If You Gave God a Gift...: A Collection of Inspirational Quotes and Images

By Rosanne Pallini-Verlezza

Is there a life richer than the one youre living?

If You Gave God a Gift, youd experience a more balanced life. By striving to not just take but also give, youd be pleasing your Creator and bringing out the best in yourself.

This anthology/memoir boasts over 370 words of wisdom and complementing photography from Rosannes travels. The insights come from a rich spectrum of writers, figures (traditional and contemporary), and spiritual references.

For years, Rosanne transcribed uplifting thoughts into her journals and desired to share what shed collected. The title came to her in a dream, and the format evolved, taking on a spiritual direction of its own.

The collection is organized by gifts, for not only the Higher Power but for all of humanity. It provides a framework to assist in living a well-intentioned life. Rosannes wholehearted reflections of her faith journey jump-start each section.

In a world spinning out of control, let this be your guide for calibrating your internal moral compass. Through easy reading in tandem with thought-provoking images, you can finally slow down and achieve equilibrium.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Nov 30, 2012
• ISBN: 9781452559865

Rosanne Pallini-Verlezza

Raised in New York, Rosanne Pallini-Verlezza holds a BA in psychology and elementary education from Iona College and an MS in curriculum and instruction from Pace University. After years of teaching, she decided to focus on art and travel. She resides in Connecticut with her spouse of twenty-five years.

Book preview

Copyright © 2012 Rosanne Pallini-Verlezza

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

ISBN: 978-1-4525-5985-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4525-5986-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012918386

Balboa Press books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

Balboa Press

A Division of Hay House

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.balboapress.com

1-[phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Every effort has been made to trace ownership of material. Grateful acknowledgement is made to those who have given me permission to reprint. I apologize for any unintentional omissions or errors. If you have any information concerning the copyrights please contact us so corrections may be made in future editions.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.

Scripture quotations marked (NIrV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®, Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.

Scripture quotations marked (AMP) are taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Balboa Press rev. date: 12/10/2012

missing image file

I dedicate this book to my husband, Vincent Verlezza.

With your support and encouragement this book came into being.

With love and gratitude to:

My dad, Vincent Pallini, for showing me the importance of finding time to be creative.

My mom, Agata Pallini, for showing me the importance of putting my feelings into writing.

My sister, Helen Pallini, for showing me the meaning of perseverance and courage.

Special thanks to all those who have given me permission to use their material.

This book wouldn’t be the same without you!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

The Gifts:

   I Gratitude

  II Life

 III Growth

 IV Forgiveness

   V Charity

   VI Love

  VII Faith

Conclusion

Sources

INTRODUCTION

butterfly.jpg

AS I SEE IT

They say that when you’re ready to learn the teacher magically appears. Mine was a dear friend (and writing teacher), Eugenie Juliet Theall. When I told her I was working on a treasury of quotes, she stopped me mid-sentence: There are a million books of quotes! What will make yours different? Make it a memoir; relate the quotes to your own experiences.…

Eugenie always made me clear the cobwebs in my brain and this time she really pushed the envelope. I had a long internal dialogue coupled with self-defeating thoughts. Why would anyone be interested in what I had to say? Finally, I mustered up the courage to make myself vulnerable. Thus evolved the As I See It introduction to each section.

Hopefully my open-hearted reflections will encourage you to confront YOURSELF on a blank page. May you open yourself up to the teachers in YOUR life!

I

GRATITUDE

3.jpg

British West Indies

To be thankful widens the expression of your heart,

and increases your ability to nourish

the good in and around you. 2

Joy Drake and Kathy Tyler

GRATITUDE AS I SEE IT

It was a small island, where the Atlantic and Caribbean met. The lavish hotel hid the poverty that draped the streets outside the resort area. I was curiously drawn to the locals, and the sense of serenity they seemed to radiate.

Driving past the peaceful seaside cemetery I was intrigued by the aged crumbling stones that dotted the graves. Vendors gathered outside small huts selling conch shell embellishments. As I wondered how they tolerated the flies and humidity, I glanced to the right. In the water was a small fishing boat that called out to me. The words: Thanks God flanked both sides of the vessel. Wow! The scene was idyllic; the vast sea was the perfect backdrop. Like an epiphany, those words stood out in bold bright letters.

Vacationing in the Caribbean often, we made sure we rented a car so we could get a more realistic feel for how the islanders lived. However, this trip enlightened me like no other. It must have been the words on the small drifting boat. In the midst of what seemed like hardship, instead, was a sense of gratitude: thankfulness for small blessings. In turn, I thanked God for providing the boat for that person. I thanked God that I noticed it floating in the