Female in Motion

Photo courtesy of HolleyGerth.com I've said it before, Holley Gerth gets me. Actually, I'm just paranoid enough to think she might be having me followed. Besides being my favorite inspirational writer, Ms. Gerth shares openly about her struggles with infertility, depression, life. In late March, Holley published a blog post  called "7 Amazing Strengths of a Highly Sensitive Person." I have read and re-read this post many times. Each time, I gather new insights into why I am the way I am. While in therapy more than a decade ago, I learned that I am what is termed an "emotional albino," meaning I am particularly sensitive to others emotions, so much so that I can virtually feel what they are feeling. After 57 years on this planet, I've become more self-aware. My emotions no longer lead me around by the nose. When you are more tuned in to what your mind and body are doing, it helps. Above all, I have things to offer this world. My life has val...

Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV)   Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do , forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Sometimes, I just want to kick myself. I said or did the wrong thing; made a mistake; failed. After I pray for forgiveness--what's next? It's not just what you leave behind, it's what you reach for in the future. When you free yourself from old burdens, you are free of that weight. Next, you will be able to attain more, better, bigger blessings. Forget the past and reach for your good future. The prize is your eternal soul. Be encouraged, friend. *** Notable Quote: "Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently."--Henry Ford

Wabash Depot, Chillicothe, MO. My grandfather arrived home from WWII at this station. Psalm 68:5-6 (KJV) A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. God setteth the solitary in families:  The Hubster, my mother and I attended a family reunion in Missouri last weekend. It's a marvelous thing to be among those who know you best. They've seen me at my worst and best and love me still. When you become a Christ Follower, you are welcomed into the family of God. Believers are accountable to each other, and an encouragement. In my congregation, we call it "church family." We are supportive, in the good times and bad. People begin as believers in all sorts of conditions, with many types of family situations. When you accept Christ as your Savior, God becomes your Heavenly Father and members of your congregation become brothers and sisters in Christ. There is an old saying that you can't "pick your family," b...

1 Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV) Abstain from all appearance of evil.   One summer when I was around eight years old, my parents took our family on a two-week vacation to Yellowstone National Park. Once we entered the park, my dad told us that we needed to keep close to him and always stay on the trail, because there were wild animals like bear and moose living in the woods. While on a hike with my father and older sisters, I started to lag behind because I was little and had much shorter legs. A fallen tree across the trail was no problem for the others, but I had a tough time getting over it. I could see my dad and sisters getting farther and farther away, but I still couldn't manage to get over the log. "Help, Daddy!" I screamed. "A moose is gonna get me!" I have no idea why I was more afraid of a moose than a bear, but I needed my daddy's assistance. He made his way back, lifted me easily over the log, and dried my little-girl tears. "Don'...

     Since being diagnosed with breast cancer in February, I have received oodles of thoughtful cards, letters, emails and Facebook messages. Others have sent photos or meaningful songs. I wouldn't dream of throwing them out; every one of these items are precious to me. So I put them in a basket I found in a closet and whenever I'm feeling blue, I pull them out and re-read them. It is my Encouragement Basket.      It is interesting that almost all of the messages I received contain Holy Scripture. That's what made me think of writing down some of my favorites from The Word and tucking them in the basket, too. And a couple of Women of Faith videos, just for the fun of it. It doesn't have to be a basket, I bet there's an old shoebox around your house somewhere.      I don't know what kind of challenge you are facing today, but I do know we need you and you're making a difference in this world. There are people around you who ar...