Light, Love, Hope

We’ve talked about how everyone has a story and how important it is to share it.  But, why?  Why share?  Because someone out there stands to benefit from your story.  Someone out there is struggling and needs to know that you struggled, too, but you made it to the other side and are a survivor.  There are people going through very similar things that you’ve just gone through, so why not share in an effort to provide hope?

It’s no secret with the “female issues” I struggled with.  I was reminded of them when I was re-reading some entries from last year’s 31 Day Challenge.  My emotions were so strong back then, and rightly so.  I was really going through a lot with not only what was happening with my body but with fighting the insurance company as well.  Fast forward a year, and a lady came to me in tears asking for my help.   She started having some “female issues” of her own and was desperate to speak to me to learn what all I went through, how it helped, what doctor I used for the surgery and procedures, etc.   Thankfully, my employer is very understanding, and we were allowed to sit in the kitchen at my workplace and talk for about an hour and a half.   Her face showed her worry and concern, and at different points in our conversation she began to cry.  I comforted and reassured her as best I could.  She seemed a bit better after I shared my experience and gave her hope that her situation wasn’t as grim as she once thought.

Whatever happened with this lady?

Well, she’s facing surgery tomorrow.  Yet, she isn’t as wracked with fear at this point. She’s nervous, yes, but she’s better in knowing what I went through and how her situation isn’t quite as bad in some respects.  But she’s reassured that I’m walking around almost as good as new now, and she has hope that she will be, too!

And that, my friends, is why you should share your story … someone out there NEEDS you to do so!

Since I cheated with my first post on the Write For 31 Days, Greg came in – like a masked hero or knight in shining armor – and wrote on the prompt word for days one and two.  He has given me the inspiration to do likewise.  Being programmed as I am, it is hard for me not to give each individual prompt word the attention it rightly deserves.  In doing so, I want to give each word a separate page and devote my time to really focusing on just that word.  Alas, I’m now nine days behind, so I’ve tried to take Greg’s lead on this.  But, my strong-willed personality has taken over, and already I’ve written a long post solely on the word Believe …

And here we go …

BELIEVE

Back in 2007, I met a beautiful soul through the internet.  It was not a direct connection, though.  Our meeting came about due to a song entitled “I Believe.”  

Having been chosen to sing a solo at church, I was looking for an unique song to sing.  I didn’t want the traditional hymns they’d been singing for years, nor did I want a contemporary worship song we were used to singing in the 11 a.m. service.  Instead, I sought out a song that had a powerful message but was not the “norm.”  I wanted the words of the song and the melody to flow right across the congregation and sink right into their hearts and minds.

I found such a song in “I Believe.”

I contacted the songwriter to gain permission to sing her beautiful song about our Lord and Savior.  Not only did she grant permission, she was thrilled to have received a message from me regarding her song.  We exchanged several emails, and in doing so, she inquired as to where I lived.  When I responded, she advised me that one of her friends lived in my area.  She suggested that I get in touch with her fellow songwriter and friend.  When I did, this older lady was delighted with the thought of me singing this in church and then suggested that we should meet at some point.  Realizing she was just 15 minutes down the road from me absolutely thrilled me!

Not only did I meet this lady shortly thereafter, we helped me perfect the song right there in her home.  She had a room set up like a studio with a microphone and recording equipment.  She assisted and encouraged me, and we became good friends.  This lady that was old enough to be my grandmother became one of my dearest friends.

When her husband was ill, she would ask me to come to her house and sing for her.  Each time she would record me to play back at a later time when she needed to feel uplifted and encouraged.  Later, when I got involved with the interpretive movement team at church, she asked my family and I to come perform at her house for her.  She recorded us as we worshipped this way in song, although her passion really was through listening to me sing.

I had the pleasure of taking my friend, Greg, to her house in 2017.  Her husband had passed the year before, and she, herself, was falling ill.   We were lucky enough to visit with her and have her play while we sang for her.   Those memories are engraved in my mind.  I treasure them because it was precious time we spent together.

Sadly, my dear friend passed away shortly thereafter.  This world lost such a precious jewel the day she died.

Day One – Story

Everyone creates a story with each day. It’s our story. Sometimes it’s sad, sometimes its happy. With each choice, with each word, with each action we are crafting our story. It is our choice what we write with our lives as all our memories become our history. How do you want your story to turn out? It is your choice. You make the decisions on how your life story is being written out. Are you happy with your story? Does your story make you sad? You have the power to change your story and make it what you want. Have faith in yourself and turn yourself into the great American novel. It’s your story.

Day Two – Afraid

I have a very personal relationship with this word; afraid. You see I have been afraid all my life of various things. Not everything, mind you, but many important things. By being afraid I have lost a great love. By being afraid, I have lost a great career opportunity. And I still fight the feeling of being afraid. It can cripple me as I am sure it does that to other people as well. You see being afraid causes me to not have faith in myself or believe that I am worthy of many things in life. I causes me to pause and not take actions where I should. It is something that I fight with every day. But I know deep in my heart that I can’t let it win. I must be strong. I must have faith. I must know that God will take care of me and lead me in the right direction. I cannot let myself be afraid anymore.