First is first- as Jesus says:
“Come unto me, and ye shall find rest”!
Also saying, “The Truth makes free”…
This jailbird found his heavenly wings!
Also many blind are now made to see!

Made is not forceful-Made=Cause,
Because of the great goodness of Him-
We are compelled to keep his laws…
Even if it’s alone it’s perfect for this Tim!

Because the law is Love, I can trust that,
Grace from above to all of us Street Rats!
He sent, He lives, always did exist-
The self-sufficient King,
In need of nothing on his list…
Except you! He carries in hand,
You’re his priceless Jewel –
Please understand.
He gave His life for you to live,
Eternity passed all, please come to Him 🙏

Be pure and be true
To this God- man who made,
I know it sounds cruel-
But by His blood we’re saved!!!
For all eternity He changes not His mind,
You were on top of His every thought-
When death closed His eyes…

But only for 3 days,
He walked right out of the tomb,
In hell he made his bed-
Like a weekend hotel room.
Yes he suffered God’s wrath…
And he suffered for you!

Again you are all this King of kings need,
Take him at his Word
Your restful soul is guaranteed!
He prepares for you a special custom place
Fitting you so well just let it be,
Perfect beauty placed in heaven’s seat!

Nothing in our hands-
Everything He gives,
Come to His Fountain of Life…
And buy these 2 quotes live!!!

9-25-24

Dear Unsealers,

The moment that changed my life happened on a random Thursday in August of 2002. However, when it happened, I didn’t know my life would change.

But I’m getting ahead of myself here…

We have to go back to the summer of 2001.

I had a pair of surgeries on my right leg. This was the third round of surgery on my leg in an attempt to fix a deformity that had been with me since childhood. The most profound complication that having cerebral palsy brought into my life. Seven stitches and three pins in my middle toes. I was bedridden for most of the summer and at a shallow point. But I knew that I couldn’t give up on myself so easily.

Nine months of physical therapy would follow. Twice a week after school, I would travel to the Hospital For Special Surgery on the east side of Manhattan. It wasn’t easy, as my knee stiffened up in the process. In time, I would go from a wheelchair to a walker and a cane before ultimately ending up with a brace on my right leg.

On this particular Thursday, I went to visit with my surgeon. At the end of the appointment, he uttered these words: you can take the brace off.

I looked at him dumbfounded, and a bit terrified. I hadn’t taken a step forward without help in some time. But he wasn’t kidding, I could take the brace off my leg.

As I did, I took the first step forward. A beaming smile came across my face and so did it on the face of my mother. I took a few steps more after that.

All the memories of doctor’s appointments, orthopedics, and surgeries faded away. I could feel my self-esteem starting to come back after a lifetime of feeling terrible about myself with all the other complications.

With perfect timing too, as my senior year of high school was close at hand. I couldn’t wait to show everyone my leg without the brace there.

This was the moment when I was reborn.

Cold, antiseptic air crushes down upon my chest
as barely padded steel pushes back from the other side,
effectively pinning my teenage body to a table
in a darkened room I don’t want to be in.
A heartbeat pounds in my ears— too fast
to be mine, yet instantly mine.
I watch the screen flutter with blurred vision,
regret for what I was there to do soaking my shamed face,
igniting a fierce protectiveness older than time.
My mind reaches outward to thank God
for orchestrating my enlightenment
and the pressure dissipates, replaced by determination that’s both weightless and dense.
Visions of my future shift faster than high-frequency sound images freeze and unfreeze,
their light searing fate’s Morse code into my consciousness
and I know with absolute certainty that any plans I had dreamt up
before this moment were imagined for an alternate self—
one who wasn’t yet strong enough to tackle life for two.

Dear Grandma,

She believed she could, so she did.

I remember the palm-sized wall art of this quote you gifted me and its journey. Lost years ago, as we were cleaning out your house, it lives now only in my mind. My thoughts can easily travel back to when you gave it to me.

Back in time, a knock sounded at my door as I decorated my desk with crystals and a photograph of my boyfriend and me.

“Someone’s here to see you,” the office manager told me.

As I turned toward the door, I saw you in a bright blue pantsuit that matched your vibrant personality.

“Grandma!” I exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

I recall your embrace and wish I could return to that hug.

You stepped back, examining me. “I heard you started working here and saw this little sign. It reminded me of you, and I thought it could inspire you on your desk.”

Reading the sign aloud, “She believed she could, so she did,” I couldn’t help but reflect on my career aspirations. I always had different plans for my life than answering phones at a plumbing company. It’s essential work but not the path I’d always wanted to take.

On this day, your kind eyes had a hint of sadness beneath them. You’d just lost the love of your life: your husband and my Papa. After his passing, all of our smiles contained a tinge of sadness. The love among us all was magic, but the magic had lost some spark.

When you love big, you lose big.

As this memory fades, I transport myself to the next part of the sign’s journey. I wish I had asked you to stay for a moment longer.

I was walking into your hospital room, which had become your new home after brain surgery.

Hoping you would remember me that day, I reached for your hands as I sat before you.

“Hi, Grandma,” I said in a gentle tone. “I brought you something.” Pulling the sign out from my back, I displayed it for you.

She believed she could, so she did.

I placed the art on the ledge below your window. “Do you remember when you gave me this sign when I started a new job? I think you need it more now. Maybe if you see it by your window every day, it will help.”

I’ll never know if the sign helped you, but the dreamer in me hopes it brought you peace.

I hope it reminded you of the enduring love you and Papa created. You both made a legacy that will continue past your deaths. You brought love and unbreakable bonds into the world, which is magic in a time of such division.

They say we take nothing when we pass, but I don’t think the sentiment is always true.
Sometimes, we take a little piece of the hearts of those we left behind.

As we celebrate holidays without you now, I know our hearts are emptier than before. We attempted to fill the void when we chose our favorite belongings from your house to put in our homes. Books to sit on our shelves, decorations to live on our mantles, and Christmas ribbon to decorate our trees. These shared memories and belongings connect us, even in your absence.

We all think of you as we decorate our trees with your Christmas ornaments. The endless love you gave us stamped our hearts like a tattoo, and your signature phrases have become our own.

We’ll teach our kids what you taught all of us.

“Stick together.”

“Love each other through anything – through everything.”

We’ll all fill our children’s and grandchildren’s hearts like you filled ours.

It’s our job now to continue the magic you created and reignite the spark.

We’ll do it because we believe we can, and we believe we should.

I like to think you were greeted by Papa and your dad when you fell asleep for the last time.

When I take my last breath, I hope you greet me.

I’ll smile and tell you: “Grandma, I believed I could, so I did.”

Love,
Rachael

Oh, Life! What are you to me, as young as I?
Should I grace you to see the days go by,
Or see my loved one born, grow, wed and die?
‘Tis sad that my contrast feelings are tied.

Don’t mistake me for I am grateful,
But could I tell others that you’re faithful?
Could I tell them that their dreams grow graceful?
Would all hard efforts not be wasteful?

Folks, perhaps we confuse you so much with Fate,
And our dreams or goals may come another date,
Yet we thought our actions determined our State,
In the end, it’s our realization come late.

Oh Life! What, as young as I, are you to me?
Ups and downs as difficult you could be.
Would things get better? “We’ll just have to see.”
If dreams or nightmares happen, then c’est la vie.

There will be times when thoughts creep and crawl
And eventually, turn into a brawl

But we are the souls of many
The news it lies, we come from plenty

Even if our backs are turned
And bridges have burned

Choose to love like the stars above

You are not so different from they and them
You are the same as he and him, she, they, zi and zir

Do not let your mind be stirred
Your heart is large and pure

Be firm in who you are
Love ALL and choose not to fall

You are mightier than the willow’s roots
And the stained army boots

That sit and wait if we do not hurry
To change the world from visions blurry

To light skies & lullabies
That children can finally sing

With their parents hearts still ringing
A loving call to soothe their dreams

So I say to you if anything
Always choose to love

And embrace like singing doves.

Living your authentic self is being true to who thou art
True to your core and true to your heart
True to the real you that dwells deep within
Not to the opinions of others that try to seep in
For you are the one living THIS life
Claim it, own it, and let it take flight

Place high value on the qualities that make you special
Standing tall in your truth as you own what is yours is your vessel
Embrace the differences that set you apart from others
Apologize not to those who act as your judges

Meeting the expectations of others is par for the course
Why not stand for what you truly believe and use your voice
Genuine, real, certified, and true
All are qualities that authenticate you

Portray your authentic self
It should be as natural as taking a breath
You weren’t meant to fit in a box constructed by others
You are you
A one-of-a-kind and like no other

Here is a message I would face death for-
If I could deliver it to an open-minded world.
Whereas Christ came to save sinners like me,
Of whom I beg to differ-that myself is the chief.
Four times Gospel=Good News
A spiritual hospital for souls with the blues!
Exciting, Vibrant, Exploding Truth for you…
No matter who you are-it applies to you!
He tells us how to be safe, to be free!
Jesus’ own words, “Come follow me”.
heavy loads made light-shining in the dark of night,
He has the same path for all-come to His Grace for Life!
Telling Perfect Truth from beginning to end,
Though there’s no such with Him-He is eternal Friend!
Let Him, let Him, let Him
Remove doubt, strife, and fear of things-
With Him you can/will be happy to win,
Watch Him fulfill your every dream!
May take some time-Relationships grow,
He (Jesus) is the Perfect One to know!
And knowing Him is Perfect Peace,
Not knowing Him is no Peace at all-
Because He is the Prince of Peace to all!
Never can any take His place-
Come for Salvation, where all our wrongs are erased!
…Yes-Jesus saves!
I’ve learned a 45 year lesson,
At Camp Neosa as a kid,
But I was a mad kid-
I’ll bury my treasure in the ground, said I…
Could not this message that I hid-even give a try?
It is Perfect-will not trespass any,
And those who find it are not many.
So share we will-the Living Water spill…
Into the souls-so thirsty drought-
Sharing saving faith-to receptive hearts on route!

Then never can the dark prevail!

God Bless you!!!

9-3-24

Dear World,

It’s hard to choose my most impactful life lesson, as I’ve had plenty thus far. Sometimes, I feel as if my lessons up until this point could fit into an entire lifetime for someone else. I know they’ve all been necessary for my evolution because I believe a significant reason our souls are here is to learn, grow, and evolve into a wiser version of ourselves.

Adversity in life can diminish us to ashes, but we can choose to rise into a more empowered state. Multiple moments in my life have felt like the death of my old self and the rebirth of a new version of me.

I’ve learned the importance of compassion, kindness, respect, consent, and the necessity for authenticity, even if people around you disapprove. To be true to yourself is to respect yourself.

Anxiety, rumination, and incessant negative words to myself have taught me to give myself compassion, even when it’s challenging. I must habitually interrupt negative thoughts and redirect my mind toward the door of kindness. Being my own best friend has been vital.

Learning to hold space for my pain has been pertinent as I’ve navigated people telling me that my pain is unimportant and minuscule, even though it isn’t. Mine isn’t, and yours isn’t. Our pain matters, and we must create a safe emotional space. I must honor my pain even if the world doesn’t care. You also must honor yours.

I’ve learned it’s okay to feel uncomfortable and state if I don’t consent. Whether or not it matters to anyone else, it matters to me.

I’ve learned that it’s okay to feel how I feel, even if others wish I felt differently. It’s alright to be sensitive; the world needs more sensitivity because compassion comes with it.

I’ve learned the importance of self-forgiveness. I have made mistakes throughout my life, and I imagine I’ll continue to. Giving ourselves grace and recognizing the lessons that come with our errors is essential. Most importantly, we must wake up the next day and try again.

I’ve learned that if people disrespect me, I must counteract that disrespect with kindness toward another while keeping a boundary with the person who disrespected me.

All of these have been vital lessons for me thus far, and I imagine I’ll learn many more, but one lesson has reared its beautiful head amongst all the rest:

SPEAK

In a world that wants me to be quiet, I must speak.
In a world that wants me to follow the status quo, I must speak.
In a world that wants me to keep its secrets, I must speak.
In a world that wants me to hide myself to keep someone else content, I must speak.

Maybe this isn’t your most significant life lesson, but it’s mine, and I ask you to consider it. The world wants us to pretend we’re fine while crumbling inside. In my experience, the world wants us to remain quiet while people disrespect us. People expect us to allow this disrespect because God forbid we tell someone we don’t like their behavior. They’d have to look at themselves if we spoke up.

Too bad, I say. It’s time to look.

I learned to accept and use my voice by allowing people to disrespect me, tell me my feelings don’t matter, tell me I’m not allowed to feel them, and tell me I should be quiet.

I learned this as I lost sleep at night, wondering why the world wanted me to hide my feelings and myself.

I learned it when I said yes to things I wanted to say no to and when I said nothing when I wished to object.

I learned it when I was looked in the eye and told my feelings and pain don’t matter.

I learned it when I finally asked myself who was holding me back: the world or my own fears.

I will no longer cater to the world, protect people from what they don’t want to hear, or play politics in a world that desperately needs humility and authenticity.

I will learn from my mistakes, as I have in the past.

As I do so, I will speak.

Will you speak?

I want to hear you,
Rachael

“What is better than wisdom? Woman. And what is better than a good woman? Nothing.”
~ Geoffrey Chaucer

When teenage angst and mental boredom read
his poetry in high school British Lit,
my brain went on a bender, seeking highs
that only Tales of Canterbury matched
and line by line, my feminism fanned,
I felt those words expand and amplify
long-stifled power, natural and strong—
a calling practicality outweighed.

Deflated, I allowed society
to mold me in their patriarchal views
though, deep down, I upheld this Chaucer quote,
endeavored to be moral, to defend
all souls without a voice who fate made small—
but nothing dims a triple-threat’s first love.