She Needed a Hero So She Became One

A dear friend who is going through some really tough times sent me a private message after I had said to her “You are your own hero -- you + God = courageous and strong, mighty woman of God!” She replied: Is that ok, to be your own hero?” The following helps explain my response to her:.

If ever we needed our sisterhood, we need it today. To have friends that encourage us, cry with us, rejoice with us and pray for us is worth more than silver and gold. I do that a lot on Facebook. When I see friends’ photos of their child’s wedding, I rejoice with them. I celebrate with my friends when they celebrate the accomplishments of their family – the school wins, graduations, awards, baby births, and anniversaries. I also love it when friends are bold enough to ask for prayer.

This photo says “She Needed a Hero, So She Became One!” I’m so proud of my friends and those women I don’t know, who aspire to be strong, resilient, determined, tenacious women and who say “I can do this. I can survive this. I am an overcomer. I am powerful – not because of my own abilities and my own self-talk – but I am powerful because the Greater One lives in me. (1 John 4:4) I am more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:37) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)”

I learned very quickly, after I became a widow, that I had a choice to make. I could whine and I could wallow in self-pity because I didn’t have my hero to lean on or give me advice on important decisions, or to repair something around the house. I could have thought “I need a hero to see after me!” If I stayed in that mindset, I would have never realized all I could do on my own. Now I know I am a woman of wisdom. I daily purpose to be powerful, passionate, positive, and, above all – peaceful. Rarely do I call out for help from anyone, but I also know my limitations. So when my daughter asked what I’d like for my birthday and since they live nearby, I was quick to say “Coupons for around-the-house jobs” (see photo). And, that's what they gave me. Yay!! I'll definitely use those coupons!

Honestly, there are times I think about how awesome it would be to have a hero again who I could go to for support and who would give me that extra hug, soothe my troubled soul, and boost me up with encouragement and compliments. But, I know I have God Who is more than enough. He is faithful to me. "Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation." Psalm 68:5. He lifts me up with His love. I may be alone, but I’m not lonely. He is for me and encourages me daily with His Word.

Still, there are times when it's up to ME to set me free. It's up to me to apply the band-aids to my body and my spirit. It's up to me to change the channel of "pitiful me" to "powerful me". It's up to me to do what King David did. "When King David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." 1 Samuel 30:6

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother or mother or friend and it’s ME. I never leave me. I never forsake me. I don’t EVER let me beat ME up and I don't let me pity me. I put on my armor, pick up my sword and raise it high. I have come to realize I am my own HERO. Yes…..there are times when we need a HERO......and that's when it's up to us to BECOME ONE

She Needed a Hero So She Became One

The recent indiscretions of high profile men has been the topic of conversation lately. The good news is that women are “coming out of the closet” to reveal their stories that were hidden for years, for fear of loss of job or other consequences. They are stepping up to, hopefully, help other women stand up for making wrongs right. This post isn’t to express my opinion “on the news”, but it is to speak out on behalf of “sisterhood”.

Sisters, if ever we need our sisterhood, we need it today. To have friends that encourage us, cry with us, rejoice with us and pray for us is worth more than silver and gold. I do that a lot on Facebook. When I see friends’ photos of their child’s wedding, I rejoice with them. I celebrate with my friends when they celebrate the accomplishments of their family – the school wins, the graduations, the awards, birth of babies, and I also love it when friends are bold enough to ask for prayer. then I pray with them.

This photo says “She Needed a Hero, So She Became One!” I’m so proud of my friends, and even those women I don’t know, who aspire to being strong, resilient, determined, tenacious women and who say “I can do this. I can survive this. I am an overcomer. I am powerful – not because of my own abilities and my own self-talk – but I am powerful because the Greater One lives in me. (1 John 4:4) I am more than a conqueror.(Romans 8:37) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)”

I learned very quickly, after I became a widow, that I had a choice to make. I could whine and I could wallow in self-pity because I didn’t have MY HERO to lean on or give me advice on important decisions, or to repair something around the house. I could have thought “I need a HERO to see after me!” If I stayed in that mindset, I would have never realized all I could accomplish, on my own. Now I know I am a wonder woman with wisdom and I will be powerful, passionate, positive, and, above all – peaceful. Rarely do I call out for help from anyone, but I also know my limitations. For example, I needed help pulling down that heavy, high attic door in my garage to bring down my Christmas decorations. I knew I needed some “man-power” to lift those heavy boxes and bring them down for me. Fortunately, both of my sons and grandson were my heroes on the day after Thanksgiving.

Honestly, there really are times I think about how awesome it would be to have a HERO again, like I once did, who I could go to for support and who would give me that extra hug, soothe my troubled soul, and boost me up with encouragement and compliments. But, I know I have God Who is more than enough. He is faithful to me. "Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation." Psalm 68:5. He lifts me up with His love. I may be alone, but I’m not lonely. He is for me and encourages me daily with His Word

Still, there are times when, it's up to ME to set ME free. It's up to me to apply the band-aids to my body and my spirit. It's up to me to change the channel of "pitiful me" to "powerful me". It's up to me to do what King David did. "When King David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, David ENCOURAGED himself n the LORD his God." 1 Samuel 30:6

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother or mother or FRIEND and it’s ME. I never leave me. I never forsake me. I don’t EVER let ME beat ME up and I don't let me pity me. I put on my armor, pick up my sword and raise it high. I have come to realize I am my own HERO.

Yes…..there are times when we need a HERO......and that's when it's up to us to BECOME ONE! Excuse me, I most end this post, because I need to get my 6' ladder out to repair my garage door opener!

What Are the Voices in Your Head Saying?

Day 284 of Photo Inspirations -- What Are the Voices in Your Head Saying?
We've all got them.  Little, and sometime BIG voices, talking to us in our heads.  They're either saying "You've got this! You're courageous! You're strong! You're a winner!" Or they're saying "Forget it.  Give up!  You're too weak. You're afraid. You hurt too much.   You can't do this!"  And then we either take the positive words we hear and react in a "CAN DO" way, or we listen to the negative words and retreat, give up and throw in the towel.

A dear friend posted the following yesterday. It resonated with me.  It spoke volumes about NEVER GIVING UP -- thus my photo inspiration for this day!

"It must be my week for the power of our words! Two days ago as my Junior High team and I ran a distance run, one of my runners was struggling, and out of breath, he uttered, "Coach Wolf, I can't run anymore!  It hurts!" To which I replied, "No, those are the wrong words!  Repeat after me - 'I am strong!'" and he echoed, "I am strong." And again - "I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me!" "I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me!" And we kept this up until we finally reached the end of our training period - speaking life over ourselves. Then yesterday in the 2-mile time trial, he ran very well!    After congratulating him, he said with a huge smile, "I said the words over and over in my head - 'I am strong, I am courageous, I can do this' - and I did!"

How many times do we hear the voice of defeat, frustration, or that we're not valuable?   It's time to stop listening to the negative voices, and start speaking life into our circumstances, into our family and into us!"

Now....Coach Holy Spirit is saying to us today....."Repeat after me.....'I am strong, I am courageous, I can do this!"

I Can Do This --- Meet You At The Top

Day 15 of Photo Inspirations:
What could be more exhilarating than being pulled up over 75 feet in the air with just a cord holding you up, and then DROPPED?  Answer:  Being pulled up over 75 feet in the air and dropped with your granddaughter by your side.

Okay, I was the most mature one to tackle the high ropes courses, the tandem zipline, and the low ropes courses, and my granddaugther, Alexia, was the youngest.  We were quite the pair!   But we didn't hesitate to take our turn.  It's all about the adrenaline rush, the I-CAN-DO-THIS attitude, no-fear-allowed attitude, and living-out-loud attitude.  Sure, there could be reasons to step back and let all the kids go first, or go not-at-all.  After all, I'm in the "Senior -- above 60 category".  Don't want to take a chance with a little old lady.  After all, I shouldn't take risks with my body or health.  After all, it requires stepping out of my comfort zone.  After all, someone my age should be just watching the fun.  NOT!!!!

I'm here to tell you -- you are talking about the wrong Mama if you're thinking any of that.  I am a faith-filled, big thinking, bet-the-farm risk taker, and I will not give up until I'm taken up.  Expect to see me running with the wind.  I guess you can tell I’m a little on a rampage about growing older and what that means.  I’m not dead so I’m not done.  

Here's the big deal -- the enemy makes us think we’re obsolete when we get to a certain age.  We don’t age out.  We are just on our way home.    Purpose keeps us young.  And my purpose is to be an example of faith, joy, hope and great expectation.  Most of all I want to figure out how to help more people!  I will not be getting into a rocking chair anytime soon.  How about you?  If you're still here -- whether your 20 or 90 -- you're not done.  We're still young.....and we can do anything we set our mind and heart to do -- to the best of our ability!

I'll meet you at the top of the tower -- let's let it roll together!