No More Smalling Up Of Me

No more meekly saying 'yes'
When my heart is screaming 'no'
No more taming of my feelings
So my power won't show
No more hiding my exuberance
From disapproving eyes
No more watering down myself
So my spirit won't rise

No more 'smalling up' of me
Pretending I am not here
No more running from the music
And the spotlight's glare
No more living in this prison
Barricaded by my fears
No more turning and retreating
In the face of new frontiers

Even as I am speaking
I am taking shape and form
Harnessing my powers
Like a gathering storm
There's no obstacle so bold
As to dare stand in my way
I am taking back my life
And I am doing it today.
  
 Jean Wilson

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

Whether You Think You Can or Think You Can't, You're Right



A new prison was built in British Columbia to replace the old Fort Alcan prison that had been used to house inmates for hundreds of years.  After the prisoners were moved into their new quarters, they became part of a work crew to strip the old prison of lumber, electrical appliances, and plumbing that might be reused.  Under the supervision of guards, the inmates began tearing down the old prison walls.

As they did, they were shocked at what they found.  Although massive locks had sealed heavy metal doors, and two-inch steel bars had covered the windows of the cells, the walls of the prison had actually been made out of paper and clay, painted to resemble iron!  If any of the prisoners had given a mighty heave or hard kick against a wall, they might easily have knocked a hole in it, allowing for escape.  For years, however, they had huddled in their locked cells, regarding escape as impossible.

Many people today are prisoners of fear.  They never attempt to pursue their dreams because the thought of reaching them seems impossible.  How do you know you can't succeed if you don't try?

As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.

Proverbs 23:7



To Forgive Is to Set a Prisoner Free and Discover the Prisoner Was You

Meredith was surprised to find a letter in her mailbox from her brother, Tim.  It had been three years since she had spoken to him, even though they lived in the same town.  In the letter, Tim told her he and his wife were expecting twins and he hoped she would come to visit the babies after they were born.  He expressed his sorrow that they had not communicated more, and apologized for whatever it was he had done to cause them to be estranged.

Meredith's initial reaction was one of anger.  "Whatever it was?"  Didn't he know?  She immediately sat down and wrote a five-page letter detailing all the wrongs Tim had committed that hurt her.  The phone rang, however, before she could put her letter in an envelope, and it was several hours before she returned to her writing desk.  Upon rereading her letter, she was horrified at what she found.

She had thought she was being very matter of fact, but her words were full of anger and pain.  Tears of forgiveness filler her eyes.  Perhaps it wasn't all Tim's fault. 

She called him the next day to say, "I can hardly wait to be the aunt of twins!"

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 6:14,15