A Tribute and a Challenge (Part 2)

Never give up; you never know until you try.

In part 1, I wrote about my dear friend Bill, who was like a dad to me. He died November 7, 2011, leaving me grief-stricken yet blessed for having known him.

Like any father and daughter, Bill and I had our bad moments, but I always knew that he would be there for me no matter what, like when I returned to school in 2004 after my husband’s death. I broke my left ankle just a few weeks into the semester, and Dad and Bill took turns transporting me to and from the local Community College for my twice-weekly classes.

Bill and I had some precious, sacred time together in his last days, making sure that we had everything right between us. I tried to keep my emotions in check, wanting to keep him from feeling uncomfortable, and I succeeded for the most part. I told him that I would make him proud, acknowledging that I knew he was already proud of me, but that I would continue moving forward, reaching for my goals.

At the memorial service, we all laughed as we shared a few stories about the man we all knew to be so tough yet so tender. We smiled and nodded our heads in fond remembrance and cried in grief. Still, we sighed in relief that our dear loved one is suffering no more, because he left the pain behind when he left this world and went into God’s waiting arms. Bill’s nephew Jason officiated, celebrating Bill’s reconciliation with God and challenging us all to avoid hypocrisy in our lives.

And therein is the “challenge” part of this post. May we all “walk the walk” if we profess to be Christians. We can’t do it ourselves, in our own strength, but Jesus can and will help us if we ask. He won’t force Himself on us, but He will come running if we ask.

Still On Hiatus

Never give up; you never know until you try.

Hello, dear readers.  I know it's been ages since I talked with you.  I'm still on hiatus, but I hope to be back with you soon.  Personal issues are still taking up all my energy, so I ask that you remember me in your prayers.

With gratitude and love,

Jacline

More From MountainWings

Never give up; you never know until you try.

Once again, I quote an issue of MountainWings:

Hard To Beat
===========

It's hard to beat a person who never gives up.

~Babe Ruth~

Refuse to give up, and you will eventually triumph!  Just remember that your idea of triumph and God's may be vastly different, but since He's the one in charge and knows what's best, you WILL triumph!

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Crickets and Scorpions--Courtesy of MountainWings

Never give up; you never know until you try.

Here's another MountainWings issue that spoke to me:

Crickets and Scorpions
===================

I usually spend time in prayer at five a.m. each morning.

 

I shall relay a lesson that God taught me very dramatically

during one of those early morning sessions.

 

I pray in a closet that is actually the vocal booth of our

former home music studio. It is soundproof.

 

As I entered clad only in shorts, I heard the sound of a cricket

chirping. There in the shadow, I saw the cricket.

It was very close to where I sit on the floor each day.

 

"Sit down and don't bother the cricket,"

I heard a soft voice speak in my spirit.

 

I obeyed.

 

I turned out the light and sat in total darkness and silence.

 

I felt something crawl up on my leg.

 

"Don't bother the cricket," I heard the voice say again,

"I am trying to teach you something."

 

"You need to learn to distinguish the difference between

crickets and scorpions in life. Don't bother the cricket."

 

The cricket crawled. It is an eerie feeling to say the least.

I wasn't afraid of the cricket. I knew it couldn't harm me.

It wouldn't bite, sting, or even so much as scratch me.

 

It was just a highly annoying and extremely icky feeling.

A cricket crawling all over you.

 

I let the cricket crawl for almost a minute until I couldn't

stand it anymore. I brushed the cricket off, turned on the light,

picked it up in my hand, and took it outside and let it go.

 

I understood what God was trying to show me.

Life has scorpions and crickets.

 

Scorpions are the things that can hurt us; things that are truly

destructive and dangerous. Crickets are the things that have

absolutely no power to hurt us, they are just irritating.

They get on our nerves; they try our patience.

 

I saw things differently after emerging from prayer that day.

 

I realized that the vast majority of the things that really

irked me

 

...were crickets.

 

The vast majority of the things that irk you

 

...are crickets.

 

Don't bother the crickets

and don't let the crickets bother you.

 

 

~A MountainWings Original~ 

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Easier said than done, huh folks?

Twas The Day After Christmas--Courtesy of Mountainwings

Never give up; you never know until you try.

I've shared several issues of MountainWings daily thoughts over the years, and here's another one I recently received in my inbox:

Twas The Day After Christmas

Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the house,

Every creature was hurtin' even the mouse.

The toys were all broken, their batteries dead;

Santa passed out, with some ice on his head.

 

Wrapping and ribbons just covered the floor,

While upstairs the family continued to snore.

 

And I in my T-shirt, new Reeboks and jeans,

I went into the kitchen and started to clean.

 

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the sink to see what was the matter.

 

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the curtains, and threw up the sash.

 

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a little white truck, with an oversized mirror.

 

The driver was smiling, so lively and grand;

The patch on his jacket said "U.S. POSTMAN."

 

With a handful of bills, he grinned like a fox.

Then quickly he stuffed them into our mailbox.

 

Bill after bill, after bill, they still came.

Whistling and shouting he called them by name:

"Now Dillard's, now Broadway's, now Penny's and Sears

Here's Robinson's, Levitz's and Target's and Mervyn's.

To the tip or your limit, every store, every mall,

Now chargeaway-chargeaway-chargeaway all!"

 

He whooped and he whistled as he finished his work.

He filled up the box, and then turned with a jerk.

He sprang to his truck and he drove down the road,

Driving much faster with just half a load.

 

Then I heard him exclaim with great holiday cheer,

"ENJOY WHAT YOU BOUGHT.......

 

YOU'LL BE PAYING ALL YEAR!"

 

~Author Unknown~

 

Check out MountainWings for yourself!

 

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Closed Doors

Never give up; you never know until you try.

Here we go again!  I haven't posted in several weeks because I've once again found that I had nothing new to say.  It seems as if I've been on this treadmill forever, trying every "trick" I can think of, as well as ones others have suggested.  I'm running up against nothing but closed doors, and it's getting on my last nerve! 
The other day, after I literally vented a Charlie Brown-style, "Ahhhhhhhh!" I prayed aloud, "Lord, who is slamming these doors--you or Satan?"  I'm still waiting for the answer to that one, but the bottom line is that doors are closed.  I'm left praying, doing what I can, and claiming the biblical promise that if I keep knocking, a door will open.  My poor knuckles are raw at this point, but I'm not giving up!

Comfort Those Who Mourn

Never give up; you never know until you try.

I recently found myself in the middle of one of those "interruptions" that upon reflection seems to have been a "divine appointment."  Suffice it to say that I wasn't even "supposed" to be where I was, when I was, but that "circumstances" had me in a place where I encountered a young woman grieving a recent loss. 

I was minding my business, mentally running through my "to do" list when I passed her in a store.  Being one of those people who likes to speak to complete strangers and share a smile and a moment of sunshine, I complimented her outfit and said I hoped she was having a great day.  She candidly noted that she wasn't and wilted before my eyes.  I hugged her until she calmed, assuring her that she would be okay, even if circumstances might suck for a while.  She thanked me for listening and apologized for crying; I said, "Any time," and we parted.

As I left, I thanked God for the opportunity to share a tiny glimmer of love with someone in despair.  I was glad I could offer a little comfort, and I've continued to offer prayers for her and her family as they learn to live without the precious soul they lost.

Lest you think I'm some super-spiritual, always-in-tune-with-God marvel, I'll tell you right now: don't.  I noticed that dear lady, but I wonder how many others there have been in need whom I haven't seen.  I'm sure there have been many, because I know there have been many people who have either failed to see my pain or failed to make themselves available to help in even a small way.  I know it's a cliché, but I've felt alone in a crowded room. 

Sometimes we don't know what to say to someone who's hurting and don't want to say the wrong thing.  Sometimes we're too busy to take the time.  The people who take time to reach out really don't know how much good they can be doing, simply by listening, offering a hug, and sharing a few words of encouragement.  I can think of several people God has used to brighten my blacker-than-black day over the years, and I want to be one He uses to brighten others' day.  Especially those in mourning.