Grief and bereavement is a long and difficult journey. Even if the loss is imminent and you think you are prepared, there is no adequate preparation in the end. The agony of losing a loved one, particularly a beloved child who should have long outlived you, is acute and sudden yet also seemingly never-ending. When I lost my niece a few years ago the intensity of the grief I felt overwhelmed me. Yet somehow, in the process of both recovering from my own sense of loss and helping my sister - who … [Read more...]
Archives for September 2013
Day 132: Double-Edged Sword of the Internet
This is so true. As with so many things, there is the good and the bad side to the Internet. Starting with the obvious is the ability to do research about almost anything. I remember being in my 4th grade class and being told to write a book report on whatever the subject was. So I’d go get the trusty old encyclopedia hardcover book and go to the section with the info I needed. And then of course I’d plagiarize the heck out of that section of the book as I copied down verbatim what it said. Back … [Read more...]
What would I never want to be
I'd never want to be someone who is callous or uncaring. To be self-centered or mean-hearted. I want to be someone that cares about others and can be encouraging when they need it. I think when you know Christ and have Him in your heart, you can't help but be the opposite of those first four I mentioned. I naturally want to help people who need encouragement. When someone is down, help pick them up somehow. If I'm in a story and see something that's perfect for someone, I'll pick it up and … [Read more...]
Trying to help where needed
When I volunteer for something it's because my heart is in the right place and I like to give back. I want to help those in need. I want to give of my time because it's the right thing to do. When I was going through my email yesterday, I saw a request for volunteers for a the contest that is getting ready to happen with ACFW. The primary coordinator is in need of category coordinators. ACFW is so much more than just a place for writers to talk and learn about writing. It is a community of … [Read more...]
Day 131: Do Not Try This at Home
Well, this is a little different. There are so many things where there is a warning, especially on TV, where it says, “Do Not Try This At Home.” I think of that movie “Jack (you know the word)” where there is a guy who I guess does a bunch of really stupid things. Personally, I’ve never seen this movie and really never want to either. Dare devils who do their death-defying stunts. And you’re like, “Yeah right would I try that at home. I’m sane.” LOL Or how about those who go after things like … [Read more...]
What Do I Want To Be
I think I can sum that up with just one word: A Writer. Well, I guess that was two words, but still, I've come to realize how much I love writing and that I've been given a gift. God has blessed me with this gift and I couldn't imagine mine life without it now. If you'd asked me five years ago would I think I'd want to write full-time, I'd have said no. At the time, I was grieving the recent loss of my little girl. I hadn't even started her dedication website as that was almost two months off … [Read more...]
2013, It’s Almost Gone.
Can you believe that the year 2013 is over two-thirds of the way done and we are almost to 2014 already. I can remember as a kid thinking how s l o w each and every year went as a kid. My birthday could never come quick enough. Christmas could never come quick enough. The school year certainly couldn't get over quick enough. And then right around the time I turned 21 I began to notice that the year seemed to get a little quicker than before. And ever since, each year seems to go by quicker … [Read more...]
Day 130: Paying Attention
When I write about Mari, I’m paying attention to my internal thoughts and feelings that I have at the time. She will be at the forefront as I write out the words on the screen. For me, it’s about know that I’m being truthful about what I’m feeling at the time. It helps me to grieve for her and heal at the same time. Sometimes it’s when I’m feeling sad and really missing her and other times it’s about the happy memories I have of her. I know that all of this requires me to pay attention to my … [Read more...]
Requiring someone to be a volunteer
Wouldn't it be nice if we could make volunteer work mandatory. Think about it. Maybe we'd have happier people if we all volunteered. But then if it was forced on every single person, the reason behind volunteering would be lost. People would have bad attitudes about it. They'd make those around them miserable. Who'd want to work with people like that. Forcing people to do it just to do it wouldn't work. You have to want to do it. You have to want to have a serving heart. I think of all the … [Read more...]
Volunteers: A Priceless Commodity
Being a volunteer. Do we really know what our time means to someone else when volunteer our time? Sometimes I think we take for granted what some people do. Not that we do it on purpose, but we all get busy with our own lives. Things happen. For example, think of all the people it takes to run a single church. There are only a few paid positions. The pastor. The church secretary. Maybe one or two associate pastors. If the church is big enough, a youth pastor. But that might be about it. Think … [Read more...]
