I'm wondering if you would rather post Joyce's 'THINK on THESE

THINGS.' As it fits in to your sequence of Native American wisdom posts.

If the idea appeals to you I don't mind at all. Please let me know

either way.

BTW As a child I named one of my young horses (a bay stallion) Cherokee.

I was influenced by US films and loved the name.

I hope you are doing okay and enjoying the holiday season with your

family. Take good care and be happy!

Love & hugs

Carlene

>

> Thank you Carlene~~I have several of her books. I really like what she

has

> to offer us to think about and bring into our lives. Joyce is Cherokee

> also.

>

> Love & Hugs

>

> Cyn

> -- Re: 'THINK on THESE THINGS'

>

>

>

>

> 'THINK on THESE THINGS'

>

> By Joyce Sequichie Hifler

>

> All things in sequence, first the bud and then the flower. We can no

more

> hold back the blossom than we can the daylight. It is inevitably

there,

> beautifully delicate and subject to crushing. Only through very

careful

> tending will it withstand the winds and rain and pressures of the

outside.

>

> Sequence is the order of human life. God intended us to unfold as the

> flower: first the seed in the fertile soil, the birth, the growth, the

> learning, the discoveries, the knowledge, the desires, the fulfillment

as

> each phase of life follows its own sequence. We hold back the

flowering of

> life only if we want it to be nonexistent, for it must progress. And

in some

> of the most tender spots progression must be slow, easy, and

reverently

> handled, for it can be as fragile as the flower.

>

> There is within us a delicacy of thought which entwines itself

throughout

> our beings, crossing from phase to phase, creating within us conflicts

not

> easily understood. Something out of sequence in one phase may postpone

the

> flowering of another phase. The very roots of our souls must be

watered with

> reverence to successfully follow the sequence of life. If no other

human

> understands or cares to understand, if we do, then continue - first

the bud

> and then the flower.

>

> Of all the intricate and complicated creations in the world, humanity

> occupies the first place. Our lives are made up of such flexuous

combination

> of body, soul, and spirit that we do not even understand ourselves.

>

> We all desire to know what makes us tick and how to go about making

> ourselves tick better. Whether we realize it or not, we are in search

of the

> truth of our own being. Why are we here? What step should we take

next? One

> problem after another, question after question brings us to this place

again

> and again.

> They are our personal problems and the wisest of persons cannot give

us the

> answers. We will always need help to encourage us in our search but we

must

> go within ourselves to cure, to live, to feel, to believe.

>

> We must win our own hearts before we can find happiness with others.

We must

> know what we want and be willing to share it with others, for it is

written

> that life is made up, not of great sacrifices or duties, but of little

> things, in which smiles and kindnesses win and preserve the heart.

>

> English divine Mason wrote these words, " By these things examine

> thyself. By whose rules am I acting; in whose name; in whose strength;

in

> whose glory? What faith, humility, self-denial and love of God and to

man

> have there been in all my actions? "

>

[Guest guest]

I will have to closely think on her words, kinda tired tonite. lol I llove you when you connect me w/ my indian heritage.

--------- I don't often attend things where as I used to all the time.:like any gatherings....

*** mabybe I can tell Yall, when I am with an American native indean person, friend,

-----------I have an out of body experience. or other strange thing occur. they delight me. I think it's funi, but some other ppl don't *** so I cling to every word or picture that I haven't seen before or prayer or words of wison. or reminding me of what I have forgotten l. lol so.. thank you karen in Louisiana

From: Carlene <carlene.grimshaw@...>Subject: Re: 'THINK on THESE THINGS' Date: Saturday, December 26, 2009, 8:46 PM

I agree with you Cyn - Joyce's beautiful words and thoughts hit a highnote with me as well. I love her writings. If you have a goodrecommendation for one of her books (or I can do a search) that would begood? I knew she was Native American but didn't know she was Cherokee.I think you said you were half Cherokee?! Actually I think Ridge (RonForrester) from The Bold & The Beautiful is half Cherokee. And I thinkhe is gorgeous. So / La when she said that the men are "hot" Ithink she is sooo right. lolCyn, I'm wondering if you would rather post Joyce's 'THINK on THESETHINGS.' As it fits in to your sequence of Native American wisdom posts.If the idea appeals to you I don't mind at all. Please let me knoweither way.BTW As a child I named one of my young horses (a bay stallion) Cherokee.I was influenced by US films and loved the name.I hope you are doing okay and enjoying

the holiday season with yourfamily. Take good care and be happy!Love & hugsCarlene>> Thank you Carlene~~I have several of her books. I really like what shehas> to offer us to think about and bring into our lives. Joyce is Cherokee> also.>> Love & Hugs>> Cyn> -- Re: 'THINK on THESE THINGS'>>>>> 'THINK on THESE

THINGS'>> By Joyce Sequichie Hifler>> All things in sequence, first the bud and then the flower. We can nomore> hold back the blossom than we can the daylight. It is inevitablythere,> beautifully delicate and subject to crushing. Only through verycareful> tending will it withstand the winds and rain and pressures of theoutside.>> Sequence is the order of human life. God intended us to unfold as the> flower: first the seed in the fertile soil, the birth, the growth, the> learning, the discoveries, the knowledge, the desires, the fulfillmentas> each phase of life follows its own sequence. We hold back theflowering of> life only if we want it to be nonexistent, for it must progress. Andin some> of the most tender spots progression must be slow, easy, andreverently> handled, for it can be as fragile as the

flower.>> There is within us a delicacy of thought which entwines itselfthroughout> our beings, crossing from phase to phase, creating within us conflictsnot> easily understood. Something out of sequence in one phase may postponethe> flowering of another phase. The very roots of our souls must bewatered with> reverence to successfully follow the sequence of life. If no otherhuman> understands or cares to understand, if we do, then continue - firstthe bud> and then the flower.>> Of all the intricate and complicated creations in the world, humanity> occupies the first place. Our lives are made up of such flexuouscombination> of body, soul, and spirit that we do not even understand ourselves.>> We all desire to know what makes us tick and how to go about making> ourselves tick better. Whether we realize it or not, we are in

searchof the> truth of our own being. Why are we here? What step should we takenext? One> problem after another, question after question brings us to this placeagain> and again.> They are our personal problems and the wisest of persons cannot giveus the> answers. We will always need help to encourage us in our search but wemust> go within ourselves to cure, to live, to feel, to believe.>> We must win our own hearts before we can find happiness with others.We must> know what we want and be willing to share it with others, for it iswritten> that life is made up, not of great sacrifices or duties, but of little> things, in which smiles and kindnesses win and preserve the heart.>> English divine Mason wrote these words, "By these things examine> thyself. By whose rules am I acting; in whose name; in whose strength;in>

whose glory? What faith, humility, self-denial and love of God and toman> have there been in all my actions?">

[Guest guest]

Carlene~~You go ahead and share Joyce's words. It is fine with me. I have 2 books of hers. They are daily meditation books. Does she have a web site?

Love & Hugs

Cyn

-- Re: 'THINK on THESE THINGS'

>

>

>

>

> 'THINK on THESE THINGS'

>

> By Joyce Sequichie Hifler

>

> All things in sequence, first the bud and then the flower. We can no

more

> hold back the blossom than we can the daylight. It is inevitably

there,

> beautifully delicate and subject to crushing. Only through very

careful

> tending will it withstand the winds and rain and pressures of the

outside.

>

> Sequence is the order of human life. God intended us to unfold as the

> flower: first the seed in the fertile soil, the birth, the growth, the

> learning, the discoveries, the knowledge, the desires, the fulfillment

as

> each phase of life follows its own sequence. We hold back the

flowering of

> life only if we want it to be nonexistent, for it must progress. And

in some

> of the most tender spots progression must be slow, easy, and

reverently

> handled, for it can be as fragile as the flower.

>

> There is within us a delicacy of thought which entwines itself

throughout

> our beings, crossing from phase to phase, creating within us conflicts

not

> easily understood. Something out of sequence in one phase may postpone

the

> flowering of another phase. The very roots of our souls must be

watered with

> reverence to successfully follow the sequence of life. If no other

human

> understands or cares to understand, if we do, then continue - first

the bud

> and then the flower.

>

> Of all the intricate and complicated creations in the world, humanity

> occupies the first place. Our lives are made up of such flexuous

combination

> of body, soul, and spirit that we do not even understand ourselves.

>

> We all desire to know what makes us tick and how to go about making

> ourselves tick better. Whether we realize it or not, we are in search

of the

> truth of our own being. Why are we here? What step should we take

next? One

> problem after another, question after question brings us to this place

again

> and again.

> They are our personal problems and the wisest of persons cannot give

us the

> answers. We will always need help to encourage us in our search but we

must

> go within ourselves to cure, to live, to feel, to believe.

>

> We must win our own hearts before we can find happiness with others.

We must

> know what we want and be willing to share it with others, for it is

written

> that life is made up, not of great sacrifices or duties, but of little

> things, in which smiles and kindnesses win and preserve the heart.

>

> English divine Mason wrote these words, "By these things examine

> thyself. By whose rules am I acting; in whose name; in whose strength;

in

> whose glory? What faith, humility, self-denial and love of God and to

man

> have there been in all my actions?"

>

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Thanks Cyn - I found a few sites with references about her life and work. Her photos show just how beautiful she is. I could not find an active website for Joyce. At hifler.com it seems she does not post there. She is 83yrs old and I think I read where she may be retiring from writing her columns. Hope this helps. Take care.

Love & hugs

Carlene

http://www.naotw.biz/native_american_indian/native_american_arts/oratory_writing/writers/hifler_joyce_sequichie

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080824_67_D3_JoyceH961439

http://hifler.com/

>> Carlene~~You go ahead and share Joyce's words. It is fine with me. I have 2> books of hers. They are daily meditation books. Does she have a web site? > > Love & Hugs > > Cyn

[Guest guest]

'THINK on THESE THINGS'By Joyce Sequichie Hifler

Are you one of those people who degrades yourself in idle conversation until it becomes a fact within your mind? Has it become your belief that this is true humility, talking down your abilities, hiding your light, refusing to accept your rights as a child of God as being meek and humble?

This thing called life is given to us for a purpose, never to downgrade; no more than we should blow it out of proportion by thinking too highly of ourselves.

Each life is important, each breath for a purpose, each moment a time for learning. Walt Whitman has written in Leaves of Grass: "Whoever you are! Motion and reflection are especially for you; the divine ship sails the divine sea for you. Whoever you are! You are he or she for whom the earth is solid and liquid, you are he or she for whom the sun and moon hang in the sky, for none more than you are the present and the past. For none more than you is immortality."

By our words we reveal our minds. It is so easy to refuse to be a channel through which the best can reveal itself. And it is so easy to forget that our song of life, as Whitman has written. "The song is to the singer, and comes back most to him. I swear the earth shall surely be completely to him or her who shall be complete!"

Human beings worry a great deal about what others think. It is a nagging worry that somehow the curtain that protects our privacy from the eyes of the world will suddenly drop and allow us to see all the things our pride has hidden.

Why is it that we seemingly need to be clever in order to handle the world? Why can't we just live honestly and openly, without scheming and trying to appear that we are something we are not? The world is so heavy laden with priggish pride that the clean simple truth is lost in playing it cool. Why can't we quit being something pent up inside and be something like sunshine or showers right out here where we can enjoy it or get over it?

Socrates said that the shortest and surest way to live with honor in the world is to be in reality what we would appear to be. And we may just as well, because of there isn't a good cake under all that frosting, someone is going to know it anyway. To drop all pretense and say with genuine honesty, "This is the way I am" would be to find a whole new way of enjoying the simplicity of being ourselves.

[Guest guest]

'THINK on THESE THINGS'By Joyce Sequichie Hifler

Henry Thoreau, whose cry was "Simplify! Simplify!" went to great measures to prove to himself, and perhaps to society, that life could be lived in the most simple manner and at the least expense. With only a few dollars he managed to provide for himself the things of absolute necessity for quite a long period of time.

Not many of us would care to exist on the absolute necessities. We have become too much accustomed to easier living. Things that were once thought of as luxuries are now considered necessities. And yet, with all of this, life is anything but simple. We seem to have the ability to complicate the best laid plans and find ourselves shadow boxing.

Like many of the trite old adages, "Life is what we make it," is so true. By our own minds we accept or reject, by ignoring or by searching out the causes of shadows and removing the cause. It is whatever we elect to do about our individual lives that makes the difference. But we shall make great strides when we recognize the supreme excellence in all things of simplicity.

We don't need to worry about doing without the necessary things in life - if we have a grateful heart. A grateful heart is not just remembering to write a few words to someone who has done a kindness, or saying thank you graciously and at the right moment. A grateful heart is the feeling of great blessings which precedes that thank you note and that verbal expression.

A grateful heart is one that always knows the fullness of that rich feeling of first being grateful without cause. And then, all other gratitude and its expression comes naturally.

Perhaps true gratitude is a grateful though toward heaven that I should be chosen to fill this spot, do this work, and have been given the strength to do it.

It was Romaine, the English theologian, who said, "Gratitude to God makes even a temporal blessing a taste of heaven." We can have so much more heaven with a grateful heart.

[Guest guest]

'THINK on THESE THINGS'By Joyce Sequichie Hifler

Today I hear the laughter of children at play. Their voices filled the air almost like chimes. And I felt their arms about my neck and their sticky kisses on my face. How blessed I am! Today I heard a mockingbird trilling out every single song it every heard from its winged friends. I closed my eyes and in the trees I heard all the voices I've heard since childhood, and it took me through all the happy, breathless, precious times I loved so much.

Today I heard my mother's voice calling to me happily. It was a good, strong, healthy voice that has called to me courage, and hope and peace, and shall continue to call down many lanes to me.

Today I heard my child's voice. I heard her singing, I heard her praying, I heard her laughing and talking. I heard her teasing and moving from place to place in all the activities I love to see her in.

Now, even more than ever I realize how grateful I am that God has given me the excellent faculty of hearing. I shall with all diligence try to hear nothing evil, but only love and peace which is my heritage.

[Guest guest]

Very Nice!

Love & Hugs

Cyn

-- Re: 'THINK on THESE THINGS'

'THINK on THESE THINGS'By Joyce Sequichie Hifler

Today I hear the laughter of children at play. Their voices filled the air almost like chimes. And I felt their arms about my neck and their sticky kisses on my face. How blessed I am! Today I heard a mockingbird trilling out every single song it every heard from its winged friends. I closed my eyes and in the trees I heard all the voices I've heard since childhood, and it took me through all the happy, breathless, precious times I loved so much.

Today I heard my mother's voice calling to me happily. It was a good, strong, healthy voice that has called to me courage, and hope and peace, and shall continue to call down many lanes to me.

Today I heard my child's voice. I heard her singing, I heard her praying, I heard her laughing and talking. I heard her teasing and moving from place to place in all the activities I love to see her in.

Now, even more than ever I realize how grateful I am that God has given me the excellent faculty of hearing. I shall with all diligence try to hear nothing evil, but only love and peace which is my heritage.

Gerlinde Creations

Do not claim as your own or rip apart