It has been awhile since I posted anything. Two days after my last post, a family member died unexpectedly.
In those moments immediately following her death, one thing I forgot is that “hurting people, hurt people.” Therefore, instead of having a disciplined response to the anger and drama directed at me by someone who was clearly hurting, I reacted. Continue reading
We can always find a reason why not to embark upon something that has been tugging at us.
We say we are waiting for the “perfect” moment or “perfect” timing to make the move.
But, what is the “perfect” moment? When is the “perfect” time?
Are you waiting for the “perfect” day, the “perfect” spouse, the “perfect” job, the “perfect” weight, or the “perfect” amount of money in your bank account? Continue reading
Hope is defined as, “the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best”.
We have all hoped for something. There are times that the thing in which we hoped for manifests in our lives. Then sometimes our hopes turn into disappointments. Continue reading
Last night I could not sleep so I decided to browse around on a social media site. I came across a page dedicated to getting justice for a 22 year-old female who was recently shot and killed by police officers.
My heart goes out to her three-year-old son who woke up today, as he will everyday for the rest of his life, without his mother.
There are conflicting stories as to what actually happened. I am not writing to debate what did or did not happen.
I just want to remind everyone today how precious this life is that we have been blessed with. We should not take it for granted. Continue reading
“The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.” Proverbs 11:25
The restaurant was crowded, but it was an all-you-can-eat buffet, so I should have expected it.
The table in front of me had four children sitting alone. Their mother sat at the table next to them. Consumed with the man sitting next to her, she paid no attention to what her children were doing.
I watched as these children brought plates of rolls, bowls of ice cream and plates of dessert to the table. Without touching any of it, they left for more. Continue reading
When I first decided to stay home with my son, people said I needed to do something more with my time than just take care of my husband and family.
Attempting to please others, I decided to start back up a business venture I was in years ago.
I was great at it and could do it with my eyes closed. It seemed like the logical thing to do. This had to be God, right?
I am not sure if I asked God or even prayed about it, I think I just did it. Everything seemed to fall into place “perfectly” so this is what God wanted me to do, right? Continue reading
I am excited and honored that Leigh with SimpLeigh Organized nominated me to receive the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award. In order to accept this award, I must do a few things.
First, I must thank the person who nominated me:
Thank you so much Leigh for the nomination. Leigh has an amazing blog about saving money, organizing, decorating and cleaning your home! Be sure to check out her blog!
Second, I must share seven things about myself:
1. I love butterflies and what they represent. One of my favorite quotes is, “Just when the caterpillar thought it was over, it became a butterfly”. Therefore, no matter how ugly a situation may seem (the caterpillar); never give up because if you press through to the end, something beautiful (the butterfly) may come of it. Continue reading
As I grow physically and spiritually, I learn to accept who I am, appreciate what I have, grow where I am in life, and love how God made me. However, it is a process and at times, I am still tempted to compare.
“Comparison is the thief of joy” (Theodore Roosevelt)
The quote by Theodore Roosevelt sums up so well the danger or down side of comparison – it can steal your joy!
Comparison will cause you to overestimate/over value what someone else has and underestimate/devalue what you have or vice versa. You will miss the blessing and beauty of today if you are comparing yourself to someone else.
Just because someone has something you do not have or is different from you, it does not make him or her better than or more blessed than you are. It just makes them different. Our differences are what make us unique.
Thanksgiving was a few days ago and I read so many messages from people sharing what they were thankful for. I think it is sad though that Thanksgiving is the only time some stop to count their blessings.
It is so easy to get caught up in the details of life, careers, children, family, relationships, finances, etc that our vision becomes clouded and we can’t see the testimony in our test, the message in our mess, the blessing in our burdens, the sunshine in our struggles or the calm in our chaos.
I was guilty of this just Friday. Fresh out of giving thanks the day before, I woke up complaining to my husband about a situation we were going to encounter over the weekend.
The situation had not yet happened, but I was already complaining. I had already made up in my mind that the situation was a burden. Before I became too worked up and frustrated, I had to stop and challenge myself to see the blessing in the situation.
Years ago a friend and I were going through similar struggle but neither one of us knew it. We were drowning in a situation alone that we could have overcome together through prayer, support and encouragement.
We were both saved and in the church, but felt we had no one. Of course, we have God and can always go to him, but sometimes we want to have someone to go through it with us. We want someone who can pray with us and for us when we cannot muster up the strength to pray for ourselves. We want someone who will speak the truth to us in love when we are going off track (Proverbs 27:6 and Proverbs 27:17).
Neither one of us wanted to share what we were going through for fear of judgment. Sometimes Christians can be the most judgmental people. We preach a message of love, but do not always practice what we preach.
We want grace extended to us, but do not always want to extend it to others. We want to be understood, but do not want to understand. It is as the quote by Ian Percy says, “We judge others by their behaviors. We judge ourselves by our intentions.”
I am not sure which one of us first confessed our struggle, but when it was out, both of us released a sigh of relief. Finally, we had someone who understood and could relate. Finally, we had someone who would not judge us for our shortcomings. Finally, someone we could trust with our story.
“The first to help you up are the ones who know how it feels to fall down.”
I am a Christian myself and do not want anyone to think I am bashing Christians, so I will just make it a people issue. Today I am running into more and more women who feel they are alone and the only one in a certain situation.
Very few of us have friends that we can really get raw and naked with. I love my husband and consider him my best friend, however there are some things that I just want to say to another woman. Only a woman in a situation similar to me will understand some things. Yet so many of us do not have another woman we can really go to for support.
It is unfortunate but I find more women today are competing with each other instead of supporting each other. I am finding more people who find joy in talking about your struggle because it makes them feel better about their situation. It allows them to say, “I’m not as bad as ____________ or At least I do not do ____________.” We are all going through something so instead why not extend the same grace to others that we want extended to us.
Not every woman will receive what I am saying but for those whom will, I pray that YOU ARE a friend who some woman knows she can turn to and trust with her secrets, a friend who will pray, and a friend who will understand without a word said.
If you do not have someone who you can turn to, just know that God is always listening. You can always talk to Him and you can surely pray and ask him to send you a “friend who will stick closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)” I did and he sent me more than one.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “The only way to have a friend is to be one.” So I ask, are you a friend who sticks closer than a brother?
Have a blessed day and remember to find the “jolly” in every “moment” life brings your way!
~ Keishawna
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