Amazing story-A Stolen Life

I have just finished reading Jacee Dugard's book entitled 'A Stolen Life'. What an amazing woman. I am in awe of her. If you don't know the story and are interested in true personal stories of rising over adversity in one's life then I highly recommend this book. You might have seen her on a television documentary with Diane Sawyer a few weeks back in July 2011. I missed seeing that program but saw parts of it recently on YouTube after reading 'A Stolen Life'. I won't go into details of this story but will say that I shed many tears while reading Jacee's book. Mostly tears of joy for her and the freedom that she has reclaimed.
Since reading this book, I don't dare to complain about anything and I don't dare take the freedom that I have for granted. I really want to appreciate each day as a gift. And I also want to remember that everything good comes from God.
Jacee writes mostly in first person which helps you get a feel of what she went through. I have to say I was a little frightened of what I might read (don't like horrific graphic writing) and although she writes candidly of what she experienced I wasn't left feeling depressed. Jacee shows how keeping hope alive helped her survive.
Amazing story!

Back on track

Here it is the third of July 2011, and I am back. The reason for my absence was simply forgetting my password. Every once in a while I would try to enter my site; to no avail. Today, I succeeded. And I wasn't even trying. I'm so amazed!
But why did it take me so long? I am prepared to think that perhaps God had other plans for me this past year. Maybe I needed time to think, to organize, to do other things. And boy did I have a busy year. Family kept me so busy I gave up writing-only to take up sewing as a way to cope with life's pressures.
So now I want to leave you with a thought. It's fitting for this moment. It was written by Emily Dickinson who was an obsessively private writer from the mid 1800's-and only 10 of her 1700 poems were ever published during her lifetime.

"To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else."

and.....

A Word is dead
When it is said,
Some say.
I say it just begins to live
That day.

Faith is a Candle

A family friend gave us a movie to watch on the weekend. Entitled 'The Third Jihad', I found it quite disturbing. It didn't have a religious agenda from any group against another group. Rather, it was a documentary type of movie, narrated by a Muslim physician living and working in the USA warning viewers of dangers to come in the future for all democratic countries. He cares about his fellow Muslim believers and is distressed by the brainwashing that is happening to many of them by their fanatical leaders.
I'm posting a poem written by Helen Steiner Rice many years ago that is still relevant today. Hope it helps in wondering what to do about this frightful situation of hatred.

In this sick world of hatred
And violence and sin,
Where men renounce morals
And reject discipline,
We stumble in darkness
Groping vainly for light
To distinguish the difference
Between wrong and right,
But dawn cannot follow
This night of despair
Unless faith lights a candle
In all hearts everywhere
And warmed by the glow
Our hate melts away
And love lights the path
To a peaceful, new day.

A Singing Bird

I read a Chinese proverb on a calendar recently that appealed to me. "Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps the singing bird will come."

I like the "perhaps" part in this proverb. Did you know that a proverb is a meaning with a promise? Now it doesn't mean that if you do what the proverb says, than you will always have positive results or negative. It just means that your chances of obtaining good or bad results are more likely. It's a probability, but not a certainty.

Most of us want a sure thing, but I was reminded this week that the only sure thing we can expect in life are problems. After countless things going wrong, I realized that nothing is certain except problems. Things and people fall apart; relationships may suffer and need to be repaired. What I like about this proverb is that it reveals a secret to a happy life. Cultivating a positive vibrant attitude will attract positive vibrant people. I got to thinking. How does one grow a green tree inside our heart.

By living in thankfulness. In Thessalonians 5: 18 says, "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

The writer of this verse (the apostle Paul) said to give thinks in everything. No matter what happens. Why? Because this is God's will for us. But how can we do that when bad things come our way. It's not easy, but Jesus Christ, God's Son, offers the gift of salvation to every single person on this earth so that everyone can find God. Jesus' death and suffering on the cross was for our sins, and is the reason we have hope and life. And this is certain, not a probability.

So remember, keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps the singing bird will come. Here's a little poem I wrote a while back.

Morning Greetings


The sun yawns each morning
and rubs its sleepy eyes.
Then, slowly misty ghosts
whisper, good bye and rise.
Then birds greet the morning
like a lost and cherished friend.
And earth feels right again
from beginning to end.

Today

Have you ever started the day wishing you could stay in bed and not bother with anyone? Sometimes I feel like that. Usually the best remedy for fixing that problem for me is to ignore that feeling, get out of bed and keep moving. Soon, bad feelings disappear and you feel great again. Move your body, move your brain, speak positive words and soon negative feelings are drowned out. It's really up to us.

Today I will laugh more
Not take life so seriously.
I'll throw out garments of fear
I’ll wear clothes of simplicity.
Today I’ll run through the rain
Feel raindrops on my face.
And later I’ll count the stars
From inside my hiding place
Today I’ll stop and listen
Consider the words of a friend
And if we have a conflict of view
I know our joy won’t end.
For friendships will grow sweeter
When kindness is given a chance
And watered with the passage of time
That starts and ends with a dance.

Light A Candle

There's a proverb that says--You may light another's candle at your own without loss. How true. When we share joy and happiness with others we don't loose anything. In fact, we gain much more in return.

If you light someones candle
Your flame can't grow dimmer.
Your candle will keep glowing
And retain its light and shimmer.
It's the same with happiness.
And if you smile to those around
Your happiness keeps growing
And new friends will be found.

Just do it

I saw him standing in the rain.
His eyes were filled with fright.
He looked so cold and lonely
In the blackness of the night.

I tried to think of pleasant things
As I hurried down the lane.
I paused to listen to my feet
Dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.

His ragged arms so shamelessly
Held a dish, chipped and frayed
I glanced and saw his broken eyes
I paused, then rushed on by, afraid.

Oh why had he been standing there
It made me feel so sad.
Still, the party at my sisters
Would make me feel so glad.

This weekend the world summit is being held right here in Canada. I watched the news and heard about all the protests going on in Toronto. That got me to thinking. We need to notice people that others overlook. It's so easy to do that because most people tend to gravitate towards people who can offer them something in return or make them feel good so they can move ahead. We all want to be connected to the stars of life. But really, didn't God create all people with the same need to be loved and appreciated. It's universal. That includes women in poor countries that don't have adequate health care when they give birth. Or, children that go hungry either because there is no food or they don't have proper parenting. There are so many people that suffer in this world because no one cares about them. But if we want to make a difference in how people are treated we need to start in their own backyard. Take a look around you. There might be someone that needs a helping hand or a word of encouragement. Don't think too long about it though. Just do it.