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Light, Love, Hope

Light in the Darkness Surrounded by Love with Hope for those in need.

Shirley

About Shirley

https://lightlovehope.com

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!

Posts by Shirley :

Casting Stones

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There sure has been a lot of casting stones this weekend over the situation with the four year old little boy and the gorilla.  I’ll admit when I first saw the video footage from the media, it did appear that the gorilla was being gentle with the little boy.  That is until I saw what the news media edited out on their video!  It wasn’t until another news station out of the UK posted footage of the gorilla dragging the little boy through the water that changed all of that.

I know everyone is up in arms about the mother being at the zoo with other children and taking her eyes off of this little one.  We all know what resulted after the boy made his way into the enclosure, fell into the moat, as bystanders watched in horror of what was unfolding right before their eyes.

What angers me is that the news media only posts what they want you to see.  They aren’t giving you the full story, and yet they expect you to base your opinions on what they report.  Having not seen the extended video until much later, I was outraged that they would kill this “protective” gorilla.  When I saw the gorilla in the unedited video yanking the child like a rag doll, my opinion quickly changed.

I am an animal lover through and through.  It pains me to think that we just celebrated this gorilla’s 17th birthday a few days before this happened, and now, he is dead as a result of this tragic event.

The mother was heard in the video saying, “Mommy’s here.”  “Stay calm.”  “Mommy loves you.”

I honestly believe she was frightened for her little boy’s safety, yet she was trying to keep him calm so he did not agitate the gorilla.

The question a lot of people are asking is where was “Mommy” minutes before the little boy made his way through the enclosure?  In their minds, she was negligent by not watching the boy who just expressed an interest in going to play in the moat.  I’m sure she never in her widest dreams would have imagined him gaining access to the enclosure to do just that.  Yet, he did.

Then the next question others are asking is WHY wasn’t the enclosure secure enough to prevent ANY one from getting inside in the first place?

I imagine the mother feels just awful about this, and I’m certain the zoo feels awful about it as well.

Why aren’t we extending grace to BOTH instead of being outraged and casting stones?

It is a very sad and unfortunate situation that ended in the tragic loss of a 17 year old gorilla.  I loved seeing pictures of this beautiful Silverback, yet I realize his size and strength!  The four year old boy was no match for this gorilla, and I’m just thankful that the little boy’s life was spared.

There is argument as to WHY they didn’t use a tranquilizer gun on the gorilla.  Why was it necessary to KILL the gorilla?  I once questioned this myself until I realized that no one knows what effect the tranquilizer would have had on the gorilla. Furthermore, the tranquilizer would not have worked immediately on a gorilla that size!  I think of the times we’ve had our donkey and horses sedated for procedures that were being done on them.  When the donkey was castrated last year, none of us knew what this donkey was going to do.  Everyone stood way back as the vet and his technicians administered the sedation.  Even then, they made sure to stay clear of him until they could see how it was going to affect the donkey.  The same was done when the vet and the techs sedated our horses so they could float their teeth at the beginning of the year.  You just never know how an animal will react, and it is best to stay out of their way until you do!  Further, just as I saw with the donkey and horses, these animals weigh over a thousand pounds, so it is going to take longer for the sedation to work.  It did not happen instantaneously with the donkey and horses, and it would NOT have been instant with the gorilla either.

I feel the zoo officials did what they had to do in order to spare the little boy’s life.

There is argument now that the mother should be charged due to the death of the gorilla.  We hold animals in captivity for our viewing pleasure.  We pay good money to go into zoos around the nation to look at these wild and often times extinct animals.  If the mother is going to be charged and have to pay for the death of this gorilla, what about the suicidal man that jumped into the lion exhibit a few weeks ago?

I know for me, I try to keep an eye on my children at all times, especially when we are out in public!  For whatever reason, this mother took her eyes off of her adventurous child, or maybe he scrambled from her sight so fast that she was unable to grab him before he went through the enclosure and fell into the moat.

It is beyond frustrating that people seemingly act irresponsible and innocent people, or animals in this case, are hurt or even killed!  The gorilla was going about his day being on display as others around took pictures, talked to him, etc., and then a foreign object falls near him.   I’m sure the gorilla was curious, yet also wishing to protect his habitat. The next we saw unfold in the edited and unedited versions of the video.  I’m certain the little boy was in danger or else the zoo officials would not have taken the action that they did.  Yet, we’re still left frustrated over it!  However, if this was your child, I am certain you would want the zoo officials to do just what they did in this case to spare your child’s life.  I wish both of their lives would have been spared, but sadly, this was not possible.

Should the mother have been watching her child?  YES!  Should the enclosure have been where no human could have gained access?  YES!  There is fault on BOTH sides, but pointing fingers will NOT bring this 17 year old gorilla back to life nor will it erase the injuries the boy sustained from the fall and being dragged through the water by the gorilla.  Hopefully, it will teach the mother to keep a better watch over her children.  I can only hope that this will leave a lasting impression on the CHILD also so that he will obey in the future!  And lastly, I hope that zoos every where will look at ALL of their enclosures to ensure that no one can gain access after these two incidents within weeks of each other where humans were able to get inside with the wild animals.

At a time like this, let’s stop casting stones.  Instead, mourn the loss of a gorilla that entertained so many people in the 17 years he was alive, AND whisper thanks to God for sparing the life of this four year old little boy who has so much living left to do.

Three Cheers

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She came home from school one day filled with excitement and nervous energy all rolled into one.

“Mama, I’ve signed up for the Lip Sync Battle at school!” my 11 year old daughter exclaimed.

I congratulated her and made a point to really encourage her on this.  I know she gets a little anxiety about putting herself out there like that, but I am so proud of her not letting this hold her back from something she really wants to participate in!

My daughter and two of her very best friends picked a song that they wanted to do; Hoedown Throw Down by Hannah Montana.  My daughter asked for my help with the choreograph for the song even though the video had some movements that they could have just copied.  I really liked how my daughter wanted to make her own movements, and I thought it added so much more to their performance.

She and her friends practiced at school as much as they could, and I caught glimpses of my daughter practicing at home, in the car, and even at the grocery store.  She was so into this and wanted to do a good job.  She would get embarrassed when she realized I was watching, and she would stop.  I wondered how this would go on the actual day of the Lip Sync Battle. I told her that she was doing a great job and just needed to give it all she’s got.  Dance like no one was watching.  Just get into it because she had this!  She practiced so much that she knew every word to the song and every movement flowed!

I asked her one evening what she and the other girls were going to wear for their performance.  She just sat there as if in deep thought, so I suggested that they wear plaid shirts like we wear when we go horseback riding from time to time.  Her eyes brightened and grew wider as she almost jumped from her chair as she said, “And we can get cowboy hats, too!”  Oh yes, she was all into it now!  Having just purchased a cheap cowboy hat for my husband from Party City for a New Year’s Eve party, we knew where to go to get two more for the other girls!  Her friends were so excited when she told them the next day at school!  The girls didn’t all have plaid shirts, though, so they worried over that until I told them that they could just use my shirts.  I had plenty!  They literally jumped up and down with excitement when my daughter told them that we had the costumes covered.  All they had to do was supply the boots.  They said they could handle that part, so their costumes were now complete!  That was one less thing for them to worry over.

After much anticipation, the day of the Lip Sync Battle arrived.  I walked into the school with my daughter that Monday morning with shirts and hats in hand.  My daughter sat nervously at her desk in the classroom as she waited for her friends to arrive.  The clock ticked slowly with the hands hardly moving it seemed.  I told her it was going to be just fine.  Her friends would be there!   And sure enough, a few minutes before the bell sounded, her friends walked into the classroom.  My daughter melted at her seat for a second before she jumped up and hugged her friends exclaiming, “Thank GOD you’re HERE!”

I began slipping the plaid shirts over what they were wearing, fixing their boots so they could be seen, and placed the black cowboy hats on their heads. They were all set!

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Before they went on, I told the girls that no matter what happens KEEP GOING!  If you mess up, don’t make it noticeable at all.  Just keep the movements flowing and moving right along.  Keep dancing!

AND … they did!

Little did we realize that, as they kicked off the Lip Sync Battle, the music would fail on the sound system!  Oh no!  The girls were absolutely amazing, though, as they did exactly what I said and THEY KEPT GOING!  With barely any sound coming out of the speakers, they danced right along and sang the words enough to get them through the performance.  The audience realized what happened with the sound, and although a few laughed at first, they were amazed when the girls just kept going and doing their thing!  I was BEAMING with pride as I watched those girls on stage!  They worked hard, and this moment in time was not going to be ruined by speakers that failed to work.

As they exited the stage at the end of their performance, everyone began cheering for them.  Some even commented that they couldn’t believe they kept going!  I was sitting in the very front watching it all unfold, and I believe I may have been one of the loudest when I cheered for them!

My pride and joy strutted her stuff on stage with her friends!

The show went on, and the sound was fixed for the next song.  The girls were all worried that they embarrassed themselves, but I assured them that they actually did the opposite!  They amazed the audience when they did not give up or stop midway through the performance due to the lack of sound!

After a few songs played and the other students got a chance to perform, one of the teachers came over to us.  He apologized for the issue with the sound but said the girls would get a chance to do it again now that the sound was fixed.  Woo Hoo!!  The three girls held hands and were smiling all over themselves for this opportunity!  And sure enough, an announcement was made for the judges to disregard the opening act with the sound issues as they were closing out the Lip Sync Battle with their performance once again!

These three little girls were amazing to watch on stage!

The crowd cheered, and there I was once again beaming with pride!

Decision time was among us, and the judges gathered to tally their votes.  Then the elimination started on stage.  It came down to my daughter’s team and another team.  They huddled together, fingers crossed, and their lips mouthing, “Please … please … please” as they waited in great anticipation for the results.  The winner was announced, and by ONE POINT the other team won!  Ugh!!   Disappointment washed over my daughter and her friends, but I immediately joined them when they returned to their seats.  I made a special point to let them all know how hard they worked, how it showed, and how incredibly proud I was of all three of them!  They were in second place!  That’s not too shabby considering there were at least 10 to 12 acts performing that day!

After they returned to their classroom, I went to get them a little something for their hard work.  Coming back into the school with gift bags, their faces lit up once more.  They were disappointed for a moment but quickly got over that when they focused on how good they did!  It helped when others complimented them as well.

My heart still swells with pride every time I watch the video, and I’d like to share it with you now.  Click here for the video I posted on Facebook.

Three cheers for these incredible girls!

2nd place

 

Marriage Survey

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Let’s face it.  Marriage is hard work.  Honestly, the struggle is real in a LOT of marriages these days.  But, take heart.  There is hope!

Focus On The Family has been helping families and marriages for many, many years.  Now is no different as they have a marriage survey for you to take where it will reveal the strong points in your marriage first.  Then, it will reveal the items it feels you are weaker in resulting from your answers to their questions.  They go a step further, though, and provide information on how to improve in those areas.  There are books recommended as a resource to get you headed in the right direction.  The ultimate book is God’s Word, though!

I took the survey just a little bit ago, and I was pleased with the strong points in my marriage such as having a commitment to each other, spending quality time together, and intimacy between us.  Where we struggle is, honestly, in the spiritual department and with not surrounding ourselves with couples in our community for a source of support.  We lean heavily on each other, and to me, that isn’t a bad thing at all.  But, the survey did suggest that we needed more outside support within our community.  We did try this a few years ago with a small group at our church.  When we were having some issues two years ago, though, it seemed to do more harm than good when we reached out to those around us.  The more people that got involved, the worse it was!  Opinions from others were flying back and forth on both sides with a great number suggesting that we go against what our hearts wanted: each other!  We believed in our marriage even when those on the outside did not, and we did NOT give up on our marriage nor each other!

Spiritually, we have a ways to go.  The husband is the head of the house and the leader, and I believe my husband desires to do good in this area.  He wasn’t really raised being involved in the church or having a relationship with Christ like we’ve both realized we needed all of this time.  He gave his life to the Lord a few years into our marriage, praise the Lord for that!  However, I think he feels he isn’t equipped to lead us spiritually.  I strongly disagree.  While I have heard the saying about being a baby in your spiritual walk still drinking milk, as he grows in his faith he will become more comfortable in that leading role.  Once he grows and matures as a Christian, he will walk confidentially as the head of our house and the spiritual leader for our family.

The survey did not really reveal anything earth shattering that we didn’t already know we needed to work on, but it was interesting to participate in the survey.  I enjoyed reading the results and seeing the recommendations as far as reading material to help bridge the gap of where we are and where we’d like to be spiritually.  I really did appreciate the resources listed and plan to check them out.

If you have five minutes, would you consider taking the survey, answering the questions honestly and then taking action on the areas you may be weak on in your marriage?  If so, please click here to take you to the Focus On The Family Marriage Survey.

I’d like to see everyone’s marriages improve so that you’re close in all areas: emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically.  It can happen!

Marriage isn’t just 50/50 as a lot of people like to say.  It takes both of you going above and beyond to make your marriage soar to new heights.  You CAN keep the fire burning in your marriage.

Even if there have been issues in your marriage previously where you felt like a wedge was driven between you and your spouse, God can heal your marriage if you turn to Him.  We are living proof of it as we are closer now than we have ever been in our entire marriage!  Two years ago, honestly, we were not sure that would be possible.  We give God all the praise, honor, and glory for this because HE turned the problems we had into stepping stones to a love beyond our wildest dreams.  We know for a fact that HE is able, if you trust in Him and turn your lives and marriage over to Him.

So what are you waiting for?  Take the marriage survey, discuss the results, and join together to utilize the resources they recommend to improve your marriage.  No, I am not receiving any commission or any blogger perks for recommending Focus On The Family, their survey, or the resources offered.  I simply love what Focus On The Family is all about and wanted to share with others who may be interested.

Here’s to living, loving, and enjoying life together with your spouse!

Marriage Survey

What Are You Expecting?

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Try as we may, we all go into different situations with expectations.  It is hard as human beings NOT to sit in anticipation of what will happen.  Whether we’re expecting a miracle in a situation only God can control such as someone’s health issues, or we’re expecting a raise for all of our hard work, if we’re honest, we’re all sitting in anticipation of something.

For the vast majority of Seniors, they are expecting to walk down the aisle at their graduation ceremony in just a few, short days.  They have no idea that all the years they complained about school will actually be the best days of their lives when they look back on things.  When all you really have to do is go to school, study, and make good grades all while hanging out with your friends, oh yes, these are the best days of your life.  You just haven’t realized it yet.  When you get out into the real world, you will, though.  Whether you go to college to further your education or you go out into the work force, you will soon realize that the world does not revolve around you and your friends.  It can be, and often is, a cruel world out there.  I bet of all the things you’re expecting your adulthood to be, you won’t be expecting the harsh reality of those that occupy the planet with you caring very little about your well being and your success.  Don’t let people, their actions, or their lack of care and concern make you lose sight of your goals in life.  Be the best YOU can be.

There was once a guidance counselor at my husband’s school that discouraged him from going to college.  The guidance counselor said such damaging things like, “You clearly are not college material.”  That stuck with my husband, and honestly, it discouraged him a great deal.  It was, indeed, damaging to hear the guidance counselor, of all people, say this to him when he was looking for … well … guidance … for his future plans. My husband certainly didn’t go into the office that day expecting THAT.  Thankfully, though, he has a spirit of determination, and those words were actually the words he needed to hear.  He didn’t give up like ones would do under those circumstances being told such things.  Instead, he forged ahead, and he went to two technical colleges, and THEN he entered the big university where he graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Mechanical Engineering!

Don’t EVER discourage someone when they come to you seeking advice.  Especially if you’re in a position such as this guidance counselor!  Instead, be a great encouragement to them.  My husband went in there expecting encouragement from the guidance counselor, but instead that was not what he received.  Yet, in the long run, he proved the guidance counselor wrong!  He not only went to two technical colleges where he obtained an Associates Degree, he went on to the big university where he obtained his Bachelor Degree!  Although he’s never gone back to that guidance counselor to show them just how wrong they were about him, I wonder if the thought has ever crossed his mind.

What are you expecting?  Where are you in life and what are you looking forward to, anticipating, or expecting? Are you expecting to go on to bigger and better things?  Who is stopping you then?  Go for it and live your dream!  If there is a way possible for you to embark on the path that will lead you to your destiny, do it!

Live your dream.  Reach for the stars!  You CAN do it!

 

Family Devotional Bible

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I remember it all very well.  Looking back on my childhood years, I recall this big shelf of books.  Lots and lots of books!  And there I sat looking through them all to find the one that would keep my attention.  What captivated me was this rather large, beige book that felt like it had a leather cover.  There was a picture of Jesus on the front, and my little eyes marveled at the man before me.  At that age, knee high to a grasshopper, I thought that was truly a picture of Jesus right there on the cover.  I remember staring into His beautiful eyes before running my fingers along the corner of the cover and opening the Good Book.  Page after page was filled with scriptures, of course, but my, oh my, the pictures within this book that almost told the story all by themselves.  I was mesmerized by each and every story with pictures to go along with it!

Fast forward all of these years later, and I am almost reliving the moment. This time, it is through my youngest daughter.

When the mail lady pulled up in our driveway honking the horn, I knew she had a package for us.  The only one I was expecting at that point was the one containing the ESV Family Devotional Bible by Crossway.  I thanked the mail lady, and we had a brief conversation before she pulled away to continue her route.  My daughter sat on the burgundy wrought iron bench in the front of our house looking out over our flowerbed.  We have bird feeders and a bird bath out here, and that is one of our absolute favorite spots in the entire yard!  As I walked toward her, she couldn’t help but see the package in my arms.  Curiosity killed the cat as she asked, “What’s that?!”   We typically always have to play the Close-Your-Eyes-And-Hold-Out-Your-Hand-For-A-Big-Surprise-Game.  As I placed the bible in her hands, she opened her eyes, immediately widened them as she said, “Wow!”  I smiled as she began to thumb through the first few pages.

That was all it took.  She was hooked!  Just like I was as a little girl when I discovered our family bible with illustrations!

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I wondered if she would just look through the bible that day and put it aside, but much to my delight, she didn’t!  When we went on a trip the next week, she carried this bible with her!  As we drove along, she would read the stories out of the bible, look at the pictures, and then quiz us on the story line.  Some of the stories from the bibles we could remember well while others would take some brushing up on our end to recall all that happened.  She was so happy to take the opportunity to  refresh our memory as she read aloud parts of the stories to us.

This Family Devotional Bible has become a favorite in our household with our little girl.  If you have little ones yourself, we encourage you to enter our giveaway below!

Special thanks to FlyBy Productions/Propeller for allowing us to participate in this giveaway.  I did receive a free sample of this product, but the opinions expressed are mine and were not influenced by this opportunity to review the bible.

The Winds of Change

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As Winter slowly fades and flowers emerge indicating Spring has arrived, the winds of change blow in our lives in other ways as well.

Sometimes things happen that we do not understand.  Maybe we’re not meant to understand each and every thing but are to, instead, trust that God has a plan for our lives.  Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us of this!

There are times when we’re left with our head spinning questioning motives behind individuals that seemed to have made a sudden change in their lives.  They say or do things seemingly out of characteristic for them, but then we ask ourselves if we ever really knew the true person that they were on the inside.  People are so good at faking it to get what they want, and often times, they take advantage of innocent souls that just want to love and be loved in this life.

Have you encountered a wolf in sheep’s clothing that has come into your life?  I think if we’re honest, we all have at one point or another, and this encounter has left us shaking our heads.  How can a person proclaim to be one way, yet their actions scream that they are the complete opposite?  It is true that actions speak louder than words.

Some may say that we’re the fool for allowing this person back into our lives, but who wouldn’t want a second chance if they screwed up royally the first time?  God forgives us, so shouldn’t we also extend that forgiveness to others?  What is tricky here is trying to determine who is genuine and true, and who is trying to pull the wool over your eyes.  We don’t always know the answer to this until the truth is revealed later down the road.  Yet, we still aren’t the fools because of our forgiving nature.  They are because they continue on in their foolish ways.  One day it will all catch up with them.  God doesn’t like ugly, and evil will not EVER win!  God will make sure of it!

Ah, but we live and learn.  We aren’t sorry for the chances that we gave, we just feel sorry for the individuals who blow it time and time again not realizing what they are losing in the process.  Not only are they missing out on an awesome individual that would have done anything in the world for them, but they are letting the entire world know with their actions alone that they are not trustworthy, lack morals, values, and aren’t a person of integrity or good character.  Honestly, in the end, we feel sorry for them.  After all, you are only as good as your word.  We remember when, in the good ole days, your word was your bond.  Now, it seems to be all lip service, and they could care less who they use or step on along the way.

Rise up, Children of God, and put on your armor; the armor of God.  In the world we’re living in today, we truly need it!  When lives are not valued any longer and individuals seem to sink to lower levels, we scratch our heads and wonder what will happen with this generation that feels they are “entitled” and no one can touch them.  They say and do things yet aren’t accountable for their actions.  The parents that should be disciplining them are the ones teaching them by their bad example.  The children grow up seeing parents lie and cheat on each other, often time being their alibi or covering for their parent’s indiscretions.  Is it truly any wonder that they turn out the way they do then?   Or what about the teens drinking, doing drugs, “vaping,” having sex in the backseat of their cars on the side of the road?  Parents don’t seem to think their kids can do any wrong, and if you point it out to them, oh they’ll just cover for the little brats anyway.  Right is right and WRONG is wrong!

It’s a sad world we’re living in.  And I ask that you join me in prayer for this entire nation!  We need God – not just on Sunday mornings when one occasionally wishes to step foot into a church or when they are in trouble and only then think to pray to God.  We need God in our daily lives and heart.  We need Him in the homes with Godly parents teaching and raising up Godly children who will be our leaders one day.  We need people with high morals and values leading the way.  Not what we have today with moral decay.  It is scary to think of the graduating class this May with some so called “adults” that lack morals, values, integrity and have the character of a lowly snake in the grass.

We need God in the schools – in the classrooms – and we need God in the White House running this Nation!!  What happened to “One Nation Under God?!”

God has been taken out of so many things, and yet we wonder why the world is in the shape that it’s in today.  Plain and simple, we need more of God and less of the worldly influence.

Rise up, Parents, and raise children that will lead us all straight to the foot of the cross; to Jesus!

He is the only one that can truly save us all.

 

Mental Health Month

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The entire month of May is Mental Health Month.  This is a great opportunity to remind everyone that it is okay not to be okay!

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As I thought about this topic, I did a little research as to when it first originated.  Much to my surprise, I discovered that May has been observed as National Mental Health Awareness Month since 1949.  I had NO idea!  Did you?

During this month, advocates and activists seek to draw attention and awareness to the mental health issues that touch people’s lives all across this nation.

Did you realize that as many as one in five Americans are affected by mental illness?  Neither did I!

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I’d say it’s time for us to wake up and realize that people are hurting.  Some hide it so well behind the many masks that they wear, but deep down inside, they are in great turmoil!  The vast majority are suffering in silence, afraid to speak out for fear of the stigma attached to those with mental illnesses.

When a mental illness is left untreated, the person soon begins to have suicidal thoughts.  They are consumed with feelings of hopelessness.  This is when we need to be screaming from the roof tops that HELP IS AVAILABLE!!

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Sadly, there is a large number that do not seek treatment.  The harsh realization is that more people die by suicide than automobile accidents!  Does that not shock you and shake you to your very core?  It’s time to CHANGE that!

It breaks my heart to think of those suffering in silence, plagued with darkness, feeling as if the only way out is to take their own lives.  They’re so afraid of the shame and humiliation they will feel or their family members will feel if they seek help.  Yet, asking for help is the bravest thing they could possibly do!!

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Will you join me in breaking the silence?  Will you join in support for tearing down all the negatives that society has some how placed on those with a mental illness?

No one asks to be mentally ill.  NO ONE!

Here at Light Love Hope, we have such compassion for each and every person that has ever struggled with mental health issues.

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Please, if you or someone you know is struggling, reach out for help.  We need you to know that help is available, and there are proven methods in dealing with mental illness.  You do not have to fear being judged any longer.  Help is available, and we encourage you to find a mental healthcare professional in your area to discuss options that are available for you.

If you, a loved one, or a valued friend are feeling suicidal, please reach out for support.  You can start here, if you feel you cannot ask for help from those around you.  Please go the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention where help is available now!

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Your life matters!

A Series of Unfortunate Events

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Once a movie, now the theme of our lives since January 1, 2016:  A Series of Unfortunate Events.  Honestly, that is the first thing that popped into my mind to describe the past four months.

There was a series of unfortunate events that spiraled out of control for a bit.  It left such heartache and pain in its path, and after the mass destruction, it was hard to pick up the pieces of my daughter’s shattered heart.  I’ll never forget her running into the living room crying hysterically as she fell into my arms sobbing deep, uncontrollable sobs.  Her heart shattered right there on the floor all around us.  I’ve never felt more helpless in all of my life.  My daughter was hurting, and I couldn’t fix it.  In the past, I could always kiss it and make it better when she scraped her knee or fell off of her bike.  This time was way different, and I knew all I could do was hold her and pray for God to help us in this situation.

For months, we prayed.  We knew that this was bigger than all of us, and only God could change hardened hearts.  While we wished, prayed, and hoped for an answer in January, it just simply does not happen in our timing.  When God seems silent, just know that He is working in the background.  We just may not ever know it at the time, but if you’re patient and continue to have faith, God will reveal all in HIS timing.

And … He has.

Friday, my daughter called once more in tears. I could barely understand a word she was saying through her sobs.  As she cried, I started crying, too.  Finally, I grasped what my daughter was trying to say.  An apology had been extended to her, out of the blue!  We were both taken back by this, and she asked what she should do.  Knowing she was about to be late going into work at that point, I told her to just breathe … and set the message aside until after work.  She and I would pray about it and decide how to respond.

God … You truly WERE listening when we prayed, and You WERE at work the entire time!

That evening, she responded to the message through tears and nervousness.  Hoping, waiting, wanting … And then a message popped up addressed to me.  A very humble, respectful apology that I believe was heart felt.  We hugged and cried together for God surely answered our prayers.

My daughter cried once more, but this time it was different.  Her tears fell out of pure happiness over an opportunity for redemption.  For a love she thought she’d lost forever has now returned asking forgiveness and vowing to prove that he is a changed man.

While others may not understand why anyone should receive a second chance after the series of unfortunate events, we know that God has forgiven us ALL for things we’ve done in our lives that were unpleasing to Him.  If God forgives us, so shouldn’t we also extend our forgiveness to those that are humble and sincere?  I believe we shall take this chance and allow this young man to prove himself.  If we didn’t offer another chance, we would always wonder what could have been.  And so we go, with God on our side, seeking His guidance and asking for His protection over their hearts and lives.

We know things won’t be roses and rainbows all the time.  We also know that there is a lot of work that has to be done here for him to pick up the shattered pieces of my daughter’s heart and put them back together again to make her whole.  I believe he is capable, if he invites God into his relationship.

No outside interference from non-supporting friends or family will be tolerated either.  If people cannot genuinely support these two, then they need to keep their negative thoughts to themselves.

I believe that people can change if they truly want to.  When their heart has been heavy and hurting for so long, they have to make a decision to continue living the way they have been OR to make a lasting change for the better.

I believe out of the ashes and the pain, a beautiful love will emerge stronger than ever.

 

God Is For Us, In Us, With Us

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As you’re going about your day, do you feel as if negative energy is trying to pull you down?  Maybe you’re feeling some kind of way, but you can’t quite put your finger on it.  Your thoughts are invaded with things from the past which still seem to haunt you in the present.

Or, maybe you’ve battled with an addiction previously, conquered it with the help of God, and yet here comes temptation flaunting itself in your face once more.  Recently we had a friend pull out a can of snuff.  In conversation, he reached in his pocket, then offered the can to my husband and I.  He stopped what he was talking about long enough to say that his mama always told him it was rude to partake of something in front of others without asking if they’d like some first so he was offering his chewing tobacco to us.   He laughed as he extended it in my direction knowing that I surely would not ever take it.   That’s when I laughed, declined the offer, but politely told him that not too long ago this innocent offer would have been troublesome for us.  He stared back at me as I finished by saying that thankfully my husband kicked the habit a few years ago and no longer chews tobacco.  This guy’s face dropped, and he let his arm, which was previously extended out in front of him with the can firmly in his grasp, drop with it.  He stumbled over his words for a second before saying, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know …”  We were smiling when we told him that it was no big deal now, but he insisted that it was.  He said he did not want to be the temptation of his brothern and that he did not want to do anything that might cause my husband to be weak.  My husband spoke up then and said it was a hard demon to slay back then, but he did it.  He went on to say that he’s at a place now where the sight, smell, nor seeing someone dip no longer bothers him.

Maybe it isn’t something as simple as a can of chewing tobacco that someone offers to you.  Perhaps you were once an alcoholic who tried to drown your sorrows in the bottle of whiskey, and yet when you’re out with friends now, they order drinks from the bar.  Would you have enough willpower not to order one, too, knowing the affects alcohol has had on you and your life previously?

Temptation is all around, even in the form of what we place before our eyes.  Whether it’s in magazines, on television, in movies, or even on our smart phones in the search engines or social media.  Temptation abounds.   You have to constantly guard your heart, mind, and soul in all areas.

 I’d like to encourage you with a few scriptures today, one which speaks of taking a stand against the devil’s schemes.  We have to be aware at all times that he lurks trying to destroy our lives.  I had someone just today talking about how when they are happy and are enjoying an outing with their family, it seems like something is going to happen that will cause them to lose their temper or get anxious.  They questioned why this seems to always happen when they’re all out there just trying to have fun.  Why?  My theory is that the devil cannot stand to see you happy.  He prefers that you are miserable, and he will do everything to ensure that you live a miserable existence.  When we’re living for God, the devil gets angry and attacks us.  Notice how when you’re living in sin, it doesn’t seem like you’re bothered.  That’s because the devil has you right where he wants you, in a world full of sinful ways.  But, the moment that you try to redeem yourself and get back on the straight and narrow with God’s help, the devil begins to launch his attacks against you.  Just know this.  GOD is stronger than any temptation that the devil tries to put in front of you.  GOD will not allow the devil to win.  Evil will NOT prevail.  God has the final say, and I want you to know that God Is For Us, In Us, With Us – and isn’t that a reassuring truth?!  You do not ever have to feel like you’re in this alone.  God is ALWAYS there.  He is our biggest fan!  And if you ask Him into your heart, there He will stay!  AND, what’s more is that God is with us no matter where we may go or what we may face.  He’s there fighting with us and often times FOR us.

Be encouraged today and allow God to help you replace those negative thoughts with good, wholesome thoughts.  If you’re replaying a difficult situation over in your mind with the shoulda-coulda-woulda thought process – STOP!   Literally, say STOP out loud if you have to in order to redirect your thoughts.  Or, try this.  Wear a rubber band around your wrist, and every time you start going down that same ole destructive path with those thoughts, POP the rubber band on your wrist.  OUCH!  This is a reminder because it HURTS … physically, yes it does.  Not only that, though, it HURTS us when we start hearing the beep … beep … beep of backing up and going in the past over a situation that is already over with!  There is no going back.  There is no changing what happened or the outcome.  What’s done is done.  Stop going back over the situation in your mind rehearsing it 14 different ways.  STOP the madness.  Just like the physical pain you feel when you snap that rubber band, you’re causing yourself mental anguish by allowing the thoughts to continue!

Try this.

For every negative that comes into your head, replace it with a positive thought.  Praise God for things that you are grateful for.  If you have gratitude in your heart and mind, your thoughts will follow.  If the devil tries to get on your shoulder and whisper negatives in your ear, stop him in his tracks and start thinking GOOD thoughts.  Think of how beautiful your children are when they are just standing on a white sandy beach looking out at the rolling waves as they crash against the rocks.  Let your mind be consumed by the laughter that fills the air when your child runs toward you as the waves lick the shore.  Shift your mind and shift your focus!  You must take control of those thoughts that try to run free.  You wouldn’t let your horse buck, kick, and bolt off if you were on it, now would you?  NO!  So don’t let such a thing happen in your mind!  Just as you would attempt to regain control over your horse, regain control over your thoughts.  Ask God to help you, and I assure you that HE WILL!!

The verses I mentioned earlier are as follows.  Think on these things and go forth to enjoy this beautiful day that the Lord has given us!

Ephesians 6:11,

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

John 10:10,

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:

I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Inspiration Abounds

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Monday, we meet again.

I know, it’s so hard to drag yourself out from under the plush comforter where you’ve been all nestled in your warm bed all night!  With the blare of the alarm clock, it signals that Monday is here once again, and you peel your eyes open just in time to hit the snooze button.

Just 10 more minutes.

And those 10 minutes are more precious than GOLD!

With the alarm blaring once more, you sling the covers over to the side as you plant your feet on the floor.  Yawning and stretching, you make your way to the coffee pot where you try to figure out how to get this week going in the right direction.

Who couldn’t use a little extra motivation, right?

Well, you’re in luck because ChristianQuotes.Info  provides that and more!

I have been a long time fan of inspirational quotes, and believe me when I tell you that inspiration abounds on this website!

As I’ve gone through their website, I have found many quotes that have spoken right to my heart or that have been a great reminder of how we should start and end the day.  Such an example can be found here where it says:

Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night.

~George Herbert

While other sites just provide the quote, ChristianQuotes.Info goes a step further.  If you scroll through their site and find a quote that you enjoy, be sure to click on it to find hidden treasures!  On this particular quote I mentioned above, once you click on the actual quote, it takes you to a page where there is an article written on Avoiding Temptation, Avoiding Anxiety, and Avoiding Darkness.  They sum it all up with a Conclusion as well to tie it all together.  I was very pleased when I discovered that this wasn’t just another site with neat inspirational quotes. No, they went a step further, and I’m so glad they did!   There is even a place below all that I’ve mentioned where you can add your thoughts by replying to the author.

Here’s another of my favorites as I’ve gone through the site.

I’m a little pencil in the hand of a writing God,

who is sending a love letter to the world.

Mother Teresa

Once I found this quote that spoke to me, I clicked on it to find more hidden gems!  I enjoyed reading the author’s thoughts on Loving With Words, Loving With Deeds, and Loving Our Enemies.  Boy, that last one can be tough at times!

If you’re having trouble getting motivated on this Monday, take a few minutes to browse the many inspirational quotes found on ChristianQuotes.Info.  It is sure to get ANY day off to a great start!

Here’s wishing you a bright, beautiful day!  Be blessed and be a blessing!

 

And The Doves Cry

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A music icon from my teenage years has passed away.  Earlier today we heard the news.   Although I didn’t want to believe it, shortly thereafter, it was confirmed by his publicist.  Prince passed away at the age of 57 years old.

That is SO incredibly young!!

I’m sure Prince had plans, just like you and I … and yet, he will never get the opportunity to act on those plans he had for the coming days, weeks, and months of 2016.  I’m sure he did not ring in the new year on January 1st with the knowledge that his days would be short in the new year.

We all think we have so much time on our hands, and yet, we could be called home to be with the Lord at any given moment.  Is your heart right?  If today was your last day, would you be ready to meet your maker?

The news brought such sadness deep within my heart.  Although the world has lost other music icons in the past, I was not affected by this as much as I was today by Prince’s passing.  As much as I loved Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, I did not cry when they passed.  I was sad, don’t get me wrong.  However, today when I heard the news about Prince, I was overcome with such sadness that literally brought me to tears.  While I didn’t sob deep, heart wrenching sobs, the tears stung my eyes for the passing of this man.  I remember vividly turning up the volume as my friend and I danced wildly under her garage to his songs.  We made up all sorts of dance moves, and we danced our hearts out to songs like “When Doves Cry,” “Little Red Corvette,” “Purple Rain,” etc.   And now, he is gone, but his music and memory will live on.

I’m not sure I was emotional due to any type of real attachment other than growing up listening to his music.  I think deep down I was so emotional due to the reminder that any moment it could be you or I that is called home.  Time is short.  Each day that passes we are losing people – some that are very near and dear to our hearts, while others are merely people we heard of whether they were in the public eye or a friend of a friend.  Each life is precious!

I’m reminded of my age and the uncertainty of what lies ahead.  I don’t want to leave my family.  I want to stay right here with my two daughters, my husband, and my parents living, loving, and enjoying life!  I’m sure Prince and all of the others gone before him wanted to remain with their families also, and yet, their time was cut short.

I realize that people are living longer lives these days.  I just heard of a woman celebrating her 100th birthday recently.  She is in pretty good health considering her age, although she does have a touch of dementia.  She recognizes her loved ones as family, but occasionally, she will not be able to call them by name.  But, she made it to 100 years old!  I hope I make it to 100 years old and am still in good health as well.

I have said for years that I want to be a very old woman rocking my great-great-grandchildren in my lap on my front porch.  I pray that God will grant me my heart’s desire.

It is such a sad, sad thought of having to leave my family one day.  I hope that God will allow me to live a lot longer than Prince, and yet I realize I am not guaranteed that gift.  No one is!

At the time of this writing, I am knocking on the door of 45.  I will be 45 years old this September.  The older I get, the more I realize that time truly does fly by.  I can’t seem to comprehend how, when I was younger, time seemed to crawl … and now it seems a year is gone in the blink of an eye.

I sit back and watch all of the “memories” that pop up on Facebook, and I just sit there at times staring at the screen.  It is so hard to believe that much time has gone by … two years … four years … the other day, a memory from six years ago popped up!  I was taken aback by it!  It did not seem like six years had passed since that moment in time, and yet … it had.

My point in all of this is to get busy LIVING while you still can.  Get out there and enjoy life.  Do what makes you happy and what brings you joy!  Spend time doing things that soothe your heart and soul.  Enjoy every moment possible with your family.  Don’t bury your head in your phone in their presence.  BE PRESENT for them and with them!

My parents are going to be 69 years old this year.  My mom’s birthday is just 10 days away.  I thank GOD for my parents and for allowing them to be on this earth for 69 years.  I pray that He allows them to have 30 more years here in good health, but I fear each and every day that something will happen to them.  I don’t want to ever lose my parents!  They were here just today visiting with me, and I thank God for each and every moment that I get to talk to them, hug them, and tell them that I love them.

I wish we could all live forever!  I know that when Jesus died on the cross, He gave us the gift of eternal life through Him if we only believe and ask Him into our hearts.  It’s losing people this side of heaven, though, that is so extremely heart wrenching.  When they join the angels in song up in Heaven, we are left behind mourning and grieving.  One sweet day, we will be reunited with them.  Until then, it is hard living our lives here on Earth without them.  From losing my sister, my granddaddy, my best friend in the whole world, it never gets easier when we lose someone we love.  It brings some comfort knowing that if we all have our hearts right, we will be reunited in Heaven … one sweet day.

Today, Prince’s family, friends, and fans are left behind to remember this music icon.  We put his songs on repeat and soak in every musical chord he played on his guitar, every note he sang, and we marvel at this music legend taken too soon.

And the doves cry.

 

 

The Best of Friends

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I never knew what I would encounter on any given day as I walked through the halls of my high school.

On the first day of my Freshmen year, I remember feeling self conscious and unsure of myself as I looked for my first class.  It didn’t help matters any when one of the Seniors, thinking he was being cute, yelled out for all to hear, “Hey, little girl … Kindergarten is over there …” as he pointed across campus.

Laughter followed by those that overheard his remarks, and there was even some finger pointing as well.  They acted as if they had never seen a short person before.  I just kept right on walking, looking down so as not to make eye contact with anyone, especially those that were making fun of me.

As the school year progressed, I stayed mainly to myself.  It was an awkward time in my life.  I wanted so badly to “fit in” but couldn’t have stood out more!

Then, one day between classes, I saw a girl about the same height as me with long brown hair.  She appeared to be new at the school, and she walked with that all familiar look just as I had on my very first day of high school.  With her head down, trying not to be noticed, she’d glance up ever so often to see if anyone was watching.

I can’t remember who spoke first, but the “short” girl with long brown hair became my very best friend in the whole world!  Her name was Robin.

When Robin entered my life, it didn’t matter that I no longer seemed to “fit in” with anyone else because I fit in with her!  

We seemed to always be together.  If I wasn’t at her house, she was at mine.  We even got our very first job together in high school at a fast food restaurant.  We did everything together!

I had never felt so accepted before or so much a part of something as I did when Robin and I became best friends.  We could tell each other anything!  We’d laugh at the silliest of things, even getting the case of the giggles just by looking at each other.

Ah, yes … I have fond memories of Robin.

We seemed inseparable … up until the point where she got her first really serious, steady boyfriend.  We tried to still hang out and even double date, but Howard claimed the majority of her time.  I was understanding, yet admittedly sad that it seemed I was losing my very best friend in the entire world … while she was gaining a relationship she poured her whole being into.

As time and circumstances would have it, we slowly drifted further apart.  And, I returned to no longer fitting in with others.

After graduation, I received a phone call that I will never forget.  The person on the other end of the line called to tell me that Robin was dead.  She died in a car accident.  I remember holding the phone but being completely frozen, unable to move.  I managed to breathe, although I still am not sure how at that point in time.  I listened to the words coming through the phone and into my ears, and yet, I was having trouble comprehending what the person was saying.

My best friend from high school was … gone.

Shortly thereafter, I received a phone call from Robin’s sister confirming the news.  She was so much younger than us, yet she reached out to let me know what happened and of the funeral arrangements.  Her family even offered to allow me to ride with them several hours away to where Robin would be laid to rest.  I seriously contemplated but later denied their offer.  I preferred to keep the memories of Robin alive from happier times, not to see her in a casket.  It wasn’t long after this phone conversation with her sister that I received another phone call from a “friend” asking if I was going to the funeral.  When I said, “No …” I received such judgment in return with the “How COULD you even think of not going to the funeral?  You were her BEST FRIEND!”   Oh yes, judgement is surely what I needed at a time like that!   Even still, I was firm in my decision.  To this day, I have not regretted it either.

A few weeks ago, Robin’s sister found me on Facebook!  She sent me a message followed by a friend request.  Tears welled up in my eyes as I read her message.  She was only seven years old when I first met Robin and started going to her house.  Little Charity would follow us around as she wanted to be included.  I never had a younger sister – but an older one – so I thought it was cute having her follow us around.  Robin was not entirely amused by it, though.

Charity and I talked in messages, and we shared memories of Robin.  She and I both cried a little during our conversation.

One thing that Charity and I have in common now, and oh how I wish we didn’t, is the fact that both of us have lost our one and only sibling – our older sisters!   I’d like to think that our sisters found each other in Heaven and are friends keeping each other company until we get there.  My sister had a problem with fitting in as well, and I’d like to think that Robin helped her feel at ease and welcome in her presence just as I felt when we became fast friends years ago.

I never had a friend like Robin before, and I doubt I ever will again.  I didn’t have very many female friends that I hung around because it seemed that drama followed.  Imagine that – drama and teenage girls – yep, it is still that way today as I’ve watched my own daughter struggle to fit in and to escape the drama that other girls bring with them.  During the better part of our friendship, though, it wasn’t like that with Robin at all.  We truly were best friends!

As a forty-something year old adult woman, I still have feelings of not fitting in, and I doubt I’ll ever feel so at ease and have such peace within a friendship again as I had with Robin.  Just when I started to feel sad about this again, I stumbled across a message that said, “I never intended for you to fit in.  ~God”  Wow.  God really does know what you need, right when you need it.  I feel like He honestly sent that message to me right when I needed it most today.  Maybe I truly am not meant to fit in with others, for “fitting in” might mean going the way of the world instead of following Him.  I’d rather NOT fit in then, instead, I’d rather stand out or just be a loner.  At least with being a loner, there isn’t quite so much drama to deal with.  At other times, I think it would be nice to have a friend to have lunch with or get together for some girl talk occasionally.  I know deep in the back of my mind, though, that no one will ever fill the void that came about with losing my very best friend in the whole world.

Today has been filled with memories and a few tears.  As I reflect, I am thankful for the “short” girl with long brown hair that allowed me to fit in with her during those rough high school years.   We were, indeed, the best of friends, and oh the memories I will forever hold close to my heart!

In loving memory:

Robin

 

 

 

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