Hardships Are Stepping Stones To Better Things

Nobody likes hardship. Not only does it put a "kink" in our plans, but it hurts. As human beings, we want to shy away from pain. But hardships are a part of life that we must accept because they'll never go away. Here are some reasons to embrace hardship:

Hardship strengthens our spirits. Although hardship is grueling, it creates resolve in us. It paves the way for our determination to increase. After going through a tough situation, we become more empowered and want even more to accomplish those goals that might have seemed much more difficult to reach before we endured the pressure of hardship. It makes us just a little more resolved to face life with determination.

Hardship makes us appreciate good things more. After going through a spell of extreme discomfort, even the small things seem much more meaningful. For example, even in a situation where your car is in the shop for a week, once you get it back you'll be so much happier that you have a means of transportation. And the bigger the hardship, the greater the appreciation after it's all over.

Hardships give us wisdom.  Think back ten years.  Think about what you've gone through to get to where you are today.  You've got to admit...you've learned a lot!  You're so much wiser for the things you've been through that you can see your hardships as stepping stones to your dreams!

Hardships help us endure.  After you've been through the wringer, you'll have a tendency to say, "I got through that.  I can get through this."  When you get through one trial, you'll have more faith that you'll get through the next one.  It's a matter of learning that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  As the saying goes, "this too shall pass."

Hardships are a way to communicate with others.  We are more empathetic towards other people's pain after enduring hardship.  We relate to each other and are able to be more helpful toward each other after enduring difficult things.

Hardships help to give us freedom.  Many times hardships have to do with things we fear.  After going through the problem, we become a little less fearful.  Like the Little Engine That Could, so are we when we walk through the fire and come out a little freer from our pain and fear.  That's a beautiful stepping stone to future success and happiness!

Next time life gets rough, remember:  you'll learn a lot and be happier once you graduate from the test.  You'll be stronger, wiser, more determined, more empathetic and appreciative!  All perfect ways to be more successful in the future!

In Order To Be Successful You Have To Be Reliable

So many times we dream about things we could do or be, only to give in too easily to despair and hardships on our journey. If we really want to succeed, we need to remain reliable to our dreams and ourselves through the good times and bad. Setbacks happen to everyone making success seem like smoke on the horizon...something we think we see but we're unsure of how to go about achieving it. Or we know how to achieve it and stumbling blocks shorten and delay our stamina. To succeed, we must keep our dreams just ahead of us and continue to strive, to be reliable!

We hear overnight success stories and they do happen from time to time.  More often though, we have to work tediously and slave for our dreams to become a reality.  I am reminded of the saying "nothing in this world worth having comes easy."  The seemingly overnight success stories often are built on a platform of hard work behind the scenes.  Even the singer who wins the reality show has spent years perfecting his/her voice.  Overnight success is rare.  Very rare.

Never give up.  Unreliability and irresponsibility will kill a dream every time.  Believe in yourself and know you can achieve whatever you believe you can.  Then, if you persevere, chances are you will succeed...if you don't give up.

And never be afraid to lend someone else a helping hand.  You never know when the favor will come full circle to bless you in the end!

Finding Peace

Deep down in the heart of every person is the desire to be at peace. The beauty of peace is an innate craving. We try and try to find things that will give us peace. True peace can only be found in God.

The world says that we'll be at peace when we achieve this or that or when we win this or that. That type of satisfaction is temporary. No matter how many mountains we climb, how many things we achieve, how many dollars we make, it will not bring us lasting peace.

Peace is an experience devoid of anxiety; an experience of fulfillment without reason. What do we have to do to find true peace? In reality, the only thing we can do is connect with our Source...the one who created us to begin with. We crave a relationship with God. That's why we try to find true love in another fallible human being. The only "true" love that exists is the love of the one who made us. The reason being? None of us is perfect. We all fall short and let each other down sooner or later. So how can peace exist in such an environment?

It can't hinge on our surroundings. Our surroundings are always changing. They're unpredictable, unreliable. Peace can't thrive in such a state. Peace depends on the solidity of faith and a power much greater than reason; hence, a state of being which will supercede our everyday existence. Peace is a quandary for the seeker. It can seem like a state that doesn't really exist. But if you look in the right place, you'll find it.

It's a spiritual undertaking: a quest. And when you finally enter its beautiful state of rest, you'll never be the same. People have found it and learned to treasure it more than their everyday life experiences. The truly beautiful aspect of peace comes when you learn to cultivate your everyday life into its wonderful concept. When you're truly living "peace on earth and goodwill toward men", what could possibly be better?

From my viewpoint, not much!

Living In Love Doesn't Mean Being A Doormat!

To revere peace and love, we are told to live in love and have a good attitude. That is a wonderful way to live but we also need to know our boundaries in that type of lifestyle.

Too many times we think that living in love means to allow others to walk all over us...to be a doormat. In reality, it means to have a loving attitude and to help out any way we can...with limits.

Once the relationship becomes abusive or we are being used for the benefit of others, there is no shame in walking away.  In fact, walking away is setting a healthy boundary for us to continue to be loving people.  The key is:  walking away with a good attitude.  In order to do this, we must walk away before our anger is ignited because we have allowed others to use us in our process of trying to be loving, caring people.

So....once your good has worn out its welcome in a situation (as it very commonly does)...walk away!  And don't feel bad about doing it!  Because you will soon find yourself facing another situation where your love is needed to be passed along.  And if you allow yourself to be used, you will be too weary to continue on your journey.

Take care and God Bless!

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Pain Is An Activist

Are you someone who has felt a great amount of pain during your life? Are you in pain right now? I'm talking about every type of pain that exists: mental, physical, spiritual and every other type of pain that you can name.

As a species in general, we try to shy away from pain. I do it as much as the next guy. Let's face it. Pain sucks. No matter what you're experiencing, it's tough to see any good in it at all. But the truth is there IS good in pain. It just takes a lot of guts to acknowledge it.

I just recently saw a post stating that "we are continually faced with great opportunities disguised as insolvable problems" (AmpLIFEied.com).  What a way to look at it!  Our insolvable problems...the ones we can't seem to figure out that keep us on a hamster's treadmill are our great opportunities...WOW!  If you tell the wrong person about this philosophy, you could end up with a harsh slap to the face!  But is it true?  I believe it is.

As someone who has been faced with thousands of seemingly unsolvable problems, I'm a first hand witness to the emotional throwback of such a statement.  When we've been through a million and one things, the last thought on our mind is, "Oh, great!  Another wonderful opportunity wrapped up in anguish!  Yay!"  When in reality, it is a great opportunity...to GROW into a better person.

Is it really worth the pain?  In the end, yes.  But during the daily fight of turmoil and angst it can almost drive you to insanity.  You have to keep holding onto the hope that some time it will bring blessings beyond comprehension.  But in the meantime, check that temper!  Continually let go of that anxiety!  Growth is never easy but it always brings us to more peaceful understandings of our lives and situations.  Isn't that what life is about?  To learn as you move through your experiences?

As you examine your current condition, whether it be mental, physical, spiritual or some other type of angst, look at what seems unsolvable.  The truth is, there is always a solution but sometimes we fail to see it or we don't want to see it.  What ending will the solution bring?  Does it add to your life or take away from it?  Many times the process of taking away adds bigger things down the line.  Do you have the guts to walk through the fire?  To deal with the cards that you've been dealt?  Bad things happen to good people.  It's true.  You have no choice in the matter.  But you do have a choice as to how you will respond to tragedy.

Keep the faith.  Hold onto hope.  You'll make it through and some day you'll be a better person for your pain.  I know it's tough, but don't ever give up the fight!  Even if it's debilitating, it will cause you to grow in ways you've never imagined.

Life Is Short. Live It Well!

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw87X_wQWow

Each of us thinks that we have all the time in the world to do what we want to with our lives. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. The clock of time is constantly ticking, urging us forward second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day. The days have a way of turning into months and the months have a way of turning into years. Soon we are left wondering about where all our time went...if we're lucky enough to have that much time.

Each of us has a purpose to find and fulfill. Sometimes (many times), that purpose can take years to figure out. So make the most of the time you have. Try not to engage in worry or hatred, fear or torment to the best of your ability. These things only steal more of your time. And if you are forced to deal with these things as most of us are, take wisdom away from the experience so that they can enrich the process of finding your purpose. You only have one life to live. Live it well!

Learning How To Heal

When I was afflicted by the pain and torment of my past, it seemed like I would never be able to heal. For years I wondered if healing was even possible. It seemed like a mountain that I couldn't climb...as if my pain was too great to even fathom the ability to overcome it.

Had I known that healing truly was possible, I would have had more hope.  My faith was low, my hope even lower.  I asked numerous people who knew of my circumstance if I could ever come out victorious from my situation.  The most hopeful response I received was  "maybe."

When you're in the depths of despair for years, surrounded by very few people who are supportive, "maybe" isn't a good answer.  The word "maybe" caused my despair to deepen.  But by the magic of God's healing, I eventually overcame my situation.

This is a video I created about what I learned regarding healing.  It's not as elusive as it seems. In fact, it is possible to heal from the type of trauma I endured.  If you're in a period of suffering, please take a moment to watch my video.  And know that you, too, can achieve happiness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSTodkF-c0o

My colored pencil piece entitled Tree Of Healing

I created this piece years ago when I was in the process of healing from my trauma. While I was creating it, I felt like the tree above the soil; empty, alone and devoid of life. I had faith that things would get better, but I didn't know how long it would take. I reminded myself to be patient. Eventually, I began to feel like the roots of the tree. I was filled with God's love and found my purpose for living. Thus, this simple piece was born.

I have this drawing for sale on Fine Art America and Red Bubble.  Here is the description I created for this piece as seen on both sites:

To the parched soul, God's light brings healing and oneness.  The only way to wholeness and completion is being joined with God in His heavenly light and breath.  God shines His light upon us and it is up to our own individual discretion as to whether we receive Him or not.  Reception of Him grows in us strong roots of love.

If you are unfamiliar with my story, I have it written in my book Breaking The Silence.  It is a fictional account (because names and places have been changed) of my life.  It is true and it is what I experienced.  My art reflects the stages I've been through in my journey of healing.  I hope you enjoy this simple yet heartfelt piece.

Best wishes and blessings,

Diamante

Notes From My April Newsletter!

In case you're not on my mailing list, here is the highlight from my April newsletter! If you like it, feel free to subscribe to my mailing list here on my website! I'd love to get to know you!

Rebirth. Rejuvenation. Regeneration. All are aspects of spring. It is a time of beginnings and growth. But no new beginning is without its pain and learning.

Just as the flowers peep forth from the soil, so new attitudes and thought processes peep forth from our psyche. In order to have regeneration, we must have conflict and resolution. It's just part of the process.

Many times we try our best to avoid the pain. It is a natural tendency to want to run and hide when pain rears its ugly head. But if we try to remember that with pain comes new realizations and possibilities, the pain won't loom so large and ugly on our horizons.

It's all about acceptance. There are so many things that we can't control in life. Death, bills, accidents, trauma, even birth and things that we perceive to be good things can bring on the winds of turmoil. And if we dig our heels in and refuse to admit and accept that these things are happening, it will cause us to suffer even more needlessly than we already are.

There is a gift in acceptance. The gift of awareness and humility. If we allow the winds of life to blow as they will and we bend with their gusts, we will find ourselves more able to deal with the changes that come. Resistance does not give birth to resilience. Acceptance does.

When times get rough, don't resist. Think of all the tiny seeds in your yard that are working so hard to peep up above the soil. They may have to battle rocks and clay, stuck amidst hard clumps of grass. It is no easy task for a seed to emerge from the ground. And then there is always the possibility that an animal may eat the seedling or a human may step on it. Even so, the seed continues to grow wrapped in God's love and care.

May your April be one of acceptance and rebirth so that you can discover new horizons in the future!

My newest creation! Counteract Every Negative Thought!

Here is my most recent inspirational quote, brought on by some hard days that I've gone through. I made this quote to remind myself and to inspire others! The last few days (the last week, actually) has been tough. In order to counteract a bad attitude, I started stating a blessing or something I was grateful for in response to every negative thought that went through my head. It helped a lot!

If you know someone who is going through a tough time right now, feel free to share this quote with them. It will help to spark some positive energy in their heart and give them hope that tomorrow will be a better day!

Just remember...this too shall pass!

Where you can find Counteract Every Negative Thought:

Fine Art America:  http://fineartamerica.com/featured/counteract-every-negative-thought-diamante-lavendar.html

Red Bubble:  http://www.redbubble.com/people/diamantelavenda/works/21565110-counteract-every-negative-thought-by-diamante-lavendar?p=photographic-print

<a href="http://fineartamerica.com/shop/shower+curtains" style="font: 10pt arial; text-decoration: underline;">shower curtains for sale</a>

~My newest creation: Find Something To Laugh About!~

Life happens. It happens to all of us whether we're ready or not....kind of like playing hide and seek! We can try to hide, but life will seek us and hunt us down, taking us along for the ride!

My newest creation speaks of maintaining a sense of humor through it all. It's easy to have humor on good days. But it's also very important to have humor on bad days as well. Humor actually helps us through hardship and is essential in our well being.

This is a concept I've learned the hard way. Some of you know my story. Others of you aren't familiar with it. I wrote a book about it entitled Breaking The Silence. Through my life, I've learned that humor is a necessary element in healing and staying happy.

Please feel free to come back and visit again to read my quote. Or save it to your computer. I'd love to have it inspire you at times when you really need it.

Blessings, Diamante

~Letter Of Intent #2 by Diamante Lavendar~

Letters Of Intent are ways to focus on increasing your power and perspective in life.  Here's Letter #2:

The time is NOW to rise and shine.  The time is always NOW.

People persist in believing in yesterday and tomorrow, but those are only illusions.  NOW is all we have.  NOW is all there is.  That is why many people experience a delay in achieving their dreams.  They look for answers in yesterday and tomorrow.  And while some answers may be found in those places, they must be applied to NOW.  Because NOW is the timetable of life.

Take the lessons from yesterday, take the dreams from tomorrow and plant them in NOW.  It is the only way to truly thrive in your life journey.  The moment you're in means everything.

Blessings,

Diamante

Letter Of Intent #1 by Diamante Lavendar

I am starting another new aspect of my blog! It is called Letters Of Intent. This is the first letter. Others will follow at random. But I suspect there will be quite a few over time!

Letter Of Intent #1:

Life is a poem: a living of pen to paper. The backdrops of our lives are the papers and we are the pens; creating, moving through space to find a meaning to our existence.

Intent is life's purpose. It is up to us whether we allow our intent to be pure or corrupted. In each of us is a possibility of both. What matters is the voice we heed.

Find your intent and you will find your purpose. Accomplish your goals and you will achieve your dreams!

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Love

This was a write up in my February newsletter I recently published.  My editor loved it (she is also my friend.)  She encouraged me to put it on my blog, which I have now done.  I hope it helps you to find more peace and meaning in your life.

*****************************************************************************

Love. We've heard so much about it during our lives. "It is more blessed to give than to receive." "Treat others as you would like to be treated." "True love keeps no record of wrongs." These things are all very true but sometimes hard to achieve.

Everyone is tested. We endure fiery trials of one form or another. The trick is to always bring it back to a loving attitude at the end of the day. How is that possible in some instances? Sometimes, only by the power of God Himself is it possible.

I have suffered, as some of you know, through differing forms of abuse. I have felt like I had nothing left to give, like everything had been taken from me. And yet, I was expected to love. If you've read my book Breaking The Silence, you know my story. It has been excruciating...and still is sometimes to this very day. The best advice I can give is do your best in the time given. Ten years ago, my best wasn't as good as it was five years ago. And five years ago, it wasn't as good as it is now. I still have a long way to go, but as long as I'm on my way, I know it will continue to get better day by day.

Don't beat yourself up if you have trouble being loving. Especially at times when you are hurting. Nobody is perfect and nobody can be 100% loving 100% of the time. It's not a human capability. Luckily, God is there to hold your heart in His hands as He molds and makes you into who you really are made to be as you progress through your existence on this planet. Humans are frail and fallible. But we are also very capable of learning. So keep that in the forefront of your mind. Do the best in the day you are given.

And be forgiving. Forgive yourself and others for not consistently living up to difficult standards. Sometimes the best way to show love is to forgive. And to know perfection is not attainable. Once you let go of "should, must, have to" it gets a little easier to be a loving person.

February is a time of hearts and candy and flowers. Those are all wonderful, but it is my experience that the expectations we put on ourselves and others are the most primary causes of either happiness or disappointment. So remember, we're all here to learn and grow. Enjoy it as much as you can without beating yourself up over it at the same time!

Happy February! May every day this month be your Valentine's Day!

The Joy Of Christmas

**Originally posted on Fred Warren's blog at**

 https://frederation.wordpress.com/2015/12/14/the-joy-of-christmas-by-diamante-lavendar/

Christmas has always been a special time for me. As a kid and as a “grownup”. When I was younger, I would wait for the festivities of Christmas with “baited breath”. I loved the decorations and the tree, the stockings and the carols. But the greatest thing about Christmas to me was the “feeling.”

When I was very young, I would attempt to describe “the Christmas feeling” to my parents. They never really understood just exactly what I meant. They would look at me rather vacantly and say things like, “That’s nice. I’m happy you’re happy.”

But it was always so much more than that…happiness. It was an internal glow, a peace, a feeling of goodwill among men. Of course as a child I was unable to explain these complicated emotions. But I felt them. Fully. And they made me feel more alive than I ever could have explained…until I became a “grownup”.

Christmas is more than a season. Or a holiday. To me, it’s a frame of mind…a way of living. It is truly embodying the concept of, “Peace on earth…goodwill toward men.” It is beautiful. It is invigorating. It is a newness of life and attitude.

Christmas happens any time a random act of kindness occurs. It happens every time someone pays it forward. Christmas, no matter the time of year, comes alive whenever we think of others as much or more than we think of ourselves. It comes when we extend our boundaries to include the happiness of family and strangers. In my life, the most beautiful moments that I remember are moments when I was able to make a difference…to help someone in some way. To me, that is true Christmas.

I hope that by example I am able to extend Christmas every day of the year in some sort of way. I love the notion of “being Christmas” to my family, friends, and even those I don’t know. It is a tall order, but a wonderful goal to reach toward.

Perhaps as you read this, you will find yourself considering the feeling of Christmas…perhaps even living the feeling on a day-to-day basis. I can only imagine the ripple effect of beauty that “living the feeling” could bring to all of us who find ourselves sharing this earth together. What a grand scheme of things that would indeed create!

May you feel the peace, love and joy all year long, not just this holiday season!

Cooperation Versus Competition...Which Is Better?

Ever since I was young, I disliked the idea of competition. It seemed unnatural to me: the concept of all for one and one for all. If competition was the way of life, why then did nature live in harmony and cooperation? Trees depending on air and grass depending on soil. Animals depending on plant and tree life for shelter and man depending on earth for everything he/she needs. The only thing I could see in the form of competition was man and animals killing to eat. Otherwise, life relies on itself to survive.

Therefore, I began to think about the strength of cooperation. I came up with many reasons why cooperation is critical in survival. One reason is the fact that there is strength in numbers. No matter what you're discussing, if there are numbers of people involved, there will be much greater strength in the process and outcome. If one man stands alone and another is surrounded by a group of dedicated followers, which man will thrive more easily? Of course the man with the group! Even nature thrives in groups with lone stragglers falling easily to disaster.

Another reason why cooperation is critical is that the whole is never greater than the sum of its parts. The more hands involved in a situation, the more the outcome is determined to succeed. That is why animals hunt in packs and why people live in cities and towns. There is strength in numbers as well as more safety for the most part.

The third reason I'll share tonight about the strength of cooperation is the fact of diversity being involved in cooperative efforts. People bring their own talents and knowledge into a cooperative situation. Everyone has their own perspective and opinion, causing greater ingenuity to be brought to the cooperative circumstance.

When the unfortunate situation arises where people aren't willing to cooperate, I have found the root cause to be fear. And fear does definitely prove to be a snare. So it is my humble opinion that cooperation brings much goodness and wealth of information to the table. It brings future possibility of greatness to a situation.

I look forward to cooperating with many people in my efforts....not only in my writing, but also in my personal life. Cooperation mirrors the natural world and just seems to be the most probable way of future success and happiness..for everyone involved!  In marriages, families, as well as businesses, cooperation is key!  Cooperation brings Heaven a little closer to home!

The Good, The Bad And...The Hysterical?

Henrietta was having a trying day, to say the least. Her day started when her alarm clock went off....30 minutes late!

"Oh, dear Lord!" She jumped out of bed, her heart racing as she rifled through her closet, grabbing the first thing she could find. Throwing it on, she jumped into a pair of black pumps. (They do go with anything, right?)

Racing out to the kitchen, she fumbled with the coffee maker and spilled water all over the floor.

I don't have time for this! Forget the coffee! I'll get some at the office!

She grabbed her purse and her briefcase and ran out to the garage.  Jumping in her car, she peeled out of the driveway after barely escaping ripping the garage door off the hinges.  Without thinking, she shut the garage door and flew down the street fifteen miles over the speed limit.

If I'm late again, my boss is going to have my head!

She drove onto the on ramp and floored it on the highway.  Soon she heard a siren and saw flashing red and blue lights in her rear view mirror.

Oh my God, you have got to be kidding me!  Now I'm going to be at least a half hour late!

She pulled to the side of the highway and watched the patrol officer walk to her car.

"Driver's license and registration,"  he said flatly.  "Do you know how fast you were going?"  He looked inside the car and then stared at her sarcastically.

"Uh..I..ah...not really, sir,"  she stammered.

Oh my God.  My boss is going to kill me.

"Well, you were going twenty miles over the speed limit, ma'am.  Any excuse as to why this happened?"  The officer stated in a monotone.

"I'm late for work..."  Henrietta began.

"Well, ma'am, I hardly think that being late for work is an exceptional reason for putting your life and the lives of others at risk,"  the office stated, his face expressionless.

"Yes, sir.  Sorry...sir,"  Henrietta babbled, tears pricking at her eyes.  She handed him her license and registration.

"I will be a moment,"  the officer told her as he walked back to his car.

All because my alarm went off late.  Oh, God.  I hope I don't lose my license.  Then I'll get it for driving with a revoked license!  

She nervously glanced back at the squad car.  Finally, the officer got out and walked back over to her.

"Being late to work is no reason to put lives in danger.  At any rate, I've decided to only cite you for speeding ten miles per hour over the speed limit.  Here is your ticket.  If you wish to fight it, go to the scheduled hearing on the top of the ticket.  Otherwise, send in your fine before the court date or you may have a warrant out for your arrest."  He stared at her.  "Any questions?"

"No, sir, thanks..."

"Very well.  Have a good day, ma'am,"  he said flatly.

He walked back to his car and she took off...going the speed limit.  She glanced at the ticket.

Two hundred fifty dollars?  Is he out of his freakin' mind?

Tears stung at her eyes again.

I should just call in sick.  If this is any indication of how this day is going to go, I don't want to go to work anyway.

Realizing she had to pay a two hundred and fifty dollar ticket, she decided to bite the bullet and show up to work late.

What's the worst that could happen?

She drove to work...going the speed limit...and when she got there, her boss called her into his office.

"Henrietta, this is the third time this month that you've shown up late.  Any excuse this time?"

"Yes, sir.  I got pulled over by a cop.  And I got a ticket."

"For what?"  he said sarcastically.

"For speeding, sir,"  she droned, feeling like a two year old that had just spilled grape juice on a white carpet.

"Hmmm.  For speeding,"  her boss nodded.  "Alright.  Well, I'm writing you up for being late again."

"But sir..."

"Henrietta, you are over an hour late.  Apparently you were late before you even got pulled over.  How far away do you live?  Twenty minutes?"  He stated dryly.

"Uh..yes.."

"Okay then.  Don't let it happen again.  If you get written up one more time you'll be fired."  He opened his desk.

She stared at him.

"Is there something else, Henrietta?"  he looked over at her.

"No, sir.  Nothing."  She turned and walked out of his office.

She made her way to her office...a small room at the end of the hall.  She stepped inside, shut the door and went to her chair and collapsed into it.  She stretched back and took a deep breath of air.

 Okay.  Now things are going to calm down.  This will end up being a good day.

"Miss Wilkins?"  the secretary spoke on the intercom.  "Call.  Line four."

"Put it through."

She picked up the phone.  "What the Hell is going on with your stupid company?  I spoke to a guy down in customer service and got transferred three times and then I got disconnected and I had to call back.  I don't even know who the Hell you are but I need to get this situation taken care of...."

Henrietta set the phone down on her desk and started to laugh hysterically.  Tears flowed down her cheeks because she began to laugh so hard.

When it rains it pours!  Thank you Jesus for giving me a sense of humor!  At least I still have it!  Don't ever let me lose it, either!

After a few moments, she picked the phone back up.  The other end was quiet.  A few seconds later, she heard the same irritated voice.  "Hello?  Are you there?'

Sighing deeply, she answered.  "Yes."  A fit of hysterics threatened to hit again as the person on the other end of the line started screaming.

"Yup.  That's the stuff of life,"  she thought to herself.  The good, the bad and ...the hysterical!

She set the phone down again as another laughing fit took her by storm.

If Only Things Had Been Different

He sat in the back of the room.  There were people shuffling about around him but he sat in his seat quietly ignoring them.

If only things had been different.

He remembered being in a boat with his dad.  He sat quietly, his fishing rod in the water.

 I wish a fish would bite.  

The water lapped peacefully around the boat.  His father sat at the other end, a cap covering his head.

"You have to be quiet.  Otherwise you'll scare the fish away,"  his father had told him before they left.

So he stayed very quiet.  And his father didn't talk.  Not when they were fishing or any other time either.

He stared at the other boats dotted around the lake.

 I wonder if they sit in silence too.

Of the handful of times that he'd been fishing with his dad, he had only caught a small number of fish.

Does it really matter if you talk?  It doesn't seem to matter when I'm fishing.

His dad reeled in his line and re cast it out on the water.

Thirty minutes later, his dad looked at him and said,  "We're not having very good luck.  Do you want to stay here longer or should we go?"

"Let's stay a little longer,"  he said.

 Let's talk a while.

Another fisherman drove past in his boat.

"Having any luck?"  he yelled.

"No,"  his dad shook his head.

"Try the southern part of the lake.  I just caught a few over there,"  the fisherman said.

"Thanks.  I might,"  dad yelled back as the fisherman continued on his way.

"Do you want to go to the southern part of the lake?"  his dad asked him.

He shrugged.  "If you want to."

"Let's just come back another time.  I'm getting sun burnt."

He looked around the room.  People were talking in hushed tones.  Some were crying.  He stood up and walked to his father's coffin.

I wish things were different.  I wish we would've talked a while. 

A tear slipped down his cheek as he walked over to join his family.

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It Ran Out In Front Of Me

I was driving home late one night.  There was a light mist across the road and I was lost in thought.  Suddenly, to my left, I saw a streak emerge in the mist and stop about fifty feet in front of my vehicle.  I slammed on my brakes, skidding to a half.  The animal, a deer, stood in the mist in front of me and stared into my headlights.  Then, spooked, it took off like a shot into the darkness on the right.

As the shock of what had happened enveloped me, I realized what had gone through my mind as the deer stopped in front of me.

I'm going to hit that thing.  It's going to smash up my car.  I hope I don't get hurt.

Then I remembered a story I had heard about a man who was riding with his fiancee in his car when he hit a deer and it went up over the hood of the car and through the windshield.  It decapitated the man on its way through the back window of the car.

Life is fleeting.  You never know when you'll take your last breath.

I'm sure that man had no idea he was about to die.  I'm sure his fiancee didn't know either.  It was just another drive toward home until the fatal crash turned both of their worlds upside down and inside out...and ended one life completely.

What do you think of when you have a "near miss"?  When something unexpected happens and has the potential to change your life permanently?  I know what I think of.  My loved ones.  And whether or not I'm achieving my destined life path.

Through heartache and pain, I've learned that those are the only things that really matter. When the subject of life comes down to the "nitty gritty", what else possibly can be more important than loved ones and accomplishing your destiny?

That's what I think of when I'm saved from an accident.  Or trauma.  Or the loss of someone dear.  The world goes on with its issues and demands, but most of all of that is pointless.  It is your dear ones and your destiny that will come to haunt you if you fail to really live.  So make a choice to really live, because that's all that really matters.

Feeling Alone

I am convinced that feeling alone is one of the hardest things to deal with as a human being. We were created for love and fellowship. When we don't have those things in a genuine way, it tears at our inner beings. Isolation is a desperate feeling; hopelessness is even worse.

We constantly crave a companion; someone we can bear our heart and soul to who loves us unconditionally. We crave a hug that reaches our pain and takes it away. If we are left alone for too long we even begin to go crazy and imagine things.

I used to wonder why. What is so important about someone who is there and who believes what we say? Why is friendship and compassion so necessary to the human condition?

It's actually quite simple. Because we were made to need it as a necessity in life. We were created to bond in love and have a purpose for living. We were created to be one with God and His creation.

That is why nature is so soothing. It was created for us. That is why love is so healing. It too was created for us. It is an inherent need woven into the fabric of our hearts; a compelling drive and desire to be accepted.

It is really quite simple. Simply profound. With understanding and discernment, we can achieve our truest and highest calling, which always involves love. Never has hate achieved those purposes. Hate tears apart and brings pain and corruption. Love builds up and brings healing and wholeness...purity too.

Love makes the world a better place. It cares and it shares. It holds goodness and mercy. I wish that for everyone reading this blog. May you find the peace, joy, healing and mercy that only love can bring. Because it is essential to a life well lived.

Namaste!