Memory Nest

To ease the sorrows of an empty nest a mother often needs to settle down in to a nest of treasured  memories The treasured memories in this mother's nest are the precious memories of the children who long ago hatched into the emptiness of my world . Perusing  through the boxed up moments accumulated over the years fills my heart with joy and peace when emptiness echoes through my heart.  Once I crawl up in that empty nest each funny scene, each precious moment dances into the bleakness of present: each first step, each first tooth, each first word, each first car, first job, first home, first child of their own, and on and on the memories go that settle all around me smoothing the ruffled feathers of my soul. Oh, how grateful I am for a nest full of memories one by one packed away as each child in my world flapped their wings of freedom and flew out into the  world  to build and fill a nest of their own.  So when my journey becomes lonely; and the house echos emptiness into my soul,  you might just find me roosting in an old dusty nest that seems empty to most.  Old, and dusty maybe, but empty it is not.  No, not empty, it is in fact over flowing.  It is overflowing with all the joy I need to chase away the sorrow that sometimes fills my day
Copyright by Dianna Renee Jackson

Count the Flowers not the Thorns

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone. All day, I have tried to think of deep words of wisdom to share with each of my children. However, nothing profound came out of all my thinking. I guess the wisest words I can share are simple words and are most likely just a reminder of what they already know. So, I will choose to share the following bit of wisdom

If we try just a little, we can always find many reasons to offer up words thanksgiving. Throughout my life, countless situations occurred that seemed beyond my ability to overcome, and rarely did I find it easy to be thankful in any of those situations. There were many times when there was no money to buy groceries let alone pay the rent. There were times that waiting by the windows of my soul for circumstances to change seemed like endless days, weeks, months, and years. Sometimes endless wasn't a strong enough word to describe the disillusionment that the surrounding circumstances created within me. There were times when I feared for my children's safety and times when I would rock one of them all night long signing "I am the God that Healeth Thee".  There was once a time when I spent days, weeks and months on the phone trying to find a way to save our home, because without a miracle the bank was going to take it away. I finally lost that battle, and we moved into a rat and cockroach infested house in Waxahachie, Texas. Three long years, I lived in that house battling oversized rats, millions of Texas size roaches, a dripping drunk and often abusive husband, and the high price poverty incurs. Then there were the years of waiting for my children's dad to finally come home each night and wondering if he was sober, just drinking or so drunk he would have to crawl through the door. On and on I could go. And what's my point?

My point is this: Without a heart of thanksgiving, I would have given up, quit the whole thing and said forget it. But, I chose to look at things differently. I chose to look for the flowers in my life. Yes, I know there were thorns and believe me, those thorns never let me forget their pricks. Howerver, for every thorn, I could find a flower if I would only looked for it. So, I chose to count my blessings. And they were many. I had four beautiful children that loved me unconditionally. I was able to feed them and cloth them everyday. We had a roof over our heads. We had a good church home. Each of them were mostly healthy. On and on I could go. What's my point?

When we look for the flowers amongst the thorns, our surroundings are more beautiful, more fragrant, softer, and easier handle. Yes, there are still the pricks. Yes, they still hurt! But, the flowers, oh, how they light up the world around us. And, all those thorns somehow lose much of their sting.


So, when things are tough and all seems lost.  Look for the flowers in life. When all seems as though it will never get better.  Count your blessings. Name them one by one. I don't know why or how, but somehow it makes the darkest hours better. Somehow it causes our worst fears to flee from us. Somehow it turns our mourning into dancing. Therefore, my great words of wisdom to you this Thanksgiving is learn to: Count your flowers not your thorns.

I did, and I believe it has been and still is one of the greatest tools in my life for finding happiness in the midst of sadness, finding peace in the darkest storms, finding healing in sickness, finding love to replace fear, finding hope in despair, finding courage to keep on walking day after day in a world that knows not Christ.
Copyright by Dianna Renee Jackson

Orderly Peace

I find when my life is organized, I am more at peace. I have not always understood this about myself. When I was married the first time at fourteen, I could have cared less about organization. I was young and had just been set free from a home in prisoned by organization and cleanliness. Having a home of my home made me feel like a Cinderella set free. So, I did not clean regularly, do laundry often, etc.... It took years of struggling with heaps of laundry, piles of dirty dishes, and long hours of trying to catch up until I realized staying on top of all the household chores was a much better deal.


Now, years later, I never leave dinner dishes, keep up with the laundry, and try to keep a tidy home. In fact, I do dishes as I cook, so there are not so many to do after the meal. I do laundry at least once a week. The house is cleaned on regular basis. I pick up after myself and my husband daily. Junk mail goes right to the trash and I file bills and receipts quickly. I clean up the bathroom daily and dust, mop and vacuum often. I also take the trash out of my car each time I arrive home.

At work, I follow the same rules of organization. I file papers and keep my classroom organized through out the year. I clean off my desk at the end of each day, so I start the day with a clean desk top. I also seek to keep my electronic files organized. I have learned over the years to throw away or resale what I don't want or use. This keeps clutter at bay. Although, I do well in most areas of organization and cleanliness, there are still areas I need to work on. One of those areas is pictures. It is my goal to go through and organize all the photographs I have accumulated over the years within a year.

Clutter and disarray causes stress and unhappiness. Once your surroundings are in order, you will find peace within your home. You will also be happier with yourself. There is a a satisfying since of accomplishment when your exterior world is in order,and it helps create an interior world that is also in order.

Copyright by Dianna Renee Jackson

LEAVING THE NEST & FLYING LONG DISTANCES

Every milestone in a mother's baby's life; every step they take towards the edge of her protective nest; every brave flap of their unsure wings, primes her sinking heart for the full blown flight of a piece of her world. The reason she breaths, her sunshine, her smiles, her hugs, her unconditional love is flying away on the wings of freedom. She stands at the door with empty arms, desperate prayers and only watches as the world swallows up those of our her womb. She only hopes she can survive without that sweet little piece of her heart.


Copyright by Dianna Renee Jackson

Misguided Disappointment

Conflict is misguided disappointment
Disappointment turns into criticism
Criticism leads to contempt
Contempt leads to defensiveness
Defensiveness blocks communication
You can’t command a feeling
But you can command action and behavior.
How you act or behave
can be controlled by the individual


You may feel mad
but you don’t have to act mad
You may feel hurt
but you don’t have to act hurt
You may feel insulted
but you do not have to act insulted
You may feel unfairly treated but
you do not have to act
as if you are unfairly treated.

Strong Woman or Woman of Strength

A strong woman isn’t afraid of anything.

A woman of strength shows courage in the midst of her fear.

A strong woman won’t let anyone get the best of her.

A woman of strength gives the best of herself to everyone.

A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids them in the future.

A woman of strength realizes life’s mistakes can also be God’s blessings and capitalizes on them.

A strong woman walks sure footedly.

A woman of strength knows God will catch her if she falls.

A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face.

A woman of strength wears grace.

A strong woman works out to keep her body in shape.

A woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape.

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey.

A woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong! 

A Lesson In Angel Making

A Lesson in Angel Making
Written by Cricket Townsend


She never wanted a halo
nor sought a pair of wings.
For in her heart, 
she knew nothing in her life
deserved such a heavenly prize. 
For you see, 
she was merely human, 
too often she had failed,
many times had fallen
and had to start over
once more.


Still yet, a halo
was plunked 
on top her head,
the wings of the Divine
shoved beneath her arms, 
and gifts bestowed upon he
for all her angelic charm. 


She tried to explain, 
"These wings aren't meant for me."
"This halo?
"Well, its's just not my style."
But, her voice 
was like the wind. 
No one seemed to listen.


She wanted to deserve them, 
all the feathers and the glitter.
Maybe, she's get use to them
always getting in the way
So, she tried her best to fly, 
but never seemed 
to get too high. 
And, that halo?
Well, it never did work right.


It wasn't long
before those wings 
hung broken by her side. 
And, the halo
bent and twisted, 
landed on the ground.


In return for those
mistakes she made, 
the gifts once freely given, 
were swiftly taken back. 
For, only perfect angels
receive gifts like that. 
Now a fallen angel, 
she lifts her broken wings to fly, 
and tilts her tattered halo
toward those Golden Gates. 
For if indeed, 
her heavenly race 
she is to win, 
she wants to take that halo
and those broken broken wings, 
and return them to their home. 


The little fallen angel
knows not 
what waits beyond 
the Crystal Sea
But surely there won't be
another golden halo and 
another pair of wings. 
If the glorious finish line, 
she finally ever crosses. 
she wants so much to find
the only perfect One
somewhere waiting there. 
She only wants to tell Him
She's so very sorry 
for failing
in
oh, so many ways, 
and hand him
that poor halo 
and  those awful broken wings.


When she finally finds Him, 
and lays them at His feet, 
He Gently wraps her 
in His arms
and whisper in her ear. 
"It's okay my child."
"Those wings did not
come from here."
"And, that halo
wasn't even real"
"I never intended
for you to fly."
"I only meant for you to walk,
until you got back home to me."


So, what lessons can we learn
from this tiny tale I've told?
There are no mortal angels 
fly around this earth.
No, God's created beings
are only little children
who fall along life's way 
and rise to try again
another day.
Each meant to run a race
to reach their Makers home. 
And when they fall, 
as God always knew they would,
He picks them up;
dust them off;
stands them straight again;
and points the way once more
towards their heavenly home.


So, never make a mortal angel.
Sure, they'll wear the wings 
you give them and 
sport the halo
plunked on top 
their head.
But, they too
will surely fall, 
and beyond the Crystal Sea, 
Someone will haul away 
another tattered halo 
and one more pair of awful wings.


And just in case 
you haven't noticed, 
there is no need to 
make a mortal angel.
For God already gave us 
our own 
perfect Angel.
He died upon a rugged cross,
and to the final fall for all. 
He rose up from 
the darkest grave, 
So, we might start 
our lives brand new, 
He will never
disappoint you. 
His wings?
You see, 
they're genuine
angel's wings, 
and
they're really
truly awesome. 
And, His halo?
Well, I don't know why, 
but it always works just right. 

Lesson in Angel Making

Copyright by Cricket Townsend

A Poem To Live By

I have come to the  frightening conclusion

That I am the decisive element.

It is my daily mood that makes the weather.

I possess tremendous power to make life 

Miserable or joyous

I can be a tool of torture

Or an instrument of inspiration.

I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal.

In all situations it my response that decides

Whether a crisis will be exalted or de-escalated,

If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. 

If we treat people as they ought to be, 

We help them to become what they are

Capable of becoming. 

German Philosopher Geothe