Tag Archives: Faith

Aerobics and Hearing Aids

14 Dec

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

AEROBICS AND HEARING AIDS – reblog

I wrote this back in 2013, but enjoyed re-reading it.  I hope you do, as well:

 I have been an “exerciser” for many, many years of my life.  As a matter of fact, I began jogging more than three months before I shamed Fred into jogging with me. We’ve never stopped doing something in the way of exercise.

 So it came as no surprise to me to find an “aerobic dancing” class beginning shortly after we arrived in Heidelberg, West Germany.  One of the military wives was teaching the class.  I took the class and loved it!  The interest was so great that she wanted to have a partner to help teach – and she selected me.  I taught the remainder of the three years we were in Heidelberg.   This was our logo and color.

During that time, there was one lady in my class who always stood in the front row and to my right (I was facing away from the students).  As we conversed, I thought she had a speech impediment.  After we got to know each other a bit better, she told me that she had been born with some hearing loss.  She wasn’t totally deaf, but enough so that she couldn’t hear the way most words were sounded.  That explained her speech.  But she had hearing aids that helped her so much, and she could understand all the cues I shouted out in the class.

As interesting as all that is – to me anyway – that’s not the end of the story.  We returned stateside and began our life in Virginia.  Our oldest daughter had met her future husband while in high school in Heidelberg (his father was our American pastor), and he had returned to the States to attend college – where she was attending, of course.  They married a few years later.

One evening, around Thanksgiving time, I received a call from our son-in-law, saying that, on their way to see his parents in South Carolina, our daughter had fallen asleep at the wheel and they had crashed.  I was furious that he would only say that she was “in with the doctor” and wouldn’t give me any more details – like…..is she still alive???!!!

I asked if he wanted us to come and take them back home (they were only about an hour from their apartment).  He agreed.  He then said, “wait, here is the paramedic who will give you directions to the hospital.”  This young man came on the phone and gave me the directions – with the very same intonation that my aerobic student had!!  I knew at once that he had hearing loss, and not a speech impediment.  And, by God’s grace, I was able to understand every word he said – the first time!  No repeats.  God had prepared me, all those years ago, for that very moment, when I would need my wits about me, and to understand this young man’s instructions.

I could end the story there – that is the main thrust of it – but I want to tell you of God’s gracious hand in all this.  You see, when our daughter fell asleep, the car drifted, and our son-in-law looked up and screamed, which woke her, and she drastically over-corrected.  That caused the car to roll several times.  Amazingly, there were no other cars around them – just down the road a bit – no other cars involved in the crash.  There was an off-duty ambulance behind them that stopped, and the paramedics gave aid.  They could have rolled off a bridge and crashed onto the road below them – but they didn’t – they just rolled to a stop on an embankment.  While the car was totaled, our children only suffered a few cuts and bruises.

Our God is loving and faithful and gracious, indeed.

O Lord, you will keep us safe and protect us…

Psalm 12:7

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possib

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God of All Comfort

25 Nov

Reblog from Rebekah Lyn’s Kitchen

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.
2 Corinthians 1:3

The complete verse reads: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can offer comfort to those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

When I was writing Summer Storms, I searched the Bible for a verse I could use in a particular scene. I was using my grandmother’s Bible and found she had underlined this passage. I wondered when she had taken note and found comfort in those words. What had she been going through? Was she thinking of someone else needing comfort and finding her marching orders to reach out to them through these words?

Millions of people are hurting and in need of comfort. This past week, my family has faced serious health issues; a dear friend had a biopsy done; and two funerals for tragic deaths took place just days apart. I wonder how anyone can survive without God’s comfort. He offers it freely to those who seek Him, yet many resist.

By resisting God’s comfort, though, not only are we hurting ourselves, we are robbing others of receiving comfort through us in their own times of need. How can we offer something we have not received ourselves?

When my grandmother died, I heard the words of comfort offered by friends and family as mere platitudes. I was consumed by my grief and angry at God for taking her from us. I wasn’t capable of accepting the comfort being offered. Now, when I attend a funeral, I want to be the one offering comfort without sounding like a cliché of platitudes. It’s a challenge. We all feel grief differently. Those words that couldn’t get through to me, may be the exact words someone else longs to hear.

Only God knows how to reach us in our times of trouble. He knows exactly what we need to hear. Comfort also comes in action rather than words. A neighbor mowing the yard when someone is sick; a church group arranging meals following a surgery; a good friend sending a card or DoorDashing a box of donuts.

We will face struggles and heartaches until the day we die, but take heart, God has overcome the world. He is waiting to offer His comfort so you may pass it along to the next person in need. Open your heart and receive His comfort today.

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Discipline

16 Nov

Reblog

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

I wrote this back in 2013, but it seems fitting to post it again.  It never goes out of style!

As I’ve mentioned in previous musings, I’ve been going through stacks and stacks of papers and pictures that we have accumulated.  I’ve found a number of cartoons that my Mother had cut out – probably the newspaper – and sent them to me.  And I’ve used some of them in my Old Things R New postings.

Today, however, I would like to share something that we found in my Mother’s Bible following her death.

She was always a hard worker, whether it was at the job where she was paid (she was an accountant, and worked at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque to supplement Daddy’s paycheck, to purchase things that we might not have been able to have otherwise), or when she purchased and opened the Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio, or when she was cleaning the house, cooking our meals, doing the laundry….  She was a hard worker.

I think the only time I ever saw her sit down and “rest” was after dinner and clean-up from that, to watch a little TV.  One of her enjoyments – especially in her later years – was to sit down after breakfast, with a cup of her favorite coffee, and peruse the newspaper.  She would read it from cover to cover.

But this little snippet of information is a real insight into her life.  I think it was a testimony to the way she lived her life, and the way she saw life.  It certainly makes one take notice about the wisdom of the words.

What do you think?

Her favorite scripture was Psalm 118:24

This is the day the Lord has made;

We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Recovery-Part 6

2 Nov

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

As time wore on, and Fred became more active, I decided it would be good for both of us to take him “out” of the facility for lunch.  I had to plan it each day ahead, as the kitchen sent out a menu for the next day’s meals.  It meant getting him in the car, then collapsing the wheelchair and putting it in the trunk of the car, then reverse it when we returned.  But it was totally worth it.  He did so enjoy getting out.

One day as Fred and I returned from a lunch out, I saw a pair of sandhill cranes by the front door of the facility.  Amazing!  I sent these pictures to our family and friends, and one friend asked, “did you ask permission to enter??”  I mentioned the cranes to a couple we see frequently, and he said they’ve been hanging around for the three years that couple had been there.  Wow!

Now let me tell you about some of the residents I’ve really interacted with:

The Hat Lady…I noticed her right away, as she is always wearing a hat – at first it was a crochet hat.  That caught my attention, and I asked her if she had crocheted it herself.  She grinned and said no, but I complimented her anyway.  Then it got to when I was to walking down the hall and seeing her, would say “there’s my favorite hat lady!”  She would grin at me.  And as the weather became warmer, she started wearing other hats, usually one with a brim that looks like a leopard skin.  One day I said, “I’ve been calling you Hat Lady, but I don’t know your name.”  She looked up at me and said “Virine” (she pronounced it Vi – REEN).  So I alternate between Hat Lady and Virine.  She must come from the islands, because she loves to sit outside even in Florida’s hot summer sun – wearing that brimmed hat and a sweater over her dress.

There are two or three ladies who are permanently in wheel chairs, residents, who take the time to brush their hair and put on makeup each day.  I admire them.  They are quite friendly, and we have struck up quite a few conversations with them.  Two are roommates and are best buddies.  One, Diane, has been there 10 years, following the death of her husband.  She shared with me that when he began to get into dementia, they went looking for a facility for him, as she couldn’t care for him.  At the one where he eventually stayed, as they were leaving, he said, “Di, I really like this place.  Can I stay?”  She said she knew they were at the right place.  As for her… as she said…this is home. 

And then there is a lady – one who makes up herself each day – who I am convinced wears a wig, because her hair is long and quite black, and she wears a turban-like head covering each day.  It took me over a month to get her to smile back at me, but now she does.  One funny incident with her…I was walking past her room one day, when she was in bed and I heard her call “purple….purple….I need to blow my nose!!”  I had to laugh at that one – calling a CNA to blow her nose – because I’ve seen her up and walking!

Carol is there for her husband, who is a resident.  He is unable to walk, always in a wheelchair.  She is there daily, and reads to him.  He must wear a head-set, and she speaks through a microphone so he can hear her.  

~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Cooking Collard Greens: A Family Tradition

24 Oct

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Since October first, life has been a little crazy here in the mountains. Hubby was scheduled for a simple procedure that turned out to be not so simple, leading to tests, more doctor visits and complete but temporary diet changes.

At one point he was only having clear liquids such as jello, broth and clear beverages. I have to confess that the days of clear liquids were a mini no cooking vacation for me.

Eventually, the clear liquids worked and he is on the mend.

What I really want to write about today is collard greens. I have wonderful memories of cleaning and preparing collards with my mom and I look forward each fall to going to the produce market to choose a couple of bunches.

According to my mom, the secret of tasty collard greens is they must be harvested after the first frost, or at least once the temperatures drop into the lower 40s.

This week, the temperatures dropped and on one of our fun road trips for doctor visits, we stopped and shopped. I bought two double, lovely bunches.

My mom taught me to cut the bottom stems off, then run a knife along the leaf stems to remove them. I prefer to do this messy job on the porch but the day was too cold for sitting outside. The weather forecast for the following day was warmer and i stored them in the refrigerator.

On Collard day I gathered up knives and the necessary paraphernalia and set up on the porch.

The first two bundles went by quickly. As I began the third bundle, I began to think I may have bought too many. By the time I finished the final bundle I was sure I had bought too many.

I put 2 bunches of collards in the kitchen sink and began swirling them in the water. Fortunately they had a scant amount of dirt and only required one wash.

I have the large pot my mom used to cook collards in and I was able to fit all of the washed ones into the pot.

Then the nightmare began. I like my collards to be tender and these collards would not cooperate. I think I cooked them for three hours.

Then I had to chop them up.

I use a Rada hand chopper. It does a good job. I love all of the Rada products.

Photo credit Rada website.

Finally that batch was finished and put into the fridge. I washed the second batch and that was as far as I got. I left them out to drain the water off them and went to bed.

The next day I decided there had to be a better way than my mom did it.

I asked Grok if collards could be cooked in an electric pressure cooker. Grok said yes and even gave me cooking instructions. Using the pressure cooker was so much easier.

The cooked collards are now sitting in my fridge and in the morning I will divide them up for the freezer.

I should have enough collards to last until next fall.

I'm a winner

After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience.  Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites,  Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix

In addition to blogging, I’m a general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  

My 2025 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.

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Recovery-Part 4

19 Oct

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

I previously mentioned Cindy and the bird feeders.  As we walked the corridors of the facility, we came to some offices – Chief of Nursing, Deputy Chief of Nursing, Medical Records, copy room, beauty shop, etc.  At the end of one of those areas was one wall completely made up of large glass squares.  There was a chair and a small love seat located there.  Outside those windows were three bird feeders.  Most of the birds we saw were mourning doves.  But occasionally we would see a red-winged black bird, and once we saw a pair of sandhill cranes.  And several times a squirrel.  Cindy was the one who took a bucket of bird seed out and filled those feeders.  We were not the only patients/residents there who liked to sit and look out the windows and watch the birds.  It was a lovely addition to the facility.

When we first arrived at Solaris, it was April and the weather was wonderful.  There was a “courtyard” just outside our wing of the facility – covered – with park benches where we could sit and enjoy the weather, sunshine, and cold water to drink (they furnished a water cooler).  As the time wore on and the Florida weather became hot and humid, they discouraged us from going outside without a hat, etc.  They also restricted the time we could go out to before 10:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m.  I learned that some of the residents were from “the islands” and were accustomed to hot humid weather and enjoyed being outside.  But the facility had a strict policy about it, not wanting anyone to suffer heat stroke.

I knew that Fred needed doctors appointments, but didn’t exactly know how to go about it.  Then Rufina (nurse – blue scrubs) came and asked if I wanted to make the appointments.  I told her I thought it would carry more weight if she did the calling….which she did.  Not only that, but she also arranged for the transport from the facility to the doctors office and back.  Yes, I had to pay for that, but it was minimal.  She did that several times during Fred’s stay at Solaris.  I once told her she was my “go-to person” and she grinned.  One day I stopped at her office door and told her how much I appreciated her and all she was doing for us in particular, and the facility in general.  She sat back and said, “no one has ever told me that before.”  I told her that she needed to be reminded of it often.

In a facility like Solaris, which is actually “home” to the residents, I found there are activities every day for those who can and want to attend.  I have been most impressed with the Activities Director, Rebecca.  Her office is filled with stuff for each holiday, as well as other notable days.  I’ve hardly ever seen her sit down, unless it was at her desk, working on the next project.  She told me once that she is Vegan, and when they had a “cookout” she nearly gagged at the smell of the cooking meat!  I had to laugh.  She is tireless.

I also can’t say enough good things about the therapists at this facility.  There was a change in his physical therapist several times, but all have been so good, and worked with Fred tirelessly.  At one of the group “meetings” about Fred, I found that all three therapists – PT, OT, and speech – report to the Therapy Director, Paul.  Paul takes the reports from each of these therapists and make recommendations to Medicare about whether or not Fred should stay any longer for more therapy.  His was the recommendation that Fred stay another month or two for therapy, which we were able to do.  He is a big-hearted man who is good at his job                                                                                                                  

~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Recovery-Part 3

12 Oct

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Another “first” person we met was Daniel, one of the two Social Services people at Solaris.  He and Melissa were the two there, and I found out that Melissa was actually Fred’s Case Manager, rather than Daniel.  However, both were extremely helpful in any and all areas of our stay there in any situation.  Melissa was the one who arranged for the wheelchair and other helpful medical equipment from Medicare for us.  At the first meeting about Fred and all the therapists there, Daniel was the one who conducted the meeting.  We were also able to phone conference with our two daughters, which was good.  They both had questions to ask the staff.

There was one other meeting about Fred, shortly before he was discharged, and Daniel was unavailable to monitor, so Cindy stepped in.  I’m not sure I ever knew her title, but she was part of the office staff, with an office in that part of the building.  She is also a nurse – she wore the blue scrubs.  She also was the one who kept the bird feeders filled.  More on that later.  Delightful lady.

I often spoke with another staff/office person, La Tonjua, who is a delight.  She’s the Admissions Director for this particular facility.  She is one of the most elegant women I have ever met, and yet is friendly with any and all who are there.  She has befriended Fred and me, and stops to talk whenever were are walking the halls.  I believe her husband is retired military (that make a good connection with us) as well as a former police officer. She is a joy to know.

There were several people who served as receptionists at this facility, but Adam is the one who stands out in my mind.  He is always gracious, greets me every morning by name, and directs me to the right person to talk to in the office setting.  There are two other young ladies who sit in that chair, but Adam stands out

I simply MUST insert a funny happening here.  Some of my readers know us personally, and know that when Fred sneezes….it’s a freight train!!  Well, one day, when we were taking him “out” of the facility, we were in the lobby – and Fred sneezed!  And that sneeze reverberated around that lobby for a few seconds. One of the ladies was on reception duty that day, and I asked her if she had “jumped” at that sound…and she had!  I told her not to worry – it was just Fred sneezing.  As it turned out, when we returned from the outing, again in the lobby…Fred sneezed again!  I looked at the receptionist (same lady) and we grinned at each other.  Daniel’s office door was open, so I stuck my head in and asked if he was okay.  He had his hand to his heart and said, “what was that??!!”  Again…just Fred sneezing.  He told us later in the day that EVERYone in the staff offices heard the sneeze and jumped!  Fred had made his mark!  I still get a giggle every time I think about it!

~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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The Cruise of a Lifetime-Part 14

14 Sep

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Reblog

Since we had sailed overnight to Budapest, and had an early shore excursion, we were up by 5:30 a.m.  We had breakfast at 7:00 a.m. with Richard, Judy, Lucy, Roy and Jill, Joyce, Rick and Mary.

By 8:30 a.m. we left on the shore excursion for Budapest.  Some “Fast Facts about Hungary” from the ship’s info sheet:

Home to over a million people, Budapest spans both sides of the Danube River – historic Buda on the east bank and cosmopolitan Pest (pronounced “Pesht”) on the west.  Brimming with history, culture and attractions, Budapest is full of baroque, neoclassical and Art Nouveau architecture, and plenty to do.  Museums, shopping and restaurants are the places to be.

The bus took us around the town, then stopped at the square where we went on to the castle.

Funicular

Back to the ship by bus, we had lunch, then to our new room on the Lif, for a nap.

At 2:15 p.m., we had a “Budapest by Boat” tour, with our Program Director, Carl West giving the commentary.  

Carl West – Program Director 

We went by the Parliament Building, which is the most famous picture shown in the Viking advertisements – red-topped building.  Really beautiful.

We were back on the ship by 3:30 p.m., where we rested/napped and read some – quiet time for us.

We had our final/farewell dinner at 7:00 p.m. with Richard, Judy and Lucy.  While it was a fun time, we had our last hugs and “wish we lived closer to you” from each of us.  While I know it was a very concentrated two weeks with them, we all feel we forged a deep and lasting friendship, that will only continue when we all get to heaven.

Since tomorrow would be a REALLY early day (we asked for a 2:15 a.m. wake-up call, with a 3:30 a.m. bus departure time into Budapest), we showered that night, and were in bed by 8:30 p.m.

The Whale 

According to Google search:  That’s the “Bálna / Whale” (formerly called CET building) a modern shopping, cultural, and entertainment centre, as well as a tourist attraction on par with Paris’s Eiffel Tower, or the Covent Garden in London – at least that’s what the city leaders want it to be.

According to Google search:  The Shoes on the Danube is a memorial to the Budapest Jews who were shot by Arrow Cross militiamen between 1944 and 1945. The victims were lined up and shot into the Danube River. They had to take their shoes off, since shoes were valuable belongings at the time.

The memorial was created by Gyula Pauer, Hungarian sculptor, and his friend Can Togay in 2005. It contains 60 pairs of iron shoes, forming a row along the Danube. Each pair of shoes was modeled after an original 1940’s pair. 

~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~~

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Labor Day

1 Sep

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Monday-Labor Day

September 1, 2025

God will meet

All your needs

According to His

Glorious riches

In Christ Jesus.

Phil.4:19

We are God’s 

Workmanship, created

In Christ Jesus to do good works, 

which God prepared in advance 

For us to do.

Eph. 2:10

Rejoice

In the 

Lord always

I will say it again:

Rejoice

Phil. 4:4

God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help

In trouble.

Ps. 46:1

DiVoran has been writing for most of her life. Her first attempt at a story was when she was seven years old and her mother got a new typewriter. DiVoran got to use it and when her dad saw her writing he asked what she was writing about. DiVoran answered that she was writing the story of her life. Her dad’s only comment was, “Well, it’s going to be a very short story.” After most of a lifetime of writing and helping other writers, DiVoran finally launched her own dream which was to write a novel of her own. She now has her Florida Springs trilogy and her novel, a Christian Western Romance, Go West available on Amazon. When speaking about her road to publication, she gives thanks to the Lord for all the people who helped her grow and learn.  She says, “I could never have done it by myself, but when I got going everything fell beautifully into place, and I was glad I had started on my dream.”

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The 15-Second Rule That Changed My Life: How to Let Go of Guilt and Live Free in God’s Grace.

31 Aug

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Reblogged from Janet Perez Eckels

Let me tell you what happened the other evening.

People are often surprised when I mention that I cook. Yes, I’m blind—and yes, blind people do cook. In fact, we do it quite economically. When no one else is home, there’s no need to turn on the lights. Imagine the electricity we save!

Last night, while my sweet husband was telling me about his day, I was peeling some carrots. In my hurry, I placed one too close to the edge of the counter, and sure enough, it rolled onto the floor.

Without hesitation, he jumped up and said, “I’ll get it.”

As he handed it to me, he added, “Here. Got it before 15 seconds.”

“Fifteen seconds?” I asked.

“Yep. If you pick something up within 15 seconds, no harm done. Learned that as a kid.”

I smiled. But then I paused. The more I thought about that quirky little rule, the more profound it became.

A Deeper Application

Sure, the floor is still the floor—whether something’s there for one second or fifteen, it still needs cleaning. But there was a lesson buried in that moment.

I started wondering… What if I applied that 15-second rule to my inner life?

How often do we let something negative fall into our spirit and just leave it there? How long does it sit before we even realize the damage it’s doing?

I’m talking about guilt.

Anybody know what I mean?

When Guilt Lingers Too Long

That sneaky emotion creeps in when you’re most vulnerable. Guilt slithers through your thoughts like a snake—slow and quiet—but poisonous all the same.

It shows up in moments of discouragement. And then it speaks:

“If you hadn’t done that, this wouldn’t be happening.”

“What were you thinking?”

“You’re not doing enough.”

For me, it’s thoughts like: “You should spend more time reading God’s Word, encouraging others, creating more leads, writing more…”

That guilt starts stacking up like clutter in a room, and before you know it, it’s stealing your peace and silencing your confidence.

But not anymore.

I’m Applying the 15-Second Rule

I made a decision: guilt doesn’t get to linger.

If something falls into my heart that doesn’t belong there—regret, shame, self-doubt—I have fifteen seconds to pick it up and toss it out before it spreads discouragement and sadness.

Why? Because guilt trips cost. 

And the currency is joy, peace, and a clear mind to serve God.

Here’s the Truth: God Already Forgave You

If you’re like me and you’ve got a list of past failures, here’s what you do:

  • Ask for forgiveness.
  • Believe—truly believe—that God forgives a repentant heart.
  • And then… move on.

If you’re dealing with something right now that’s making you feel guilty, address it. Correct it. Then move forward. Not because you’re perfect, but because He is.

Dr. Charles Stanley once wrote in his devotional: “Remember we are forgiven. If we confess our sins, He forgives. First John 1:9 promises us the process is that simple… The Enemy stimulates false guilt… Make a declaration: ‘In the name of Jesus Christ, I reject these feelings of guilt. They have absolutely no scriptural basis. They are false, and I refuse to acknowledge them.’”

The moment you do, the weight lifts. The lies lose their power. And your heart begins to breathe again.

Jesus Came to Give Us Freedom

He said it Himself: “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture… I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:9-10)

Life to the full. Not half-empty with guilt. Not dimmed by shame. Not heavy with regret.

That’s the promise—and the freedom—we get when we walk through His gate. A fresh start. A clean heart. Like a morning breeze, reassurance fills the soul.

Let’s Pray

Father, thank you for the freedom we find in You—liberated from destructive emotions and replaced by the peace and reassurance You give me—a beautiful gift wrapped in Your love.

What guilt are you still holding onto that God has already forgiven—and what would your life look like if you let it go… in the next fifteen seconds?

Janet Eckles Perez

Some say she should be the last person to be dancing. Her life is summarized in this 3-minute video: http://bit.ly/1a8wGJR

Janet Perez Eckles’ story of triumph is marked by her work as an international speaker, #1 best-selling author, radio host, personal success coach and master interpreter. Although blind since 31, her passion is to help you see the best of life.

www.janetperezeckles.com

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