Welcome back. Today I’m thankful for a new day. A day, I’ve never seen before or will ever see again. In the book, The Secret Door to Success, by Florence Scovel Shinn, she tells this story. Shinn went to visit her friend in Brooklyn. Her friend loved to do strange things and asked her to go with her to watch the sunrise in Prospect Park. At first, she didn’t want to go but later decided to join her friend. When they arrived in the park, everything was pitch black. As the sun peaked over the horizon, all at once a loud sound erupted. A zoo is next to the park, and all the animals in the zoo broke out in a chorus– birds, monkeys, you name it, made a joyful noise to welcome this brand new day. Let’s learn from the animals to sing praises when we live to see a new day!
I do not own the rights to this song
As the song says, his goodness is chasing us. I truly appreciate that spiritual support especially in the times when things are really sad. Life has those moments when people are in the depths of despair because they have lost a loved one. Since my last blog, my sister Jurmeine experienced the pain of losing her mother. I remember the shock when she heard the news, the confusion in her voice, the despair on her face. Losing a mother has got to be the worst feeling in the world.
As you can imagine she had sleepless nights. As the days went by, then came a slew of dark emotions. A few phobias including the fear of flying and the fear of funerals attacked her. She tried balancing them with the wonderful memories of her mom, but it was hard. After trying to handle it on her own, she decided to reach out and just be honest about the struggle. “Many family members suffer in silence,” she said. But I’m glad she reached out and told her truth. I spent the rest of the day praying for her. I found this song and played it over and over again.
I do not own the rights to this song
I sent her the song but before I did, she texts that she felt the prayers. I asked her to play it over and over again just like I had done. Such freedom filled my mind listening to those words on repeat. Again, I want to say I appreciate the spiritual comfort and support of God. Too many times we overlook it. My other sisters showered her with so much love and her precious daughter never left her side. We all became God’s loving arms extended to comfort her. My dad tried to alleviate stress and God soon gave her a prayer–“Give me strength and give me peace.”
On the day of her flight, as the plane got ready to take off her legs trembled. She called for the peace of God over them. She felt her body tremble, and she called for the peace of God over her body. Friends, it subsided. Here’s a song that you can use to invite peace into your anxiety, peace into your despair, and peace into your fear. Her words were her wand, the vehicle that brought peace into her situation. Like her, if you are in torment and turmoil invite the peace of God to come in.
I do not own the rights to this song
Love, forgiveness and good memories lifted her throughout the funeral and her eulogy moved everyone to the core. The fear of funerals dissipated. Peace was the order of the day.
Here’s the song that is carrying her through it.
When she returned, I saw a double portion of strength and resolve in her. She learned her mother left to join her ancestors on the other side of this life. She knows she’s watching over her and her daughter. A picture of both of them at the entrance of her mom’s home is a statement that they are adored by her. Now my sister is ferociously watching over her health, mentally and physically. She’s bold and embracing a newfound self-care and love. She’s shed the lifestyle of a hermit and opening the doors for more family connections. God may have granted her a double portion mantle of her mother’s strength and kindness.
