Sliding On the Ice

~~ Psalm 25:15-16 (NIV) ~~   My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.

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by Carley Cooper

Playful Baby Polar Bear Sliding On the Ice
Free Source Photo.  No Copyrights Claimed

Sometimes it seems that no matter how many times I go through an experience; how many times God teaches me a lesson... and sometimes I even pass the test!... I still feel like it’s in one ear and out the other.  I wonder if this frustrates God much.  Personally, I get irritated when I have to repeat myself over and over to get a point across.  My patience level is limited.  I seriously can’t imagine how I don’t, sometimes, get on His very last nerve. 

Christmas is almost here.  I am honestly trying harder than I have in many years to keep a good outlook and to keep my focus away from the fact that I don’t have what others have to celebrate the season with.  There are many moments when I can honestly see a possibility that I could have a great Christmas without all that.  This is more than I’ve been able to see in past years; so this is a step forward.  I am truly thankful for that.  This morning, just when I needed it the most; I got advice from three different sources. 

First there was an inspirational message from a dear online friend by the name of Ravyna, who gives me so much advice and support when I need it.  She said “You are a Princess of the King, the Lord of Lords.  He promises to never leave you or forsake you.  He is always with you.  Always by your side, always there to listen to your needs.  Remember, Jesus looks at you and sees a princess, and wants you to rest in him.  Blessings.”  Honestly, this reminder that Jesus is the answer escaped me at first.  I saw it as meaning “as long as I’m lonely it means that I don’t love Jesus enough” or “if I truly love Jesus, I wouldn’t feel any loneliness”.  But, I am lonely sometimes.  And, some of those times, so much that I can have physical pain throughout my body.  During these times, the loneliness not only overwhelms me but so does the guilt.  I have overwhelming guilt over the fact that I feel lonely, because I think that it means I’m failing Jesus somewhere.  It’s hard for me to remember that these are lies whispered to me by the enemy.  That’s the problem with lies, deception and falsehoods... as long as you’re inside them looking out you can’t see that they are not real.  It’s only from the outside looking in that you can see the true picture.

Secondly, there was the ever present advice and support of my angel and friend (who I wrote about in an article called “Angels From Heaven”).  He told me this morning that “Loneliness is a legitimate feeling.  Jesus was surrounded by 12 of his friends most of his ministry and when he went to pray shortly before his death he invited his closest to pray with him.  Loneliness is an appropriate feeling to have.  Where we get into trouble is  how we at times seek to fulfill that need.  Jesus is with us all the time but he recognizes that we also need other people.  That is why he has given us Christian community.”  He finished with “Got to go for lunch.  There are some deviled eggs that are waiting for me in the fridge.  Have a good one.  As the shrink on Mash has said ‘Take my advice.  Pull down your pants and slide on the ice.’" 

Finally, there was a devotional message by Samantha Reed of Proverbs 31 Ministries called “All By Myself”.  If I didn’t know better, I would have thought she took the passage from my own journal.  I don’t mean the piece she wrote; but the story she told.  It is my story.  It is the story of so many people who spend the holidays hurting and lonely.  If the holidays are difficult for you, I highly recommend that you read this article.  She reminded me, again, that I have to focus on Jesus.  He will lead the way to a brighter future. 

Even though I am physically alone; and at times that hurts emotionally, mentally and physically; Jesus is always with me.  That doesn’t mean that I will have to be totally cool with being single forever and give up on my dreams.  It means that I have all the hope that Jesus has to offer that He has a plan for my future that is better than any dream or plan I could come up with.  God knows my needs down to the tiniest detail.  He created me and He loves me.  He can, and will, and does supply all of my needs... and that includes the dreams that He has put on my heart.  I am thankful that God has the patience to keep telling me things over and over again; to keep reminding me of lessons that I’ve already learned.  Hopefully these reminders, and these people that he has put in my life to help me, will get me through another Christmas season; or at least another day.  Though, more realistically; with the way I tend to fall and keep wanting to focus on myself instead of Jesus, it’s more  likely to be advice to carry me through the next fifteen minutes.  After that God may need to send me more encouragement.  But, I know if I need it that I will get it; because He never fails me when I need Him the most. 

So, at least for today... who wants to go sliding on the ice with me?

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~~ Dear Lord ~~    Help me to keep my eyes focused on Jesus for, I am lonely and afflicted.  Thank You for being so patient, merciful and gracious to me.  Help my heart to be free from the torment that I seem to be determined to carry with me.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Letter to My 18 Year Old Self

~~ Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) ~~   I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

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Carla - Age 18 - St. John's, Newfoundland

Have you ever wished you could go back and do things over again?  I do not think I know anyone who has not said at least once in their lives “If I could go back and do it all over again, knowing what I know now, I would do it so differently”.  Maybe just to give yourself some advice would help so very much.  The idea of writing your younger self a letter is hardly a unique one.  I have read letters written by others to themselves and found them to be incredibly interesting, so I thought I would write one for myself.  The process of gathering information and bits of advice; and forming them into this letter, was a lengthy one.  It turns out, though, that this course has been as enlightening to me in the present day, as it would have been to my younger self, but for different reasons.  It seems that I have come through a lot of trials and trauma in my life.  I am a survivor.  I have grown to be a person that is incredibly strong, and I have enough experience to give some very good and practical advice to someone younger.  Most of all, I can see that I have grown, and am still growing, into a woman that I can be proud of. 

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Dear Carley,

Well, you are 18 now... legally an adult just starting your life.  I want to give you some advice to prepare you for the life you are about to embark on.  I know what your first thought is... “Who’s Carley?”  Carley is you... me... us!  It is what most people call you now.  It started as a pet name with just a slight change from Carla, and it stuck.  I let it happen because I like it, and I was on a journey to find and heal myself.  I need to create the me that I always knew was inside somewhere longing to get out.  She is the me in our dreams that few others have seen, and she got lost somewhere along the path tangled in the midst of a lot of pain.  I felt that God gave me the new name to go with the new me.  She is you, and one day she will be me again, only better than before.  The journey we are on did not have to be as difficult as it has been, though I am learning to be thankful for it. 

First; know that It is not only OK to be different, but it is cool.  I know that you cannot begin to wrap your brain around that concept right now, but one day you will see that people who are all the same are not original.  Being different makes you special... really!  Let go of all the bad memories from school when the kids laughed at you, made fun of you, and said nasty things.  They had their own hurt inside that they did not know how to deal with, and they took it out on you.  This applies to anyone throughout your life who says mean things to you; and there will be others.  It is not about you.  Let go of the pain before the nightmares start and you need therapy to get rid of them.  It is important to set boundaries for yourself; which you can do without being mean.  Also, keep in mind that others cannot see things from your point of view.  No matter what you say to others, they will not learn what ever lesson you are trying to teach them.  It takes your experiences to create your point of view.  Only you can ever have it.

When you get that letter from MUN, do not turn it down.  You will regret it for the rest of your life.  You do not need to know the whole plan for your life or what your major is before you start university.  Many, if not most, believe it or not, do not know what they want to do even after they start college.  You are not the only one who does not know.  It will help you find yourself, and help you figure out what your dreams are.  Dream big... do not limit yourself.  There are people there who will help you.  Do not focus all your attention on the one dream of becoming a Mother.  It is the equivalent of chasing your own tail.  Put it on the back burner.  Some of your dreams will not come to pass in the format you hope for; and if you continue to push away all other ideas, your life will one day be derailed.  Go to school.  Choose something that will allow you to express your creativity.  We love Interior Design (not Interior Decorating... turns out there is a difference); and toss in some business courses.  Also you will grow to love writing.  No matter what you do in life, business and writing will be useful.  On the side, do some photography courses.  It is so much fun!  Do not delay dreams like sky diving, underwater diving; or taking lessons in music, singing or dancing.  One day you will feel like it is too late.  Oh, and correspondence programs are not the same.  Do not settle for this.

Next, some things that I wish someone would have told me:

• Now that you have your license, get a car!  Do not put it off. 
• Travel.  Go anywhere and everywhere.  The world is not as scary as you think it is.  I know that going to St. John’s at first was overwhelming and terrifying; but it does not have to be.  Travelling is an adventure.  Enjoy it.
• Read more - for at least 30 minutes each day. 
• Eat right!  Educate yourself on how to achieve and maintain a healthy body.  Stay away from junk food, non-fat or low-fat anything (they are not as wonderful as the media will make you think they are).  Avoid anything made with white flour, or anything that says ‘enriched’.  Above all else avoid artificial sweeteners and processed foods.  If it comes in a box or a bag, chances are you do not want it.  Do your shopping in the produce and meat departments.  Buy only whole-grain breads and such items... not whole-wheat!  They are very important for good health.  Always go organic when you can.  Grab any opportunity to buy farm fresh unprocessed milk products.  Store-bought dairy are filled with chemicals, preservatives, hormones, and antibiotics; all of which are dangerous, and will affect your health!
• Exercise.  Every day!  Working out does not mean sports!  Go swimming, ride your bike; but you will find that power-walking is something you will fall in love with.  Hold on to it.  Oh, and do sit-ups daily, without fail.
• Wear a good support bra.  Go to a good lingerie store and get yourself properly fitted for one.  You are not wearing the correct size.  Do not even bother to look at the price tag.  Whatever it says, it is worth it!
• Do not mix money with friendship or family.  The two just do not mix well so do not even try.
• When the time comes and you find yourself watching a lot of TV, turn it off!  It is a nasty habit that was very hard for me to break; but now that I have I am so very thankful!
• Cut up the credit cards.
• Do not start taking antidepressants.  You have a right to say no.  Also, do not let them keep doing surgeries because of your ovaries.  There are other options.  Do not trust the advice of every doctor you see.  Read, research and know your rights before accepting care from a doctor.  Not all doctors know what they are talking about, even when they sound like they do.
• When Mom and Dad ask you to move to leave Newfoundland and go to Ontario with them; do not fight it.  It will be one of the best decisions you will ever make.  There is the most amazing world out there that you never imagined was there!
• Do not put Dad on a pedestal.  The view is not a realistic one.  You will never stop being Daddy’s little girl.
• Do not let Daphne and John, Charlene or Charlyse drift out of your life.  You will need them one day, and if you do not stay in touch you will have no one to turn to.  Life is lonely without friends.
• When, Graham comes along, know that you will be a best friends forever.  Do not let anyone tell you that having a guy for a best friend is wrong.  You will share a special friendship that so many do not get in their lifetime.  One day when an argument gets out of hand, do not let him walk out the door without making up first.  Ten years without him was much too long to wait to see my best friend.
• Shadow belongs with you.  Do not let him go.
• Roommates – you will have quite a few.  One named Lawrence is bad news!  Do not go there.
• Learn to enjoy being alone.  I know that is a concept that seems contradictory to you right now.  Loneliness is painful; but it can also be a wonderful time of solitude.  Learn to embrace that or it can eat you alive.

About men - do not believe everything that some sweet talking guy whispers to you... no matter how cute he is.  The boyfriend you have right now is not as loyal as you believe him to be.  Let that relationship go and move on.  I know it is very hard sometimes to tell the difference between lust and love, but they are worlds apart.  When you are young and know you are in love... you are not.  Real love will come along when you are truly ready for it and there will be no doubt.  Do not be so willing to give yourself to a man.  It will not make him love you.  In your twenties you will get an overwhelming amount of attention from men; especially on the beach and in bars, but beware, they are not chasing your heart.  Before you get married, make sure he loves you as much as you love him.  If there is any doubt, then getting married is the wrong thing to do.  Stop worrying about the clock.  There is no rulebook that says it has to happen by a certain age.  It is better to wait than to end up in divorce court on your 30^th birthday.  Finally, do not ever, ever, ever, let any man abuse you physically, mentally, emotionally or financially.  Do not give them power over you by falling for the guilt trips.  Be strong.

Paul deserves a special mention.  When he comes along, just know that his ego is just a facade to hide his big heart, but unlike most you will see through it immediately.  He will break your heart more than you ever imagined possible, but do not let that stop you.  You will share a bond that very few other couples in the world ever get to share; seriously!  You will even have people commenting on it on a regular basis.  Despite the heartbreak, the love is worth it.

Partying - drinking yourself stupid will not impress the kind of man you want in your life.  Partying is fun, but you need to keep it in perspective.  One day when Graham ties you to a chair and screams at you, listen to his message.  Do not fight it.  It will change the path your life is on.  Too much booze will bring you a lot of trouble and heartache.

Of all the lessons that you will learn, of all the advice that you can get from me or others; the most important thing and the most important decision that you will ever make is to invite Jesus to live in your heart.  Do it now!  Do not put it off.  Please look to God for all you need.  God wants you to have a relationship with Him.  Yes... a relationship with God!  I know that does not make any sense to you now, but once you open your heart, truly, to Jesus, you will begin to understand.  It will change your life.  Even the world around you will start to look different... more alive somehow.  God loves you!  Being a Christian is not limiting.  In fact, it is freedom.  It’s awesome!

Once Jesus is the focus of your life you will learn many things, understand things with much more clarity and get many blessings.  One of the greatest will be the gift of forgiveness.  However, first you have to understand that it is something you do for yourself, not for others.  This does not mean that you are telling them that what they did to you was OK; but truly forgiving opens up a whole world of new possibilities.  Always choose caring over uncaring, giving over passing by, give the benefit of the doubt over criticism or gossip or judging.  Do not lose faith in people.  They will hurt you, but they also are hurting; it is not about you.  Measure any kind of frustrations from others or indecisions by this standard... “Will this alter my life in 5 years from now... or even 1 year from now?”  If the answer is ‘no’ then do not give it another thought.  It is not important.

Keep smiling.  You are beautiful.  Please do not start hurting yourself because you think you deserve it for not being pretty.  You are wrong.  One day you will see that a lot of people will be telling you that, and they will mean it.  Look in the mirror and tell yourself “I am a child of God.  I am beautiful.”  Then, believe it!  Every time you hurt yourself, or belittle yourself, it hurts God.  Do not let go of that bubbly personality that so many keep telling you is why they fell in love with you.  If you hide her inside, one day you will not know how to let her out again.  Life can get very lonely after that.

Do not ever quit!  Hold on to your dreams.  Follow your heart and do not be influenced by others; not even Mom and Dad.  You have to live in your body and live your life.  Do not ever hurt anyone to get there, but you have to make yourself happy first.  Learn to push yourself... hard!  You will come to treasure that about yourself.  Do not let anyone tell you that Prince Charming does not exist, or that any of your dreams is not realistic.  Anything is reasonable if you work hard and let God lead the way.  Do not let anyone talk you into limiting yourself like that.

So, my wonderfully innocent and naive young self, if you take nothing else from this message, just remember these things... first, that person who was hurting you before is the bad person.   It is not your fault.  Repeat after me “it is not my fault”.  You did nothing wrong.  Next, invite Jesus to be the center of your world, and learn to dance in the rain; because the rest will take care of itself in God’s wonderful timing.

Love always, 

Me

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 ~~ Dear God ~~    I know that I cannot go back and change my life.  I also know that no matter what plan I may have, what advice I may be given; that the plan You have already prepared for my life is the perfect path.  Despite all the bad decisions, wrong turns, disobedience, and sin that have caused so much pain and trauma; I know that You are leading me on my journey.  Thank You, Father for this journey.  Please teach me with each and every step all the lessons that I need to know to get closer to You.  Open my eyes and ears; along with my mind and my heart to be anxious, willing and able to receive the Holy Spirit.  Make me a disciple for Jesus that will make You proud.  In Jesus name, AMEN.

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The Wishing Well

~~ Psalm 37: 4-7a ~~ “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this; He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him...”
  

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Casey standing by a Wishing Well
Photo by Carley

I love that little ‘plop’ sound.  The one you hear when you toss a coin into the water in a wishing well.  I am sure everyone has tossed a coin into a wishing well at least once in their life.  Standing with eyes closed and coin in hand, I repeat a wish to myself in my mind.  I wish I had a job, I wish I could go back to school, I wish I had a boyfriend, I wish I had a flatter stomach, I wish I had bigger breasts, I wish I could lose that last 20 lbs, I wish I had another house, I wish I was a better photographer, I wish I was a better decorator, I wish I was a better writer, I wish others could see the me that I see in my dreams.  The list goes on and on.  Then I toss the coin, listen for the ‘plop’; and watch the little water ripples for a minute, feeling a little bit of anticipation, as if I expected the ‘Wishing Well Fairy’ to come out and grant me my hearts desires.

It sounds a little silly when you think about it.  I mean, seriously; how much can we expect to get for a quarter these days?!  Or maybe you ‘splurged’ hoping to get a big dream by tossing in a one dollar or two dollar coin, or even a few coins?!  Well, I hate to be the one to shatter the fantasy world, but the Wishing Well Fairy has retired and moved back home with the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, Fairy God Mother, and Santa Claus; never to be seen.  You can dump all the coin in the whole city into that well and it will not grant you your wish.  The only thing you will have accomplished is to waste a lot of money by dumping it into a hole in the ground!

God is the only one who can grant wishes to come true.  Even then it is dependent on whether or not it is in His will, if you are an obedient Christian, and if your heart truly has pure motives.  Matthew 5:8 tells us “Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God”.  If you want your wishes to come true you have to do something about it.  Nothing is going to fall out of the sky and into your path.  You have to work for it; and if you don't have to work for it then you probably don't want it! God gave us common sense and free will for a purpose.  If you want those wishes to come true, you need several things.

1. The desire to do something about it.  If your motivation is strong enough, you will have the inspiration to take steps toward making your dream a reality.  If your drive is not strong enough to force you to take action than you have to ask yourself, why not?!  Is this dream truly what your heart desires?  Is there something standing in your way; such as fear, anger, or insecurities?  
2. A plan, with goals stated out step by step.  Seriously, write it down!  Make a plan; write a journal, order blue prints; put it on paper with the process details including major goals, minor goals, and deadlines!  If you do not have all the resources you need, such as enough financing for example, than make those problems a part of your plan.  One of the first major goals should be to be getting enough money!  What are you to do to get it?  
3. Accountability. If you think you cannot hold yourself accountable, than you also need to develop an accountability plan.  Ask; or hire, if necessary; someone to help you stay accountable.  If you have some road blocks standing in your way such as fear or insecurities, then you have to put it in your plan to get around these as well.  Conquer them.  Seek out the help you need to get around them.  Ask God to show you how to do this.  He will insist that you step out of your comfort zone, so be prepared.  Also, brace yourself to forge through some very painful things that you most certainly do not wish to face... but sooner or later you have to, if you expect to make progress in any direction. 
4. Your focus to be on God.  Your plan has to be one that will bring glory to God, and bring you closer to Him.  Your heart has to hold this as a vital purpose in your plans. 
5. Faith that He will make your dreams reality; or to lead you to a much better dream.  Even when things look impossible, do not give up.  A very special friend once told me when I was about to throw in the towel “Do not Quit.  It is when things look impossible that God does His best miracles”.  My friend was right.  I have seen God do miracles in my life because I refused to let go of my faith.  I remind myself of this on a regular basis now, to help make sure I do not ever give up hope in God. 
6. Prayer.  Above all else, you have to keep God in the loop with each and every step.  Ask Him, to give you a clear vision of the goal; about the steps to take, how to progress, and how to make your plan a reality.  Then listen for His voice, and watch for messages that He will send you.  Also, keep in mind, that His answer may be “no”.  It may take a while but He will respond one way or another.  Everything happens in His time, so be patient.  Ask Him to reveal to you, a new and better plan if this one should not be in His will.  Then ask Him to make your heart willing; and your eyes, ears and mind open to receive the messages He is sending you.  Have you ever done that before... ask God to change your desires?  It is very difficult, but I assure you that it is worth it!  Without God as your leader, your plan will not be a success.  At some point it will fail.  Even if it does become a reality, it will not turn out to be what you hoped it to be.

Wishing wells can be beautiful with a certain magical quality about them; but if you keep looking into a hole filled with water and reaching for wishes, sooner or later you are going to fall in and drown.  God is ready and waiting for you to ask Him to help.  He put your desires in your heart, and He put them there for a reason.  He has a plan to make them happen.  God not only wants you to have dreams; He wants to give them to you, and more!  Mostly, He wants to be included in those dreams.

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~~ Dear God ~~ Your ways are perfect.  Your plans for my life are better than any dreams my heart can desire.  Please let all my wishes be tossed into Your Wishing Well, and not into anything that is not in Your Will for me.  Lead my every step so that my desires will be those that will show Your awesome love, grace and mercy.  In Jesus name, AMEN.

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You Must Not Quit

~~Matthew 17:20~~ If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “’Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.

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Rebecca Hynes (Photo by Carley)

I will never forget the day when we got the call telling us that Rebecca was rushed to the emergency room.  Our friend Miguel was in such a panic that he was practically incoherent on the phone.  My boyfriend and I spent almost all of our time with Rebecca and Miguel during that spring and summer of 2003.  We were like 4 best-buds, and we had so much fun together.  Rebecca, only 25, was pregnant with twins and was in her sixth month.  I was helping Miguel plan her Jack ‘n Jill baby shower.  It was going to be a great one.  We were so excited.

Suddenly one night Rebecca passed out.  Miguel got her to the emergency.  We went to meet him at the hospital in downtown Toronto.  The doctor told us that Rebecca had a problem with some blood vessels in her brain.  It was a condition that was always there, but it was never a known; and probably would not have ever been known if it were not for her pregnancy.  It was the stress on her body of being pregnant that caused these vessels to rupture.

She was in a coma for 2 weeks.  Miguel spent all his waking time with her.  I gave him a book of poetry for inspirational support.  He used to sit and read it to her.  After about 2 weeks he noticed that tears started to run down her face.  She was still in the coma, but she could hear him!  It was such incredible hope for him.  Then her parents decided that they would ‘pull the plug’.  They did not want to leave her and their grandchildren in this condition.  Miguel did not get to be part of this decision because he was not legally married to Rebecca.  Her family had shut him out of the decision.  He was shattered when he found out that he would lose his new family.  Rebecca and her babies passed away shortly after the machines were turned off that night.  We were all so devastated.  How could this happen to such nice people?

I have been reliving this story today because of a book I am reading.  This book teaches you how to never give up hope; how to turn your negatives into positives.  It teaches you how to be tough through thick and thin.  In this book the author tells a story of how his dear friend was in a coma.  A ‘death-coma’ they called it; which means there was no hope, according to the medical team.  The author, however, is a pastor who was taught in seminary to always ‘think life’ when in this type of situation.  He talked to his comatosed friend and said “if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “’Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” ~Matthew 17:20 (NIV84).  He assured his friend that he was going to survive because the Lord said ““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.” ~Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV1984).  At this point, beyond all human hope, a tear started to run down the face of this friend in a ‘death-coma’.  A year later this friend could talk full sentences.  Then not long after that his life was practically back to normal. 

One thing that life has taught me is that you never, ever give up hope.  Even, and especially, when things look hopeless.  I have inherited a stubborn streak that could try the patience of Job.  I am aware of this.  It can be a bad character trait at times.  However, it is this stubborn streak that I have learned to use as a tool to hold on to hope and faith where others tell me there is none.  I refuse to let go of it.  This faith has helped me get through the toughest period of my life, especially in the past 5 years.  I have gotten blessings that I never in a million years would have thought of on my own.  I have survived things that I most certainly would / could not have survived otherwise.  This hope has also helped to put behind me, the horrible chapters of my life that I had been holding on to.  I’m not perfect yet.  There are still a couple of anchors that I need to learn to let go of; but one thing is for certain, I will not let go of my hope and faith.  No matter what!

This book also quoted a poem that was near and dear to my heart.  My parents gave me this poem in a frame many years ago to help me hold on to hope.  To have it quoted back to me in this book, I saw, as a direct message from God.

Don't Quit

by Edgar A. Guest

 

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit-

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

 

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a fellow turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out.

Don't give up though the pace seems slow -

You may succeed with another blow.

 

Often the goal is nearer than

It seems to a faint and faltering man;

Often the struggler has given up

When he might have captured the victor's cup;

And he learned too late when the night came down,

How close he was to the golden crown.

 

Success is failure turned inside out -

The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It might be near when it seems afar;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

 

What things are you keeping faith for today?  What things seem hopeless to you today?  Do you need a job?  Are you lonely?  Have you been given a diagnosis that scares you?  Do you need money to pay bills or to buy food?  Is your marriage in trouble?  Are you sharing custody of your child and the situation seems to be always very tense?  Maybe, you need hope to finish an assignment at work or at school before a deadline.  Please, do not give up.  The storm will pass.  The night will give way to dawn.  Spring flowers will start to appear.  My pastor said to me not long ago “you will get through this”, God says so!  You must not quit.

 

How would my life be different now if my friend Rebecca was given just one more week of hope?  How would the world be just a little bit different, a little more blessed, by having Rebecca and her babies to be a part of it?  Even as it is, my life has been blessed by knowing her.

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 ~~Dear God~~ Thank You for never giving up hope on me no matter how many mistakes I continue to make, no matter how many times I forget to turn to You for guidance.  Thank You for giving us Jesus as the perfect example of never giving up hope even in the darkest of moments.  Please make my heart into one like His that You would be so proud of.  In Jesus name, AMEN.

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NOTE:  The photo above of my friend Rebecca was taken when we all went to the circus one afternoon in the summer of 2003.  It was my first time going to the circus since I was a kid.  We had such fun that day... as we did so many other days that summer.  I miss her.

Here’s an inspirational video of the poem ‘Don’t Quit’.  Enjoy.