“A-New” Article 6

I’ve been dreaming of a closet make-over for a long time now. I’d like a bigger closet that’s very spacious, has lots of drawers to store things, a wall with built in shoe storage, a jewelry nook and a place to sit and write. I want to be able to walk into my closet and not feel “closet phobia”! You know what I mean. I don’t want to feel cramped in a space that has outgrown me. My closet is filled with my husband and my things. After so many years of living in the same house, (17) years to be exact, it starts to get a wee bit crowded. And no matter how much we get rid of things it’s still cramped. I realized that it was time for a change! Time for something “A-NEW” and exciting. It’s time to move from what that which at one time was very comfortable. That’s how life is at times when things we’re so use to can become so uncomfortable to us. That’s when you know that it’s time for “A-NEW”! I got to thinking about those things in my life, besides my closet, that’s become uncomfortable. But before I go there let me say this. Change is very good when it’s a good change. And none of us can predict either way how it’s going to turn out. But at least you tried and that’s what’s important. I have gotten uncomfortable at the Church I attend and grew up in. I feel that it is time for me to branch out. Not because I’m tired of Church, but I have outgrown my Church. Oprah Winfrey said that we all need to grow to greatness wherever we’re at. I feel that I have stopped growing at my home Church and I don’t like those odds at all.

I do believe that we should never keep things the same. Whether it’s changing something about our appearance, our career, our attitude or whatever. I’m sure you get the point! The bible says that we are to be transformed by renewing our mind. That’s really where all of our change should begin. I know that change can be scary, even exhausting. But I also know that it can be exciting and wonderful. I love change and the new things change could bring our way. If I had to give an example of how change could be good, let’s look at it from a biblical aspect. In the book of Job we learn how he had everything in life he could possibly need. A good home, a lovely wife, a few kids, some cattles and livestocks and more. But, all of that changes when the devil took all of what he had from him even his good health. That was a huge change for Job at that time. Some would say it was a bad change for Job because of all that he had to endure. But I say that because the devil meant all of it for bad, it actually turned out to be a good change for Job. In the sense that he got back more than what he had. So yes, even though all change is not good. Change is necessary at times. Job was reborn and his life became “A-New”!

We shouldn’t stay where we’re at if it’s making our life uncomfortable. We do have a God given will to make things happen in our life. Things that can change or alter our situation in a good way. No, we don’t have the power to change everything in our life. Such as the smell of a fresh new summer breeze or the sweet new song that the robin sings or a new sunrise each morning. These are things that I have no control over and wouldn’t change if I could. I’ll stick to working on my own transformation to a life “A-New”. I have learned that each day brings about the opportunity for new birth which is life “A-New”. Think about your life. What is the one thing you would change that would be a worthy change for your life.? And it doesn’t have to be drastic. Just different. The way you never looked at a sunset or smell a rose or listened for that still small voice. I know that there are barriers such as fear and other things that get in the way. But don’t allow anything or anyone stop you from starting your life “A-New”! And it is my belief that our lives can only become “A-New” when we say “Yes”! And that, as Oprah says, is your A-Ha moment.

Written by: Ms. Staice M J Morris

So...What’s Your Story Life? Article 5

There was a time that I would go into my closet to pray. You know the saying “Go into your secret closet” to pray to God. I actually thought that it meant to physically go into a closet. Now I understand it better that we can pray to God anywhere. But while I was in there I’d tell God all of my most  private thoughts, hopes and dreams. Although, He already knew them all. I got to thinking about how much of my private life I spoke in my closet. And I thought about all the things that were in my closet. My things are in my business! If my things could talk what would they say? That got me to thinking about people always minding other peoples business and not telling anything about their life. So the question I ask is “what’s your story life”? What is it about you that nobody knows? What are your likes and dislikes? What are your inner most fears? What secrets do you hold close to your heart that you would never want anyone else to know? What gets us going the most in life to some extent is “the truth about others”! And we become so Holier than Thou as if nothing can touch us. We become that crystal ball revealing every detail of someone else’s life as we see it more so than our own. Revealing secrets told and some not told but found out by other means like gossip, etc.

It is in us all to be better! It is in us to be wiser and not foolish! It is most certainly in us all to dream as big and as far as the eyes can see! So where do we begin? Well let’s start by finding that place, that very special place we can go to and find “it”! That it would be “Life”! A life overflowing with the most wonderful stories about us. And one that begins to take shape in a way that will inspire and overwhelm our own imagination. Whether that place is behind closed doors, outside among the trees, birds and bees or on a raft drifting down the river. We need our special place so we can dwell more into our own life. This quote of mine puts things into a little more perspective “my story life belongs to the world only when I tell it”! There is so much of my life that I want others to know about. The good, the bad, the highs and lows, the ups and downs, everything. But will they find it to be exciting or dull? Will it be boring or worthy enough to tell? I’m sure that’s how some of us look at our lives. That’s why we feel comfortable delving into someone else’s story life, as I call it. It takes the focus off of us. And some of their stories are like a tunnel where we can’t wait to get to the end. Because there’s really not much to tell at times. I love to hear my Mother-In-Law tell stories of days gone by. Some will make you cry, some will make you laugh and some will make your imagination go hay wire. She tells the most exciting stories of her life in days gone by. Those are the story life that are to be heard. Especially when the person telling it owns it! What better story to tell then the story life that belongs to you. I have so much to tell about my life and I question where to begin. We don’t have to have an order to begin our story life. Just begin! I love writing and I think that I have always known that it was my passion. It’s really something to be able to pull what’s in your heart and head onto paper. It does take a lot of imagination sometimes and a lot of soul searching for the truth. The part of my story life that I am going to share in this article is about the love of my life.

My husband “Darrell” was sent by God to me. I prayed for this man and God sent me exactly who I asked for. We have been together for 27 years and yes happily married. It has not all been a bed of roses but I never thought that it would be. I never set the bar for our marriage that high into thinking it would be perfect. And I never prayed for a perfect marriage. That I’m sure God would not have granted. But what it is for me and my husband is a love that will last forever. That I do believe with a lot of faith. My husband and I did not grow up together and we only met briefly when I moved to Columbia my 9th grade year. I was not interested so much in guys while in high school. I wasn’t so developed in certain areas as some other girls. My husband says that I was an ugly duckling that turned into a beautiful swan. I totally agree! My husband and I actually met after high school. A very long time after high school. He had finished college and I was still trying to decide what I wanted to do with my life. We lived very close to each other at the time that we met. I use to see my husband jogging right pass my house some days. This one particular day I was getting ready to ride my bike and he happened to be working on his car in their driveway. He said something to me that I can’t quite remember but the rest is history. God brought us together at the right time, the right place and the right moment. I thank God each and every day for how He has orchestrated everything in our marriage. I believe that when we tell our story life in our own words nothing really gets missed. But when it’s told by others a lot can get messed up. So I don’t mind telling my story life at all. Hold on...more to come soon!

Written by, Staice M Morris

My Closet Experience #5 (copyright 2012)