Inspirational Messages By Fran Jamison

 

© 2009 Francina I. Jamison

 

 

     In my prayer time with God this morning, He led me to Psalm 107:6-7. 

 

⁶ Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
         And He delivered them out of their distresses.
 ⁷ And He led them forth by the right way,
         That they might go to a city for a dwelling place.
         That they might go to a city for a dwelling place.  (NKJ)

    I thought it was just for me because I have this tendency where if I’m in a bind, I might not ask for help from God, but just try to figure things out on my own.  He told me this is not His way and that this scripture is not just for me today, but that I should share it with you.

 

    So many times, we find ourselves in situations where we can’t figure out a way around it, over it or through it.  I believe these things happen because we need to depend more on God than we do ourselves.  He wants us to go to Him when we find ourselves in such situations.  Yet, we stress ourselves out trying to do things our own way and in our own strength.  He really didn’t make us like that.  He teaches us to come to Him in so many places different in the Bible.  When we do that, life is so much easier.  When we don’t, God may just keep His hands off the situation because you think you “got this” and you can do it all by yourself.  He just might allow that and the results could be quite detrimental.

 

    Why not just keep it simple.  Make a move to just ask for His divine guidance, wisdom and assistance before you  make  a mess of things.  As you look back over your life, you’ll be glad you did.

© 2009 Francina I. Jamison

 

 

    This morning, I was thinking about my own mother and my former mother-in-law.  Both are very well loved women and they know that.  If your mother is still living and you really love her, I hope she knows that.

 

    A few years ago while on the phone with Mom, she revealed to me that she was never really sure she raised us the right way.  She said she did what she knew to do.  I reassured her that what she did was exactly right; that she did a remarkable job . . . especially since she did it after divorcing our father when I was only 8 years old. 

 

    Some months after that conversation, I sent Mom a note card with a painting by one of her favorite impressionist artists where I told her how much I love her and all she did to raise my sister and me.  I let her know I appreciate all she did and all she sacrificed to give us.   She called me when she received that card and I could “hear” the smile and sense the joy in her voice.  She was okay.  That was about 10 years ago.

 

    At Christmas, about 5 years ago, I gave her a crystal jar.  It is about 8″ tall and about 4″ wide.  When she unwrapped the paper and noticed a Princess House box, she commented on how she really didn’t know where she’d put whatever was inside the box because she still had crystal from years ago that was still in the original boxes and she pulls items out on an “as needed” basis.  I remained silent and merely smiled at the comment.  When she opened the box, she was overwhelmed.  There were small pink papers inside with words typed on each one (pink is her favorite color).  I had given her a “Memories Jar”.  On each slip of paper was a happy memory I had of events, moments, conversations with her that made me feel good as I was growing up and several from adulthood.  There were, also, words of wisdom from her as I became a mother, myself.  Any time she looks at that jar, she can be reminded of how much she positively influenced my life.  I don’t think she has any doubts now about how she raised us.  I believe Mona and I have done well in erasing any fears about that.

 

    Make a move to let someone know how much you love them, how much you appreciate them.  It doesn’t have to be your mother.  It can be anyone in your life; a friend, your doctor, a teacher, a coworker, a manager, your pastor, someone who works in the supermarket.  Giving them a handwritten note ensures they have something to look at later if they should need a “pick me up.”  Telling them is fine, but having something to look at later means so much more.

 

 

    My daughter’s paternal grandmother is in the hospital, once again.  She’s been back and forth for over a month now.  Things are not “looking” so good now.  

 

    Last night, I told my mother about it so she could pray for the family.  She told me I need to say whatever I want to say to her now. I let her know that I speak with “Mom Jamison” on a regular basis and we are okay.  We say what we have to say every time we speak.  To this day, she has always ended our conversations with, “You know I still love you and you will always be my daughter-in-law”, and I always say the same to her and she is still my mother-in-law. 

 

    Just last week, I received a beautiful letter from my sister-in-law, Dorothy.  She’s her oldest child.  She said I will always be her sister-in-law.  Her other daughter, Maria, feels the same way and I feel like I just have two more sisters.  At family events, we all sit together and enjoy one another’s company.  This includes the current wife.  She has always been good to Liz and, for that, I am so grateful.

 

    I’ve been reflecting on how good ”Mom Jamison” has been to us.  I remember well how we didn’t want to trust Liz to just anybody for child care when I went back to work.  “EJ” drove out of the way to drop her off at his mother’s house every morning before he went to work and picked her up in the evening.  We could work through each day with peace because we knew she was in good hands.

 

    My ex-husband and I have a civil relationship and have had that since early days of separation and then after divorce.  It just wasn’t in the cards for us  to be married . . . to each other.  However, we did have a child in this marriage.  She matters.  We realized that she was more important that what we were going through.  We learned to put aside differences and raise this child, together with the entire family. 

 

    Mom and I talked about how it would be so nice if parents who are not together could have such relationships after they split.  It is not easy and it does take work.  You simply have to be more committed to the child(ren) and their healthy environment and development into adulthood.

 

    The responsibility of raising our daughter was shared.  Our relationship has remained drama-free.  There has been peace in my home and in his.  There was no calling the current wife to dog him out (or her),  or beg to speak to him or get him to do things.  I didn’t have to beg for things because he was already taking care of his business. 

 

    You want to do what’s right “for the sake of the children”, but is that what you’re doing?  If you are raising a child in a single-parent household, make a move to give that child a drama-free, strong foundation.  It can be done in spite of your situation.   

 

 

    Does your life feel like it’s disjointed?  Could it be compared to the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle with its pieces scattered all over the table top?  Similar to pieces of shattered glass all over the floor?  Parts of you are in different areas and not coming together as they should.  If you want to pull it all together, it’s going to take some work on your part.  You didn’t get “scattered” overnight and you won’t put it all together overnight, either. 

 

    For some, your “scattered” life may present itself as broken relationships.  This could be relationships with the opposite sex, parents, children, siblings, other relatives or those who were once friends of yours.  Sometimes, the old friendships are not meant to be restored because they were not profitable for you, anyway.  However, I believe those relationships with family members should be restored whenever and wherever possible. 

 

    For others, it may present itself as degrees not completed or, perhaps some non-credit courses you didn’t take for personal development.  It could be unfulfilled dreams or vacations not taken.  Maybe you want to change careers or better yet, want to step into your purpose.

 

    I believe there is a puzzle inside all of us.  There may be some pieces missing, but we won’t find them sitting still.  It requires movement.  You can start small by taking baby steps, but at least make the move to start putting the pieces together.  We can all come out with a beautiful picture . . . one worth hanging for all to see!