Good Morning! It's good to be back! I've missed ya'll! I received the following story quite some time ago, but forgot about it until I was “cleaning” out my email box the other day and I realized that the reason I kept it was because I was supposed to keep it until I needed it - and this past week, I needed it!!!
One day I decided to quit.... I quit my job, my relationship, my
spirituality. . I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to
have one last talk with God."God", I said. "Can you give me one good
reason not to quit?" The answer surprised me..."Look around", He
said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?""Yes", I replied."When I
planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of
them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew
from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing
came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the
second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again,
nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the
bamboo". He said. "In the third year, there was still nothing from the
bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there
was nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. He said.
"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.
Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. But just
6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the
Five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it
needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it
could not handle."He said to me. "Did you know, my child, that all
this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing
roots. I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you.
Don't compare yourself to others."He said. "The bamboo had a
different purpose than the fern, yet, they both make the forest
beautiful." "Your time will come," God said to me. "You will rise
high!" "How high should I rise?" I asked."How high will the bamboo
rise?" He asked in return."As high as it can?" I questioned."Yes." He
said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."I left the forest
and brought back this story. I hope these words can help you see that
God will never give up on you........Never regret a day in your
life. Good days give you Happiness. Bad days give you Experiences. Both
are essential to life. Keep going...Happiness keeps you Sweet, Trials
keep you Strong, Sorrows keep you Human, Failures keep you
Humble, Success keeps You Glowing, But Only God keeps You
Going! Have a great day! The Son is shining!! God is so big He can cover
the whole world with His Love and so small He can curl up inside your
heart.

So, now I *KNOW* that all of the trials and tribulations of the past few weeks aren't trials and tribulations, they were opportunities for me to “grow my roots and rise as high as I can to give God the Glory!”

Now, it's time for our Meet and Greet! Shake a hand, give a hug!