Fear is a primal response. According to Northwestern Medical University, “fear is our survival response.” Some people thrive on fear while others try to avoid fear at all costs. As a 6th grade teacher, my sense of fear was heightened when a parent of a student began stalking me. I had watched movies and read books that had a stalker, but not until I had a stalker myself did, I understand the anxiety that could take over my life. As a Christian, my response should have been to go to God immediately in prayer. But my human nature took over,…
Life Lessons: Judging Others by Sharron K. Cosby
Judging people for their style of dress, behaviors, and lifestyle choices was a regular pastime for me. A homeless person hugging a street corner, holding a “Hungry. God Bless” cardboard sign provided a cornucopia of criticizing fodder. If I give him my hard-earned $1.00, he’ll just buy alcohol or drugs with it. I’m not giving my money to an addict. That attitude changed when I discovered my son’s addiction. How could I, a good Southern Baptist girl, college educated, hard worker, loving mother, devoted wife, have an addicted son? That question was never fully answered, but the non-answer didn’t change…
Life Lessons: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made by Ginny Dent Brant
Welcome to another Lesson Learned through Life Experiences. I’m honored to have Ginny Dent Brant with us today, sharing her life experience. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. Psalms 139:14 (NKJV) Each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made in His image. Fearfully when translated from the Hebrew means with “great reverence, heart-felt interest and respect.” Wonderfully in this verse in Hebrew means “unique”—like a one of a kind work of art. It took my cancer journey for me to realize how our bodies are also intricately…
Flight Canceled by Julie Lavender
During high school and college, I worked at a local pharmacy. Both owners attended the same church as I did, and I welcomed their godly, fatherly advice on many occasions. One pharmacist was quite the humorist, and I’ve shared one of his jokes over the years. He explained that he never flew, because “Jesus said, ‘Low, I am with you always.’” He told us he planned to stay on the ground for his safety. Recently, while attending a convention in Nashville, my daughter woke me with an early morning text. “I made it to Charlotte, but my connector flight is…
Life Lessons: Perseverance by Lori Vober
God blessed me with the attitude of the glass is half full, not half empty, and it has helped me persevere through many difficult life experiences. Sometimes your attitude and enthusiasm can carry you farther than your abilities. In college, after already being named an officer in my sorority going into my junior year, I did not make the cut in the Longhorn Band as a piccolo player. Because of my perseverance and attitude, I learned how to be in the flag core and loved it! After trying unsuccessfully for several years to start a family, I made the career…
Life Lessons: Let Go by Susan K Stewart
I’m not sure what made Hubby and me think we could hold back a five-hundred-pound, spooked donkey. But we’d tried. And failed. We’d recently adopted a female donkey and didn’t want a herd of little donks, so Jeb needed a “procedure.” On the appointed day, we haltered Jeb and waited to greet Dr. Montgomery and his helper. Jeb was led from his corral to a nearby shade tree. Although Jeb was a bit unsettled being outside of his secure pasture. We stood by, thinking all would go well. Preparation for Jeb’s procedure began. The vet’s assistant had a rope connected…
Life Lessons: Am I Looking or Crying by Karin Beery
Cats are amazing creatures, but sometimes they make you question your own judgment. That happened to me a decade ago when my cat, Midgie, woke me up every morning at 2 a.m. by crying in the living room. I don’t know what was wrong. I never figured out why she was crying. All I know is that I would blow kisses in the air and she would follow the sound to the bedroom, where she’d climb onto the bed and fall asleep next to me. None of it made sense. She knew where the bedroom was. She knew I’d be…
Life Lesson: Obedience to God’s Whispers by Loretta Eidson
It shouldn’t surprise me when I’m busy going about my day that a random thought or person’s face or name pops into my head. Sometimes just a glance at someone shoots a message straight into my heart. To me, these are whispers from God, and He sent them for a reason, action on my part. Although I strive to listen to His voice and be obedient, I do miss it occasionally. Like I did one day a few years back when I went to the grocery store. Consumed by my own thoughts and time constraints, I wheeled my overloaded grocery…
Life Lessons: Attitude Adjustment Needed by Lisa Betz
Seeing my first novel in print was a long-term dream come true, but my elation was smothered by fear. Why? Because I dreaded the task of book marketing. It was up to me to promote my book, and I was sure I’d be a dismal failure. That was a year ago. In January, I released my second mystery, Fountains and Secrets. This time around, my attitude has been much healthier, because over the past year, God has been showing me how my attitude and my fear were hindering his plan. He gave me the talent to write, he put certain…
Lessons Learned Through Life Experiences #1 – Friendship
Friends come in all ages, sizes, races, and professions. They rank on different levels in our lives, acquaintances, casual friends, good friends, and friends for life, who we call our best friends. I love my friends, and I am blessed to have them. They come from all walks of life, and I am more thankful today for Every. Single. One. than I’ve ever been before. Learning lessons the hard way can be an eye-opening experience. Like me, all our good intentions and silent thoughts about reciprocating active friendships go down the drain, while the should have’s and if only’s form…
