Showing posts with label encouragement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label encouragement. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Don't You Quit

From the God at the Movies series @ CLCtoday.org and Jerry Mcquay, this familiar poem was the cheer squad/coach/mom in your face chant I needed to hear: 
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow–
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out–
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit–
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

Friday, July 08, 2011

Mama said...

Despite her Having Fun shirt in one of the most FUN places (Dollywood, 2006),
Grace was not happy about having her picture taken.
Mama said there'll be days like this...some days are just harder than others. You just get back up, dust yourself off & keep on going. Yes, mama said there'll be days like this.

Rough day.  It began before I got out of bed with this horrible dream where it was all my fault.  Then off to work.  My job is great in so many ways, but some days, I work hard for the money. This was one of those days. Drama practice (for real) was great, but then we got tangled up at the library.  With some tears & then hugs, we headed to the pool because water play helps crabby apple pants marshmallow sweetie pies find their smiles again. We unexpectedly intersected by friends who were delighted to see us & pleaded to take Gracie cakes to play. Even better!! Nothing makes you feel better than three giggly girlfriends begging you to come play. That makes a mama feel better, too. So, they played & mom had some time to catch up on some needful things for an hour or so. 

It got even better. Mom had some chat time with the sweet mother of the squealy girls. =) I needed that. I really needed that fresh perspective & voice of faith that reminded me that God is a very present help in time of need. Breathing easier...no more crabbies. 

We got home just in time to read a few verses from Gracie's new bible. Here's what she found: But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.  They will soar high on wings like eagles.  They will run & not grow weary.  They will walk & not faint. Isaiah 40:31

That's encouraging!

This is what I read: But as for you, Israel (Carmen & Gracie), my servant, Jacob (Carmen & Gracie) my chosen one descended from Abraham my friend; I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, "You are my servant."  For I have chose you & will not throw you away.  Don't be afraid, for I am with you.  Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you & help you.  I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Now that's REALLY encouraging! 

Mama said there'll be days like this. So glad our Father in heaven has a remedy for days like this. So glad. 

Friday, September 17, 2010

Less of Me

Started something new & needful last week. There is less of me today...24 sticks of butter LESS of me. =) Yeah! Gracie thinks there's already more room on the couch for her. hee hee! Actually, she's right. Think about how much room 6 pounds of butter takes up on the couch. Not that we allow butter on the couch. No, we don't.

I must pause to give credit to my friend, Cylinda Shirley Nickel over at Because Life is Like a Bowl of Marbles, for her "sticks 'o butter off my butt" analogy. =) Inspiring, indeed. Well, giggling does indeed add up to activity points. =)

I've got some new shoes...made for walking. Well, they are really made for running, but we are wogging (the walk-jog combo) for now. =) And I've got this great book by John Bingham, Courage to Start. I'm feeling pretty well equipped.

Not only did we buy new shoes for our wogging to running journey to Nashville, but we also invested in a blender. Yes, we are now a smoothie making family. =) Gracie is thrilled. Yes. However, I am under strict orders NOT to sneak celery in her smoothie. "OHhhhhh, that's what those stringy things were. MOM!" So now I know just not to tell her I put sweet potatoes & red pepper in yesterday's blend. Scrumptious with all those raspberries, strawberries & bananas. That's what I call "Deceptively Delicious." To be honest, that's what Jerry Seinfeld's wife calls her cookbook...I love the book, the idea & just plum plagiarized the title. Except that now I've just given her credit, so no plagiarizing going on here. Thanks to Uncle Randy & Auntie Em for the cookbook. =)

So here we go....oh, the we part. I could use some cheerleaders here & not the kind that bring cookies. =) Except I can have cookies. Just have to figure out how many points are in those Shorty Cake kind. =)

Goal for this week: journal every bite

Actually, that was my goal for my 1st week. Journal every bite = SUCCESS! Plus, I totally resisted SODA while down with the family in MO. I survived a family reunion with a 24 stick loss. I even ate the peach cobbler, roasted pork loin, potato salad and some other goodies. I did, however, spit out that bite of cinnamon chocolate roll. Not good; not good at all. =/ JOURNAL EVERY BITE!

Bis spater...