JOY

Stopping myself just long enough to write for five minutes....takes discipline!

Joining today with other authors who peg a t the keyboard for five minute-only. Then STOP.

Stream-of-consciousness writing with no editing-the best kind.

LisaJo's prompt for today is JOY.

GO:

How appropriate a theme.

I just received a "Yes!" answer to a request delivered with my heart-on-its-knees.

I am flying high and I just let out a YELL!!!! for the excitement. (My family thought I had just seen a mouse.)

Sometimes we hear "no" as answer to a prayer and sometimes just a silence. And we have to trust as a weaned child content of her Mother's lap.

 

But- sometimes  we hear, "Yes! You go girl! Take it and roll 'cause I AM the wind beneath your wings!"

 Photo Credit 

And that's an "ah-hah!" moment.

But, you know, it's not that the "yes" that brings JOY; it's knowing that you are moving with the winds of the Spirit, and, you love doing it. That's JOY.

What brings you joy today?

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Chorus of Strong Women-Visiting Contributor Desiree Adaway

Hello Ladies. How are you? With the few days of cool air and sunshine with wind-full kisses of Spring, I have decided to kiss Jack Frost "Good-bye till next year." I really do love him, he has overstayed his welcome and I am shipping him out of here.

To celebrate, I have posted the Spring header for LOV. Do you like it?

Also, I have a guest post to share with you. Once in a while we serediptiously meet a kindred-spirit. I believe Desiree Adaway to be one. She kneads together faith and proactive ministry for the voiceless and I am all about it. Please enjoy the post~

 

Chorus of Strong Women

by Desiree Adaway

“I write for those women who do not speak, for those who do not have a voice because they were so terrified, because we are taught to respect fear more than ourselves. We’ve been taught that silence would save us, but it won’t.” –Audre Lorde

 
I went through a horrible divorce. Horrible. It was my choosing, but still I felt weak and broken. The fear I felt was real. I had no idea who I was or what my future looked like.
My family felt broken and even though that was not true, the fear I felt around my decision was real. Raising kids by myself? Never wanted it. Did I mention that my husband and I worked together? Not only did I end my marriage but, essentially, my career as well.
I had no vision for my future and no voice of my own.

Today, in honor of every woman that struggles to free her voice but cannot just yet, I ask that we, her sisters, define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves–in her honor.

Let’s take a moment to recognize and respect the foundation and nurturing framework women provide to family and community all over the world.
We do epic things, every day, under amazing circumstances.

Because when I felt most broken this is what I needed to see: other women stepping into their power. I needed to hear their voices and stories. I needed their beauty and their scars. I needed them to sit me down and say the following:
You are not your wound, your weakness, or your resume.
You are not your pain. You are not your job.
You are not your income, your parents, your children, your partner, your community, or your circumstances.  

Sometimes we have too much faith in these things, these illusions. Our lives are not defined by these circumstances or by others. Those things may be fact, but they are not always truth.

Who are we? We are the TRUTH we speak about ourselves.
In my weaker moments, it would have rocked my world to hear a chorus of strong women telling me that I am this TRUTH by way of my voice and action.
This has been the hardest lesson of my life: letting go of the labels, boundaries, and stories in order to get clear about who I am. Not the stuff I own or the circumstances that I have helped create through action or inaction, but to get clear about WHO I am and the gifts I have to share.
Beyond our exterior lies an interior that is so dazzling and powerful it can transform lives. This place within shows us that we can love more, accomplish more, do more, and be more. The light that shines shows the way.  To see this in ourselves, we have to see it in others.
Empowerment is a two-way street.

I cannot be whom I am supposed to be if you are not who you are supposed to be. If my sister is not safe, then I am not safe. Her lack of safety reveals my own insecurity at a deeper level. We need to show ourselves to our sisters to help them make it through the darkness and pain.
We often become in people’s presence that which they expect us to be. So I defy those expectations. If they expect weakness, I am strong. If they expect less, I  give more. I let them know who I am.
People may want to hold us to our past, to an old story, to an old judgment. I no longer let them.  My opinion of self can not come from others. That power and light, that greatness, must radiate from within me or it will not come at all.
I share this with all the women I know, so they are clear:

You are more than just any one thing and you are powerful beyond measure.

From Desiree Adaway

Desiree is a consultant, strategist, coach, speaker, storyteller and explorer. She uses her superpowers–her voice, sense of adventure and belief in the transformative power of community–to help organizations design programs that create unrestricted revenue, volunteers and advocates. You can find out more about her at www.desireeadaway.com, or follow her on Twitter at @desireeadaway

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Willing...

 

Hello Ladies-girls, men, and any literate bunnies....(thinking of Spring, I guess.)

Does every one of you have the hope that Spring will come? I love the snow fall but am wanting the pinks blossoms and green buds to appear soon.

I am joining with the writers at Lisa-Jo Baker's blog today. From her creative basket she grabs a word and we all write with that word in mind-for five minutes, only. Lots of fun. Words tumble out like cookie crumbs from a babbling toddlers mouth.

Today's prompt: WILLING.

Go.

What holds me back? Fear? of failure? of looking silly? of not dong something perfect?

But I do not let the garbled nerves tangle my determination-

       I will do what I am called to do.

                      Write.

                              Speak.

                                   Rally the world to acknowledge the need and stir heart to
                                        help empower those girls and women at risk for sexual exploitation
                                              and gender-based violence. 

What have I (really) got to lose?





                                                          my pride. (It's not about me.)

                                                                     looking silly.

                                                                                    Who doesn't today?

                                                       

                                                                not being perfect.

                                                                                 It's process, not perfection.

                                                                      FAILING.

                                                                            

                                  He has promises to make ALL things work toward my good.
                                       And if I do step out of the beat or off of the path,
                                      His Loving-kindness and Mercy faithfully follow me
                                               and guide my hand onto the lighted way.





photo credit



I am willing.

Are you?
What are you willing for?

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