Souls of the Heart Speak

It is nearing St. Patrick's and St. Joseph's Days, fun days in my life.

Both were parade days, different types of food days, and even prayer days. I attended an all-girls high school that was closely linked to the all-boys high school. The Irish-American and Italian-American boys shared the fun and rivalry between them during the two saints' days. The parade of cars and the wearing of the green and red jackets created a festive environment for the day's events. Even though the girls were not present, they heard of the  My family still celebrates both Saints' days in March during Lent. 

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Last week, my fellow poetry friend, Karen Eastlund, shared with us part of the Celtic Daily Prayer: Prayers and Readings From the Northumbria Community on her Spiritual Journey Thursday blog.

Come swiftly, O Lord, to the dark moments when we are lost. Make us aware of Thy presence. Strengthen us to resist the urges and pulls to deeper darkness.

Our Spiritual Journal Thursday prompt, strength, was provided by slicer, writer, and educator Leigh Anne Eck. I offered my thoughts on "Strength Needed" that can be found here. Then, I found a beautiful quote from Mother Teresa:

Souls of prayer are souls of great silence. In the silence of the heart, God speaks.

I decided to blend the partial Celtic prayer with the second line of Mother Teresa's inspirational quote as an extension of my blog post on strength. Thus, the first part of my "Souls of the Heart Speak" poem is a blackout poem created from part of the Celtic Daily Prayer" and the last line is from Mother Teresa

Come swiftly, O  Lord , to the dark  moments when we are lost. Make us aware  of Thy  presence .   strengthen us to resist the Urges and pull s to deeper  darkness

Souls of the Heart Speak

Lord, moments

of presence

strengthen us.

Urges pull darkness.

In the silence of the heart, God speaks.

(c) CVarsalona, 2026

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According to AI, St. Patrick was "rooted in spiritual resilence, faith, and unwavering courage". St. Joseph's strength is "defined by 'quiet strength,' characterized by obedience, profound trust in God, and protective, humble service rather than vocal or physical force." Most people in this century understand the strength of Mother Teresa, who spread kindness and love throughout the world.

The 40-day religious season of Lent in the Christian Church brings souls of the heart together. 

Day 9, March 9, 2026

 12th year with Two Writing Teachers

Valentine's Day Heartnotes

On the eve of Valentine's Day, Mother Teresa's quote is a message for the world: 

Spread love wherever you go. 

Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.

heartnotes are love's messages from one heart to another

cherished

thoughts

spreading

cheer

cherished

love

notes

savored

cherished

heartnotes are love's messages from one heart to another

©CVarsalona, 2025, skinny poem

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The following Poetry Friday writers joined me at my Heartnotes Padlet to send

their messages out into the world. I am grateful for their kindness:

Linda Baie 🩷 Rose Cappelli 🩷Karen Edmisten 🩷 Matt Forrest Esenwine

🩷 Michelle Kogan 🩷 Denise Krebs 🩷 Irene Latham 🩷Margaret Simon

🩷Susan Thomsen 🩷 Linda Kulp Trout  🩷 Tabatha Yeatts

🩷Avalyn, James, Marifay (Margaret Simon's Students) 

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Call  To  Action

beyond Valentine's Day

let your heart

reach out to others-

connections

open doors to human kindness

©CVarsalona, 2025

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Thank you to Linda Baie for hosting the Poetry Friday Roundup with her walk down memory lane  Love Is In the Air message. She offers a memory, music to accompany it, and a creative poem written about her playlist. Click here.

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If you would like to add a heartnote, inspirational quote, photograph, etc. please click here.

Gathering Goodness

As I write my heartnote for today, I contemplate the theme for this month's Spiritual Journey theme, Gathering Goodness. Our host is Ramona Behnke, a reader, writer, slicer, and friend. 

Today's slice of life is a reflective one. How can I gather goodness? Will I be observant and see life through earth's small beauties? Will I feel a gentle wind passing through the air en route to spring? Will I be grateful no matter what life brings to me? 

After leaving our clubhouse for a meeting, I noticed an ordinary scene. I paused to soak in the goodness of nature. A tree spreading out its limbs and an erect lamppost stood against a springlike sky. They were guide posts persuading me to look deeper. I noticed billowy clouds peeking behind the tree, the brilliance of late winter sky, and realized that something as simple as this scene could bring goodness.  

Dear Spiritual Journey and Slice of Life Friends, 

I invite you to gather goodness as I did.

Photos of Regency at Creekside, Northern Virginia

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When I think of the word, goodness, I see the image of Mother Teresa. Imagine the humbleness of this saint who said: " I'm a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world."  To me, this inspirational quote is full of goodness.

Ramona Behnke, host 

I hope you take a walk with me. Let's visit the websites of Spiritual Journey bloggers and Slice of Life slicers who bring their own brand of goodness to the penned page.

Two Writing Teachers, Day 7

10-year Slicer at Two Writing Teachers