My Story
Has your world ever been turned upside down? and it really seemed unfair? Have you found yourself singing the ‘why me, Lord’ song? You know how it goes. Well, when I thought my life was over I came to realize there was yet another chapter. A chapter primarily devoted to strengthening and encouraging women across the globe. Funny, I knew I was pregnant with the vision but had no idea that my labor was about to start. This is the story of how my next life chapter was birthed.
I remember the day in March of 2011 as if it were yesterday.
An unscheduled visit to the audiologist.
I sat in the sound proof booth as we began the testing. After a few minutes had gone by I realize I am not hearing anything. Nothing. Can you imagine the thought of cheating on a test? Well, on this day I tried. I thought, if I stare at the audiologist then I can read her lips and watch her actions and know what to do. The funny thing is she noticed and put a piece of paper in front of her lips.
At that point, I began to cry. The tears would not stop as I realized that my hearing was all but gone in one ear. Unfortunately the other ear had already decided to check out a few years back.
My intellect was saying, “get it together.” My emotions? All over the place. OH GOD! How will I hear my family and friends? And my grandson is just starting to talk where I can just begin to understand him. Why me? I just don’t understand. This is not part of my plan!
The end result was me leaving the workforce. I worked so hard at my career rising to the ranks of bank executive.
BUT, what now? Is my life over? God, this wasn’t my plan? How will I survive? What is my purpose? And at that moment my pity party was quickly interrupted by the clear, sweet whispers of God’s Holy Spirit. Strengthen and Encourage! I couldn’t help but think I am in the middle of a crisis – not now! Pretty funny, huh? So many thoughts, fears and sermons flood my head but in the middle of all this muddled chatter I hear the voice of my sharp, witted three-year-old grandson. He puts all my feelings into simple words, “I can’t bewieve it! Are you kidding me?” I love that grandson of mine.
Calmness finally falls over me. “Can you hear ME?” I laughed inside. “You have never had an issue hearing MY voice, have you?” Believe it or not, I had to think about that one. Silly me.
Here we go again! The flood of tears now streaming down my face. And I hear, “That is all that matters. Take the messages accumulated from spending time in MY Word combined with your life experiences and write. Go Strengthen and Encourage!”
So, here I am. Profoundly deaf. But although I cannot hear as well as I would like to God’s plan for me has not changed and it is all good. I can still hear the still small voice inside of me loud and clear I might add. I can still read and think and laugh and love. I can feel and cry and do what I was designed to do - Strengthen and Encourage! Hence, the birth of my newfound love – Ezra 7:28. Simply put strengthening and encouraging primarily women across the globe.
I pray that everyone who comes across these writings will be strengthened and encouraged to climb that hill, tackle that goal, love like you have never loved before and live that life like there is no tomorrow. For tomorrow may change your life forever. Allow God to define who you are and not anything or anyone else. The road to heaven is what you make it and I have chosen to make it a quest to be and do my best each and every day. That’s about all I can do, right? (No pun intended!)
I remember the day in March of 2011 as if it were yesterday.
An unscheduled visit to the audiologist.
I sat in the sound proof booth as we began the testing. After a few minutes had gone by I realize I am not hearing anything. Nothing. Can you imagine the thought of cheating on a test? Well, on this day I tried. I thought, if I stare at the audiologist then I can read her lips and watch her actions and know what to do. The funny thing is she noticed and put a piece of paper in front of her lips.
At that point, I began to cry. The tears would not stop as I realized that my hearing was all but gone in one ear. Unfortunately the other ear had already decided to check out a few years back.
My intellect was saying, “get it together.” My emotions? All over the place. OH GOD! How will I hear my family and friends? And my grandson is just starting to talk where I can just begin to understand him. Why me? I just don’t understand. This is not part of my plan!
The end result was me leaving the workforce. I worked so hard at my career rising to the ranks of bank executive.
BUT, what now? Is my life over? God, this wasn’t my plan? How will I survive? What is my purpose? And at that moment my pity party was quickly interrupted by the clear, sweet whispers of God’s Holy Spirit. Strengthen and Encourage! I couldn’t help but think I am in the middle of a crisis – not now! Pretty funny, huh? So many thoughts, fears and sermons flood my head but in the middle of all this muddled chatter I hear the voice of my sharp, witted three-year-old grandson. He puts all my feelings into simple words, “I can’t bewieve it! Are you kidding me?” I love that grandson of mine.
Calmness finally falls over me. “Can you hear ME?” I laughed inside. “You have never had an issue hearing MY voice, have you?” Believe it or not, I had to think about that one. Silly me.
Here we go again! The flood of tears now streaming down my face. And I hear, “That is all that matters. Take the messages accumulated from spending time in MY Word combined with your life experiences and write. Go Strengthen and Encourage!”
So, here I am. Profoundly deaf. But although I cannot hear as well as I would like to God’s plan for me has not changed and it is all good. I can still hear the still small voice inside of me loud and clear I might add. I can still read and think and laugh and love. I can feel and cry and do what I was designed to do - Strengthen and Encourage! Hence, the birth of my newfound love – Ezra 7:28. Simply put strengthening and encouraging primarily women across the globe.
I pray that everyone who comes across these writings will be strengthened and encouraged to climb that hill, tackle that goal, love like you have never loved before and live that life like there is no tomorrow. For tomorrow may change your life forever. Allow God to define who you are and not anything or anyone else. The road to heaven is what you make it and I have chosen to make it a quest to be and do my best each and every day. That’s about all I can do, right? (No pun intended!)
...I was strengthened and encouraged, for the hand of the LORD my God was upon me... EZRA 7:28 AMP