October 23, 2010

Greetings My Friend,

As I write I am in the last stages of getting my book published, it may sell, it may not. My dream, my desire is that I make money so I can donate a good portion of it. Junior and I have a decent income, a comfortable lifestyle so becoming rich is not the goal. The goal is to tell about how God has been such a wonderful healing presence in my life. The goal is if I make money is to give most of it away.

For a long time now, I’ve had a heart for those that are abused. When I read about the sex slave industry that abounds, my heart feels ripped open and raw and I want to help these people in some way. I’ve also learned that because of my sensitivity to this area, I may not be good at one on one help either. When you are a victim many times that is how you view your life, as a victim and that does not help you move forward when you allow your thinking to remain as though you are a victim. So, how can I help? My thoughts at this time are to donate to victims of abuse, the sex slave industry. My prayer is that I make enough money to donate to those organizations that help these people.

God has been such a healing presence in my life, so I’d like to find a way to point these people to God as well. God has held me so tenderly at times. Junior is a tender man with me, he is comfortable. God has held me even more so tenderly. God has given me to Junior and Junior to me. I guess what I’m trying to say is that God has given me the ability to write. He has given us a comfortable lifestyle and my genuine desire is to give back. As a Christian, I tend to have a desire to give as I have been given to. So, I’d like to give to those who are in need and are abused. Many times I read of people who go through a struggle. When they get to the other side, they then have a tendency to want to reach out to those who have helped them, cancer comes to mind, once someone has had cancer, a loved one, I hear of people becoming involved with organizations that help those with cancer. Sometimes it is donating. Sometimes people give of their time.
I also think back to when I was a child, when Dad had polio. Our church was the one who stepped beside us and helped us live life at the most basic level. We always had food to eat, clothes to wear. I’ve learned through the years that it isn’t name brand, designer clothes that really matter. It is something warm in the winter and cool in the summer that matter most. Besides clothes and food, this church often was just there as we learned how to get back on our feet once more. Mom and Dad served on boards at church Mom and us kids helped with weddings, us kids were in the choir, went to camp and we grew up in this church’s love.

Abuse was part of what we experienced at home as well. Dad, left home at 14, the abuse was that bad for him. Mom wound up being the bread winner for the family, at a time when women didn’t work. Life at the most basic level was hard on all of us. Dad dealt with not being the provider, with his wife being the bread winner plus all the junk that went on when he was a kid. As I have said often, the main goal was to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table and there was little energy for the nurturing we needed. Still, I find that God has guided me as I have opened my heart and asked for help. I have been able to overcome for the most part the affects of abuse. I have been able to be a help mate and help provide for my family by working, being a Mom who made meals for her family, ran kids to various activities and such. I was even able to stay home for many years, something I wanted my Mom to be able to do. I always understood her need to work. Still I remember wishing she was at home as well.

For the last many years, I’ve been telling people, “When I grow up, I want to be a writer.” I guess with this blog and now a book out. I am a writer and can no longer dream of becoming a writer. I am a writer. I pray there will be more books, maybe even another blog or two, who knows? I retired from the bank with a goal of being a writer. I guess I am not fully retired if I am writing….that’s ok to. I like that I can work more part-time now, when I feel like most days and not be stuck with a demanding 9-5 type job. Sometimes when I am awake at night I write. Sometimes on Sunday afternoons a blog will come to me. I like my more relaxed work schedule. I can even take my computer with me and write while on vacation, driving down the road on a road trip. This more relaxed life style is very pleasant. I’ve needed to slow down. My body has been telling me that for some time.


My prayer is that you will buy my book, will enjoy it and come to know Jesus. My goal is to introduce Jesus to people who have not met Him and then hopefully begin a faith journey with Him. I also hope to generate enough money to donate to the sex slave trade industry, to the abused.

Oh, my book is titled, On the Way to Wholeness, by way of ACTSS. Won’t you consider picking up a copy? Xlibereas is the publisher and can be found on line through Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com.
May God bless you and keep you, make His face to shine upon you.

Love
Janet