* The Good Stuff

I live in a small, rural community and go to my local Dollar General for well, everything except groceries! The other day I was standing at the cash register checking out and this tiny little older lady dressed in leggings, boots and a Christmas sweater came bursting through the front door. She was smiling at everyone she encountered, greeting them, and wishing them a Merry Christmas. The cashier obviously knew her and said, “Ms. So & So (sorry, I can’t remember her name), what are you up to today?” She said without hesitation, “Oh, I’m just passing out the good stuff.” I looked at her and she said, “you know the good stuff like smiles, laughter, Have a nice day, Merry Christmas.” I told her that I liked her philosophy to which she replied, “You never know what kind of ice you might break with your good words.”

I thought about what she said all the way back to my car and I’m still thinking about it. In this holiday season when things can get a little hectic at times, family gatherings a bit tense and depression easily sets in just remember, we can all pass out the good stuff of love, joy and peace. Merry Christmas Y’all!

Blessings, Cindy J

* Darkness

Darkness is consuming. In total darkness, you cannot see and you cannot be seen. It’s a safe place to hide away. You can sit in darkness for a while; sometimes it’s even necessary for healing. BUT eventually you need to stand up and walk towards light so the darkness does not destroy you.

Trust me; I understand darkness and the overwhelming feeling of just wanting to disappear. The trials of life can at times be so overwhelming that all you can do is exist from day to day. Hiding away in the darkness keeps you from having to deal with things that are just too hard to bear. It can be pain, sickness, grief, or any kind of life upheaval that shakes you to your core. Darkness though can keep you from coming to terms with the very thing you must face.

If you must hide in the darkness for a season, please don’t do so alone. Make sure you have a family member or friend who can sit beside you and help you hold on. Seek professional counseling or talk to your pastor. It’s okay to need someone. Don’t lose your way in the midst of this darkness. Most importantly, don’t forget to look for the light. Remember that God sees you in the darkness. He is your eternal light.

Blessings, Cindy J

*Do It Yourself – Not!

*Note: I actually wrote this post just days before I fell and broke my shoulder. Divine intervention of what was to come, maybe?

Yes, I admit that I am a do-it-yourself kind of girl. I know WHAT I want done and HOW I want it done. My Daddy even told my husband before he married me that I was very independent and liked to take care of things myself. He was warned! But you know what, that’s not the way it’s supposed to work in God’s world.

Yes, He wants us to be productive, to work hard and to serve Him. The good news is that we don’t have to do it alone. Jesus died on the cross so that my sin would be paid for. He died so that I don’t have to do anything all by myself, ever again.

I am forever in need of learning that lesson. Having cancer and facing all the struggles with the aftermath of this disease has definitely taught me I cannot do it all by myself. It doesn’t mean I’m weak because I need help; it just means I’ve learned to share the burden with those who love me and want to help.

Slowly but surely, I’m making progress. If I tell you I don’t need help, be patient with me until I figure out that things would be a lot easier if I just said yes. Remember that God does the same thing with us and He thinks we are worth the wait. He waits for me to say, “Let’s do this together.”

Blessings, Cindy J