Inspirational: Small Flame

Image by Andreas Lischka from Pixabay 

It starts off small 

A flame 

That the cold, wind and rain 

Can't extinguish 

Then it grows 

Questions follow: 

Can I be redeemed? 

Does Christ love me? 

Is faith enough? 

What is love? 

It can be kindled by prayer 

Maintained by hope 

Nourished by the pages of a Bible 

That are ever turning 

You lose some battles and win some 

But to believe 

Your growth is tied up in learning 

And yearning for the grace of God 

No matter how hard you fall 

He will pick you up 

The Holy Ghost will comfort you 

And Jesus will clean your wounds 

You are not alone 

You are not abandoned 

And most importantly you are not forgotten 

You are the sheep that the Shepard refused to leave behind 

Every hair on your head counted

Every need you have supplied 

You will have a friend in Jesus for the rest of your life 

So when the world resents you 

And casts you aside... 

Just know that you are aided by the King of Kings 

And you shall live and not die 

It starts off small 

A flame 

That the cold, wind and rain 

Can't extinguish 

Then it grows 

Love always, Esha 

Forgiving Yourself

The hardest thing to is forgive. You may forget times and places but you always remember how someone made you feel. There is no hurt more painful than losing the hope for positive interactions. When people make us feel bad we internalize that pain. And many take it out on themselves. By believing that they are deserving of poor treatment and wicked words.

Some connections are so broken that communication became improbable. Beyond arguing and yelling there is nothing of value that can be shared between enemies unready to bury the hatchet. How do you let go of the disappointment caused by a relationship gone sour? How do you my move forward with a friend that betrayed your trust? How do you hit pause on the grievances initiated by family gossip?

But at the core of it all, you have to remember that moving on is the best remedy for healing. If you hold on too long... It's possible that you may go down with a sinking ship that's filled to the brim with emotional disdain. Swimming in sadness is the answer for many of us. I have seen people drink the bottle dry. Pop pills till their higher than the afternoon sky. Sniff coke till their noses turn red and they get the sniffles.

Though it alleviates the sting of discomfort. But this does little to remedy the loss of trust. Drugs and alcohol are unable to address the ache in the heart of man. That's why I stopped smoking. I found myself at the end of the blunt and wondered quietly, Why don't I feel better? 

It's healthier to deal with life from a sober perspective because the world medicates emotional pain but that solves nothing. So cry your tears. Ask your questions? Read books, dance, sing and shout. Fall down, dust yourself off and figure it out. Because life ain't easy but giving up instead of overcoming distress is much harder. 

It is my long held belief that forgiveness starts one step at a time. But it truly takes effect when you forgive yourself. Because the things we endure have a way of intensifying the way we see ourselves for better or for worse. That's why it's best to view yourself the way Jesus does. Or at least try too. His love is never ending. He is loyal beyond the stretch of the imagination. He leaves the 99 to go after the lost sheep and rejoices when it's found. Because He cares for us more than we could ever conceive. So if you think about it, forgiveness is necessary in order to love and live a fuller, happier life. 

Love always, Esha 

P.S. Check out my podcast Hope Speaks for the new episode Rant on Relationships