Shirley is the proud mother of two beautiful young ladies. She enjoys spending time with them on their ranch in the deep South with their three paint horses. Always looking for an adventure, she looks forward to hikes in the mountains chasing waterfalls, or scouring the coast for beautiful lighthouses! Shirley writes to encourage others and often times shares things that motivate and inspire her. She believes in living life to the fullest because no one is promised the gift of another day. Join her as we honor our bodies, minds, hearts, souls, and our Almighty Creator, God above!
Yesterday morning as I was getting ready for work, I shifted through my jewelry to find the perfect piece. The message was certainly appropriate for these trying times we are all living in. Slipping the necklace over my neck and taking a glance in the mirror, I picked up my purse and headed out the door. “Faith Over Fear” … what a statement piece!
Later, at the office, I hurried to print our case progress logs for the morning meeting. As I took my seat, my boss looked right at me and asked,
“What does your necklace say?”
He is a very observant man, and any interesting piece of jewelry will catch his eye. Once before I wore a necklace that looked unique, as if it had a message written in another language. He asked me, then, if it had a significant meaning, but at that time, the necklace I had chosen to go with my outfit did not. Yesterday, though, the message could not have been more appropriate.
I clutched the circular piece in my fingers as I held it toward him so he could read it as well, then I said,
“Faith Over Fear”
As the words left my mouth and reached his ears, he smiled and gave a nod of approval adding in,
“Wow! That’s powerful!”
Indeed it is. When the media wants you to live in fear and feeds you all the negatives in the world, please choose faith over fear! Choose faith every time, just as I did thumbing through my necklaces that morning as if I was on a mission. Let choosing faith be the mission YOU are on daily.
The noise of the world can overwhelm you. At the moment, we have the potential war in Afghanistan staring us in the face. We are starting to see more Covid-19 numbers that continue to rise in the United States, despite the vaccine that has been made available to children age 12 right on up to adults of all ages. In addition to that, we have the everyday worries of our loved ones that have been stricken with cancer or any number of diseases. It seems there is no where to turn for comfort and hope. That is when it is even more important to choose FAITH, my love!
I’ve heard it said that the Bible is playing out right before our very eyes. For years growing up as a Pentecostal Holiness in the Church of God, we were told horror stories of what the last days would be like. Years and years people have speculated it was the “end times” we were living in. If we weren’t convinced of it before, crack open the Bible that has gotten dusty through the years and refresh your memory of what, exactly, the Bible says! Some people it is just a compilation of “stories,” while others believe these things that have been written will surely come to pass. No matter what side you are on today, please make sure your heart is right and you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior so you will be certain to have eternal life with Him in Heaven. Right now Christians are being persecuted, so what I’m asking seems like a tall order to some. But I beg you to get your heart right with God before it is too late. We never know what is going to happen next in this crazy world. I have urged my very own family to get right with God, if they aren’t (because no one can truly know our hearts and no one has the right to sit in judgement either). But this comes as a plea for my brothers and sisters all around the world because I care what happens to you!
Faith Over Fear, my dear ones.
All you need is faith as small as a mustard seed. Imagine what can happen if we all have faith! See Matthew17:20 where it talks about the mountains moving if you just had faith as small as a mustard seed!
Our ONLY hope in this world today is through Jesus Christ! And despite what is going on in the world today, God did not give us a spirit of fear! See 2 Timothy 1:7 for reassurance:
When searching for scriptures to share regarding having faith over fear, I found a website that offers a free prayer guide. I encourage you to look into this, but even if you choose not to, know that God hears you. Whether your prayers are bold and authoritative, or whether you can barely utter the words with tears streaming down your cheeks, God HEARS you!! Even if you cannot speak at all, God knows your heart.
Instead of quoting all of the scriptures they provided, I’ll direct you once more to their site: GodTube
Be encouraged, and choose faith over fear!
Isaiah 41:13 – For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
This year marked 20 years since my sister died by suicide. July 9, 2001 was one of the hardest days of my entire life. It was during that time God carried me, just like the Footprints In The Sand poem says.
When the community learns of such a tragic death, there are so many questions. Believe me, the family has tons more questions they would like to ask, but the ones that hold the answers are in Heaven (God & their loved ones). No one knows quite what to say or do. I thought I would offer some guidance, just as another friend did today. She lost her daughter in January of this year, and she and her husband are still trying to cope. We continue to rally around them and pray, knowing firsthand only God can comfort their hurting hearts. My friend shared this with a plea on her Facebook page, and I now share it with you:
One night I dreamed a dream.
I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to me and one to my Lord.
When the last scene of my life shot before me I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
There was only one set of footprints.
I realized that this was at the lowest and saddest times of my life.
This always bothered me and I questioned the Lord about my dilemma.
“Lord, You told me when I decided to follow You, You would walk and talk with me all the way.
But I’m aware that during the most troublesome times of my life there is only one set of footprints.
I just don’t understand why, when I need You most, You leave me.”
He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you.” ― Margaret Fishback Powers
Fathers help shape us into the people we are and will become in life. Some of us have wonderful fathers and look forward to conversations involving them. Others, however, have not had their biological fathers in their lives or have not had them as the best father figure to look up to in life. Instead, they have had to rely on other men to fill that role. Whether it was a grandfather, step-father, or an older man that came into their lives and took the child under their wing to mentor to them, men have an unique role in the lives of children all over the world.
“SHOW ME THE FATHER is the film our nation needs to see. We have become a society that devalues and mocks fathers, but God created the role of fatherhood for a very specific purpose. Many of our children feel unwanted and unworthy because half of their identity is absent. Fathers are necessary for the next generation to heal.” – Nona Jones, Author, Pastor, Speaker, and Executive
The movie SHOW ME THE FATHER is another beautiful movie from the Kendrick Brothers, who are well known for the movies COURAGEOUS, WAR ROOM, and FIRE PROOF. It is their first documentary, though, and people might groan when they initially hear that. However, this documentary shares true stories with wisdom and such power from fathers like Jim Daly (from Focus on the Family), Sherman Smith, Stephen Kendrick, and Dr. Tony Evans. These influential men share their stories and also share the fatherhood of God as well, stressing to us the importance of leaning on our Heavenly Father. God is good all the time, in every situation and circumstance, even if we may not see any good in the situation at the moment. God is ever present, and He is the father we can lean on and into no matter what we face in our lives, even at the hands of our own fathers.
Show Me The Father will be in theaters September 10, 2021, and I encourage you to go see this movie. Take your families with you!! Share with others who may be blessed by the true life stories and what we can all gain from these influential men.
I realize that everyone’s father story is unique to them, just as the men in our lives are unique. There is no one else like them, and while my father story is a happy one, others do not have a happy story when thinking of their own fathers. My oldest daughter struggles with the difficult relationship she has had through the years with her own biological father. So I understand, and I know first hand some of the challenges she has faced and is presently facing, even at the age of 24 years old. Unfortunately, her father/daughter relationship has been a painful source of heartbreak, and it still affects her today. Our fathers very much affect who we are, and are at the core of our identity and direction our lives take. They can help mold us and inspire us, or they can be the reason we question why we aren’t loved or “enough” for them to want a deeper relationship with us. Such has been the heartbreaking case for my daughter, and I have cried tears right along with her over this. There is not anything in the world wrong with my daughter – and never has been – yet it has pained me greatly that my daughter has questioned her own worth and value due to her father’s inability to be actively involved, take a lead role in her life loving her and being there as a father SHOULD be! Just recently, they had another falling out due to his inability to acknowledge how the things he has said and done have her hurt. Instead of accepting responsibility for his actions and words, he chose to invalidate her feelings yet again and place the blame elsewhere instead of with the person he sees in the mirror daily looking back at him, where it belongs. Sadly, instead of owning up to and correcting his behavior, things escalated to where she has decided not to try any longer with him. It saddens me greatly because my father is so very important in my life! HE is my rock, and the one I always turn to no matter what. My daddy is my everything, and it breaks my heart that my oldest daughter does not have this type of relationship with her biological father. Things could have been so different in her life and their relationship; however, he has chosen to become emotionally disconnected over these years, and in our eyes, has dropped the ball in his role as her biological father. Thankfully, all faith in men has not been lost, as she looks up to MY father with such love and admiration, as well as her step-father. Together, these two men have picked up the shattered pieces of my daughter’s heart and helped restore her faith in what a father is supposed to be. Her future husband has been instrumental in this as well, as these three men have helped change her view of fatherhood. She and her husband will strive even more so now to give their own children (when that day comes) two sets of parents that will move Heaven and Earth to be there for them, loving, nurturing, and making memories! I’m thankful for these men that have chosen to step up and show her what being a father is truly all about, and my heart is thankful these men have shown her the unconditional love and devotion of a father for their daughter/granddaughter.
Similar stories like our own will be told in this documentary, and it will have us all thinking more along the lines of the fatherhood of God as well. Show Me The Father has five men sharing their true stories. There will be story lines, of course, along with plot twists you didn’t see coming, but the movie will inspire and encourage you to be the best father YOU men out there can be for your daughters!
SHOW ME THE FATHER is a film the entire family needs to see, so why not go together to watch it? Be sure to get your tickets at showmethefathermovie.com and join families every where in theaters beginning September 10, 2021.
It still seems surreal. The weekend in Kentucky could not get here fast enough, and then it flew by! We tried to savor every moment, from the first hello hug to the last goodbye text message to everything in between!
Many “firsts” were logged on this trip. The first time setting eyes on Maria in person! The first hug and sitting next to her thinking we waited 23.5 years! Then the fun REALLY began! It was Maria’s very first time riding a horse, hiking to a waterfall, and kayaking!
While we had a lot of fun on this trip, some amazing things happened as well. We went back to the hotel Friday night after dinner and sat outside talking until almost one o’clock in the morning! While we were out there, this gentleman had just arrived pulling a trailer that housed his motorcycle. He was meeting another friend there to ride the mountainous roads together. What fun! My husband and Maria’s husband instantly made friends with him, and together they stood talking as if they all had known each other their entire lives.
It is always fun meeting new people and learning their stories. Why is it always a surprise when God uses ordinary people to deliver messages to us? This was the case on two separate occasions during our time in Kentucky. Mike, our new motorcycle friend, learned of Maria’s diagnosis during the conversation Friday night, and he shared a message of hope. He relayed that his mother was diagnosed with Leukemia but went on to live 30 years with it. Those were definitely words we needed to hear. Maria needed to hear them, especially, as she is staring Leukemia in the face right now. She has her good days and bad days, of course. On her bad days, overwhelming feelings sweep in to consume her, and I can only imagine it is a fight to get back to a good mental place. Mike’s message was right on time. God knew what Maria needed, right when Maria needed to hear it! And … God delivered it through a total stranger … one of his angels in human form! Thank you, God. Thank you!
Saturday morning as we prepared to greet the day and explore on horseback, we saw motorcycle Mike in the parking lot again. I was sitting in the Tahoe with my door propped open waiting on the others when Mike appeared in my door. With the most sincere blue eyes, he peered through into my soul as she said, “I just wanted to thank you …” I looked at Mike with wondering eyes as to what, exactly, he was thanking me for. Then he continued, “I wanted to thank you for what you’re doing for Maria. She told me, and I think it is amazing. You have such a big heart to give her such an incredible gift this weekend. Thank you for who you are and what you are doing in her life.” I was rendered speechless at that moment, because I was not sure what exactly Maria shared with him previously. Also, I am not one of those people that gives a homeless person money while snapping a picture to post on social media either, so I was not sure what to do with his words other than tuck them away in my heart. Tears began to sting my eyes as I realized he knew much more than I was letting on about that weekend, and he recognized me in that moment when I was not seeking any kind of recognition at all. What was done that weekend for Maria and her husband was a gift straight from my heart, and it was something I did not even hesitate doing. You see, right before I offered this weekend to them, my boss had just told me that he was giving me a bonus. Immediately, I decided to pay it forward, and his generous gift to me then became my gift to her. Just as my friend, Greg, has done for my daughters and I in the past with his generous and unexpected gifts, blessing our hearts, now it was my turn to take an opportunity I was given to bless someone else. Paying it forward … a random act of kindness … whatever you want to call it … It makes it all worthwhile when you see the person on the receiving end smile.
I grew up watching Melissa Gilbert in Little House On The Prairie. It was one of my favorite television shows, and I enjoy the re-runs still today. She brings the characters to life, no matter what role she is playing. It felt like watching a family friend on the big screen in her latest movie When We Last Spoke.
Purposely, I do not watch the trailers or read anything on the movies I am getting ready to watch. Instead, I rely on the picture to “speak” to me, as they say a picture is worth a thousand words. If I am not automatically drawn in by the picture, I flip right past it. However, this family picture drew me right in.
Look at the way the older lady at the bottom carries herself. By the look on her face, you know there is a story waiting to be told, and this movie did not disappoint. Aside from that and Melissa Gilbert staring in the movie, I was drawn in also by the smiling faces of the mischievous little girls. Also, let’s not forget the old classic car they are leaning against in the bottom picture!! I had no hesitations at all with pressing play for this movie!
The movie switches between the past and the present day, with lives of two sisters that faced heartbreak at such an early age. The entire family suffered, honestly, but the movie is primarily centered on the two girls, Juliet and Evangeline. When their father went off to war, their mother could not cope with the stresses of raising two young girls alone. Sadly, she chose to drop the girls off with their grandparents, Ruby and Walt, with the girls begging, crying, and following behind with tears streaming down their faces. That was heartbreaking enough, but the storyline continued with more the young sisters had to face. It seemed like one thing after the other, until their grandfather, Walt, broke down crying and asking God why … I think we have all been there a time or two in our lives, if we are honest. We can relate to feeling so overwhelmed with emotion with things happening in our lives, especially when we lose someone we love (whether they choose to walk out of our lives or they pass away). Although we are taught not to question God, it is human nature. It doesn’t mean we don’t love God or that we aren’t honoring Him. We just seek answers as to why we have to face so much turmoil in our lives when we follow Him. No one promises the path will be easy, but it doesn’t have to be so hard either! That is where a lot of people get stuck – you either hang on to bitterness and resentment turning away from God, or you allow Him to comfort your broken heart and pick up the shattered pieces as only He can. There is overcoming and forgiveness intertwined in this movie as well.
The storyline definitely gripped me as it focused on the girls mainly but also on those with a significant impact on their lives. It was interesting as it flipped from the past, with the young girls with what they went through, to the present day with the now grown Juliet and Evangeline, and how what they endured affected them then and now. “Family secrets” were mentioned, and often times when a secret is kept, it is to seemingly protect another member of the family. (No, there was not any thing involving sexual abuse in this Christian based movie. It was the secret the older sister kept from the younger one in the way the mother left. Secrets such as these are often kept so as to protect someone’s feelings and heart.)
Ruby, played by Melissa Gilbert, tickled me in the one scene where she is dancing with the girls. Oh how that warms my heart, as I have danced with my very own daughters just like this, and still do from time to time. It made me reflect back on precious memories of my girls at that age and the fun we had being silly together. Making memories! That is what we were doing, just like Ruby with Juliet and Evangeline.
There was confusion in the mix within the movie as well, but a whole lot of love, too. What struck me was the misconception with one situation in particular and also the part with the great-grandmother that tugged at my heartstrings and truly brought tears. Not wishing to ruin the movie for you, I will choose to leave you in suspense and wondering What is she talking about?!
This award-winning movie is now available for live streaming on Amazon, so watch it and feel the love surrounding this beautiful family. Click here for all viewing options!
Disclosure: Many thanks to Last Spoke Partners for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
When you work with people for any length of time, you develop a friendship with them. Some “friendships” are really just niceties exchanged in the office environment, while others go much deeper than that. In my office, I have formed a rather unique friendship with a warrior. He is a warrior on so many different levels but two that stand out are 1) he is a warrior for Christ and 2) he is a prayer warrior. At any given time, he will break out into prayer. The usual “let’s bow our heads” goes out the window here with him. One minute you could be in deep conversation, and the very next he is staring straight ahead speaking with such conviction and authority. “Father, I ask it to be …” and he goes into bold specifics, and he follows it up with “Thank you for the hope of it.”
Today, as we sat in the morning meeting going through our client list for updates, the meeting came to a screeching halt as he asked specifically for prayer right that minute. He began to share with us a little of what he encountered Tuesday night when he came upon a motorcycle accident within minutes of it happening. I knew something was off with him yesterday but had no idea what was truly the reason behind how he carried himself and with what little words he spoke that day. Feeling stuck between wanting to offer an ear and not wanting to pry, I chose to play it safe and let him be. When people are ready to talk or feel a need to do so, they will, so I felt it better to leave things alone Wednesday. Today, he shared some of his heart. Immediately, we went right into praying over him. Our boss lead the prayer, and when it was my turn to speak I found myself overcome with emotion. When your friend is hurting, you are affected by it as well because of how deeply you care about them!
I have known for quite some time that we connected on a deeper level. We were more than just “office friends.” We have talked in detail about the Bible, God, religion in general, and our beliefs. It is mainly him sharing because I am not as knowledgeable with all of the stories in the Bible as he is, so I am like a little sponge soaking it all up when he shares.
The realization that hit me of my friend hurting swept over me, and immediately I teared up when I started to put my thoughts into a prayer for him. I have not been all that comfortable praying out loud for people, and so this is taking me out of my comfort zone for sure. But I offer my humble prayers, even if I don’t speak as eloquently as others do. I know God still hears me no matter what or how I pray. I was moved to tears for this man and wanted so badly to help his heart with the images that have been tormenting him since he arrived at the scene of the accident.
Would you please offer prayers for my friend, too? He leans on the fruit of the spirit in all things, and he mentioned this several times when we spoke briefly after the meeting. He is a true believer and a great witness for the Lord. While we cannot remove this night from his memory bank or erase the images he saw, we can trust our Father to help him through this. He has been thinking of the man that was on the motorcycle, but he has also been thinking of the driver of the vehicle that cut in front of the motorcycle, in what appeared to have caused the accident. We don’t know the individuals personally, and it is troubling to think that the man might have left this world not knowing Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. On the other hand, maybe he was saved and had a personal relationship with Jesus. We hope that is the case and that he did not suffer. With the driver of the vehicle, we pray for him as well because making a mistake such as this cost someone’s life. The driver has to carry that with them through the rest of their days, and that will be a tremendous burden to carry. Would you please pray for the driver as well? And last, but not least, the family of the motorcyclist needs our prayers as well. They have lost a very important part of their family, and they need comfort now and in the days ahead.
At the end of the meeting, he thanked us and called us “family.” Isn’t that really what we are supposed to be to each other, though? We are all brothers and sisters in Christ, after all.
My life has been changed by working alongside this man, and I thank God for placing me here.
I wrote this Monday and thought I’d share here as well. It is heartfelt and full of emotion.
Dear Maria Miller:
Meeting each other online all those years ago ended up being one of the absolute best things to happen to us both. We have helped each other through some trying times in our lives, and we have also been each other’s biggest fans and cheerleaders along the way. We have watched our children grow up over all of these years. Who would have ever thought that a lonely single mother venturing into the online world 23 and 1/2 years ago seeking friendship would have resulted in friendships that have and will last a lifetime?! Sure, we’ve all had our ups and downs through these years – that is a part of life – but the important thing is that we always find our way back to each other. Our friendship is THAT important and a huge part of our lives. How did we ever live without each other? From silly times playing on words in the “lounge” to serious subjects and matters of the heart, we have shared just about everything with each other.
I’m so grateful for your caring, forgiving, and loving heart. You have such compassion for others and have not been afraid to lend a helping hand, no matter how it stretches you. You have given freely of yourself and the resources that you have, and now we all, in turn, give to you from the bottom of our hearts. We wish there was more we could do at this time, but we know the most important thing we can do is remain by your side and pray to our Heavenly Father for your healing. And we do! We are flooding Heaven with our prayers for you, calling you by name before Him, and we KNOW He hears us all. MATTHEW 18:20 KJV “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
No matter what your team of physicians have said, He has the final word! He is the author of your life. He knows every thing about you, even that your favorite word is the “F bomb,” and He loves you … oh how He loves you!! I will not get “preachy” on you, but I will tell you with complete confidence that God knows the plans for your life, every single one of them, and He provides Hope for you and your future. Jeremiah 29:11 provides such comfort for me, and I hope it will for you as well: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
You have struggled, and you have smiled. You have continued with a brave face at times, and other times you show your most vulnerable side to us. We love each and every part of you and encourage you to continue to be as transparent as you feel necessary as we walk alongside you. You are NEVER alone … EVER! Please know that.
You might be one candle, but that is all it has taken to pierce the darkness and shine so brightly for the world to see. That’s you. That’s OUR Maria.
When I first learned of your diagnosis, I cried for days … big old ugly face crying. There is no graceful way to cry when you learn that kind of news. I cried for you, for Mike, for your children and grandchildren, and for your extended family and friends like me. Our hearts were broken right alongside your very own. There is no other way to say it. Words fail at a time like that, and all I could do was reach out to you and to God. And I’ll continue to reach out to you and to God. Neither of you will be able to get rid of me. Ha! You’re both stuck with me. But I want you to know that even in this, God is close to the brokenhearted, and I KNOW he has been close to you and even carried you through the months when you were so close to death and did not even realize it. I’m thankful for how God carried you through this. Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” This is who we are: the brokenhearted! We are brokenhearted for you and your family, but we are comforted knowing that the Lord is near us and is helping you — and all of us that know and love you –through this. Just like the little sign I sent you says, “We may not know what tomorrow holds, but we know who holds tomorrow!”
In four days, we will meet each other for the very first time. I have a lot of emotions going at this time. I’m so incredibly happy to FINALLY meet you! We tried a few years ago, but it wasn’t meant to be. Now, it is going to happen!! I will promise not to be a babbling mess all weekend, for there is FUN to be had and lots of laughter to be shared. I am looking forward to it all with you, Mike, and Dusty!!
We have several things planned for the weekend. I am absolutely **thrilled** to be able to share some of the very “first” adventures you’ve taken … knowing I’ll be right there with you as you experience them all!! We will be gentle, and please know that if, at any time, you need a breather from us, you are free to take all the breaks you need. We do not want you to feel self conscious at all about anything! We are understanding and know that chemotherapy has left you unable to cope with the heat of the summer. We are bringing a mini portable personal misting fan/air conditioner for you that some of the fellows use on construction jobs sites. We hope this will help you on the trail, although we aren’t going to push you even though we know you are wanting to push yourself! The hotel, horseback riding adventure, and cave kayaking adventure have all been booked and paid for, now let the fun begin! Don’t forget to wear light, comfortable clothing for the waterfalls and horseback riding, but be sure to bring a jacket, as the cave is supposed to be 55 degrees inside for the kayak adventure!
I have written a mini novel with this post, but remember I AM a member of the long post club from the “lounge” days.
I’ll end this post with much excitement and anticipation. Four days stand between us meeting each other for the first time in real life, and I seriously did start packing a few things last night so I didn’t forget them!! I hope you like me in real life!! LOL
I love you, woman!!! Always and forever!
~Shirley
(I am sharing a picture of Maria and her husband Mike. Maria LOVES snow, and here you can see how happy she is with the love of her life beside her and what looks like a light dusting of snow in the background.)
What do you do when your friend has cancer? When there is no way you can “make it better” for them or “fix” it. When all of your well wishes and positive thoughts won’t “heal” her.
You pray.
You support.
You encourage.
You listen.
You cry.
All of these and more, actually.
I have had the pleasure of knowing Maria for over 20 years. My Maria, like the Brooks and Dunn song that was popular in the 90s … my Maria … o/~ o/~o/~o/~ … (that’s my weak attempt at musical notes).
We met way back when a broken woman wandered into an online forum called the Lifetime Lounge (that’s me, I was the broken one back then). There, this woman found great comfort among strangers, and a kinship developed causing once mere strangers to form a bond stronger than some families ever dream of having.
I have been so fortunate and blessed to have developed such friendships with a handful of people, and we remain friends to this very day. Life has caused some disruptions (that’s an understatement, especially with the Covid pandemic that has been ongoing). Time has passed, and although some have grown apart as tends to happen through the years, I still feel that bonds are ever present. It’s there, just as the love that remains no matter the length of time that goes between a phone call, text, or Facebook message.
Little things have cropped up through the years that caused misunderstandings and people to fall out with each other. Oh, how I wish I could turn back the hands of time and fix the bad things that happened and get back the time that has been lost. Not just with my relationships but with others all over the land so that no one has to endure such a loss as this ever again. Alas, I don’t possess that power. Even in my own situations, it has happened. I was shocked at my own pettiness when I was reminded of the reasons behind the lack of communication. For us to have allowed something so small (which must have felt huge at the time) to place wedges between us … it all seems so ridiculous now. It’s in the past, and all we can do is go forward with the lessons we have learned along the way.
I know I’m rambling, by the way. I have some unprocessed feelings, and what better place to work through them than right here, as writing has always been a form of therapy for me. That is yet another thing my Maria and I have in common. She is a beautiful writer, among other things. The way she tells a story puts you right there in the midst of it, and you feel the feelings and go through the emotions right alongside her. I could not bring myself to read her posts initially without tears streaming down my face. Now, tears still sting my eyes as I face the reality that my friend has staring her in the face daily.
One of the other beautiful souls I met over 20 years ago, Greg, has helped so many times through the years. Naturally, he is the first person I thought of when Maria reached out with an idea she had. He helped orchestrate it. You see, once upon a time, Maria designed a website called Heartistic Wishes. It was an online e-card site with beautiful images, and we used that site a lot back in those days sending words of love to our friends, family, and each other. Fast forward over all of these years, and now Greg has resurrected the site so that we can all send e-cards to Maria now, the original Heartistic. All of the cards go directly to Maria’s email now. What a brilliant idea … after all, it is the fastest way to get your message to her in an online message!
Maria loves hearts, and she was concerned about others spending money buying cards to send her in the mail. She came up with a clever idea of people making their own hearts, instead. Colored construction paper doesn’t cost much at all, and it’s fun cutting out different designs. Some use templates to cut the hearts, others just freehand it. But the point is to cut out those paper hearts and write your messages of love, support, and encouragement to Maria. Whether you know her and love her, like we do, or you’re just coming to know her via this post … Maria would love to surround herself with colorful hearts of all shapes and sizes. She would take the cards with her to the hospital when she had to stay for an extended period of time, and they provided a bright spot in her day when she would see the visual display of love in her room.
If you would be so kind as to send your paper hearts to her at the below address, it would add a little sunshine into her days and warm her heart:
Maria Miller
100 W. 100 S.
Lagrange, IN 46761
We have a Facebook page we created also to follow along on her journey. Would you please visit:
Last, but not least … and honestly the most important thing you CAN do for her … please add Maria to your prayer chains at your church, with your friends and family, and if your office has prayer time also (I am lucky and blessed to work in an office environment with believers that pray daily for others). Pray over Maria, her husband, her children and stepchildren, her grandchildren, her friends … speak her name …
From the moment I first heard his voice, I was struck by the talent Gary LeVox possesses. If the name doesn’t sound familiar yet, it soon will. You may remember him as the lead singer and co-founder of Rascal Flatts! I can almost see your eyes widen and face light up once you put two and two together now!
Yes, THAT Gary LeVox!
He combined music with his faith, and One On One was born.
I sat at work streaming his latest songs on repeat, they are THAT good! MercyMe, BRELAND, and more join Gary on this adventure, including his own daughter, Brittany. That truly touches my heart that they have joined together praising God with their talent. There’s nothing quite like a bond shared between a father and a daughter, so this really spoke to me on a different level as I have always been Daddy’s Girl!
Gary believes it goes beyond just the stage presence, lights, and stardom but is an opportunity to show his fans that he is a man of God. He has had the opportunity to meet fans, and he has used this time to pray with those struggling with big things such as a cancer diagnosis. There is such power in prayer, and joining together lifting their hearts before our Heavenly Father, there just is no greater honor! Gary is able to show both on and off stage his love for Christ and his passion as he reaches more souls through his music on a much deeper level now.
One dollar of every purchase goes to fight human trafficking through the Tim Tebow Foundation. Would you please consider giving his latest EP a listen, as it debuts tomorrow, May 21, 2021:
You will be blessed as you listen to One on One. We encourage you to share with others as well so that they may be blessed in the process.
Disclosure: Many thanks to Capitol Christian Music Group for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
Once upon a time, a tiny teacup Yorkie entered my life and became the center of my world.
It was October 2011, to be exact, when we ventured to another town to see the little puppy that would become my Baby. I’ll never forget visiting with her and her brother, because the two were complete opposites. My youngest daughter was with us that day, at seven years old, and she was drawn to a rambunctious little boy. This little guy was running all over the living room keeping her entertained. Meanwhile, the little girl was shying away from all of the activities and hiding behind the leg of the chair. Pretty soon she made her way behind the couch, and I went to retrieve her. She was so timid and wanted to hide away from everyone and everything, it seemed, at that moment. My daughter continued chasing the little boy around the room, while I picked up this little darling and held her close to me. She had stolen my heart in that short amount of time, and she has had my heart ever since.
On the ride home that day, Baby decided it would be fun to climb on me, and before too long, she was perched on my shoulder almost like a parrot! She was too funny when she would do this. This soon became her favorite place to be, it seemed.
I held Baby close to my heart the rest of the way home, and I think that sealed the bond between us. From that moment on, I was her mama, and she was my sweet little baby girl. While my youngest daughter was sad that we didn’t take the wild one home with us, she soon realized that this shy baby girl could get wound up all on her own when the notion struck her.
My oldest daughter was thrilled by this little baby from the moment she returned home and set eyes on her. Baby was such a fitting name for her. We carried her around like a little baby, and we played dress up with her.
Because Baby was so tiny, we had to watch her closely so that her blood sugar levels didn’t drop. I remember running home on my lunch break to give her some special medicine to help her.
Baby slept next to a Big Ben clock, as the ticking reminder her of her mother’s heartbeat. We had little stuffed animals with her, but she was so tiny in comparison to them.
Pretty soon, Baby was entertaining the entire household with how she would turn into the Tasmanian Devil when the notion would strike her. She would twirl around and bark, turn back around the opposite direction and bark some more. She had a white and red little puppy dog stuffed animal that she would take in her mouth and shake. Then she would jump around some more while making the cutest growling sound.
Everyone loved Baby! Except the groomers … ha! There was this one time that Baby bit one of the groomers when they attempted to touch her feet. From then on, the groomer decided to let someone else handle Baby when she would come in for a spa day. It was amazing to me how a huge adult could be so afraid of this little two pound dog. What was even funnier was that Baby never did this to me. I would purposely hold her little paw in my hand and rub it with my fingers. Although she would get this look on her face and draw her head back, she never bit me!
The vet loved to see her coming, as she was just a little tiny thing, and all of the ladies in the office were ohhing and ahhing over her. Baby didn’t like anyone else messing with her, and it was obvious when the vet tech would take her to administer shots and check her weight. She would often bark and pitch such a fit until she was back in my arms again. They laughed and said she certainly wanted her mama!
I was so crazy about this little girl that I took her for a photo shoot also. I liked her hair longer, although I could never let it completely grow out where it would touch the ground. She would take her little paw and rub her eyes with it, and I knew she didn’t like much being in her face so I kept her cut short after her “glamour” shots were taken.
While Baby didn’t like to be messed with, except for on her terms, she would bark to let us know when she was ready for attention. It could be quiet in the entire house, then all of a sudden, we would hear the sweetest little bark from the other room. We would run to get her, and she would snuggle down in the blanket. She didn’t like being held, but she was happy being close and snuggled up between my knees in her blankie.
Baby had a keen sense of smell, too. We would sit down to eat supper, and shortly thereafter, we would hear a bark from the other room. She knew it was supper time, and she wanted some of what we were having. Without fail, I would save a portion of my meal to share with Baby and her sister (Trixie) and brother (Shadow). I would not feel right if I didn’t share with them.
A nightly bedtime ritual, which my husband hated, was for me to say, “Everyone’s getting in the bed!” Baby and Trixie would scurry to my room as fast as their little feet would take them. They wanted to lay with me for just a little while before being taken to their very own bed where they would sleep at night. I loved cupping my hand, and Baby snuggling right into it. That is when she didn’t mind being close, and she would let me draw her near to my chest.
Baby liked her little “hidey hole” and it was a wonder she could even breathe tucked down inside her blanket or curled up on the very edge of her bed. She was always cold, and so we would buy her little outfits to keep her warm. Even the extra small was too big for her at times. Oh how we loved dressing this little girl up!
When Baby was three years old, we gave her a sister, Trixie. Baby did NOT appreciate this one bit, as Trixie was now her roommate. Baby barely tolerated humans at this point, and yet we placed her with a very active sibling. Ha! She would growl at Trixie to let her know to stay on her side, but pretty soon, Trixie won Baby over. You’d find them snuggled together in her older years.
The year 2021 brought Baby fame, as my oldest daughter created a Tic Tok channel for her. My daughter would make videos of Baby, and we would laugh at her antics.
Yorkies are known for their eye problems, and unfortunately, the newest vet said that Yorkies also are predisposed to gum disease. Her entire jaw disintegrated. My oldest daughter thought it was due to Baby mistaking a fidget spinner for a snack, which made her lose a tooth. But it wasn’t my daughter’s fault at all. Unfortunately, it was just something that happens with this breed. Sadly, Baby lost several teeth, and the remaining ones had to be pulled by the vet to ensure she did not get an infection. Although my husband didn’t always act like he was a big fan, we knew he loved her, too, as he made sure that Baby had lubricating eye drops or ointment daily, even though she lost her vision anyway over time. Baby would still get around good in her surroundings despite the loss of vision, as she relied heavily on her sense of smell as well as her hearing, which was still in good shape! We could call her, and she would use her nose to find her way to us, if we didn’t get to her first. Baby ate good, too, even without teeth, as we made sure to break apart tiny pieces for Baby to eat. She loved chicken, ham, and bacon, especially. My husband gave her breakfast every morning like this, and we gave her dinner in the evenings. Baby did just fine and adapted to her health conditions, although it sounds horrible when you read these words.
Baby has given us a lot of joy, happiness, and love! We have made wonderful memories with her through the years. We joked that she only tolerated humans in her older years especially, but oh how she loved her mama!
The lifespan of a teacup Yorkie is only seven to nine years due to their tiny organs, but honestly, the first vet we took Baby to didn’t give her that long. He kept stressing to us on every visit that she had tiny organs, and he said she wouldn’t live but just a few years. Thankfully, he was wrong! Baby has been entertaining and loving us for almost ten years. Sadly, though, she will not see her 10th birthday on July 31st, as Baby’s health has declined recently. This breaks our hearts!
Yesterday the entire family was there taking turns holding and loving on Baby. She means so much to us all, and it is just so sad that dogs cannot live forever! While I know that her memory and love will live on in our hearts, it is sad to think of a world without our Baby. Please pray that if the end is near that she will go quickly and will not linger nor be in any pain. And please pray for our hearts, as they have been shattered as we watch our little Baby fade away. Tears seem to never end and fall from our eyes as our hearts break. Holding her frail body and cuddling with Baby yesterday felt just like I was losing a piece of my soul with each ragged breath she took …
Forever in our hearts … until we meet again … We love you so much, and you have been the best little girl ever! We are so thankful that you held on as long as you did for us, and thank you for letting us love on you and cuddle with you. There will never ever be anyone that could ever take your place, and please know that you are taking a huge part of your mama’s heart with you.
While only weighing in at two pounds, you sure gave a ton of pure love that we will carry with us throughout life. We love you, Teeta (which started off as Sweetest Little Girl In The Whole World and got shortened with us playing around and joking), Teeta Weez, Dah-den, La-weez, Beba-beba-beba, Weezy girl, Deenie, Rodent-Elizabe … Teeta-little-weez … forever our Baby girl!
Two friends suffered the loss of their adult children by suicide; one in December, right before Christmas, and the other at the beginning of January. Both families are still distraught as they try to make sense of this, when no one can comprehend the amount of despair these young adults were feeling to have resorted to such extremes. The family is left feeling such extreme grief that is unlike any other grief. It feels as if someone has ripped your heart completely out of your chest and then slammed it down on the concrete as five thousand semi trucks continue to run over it. Yes, that is the extreme pain families feel after a loss such as this. Sadly, I experienced this when we lost my sister to suicide in 2001.
At a time like this, there isn’t much comfort you can offer the families, other than the knowledge that you are there for them. Please, continue to rally around them long after the funeral is over. In the weeks, months, and years to come, that is when they truly need you the most. They feel numb at times, then a wave of grief knocks them over and they feel like they are drowning all over again in the sea of a million questions that scream at them “WHY DIDN’T I KNOW THEY WERE THIS LOW? “HOW COULD THEY HAVE DONE THIS?” ” GOD, WHY DID HIS HAPPEN?” “WHY DIDN’T THEY COME TO ME?” “I LET THEM DOWN … I SHOULD HAVE KNOW … I SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE FOR THEM!” Guilt consumes them, and it feels like someone has a hand on their throat choking the life out of them, too.
In the midst of ALL of this, please … remember them!
Remember the loved ones that they are grieving such a tragic loss over. Remember the good times, and share those memories with the family. Don’t be afraid to speak their loved one’s name for fear that it will cause them more pain. One of the most painful things at this moment in time is thinking that people will forget all about the one that has passed. Keep their memory alive! It actually helps the family to know that you have fond memories of their loved one. Share your stories! Talk about “this one time when they made you laugh until your face and sides hurt” or “they were such a prankster when they did this or that …” These memories are music to the parent’s ears. One of their biggest fears is that people will forget the one that their heart is shattered over losing. Reassure them that you will not forget …. and share with the family as a way to help them during this horrific time in their lives.
No one should EVER have to experience this special life altering loss of a loved one, and yet there are so many that take their lives each year. People talk about the “signs” and yet often the person was able to hide their depression or feelings of despair from those closest to them. There is no way we could have known that my sister would have taken her own life. Just like the gentleman that lost his son in December said, “You never could have convinced me that my son would have been capable of or would have taken his own life. Unfortunately, I was wrong.”
The mother grieving the loss of her only child, her precious adult daughter, shares pictures daily. Occasionally, she will share her heart and pour out exactly how she is feeling in a post. Often times, though, she sits alone crying with gut wrenching sobs escaping her lips.
Initially, survivors of suicide feel the need to protect their loved one’s name by trying to fix every wrong rumor that is going around town about them. They rush to their loved one’s defense of such tall tales. They don’t want anyone to tarnish their loved one’s memory with such fabricated stories. Even the truth doesn’t need to be told. It’s like a secret contained in a jack-in-the box. It’s a secret that the family wanted to contain, yet someone has twisted and turned the handle multiple times until the secret jumped out of the box and, much to the family’s horror, was revealed for all to know.
Please don’t focus on how the person passed. Instead, focus on the precious life they lived when they were here. Focus on the love they shared and the many lives the person touched while here on this earth.
In the case of both parents, their children are still touching lives today, long after they have passed. Because it enables those that still have their children to open up a dialog with them about such topics as depression so this doesn’t happen to another child, teen, young adult, or ANY ONE!
Remember them.
The ones that have passed. Share the beautiful stories of their lives and how they made you laugh or how they touched your heart! Don’t be afraid to say their name!! It is music to the family’s ears!
Remember the parents and all family members that are grieving. It affects everyone. It is like a stone tossed into a river, and the ripples affect everything in it’s path. Be there to listen … to offer a hug … just to sit silently with them holding their hand. Just be there and reassure the family that even though they don’t know how they will take their next breath, you will be there with them helping them along the way as best you can.
Remember the ones currently in your life and do everything possible to let them know you’re there, whatever the need. Listen to them, no matter if they rant about the same thing for the 10th time that day. They obviously have something that is bothering them for them to feel the need to bring it up. Let them talk and get it all out. Listen. Offer a shoulder to cry on, if needed. Or just be a sounding board for that person. Keeping it inside does more harm than good, so be the person that listens and, more importantly, validates them!
There is much yet left to be done to help others in this world. Be the person that doesn’t shy away but instead is present to be a friend especially when a person is in need. Don’t let a single other person on the face of this earth EVER feel alone again, if you can help it.
And pray.
Please keep these families in your prayers. I promise you, they need them!
Four simple words can mean the whole world to someone.
“I’ll be there for you”
Those four words softly spoken when a person is feeling hopeless, weak, or powerless might change their outlook at the moment and help them hold on a little tighter.
No one likes to feel as if they are facing things in this world alone. Being there for someone will help them tremendously, even if there isn’t anything you can specifically do for their situation other than offer prayers. Showing support and encouraging others has to be real and genuine. If it’s forced, fake, or doesn’t come from the heart, it will show and make matters worse.
I’m sure there have been times in your life when you’ve been there for someone. Yet, when you are the one in need of support and encouragement, no one can be bothered. It hurts when this happens, and if we’re truthful, there have been times we all have encountered this in our lives. Right off, I can think of several individuals I have been there for in their time of need. While it wasn’t my battle, I showed up with my armor on and weapons drawn ready to fight right alongside them. Together we were strong and a force to be reckoned with. Fast forward to years later when I’m the one in need, and I put on the armor, grab my weapons the best way I can, and proceed to fight alone.
Alone.
No one should ever feel as if they are alone. In a world with seven billion people, surely there is someone out there that can help fight this feeling.
Yesterday I witnessed a lady come into the office wearing a brave face, determined not to let her hurt show. However, after a few minutes, she dissolved into silent tears. As she waited for her appointment, I couldn’t sit there and not acknowledge her tears. I offered her a tissue, then reassured her the best that I could. She smiled as tears streamed down her face. After her appointment, I let her know that I would be praying for her as she made her way to the exit. And I meant it, every single word.
Prayer is a powerful weapon all on it’s own. Calling out to the Great and Almighty God that we serve does NOT fall on deaf ears. He will ensure that in a world full of seven billion people that are in such a hurry to go here or there that you are NOT alone, for He is always with us. We can’t see Him, but we can be comforted in the knowledge that He is there! When others we have helped along the path in life simply do not have the time nor desire to return the favor, God is there to help us. All we have to do is cry out to Him. He already knows what is going on, He just simply wants us to invite Him into the situation.
When you pray, know that God has His hands outstretched saying to you, “I’ll be there for you, My Child.” Take His hand and fall into the loving arms of your Heavenly Father.
I know you are like me and would love the companionship of the friend you helped when their father was going through cancer treatments, and you were rallying alongside them. Or the friend that faced their mother’s health concerns. Even the friend that was bi-polar that you took to the hospital so they could receive the treatment they needed. Someone … anyone …
Just know that God is there. Through it all. And He always will be.
