Posts Tagged Stacey Hawkins Adams

Be Encouraged & Endure


Over the past two weeks several friends that I hold dear have lost loved ones to the coronavirus. My heart goes out to Helena, Robert, Pam, Gwen and Teresa. And also to other friends whose relatives are fighting to recover or to live.

While I pray for them and the millions who are suffering in some way due to this virus, I also pray for those of us whose impact has thus far been limited to having to shelter in place and sacrifice our norm. For let’s be real: This right here isn’t normal.

There’s the surrealness of it all. In may ways, it feels like we’re living out a sci-fi movie.

There’s the surrender required during it all. This is when the best place to be is at the center of the storm, wrapped in the Almighty’s embrace, due to what we can’t control.

And certainly, there’s the shifting of it all. Those of us who survive will come out of this indefinite period of disruption changed, no matter what.

If we’re intentional, perhaps this era will leave us wiser, more gracious, more authentically ourselves and more focused, connected and settled – ready to live our purpose or lean into discovering the next phase of our life’s unique calling. And many will be like my friends – forever touched by the losses this difficult season has wrought, fighting to forge ahead.

Wherever you land on this spectrum, be gentle with yourself, yet determined not to let this time of shutdown be a blur.

This doesn’t mean you must write that book, build a new business or “boss up” in some other way, although if you’re up to it, you can. What this season does offer is a chance to do the deep work to polish the gem your life already is.

Be courageous and love more deeply – yourself first, so you can truly love your neighbor.Look within and be real about the state of your soul. If you’re good, remain steady and firm and pour out from that full well. If you’re shaky, use this time to brutally self-examine, forgive yourself and others, and do whatever else it takes to transform into a person you’re proud of and gracious toward. We all have room to grow.

Challenge yourself to avoid self-numbing to the point of missing the lessons you’re meant to learn or the blessing you’re meant to be to others.
Be okay with everything not being okay. And even so, still find a way to live, love and laugh your way through as much of this as you can.

That’s what the doctor’s and nurses on the front lines are doing with the dances and songs they’re flooding social media with, between their calls to loved ones of dying patients.That’s what so-called “ordinary” people around this nation and globe are doing as they find time to help a neighbor or stranger, or celebrate someone’s birthday while social distancing or make an extra phone call to say hello, or share a meal or buy someone’s groceries. That’s what every essential worker is doing every time he or she leaves home to do a job that could be putting him or her at risk; and every teleworker who is pouring into others online, via email and on calls, keeping systems in place and processes moving forward.

I heard on the news (which I watch sparingly) today that social distancing and sheltering in place is slowly but surely making an impact. Certainly, we’re not out of harm’s way. There are more waves of valley moments seemingly ahead. But what this proves is that the one thing we CAN control during this time is our choices.

Choose to continue being a ripple in the proverbial ocean. Your sacrifices and prayers, virtual hugs and words of encouragement, dollars and donations, and other acts of kindness, are making a difference.


For those who are grieving, we grieve with you.For those who have something to celebrate (birthdays, anniversaries, new babies, end of cancer treatments) we celebrate with you.For those who are struggling, we see you and are helping however we can. If you feel unseen or unheard, don’t go it alone. Reach out to a friend or relative or even a stranger; for right now, we’re all family.

For those who took time to read all of this, please receive my virtual hug and smile. Know that I am praying for you, and for our world.

Also hug yourself and think about things that make you smile. Cry if you must; curse if that helps. Then, rise up and resolve to push through. Let your faith edge out the fear, and conquer the battle for your mind and your sense of hope.

Embrace this sober wisdom that my late mother shared with me in our last conversation in 2005: “Sometimes you have to lose to gain.”
We don’t know when, we don’t know how, but If we’ll endure through this night, morning will come, beauty will replace ashes, and hope and healthiness will reign through the land once again.

~ Stacy Hawkins Adams©

Author: Stacy Hawkins Adams
Through her fiction and nonfiction, author, journalist and writing coach Stacy Hawkins Adams inspires readers (and budding writers) to find meaning in their own stories, grow from life’s lessons and thrive. Like this post? Please leave a comment, then share it with others. Also visit Stacy at StacyHawkinsAdams.com to sign up for her newsletter, and friend/follow her on Instagram @StacyInspires, Twitter @StacyInspires and Facebook @StacyInspires. Learn more about her coaching services at AuthorInYou.com. View all posts by Stacy Hawkins Adams

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“Let’s Get Started: Take the Time to Pray and Write Your Goals”- Part I by Linda Fegins

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” ~ Corrie Ten Boom

“I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the mark (goal) for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. Philippians 3:13-14

Can you believe it’s almost March 1, 2011. When we were moving toward the New Year we heard a lot of talk, read articles and read notes and comments on Facebook about taking the time to write your goals for the New Year. See Fabulous PR coach Pam Perry’s article on the purpose of goals in this blog. https://ladyofprayer.com/?p=284 . Christian author Stacey Hawkins Adams spoke of writing about her goals for the 2011 New Year. She insightfully posted on Facebook, “I spent a few hours last night mapping out goals for the New Year, and I’m excited about challenging myself in several areas. Yet, while I plan, I know my future rests with the One who holds the master plan, so I must always start and end with Him”.

Well, what about you. Have you taken the time to write down the goals and steps you will take to achieve them? Admittedly, I am behind on fulfilling the entire task. I do not want to have any would’ a, should ‘a, and could have regrets about not accomplishing my goals for this year. You may not have written your goals earlier, but it is not too late for “mapping out your goals for this year”.

On Feb 23, 2011, author and Wife Coach Venus Mason-Theus , who is the visionary for the “Anointed Pen Conference” (http://www.anointedpenseminar.info) challenged me and other Facebook friends with the question “ What are your goals and what actions have you taken to achieve your goals so far this year? So I am asking you and I am challenging myself too, what three goals have you set for this year and what actions have you taken toward them?

Now, if you haven’t written your goals or have not taken any steps to achieve them, forget the past. Read the second quote at the very top of this page. Begin right now praying and thinking about writing your goals for the year. There is still time. Take the time to seek God’s face first, pray, meditate on the Word. Listen to what He states to you and write it down. If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time!”

A goal is a target, the desired end of our efforts. Paul talks about pressing toward the mark in Philippians 3:14. Having a goal doesn’t always mean hitting the target —but it does mean getting closer than you would have if you hadn’t had a goal at all. Someone once said, “It is better to aim for a star and hit a mountain than to aim for a mud puddle and hit it every time.” See Cynthia Bezek, “What are Your Spiritual Goals? July|Aug 2000 issue Pray! Magazine. The Bible encourages us to write our goals. Isaiah 32:8 says, “The noble man makes noble plans.” Proverbs 16:3 promises, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” We should have dreams and set goals to reach the dreams, but remember that God holds the authority to say “yea” or “nay”-veto power: “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”. (Proverbs 19:2)

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things (temporal things, that is) will be added to you” (Matthew. 6:33). Some of your goals could be to be get out of debt, manage your time wisely, to exercise twice a week or to start a new business. However, one of our first goals should be to seek a closer relationship with God. Start praying and writing. Look for Part II by Wednesday March 2, 2011.

Linda D. Fegins, The Prayer Leader
https://ladyofprayer.com
LLadylaw@aol.com

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