Darkness is not always the ENEMY!

All of us have had times in our life that we felt that everything was going wrong. It seemed that nothing would go right. You woke up late for work and the car would not start. You received a phone call from school and your child is acting up. A family member or close friend is sick. You go to purchase something and find that your account is in the negative. Your boss and coworkers are nagging you about an upcoming deadline. It seems that you are taking blow after blow, and each blow feels stronger than the one before. You may be saying "Just knock me out already." Although it may seem that your home, work environment, relationships, and/or finances are chaotic, there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

I know, I know the saying "There is light at the end of the tunnel" is just words, but it is very true and reassuring. Times of darkness is where we gain our strength. Sounds crazy, huh? Think about it. When we take one blow after another, we often feel defeated. However, it takes strength to overcome the most trying times. Each time you pick yourself up, you are becoming stronger and wiser. When the load you are carrying gets heavier, you find strength to take a few more steps. It takes strength to press on when you feel broken mentally, emotionally, or physically.

This is why we should learn to praise God even more during our darkest hours. The dark periods is  where we gain muscle. God uses us during these times to better ourselves. When we are in the darkness we pray more often and harder. By no means am I saying that we should only pray when things are bad, but it is natural to pray more often and harder during bad times. We should use the time of darkness to ask God to reveal our purpose and work toward fulfilling it.

I understand it's hard because I am currently in my period of darkness. There were days that all I wanted to do was stay in bed and eat blue bell ice cream. Some days I did just that. Some days I walked around like a zombie, just going through the strokes. Some days I felt ok, but then I would break down suddenly into tears. There were days I felt like I could not breathe. But I realized that I was being the most dramatic and selfish person ever. I was being so selfish feeling sorry for myself, and for thinking that I should not have to go through a dark point. How could God ever work on me if things were always good. God was constantly revealing my purpose, but I was to stubborn to listen. Now I am listening. I choose to spend my times of darkness helping others through theirs. I know the blessings and breakthroughs are near.

So, remember to treat you darkest hours as you greatest hours. Pray harder than you ever have and lean on God when you feel weak. Don't sit around in self-pity, get up and use the time to become a better you because the darkness will soon pass.

Writing Is My Therapy!!!

I have found that writing is my therapy, and this morning I could do nothing but pray and write. When my brother and I was younger my mom always told us that "ALL WE HAD WAS EACH OTHER". She always stressed how if something were to happen to her that we should always depend on each other and be there for each other. We took this statement very seriously, I know I did. Growing up and still to this day, my mom would get mad at one of us and try to convince the other to talk to the one she is mad at. We would talk to each other, but we always sided with each other. We sided with each other because when everyone in the world misunderstood something we said or did, we could always count on each other to understand and not judge.

My brother and  I have a bond that is really not explainable. I feel that our hearts are in rhythm and we have a connection that they say twins have. Although he is currently miles away, my heart aches when his heart aches, and I seem to feel every emotion he feels. I can honestly say that he is the first guy that I truly loved. Sadly, the purpose of this article isn't to discuss the closeness of my brother and I, but to clear my head to be a support system for him. This morning my heart hurts for him as he is dealing with the loss of his first and only child. He isn't one to share his emotions openly, and I know its very tough for him. I am so used to being able to provide some type of help or assistance, but I am so angry because this is one situation that I can't fix. I am lost for words or clarity.

Like me, I know he felt that his son was the only thing going good, when all else seemed to be crashing down. And now this happens. I know you are never supposed to question God (and I will not) , but I can't get a grip on this one. I can't wrap my hands around it. I don't know the purpose or result of it all, but I just pray for strength to help him through it all. I always try to leave those who read my blog with some type of encouragement or purpose of the blog post, but this morning the message isn't all that clear.  If I had to say anything, it would be to never take any day for granted. Rest in heaven JACOB, your aunt loves you deeply!!!

You're Never too Old for a TIME OUT!!!

It appeared to be a normal day. A mother watched as her young son played in the yard. He was happy to be outside and she enjoyed the fresh air. Everything seemed calm, and it felt great to relax and enjoy the beautiful day. At that moment, her son began to play in a puddle of water in the yard, but it was not an ordinary puddle. He immediately began to sink. The mother rushed over and attempted to grab him, but she missed him. The second time she grabbed and pulled him out. The mother began to perform CPR. All of a sudden I woke up in a panic. I looked over at my son and he was sleeping peacefully. I grabbed my phone to look up the meaning of the dream. I had to decode the dream or get some insight. I quickly learned that drowning represented being overwhelmed. The child is a symbol of something that you value that is causing the feeling of being overwhelmed. Immediately, I knew that it was time to put myself in time out. I know it sounds crazy, but keep reading.

Imagine, at your present age, your mother, father, boss, or whomever telling you to go to timeout and stay there until you have learned your lesson. Will you stomp away to the corner like a 2 year old? Will you resist and be forced into the corner? Will you quietly go to the corner, and reflect on what you have done? Many of us may think that we are too old to be told to go to time out, but in reality sometimes we need a time out from all of life's troubles.

A timeout can come in different forms. It doesn't have to be sitting in a corner or sitting in a room alone. It can be a day of doing nothing, a hour of exercise or meditation, a lunch date with an old friend, or whatever will allow you to forget life's woes for a moment. I know the thought of a time out seems impossible for some, but it is very necessary. Trust me, I am very guilty of trying to use every minute of the day doing something other than having that time out. I try to be supermom, super-friend, super-employee, and super-student everyday. I wear many different capes every single day. But, Guess What? What will I have left for self when I get done being a superhero for everyone and every situation.

So, take time for yourself everyday. It doesn't matter if it's ten minutes. Give yourself that much needed time alone. I promise you fighting the villains and slaying dragons can wait. Whether you have to stomp to time out, be dragged to time out, or go peace peacefully, make it an everyday thing. You will find that time away from every day problems or tasks is so fulfilling. Now go to TIME OUT!