Simply Happy

Posted on October 17, 2016 by Lynn

It has been a privilege for me to have seven of my stories published in Chicken Soup for the Soul (CSS) books.  I was a fan of the books long before I even submitted my first article.  Many of the stories have brought tears to my eyes, poignant accounts of personal stories that clutch at the heart strings of my mother’s heart, or made me laugh out loud at the comedic zaniness of everyday life.  For those who love the books, as I do, there are well over 150 book titles that address hundreds of topics.  In each book there are 101 stories written by 101 different writers who share little snippets of their life stories to give readers some sage advice, humour and inspiration.  My stories, for those who are interested, are included in the following titles: Parenthood, Devotional Stories for Wives, O’ Canada: the Wonders of Winter, Miracles Happen, The Multitasking Mom’s Survival Guide, Reboot Your Life, and Christmas in Canada.

When my first story about my daughter being teased when she got glasses, “Do Angels Wear Glasses?” was published in CSS: Parenthood, I got an email from a father who lived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  For a small-town, Canadian gal, I could not believe someone from so far away was reading one of my stories!  His words humbled me, and brought me to tears:

What a beautiful story you have written, Lynn. I received it from the Chicken Soup’s daily newsletter to which I subscribed more than 7 years ago. My heart ached and filled with deep sadness for what had happened to Carmen and how she was crushed by the rude comment of ‘Angels don’t wear glasses,’ said by the little girl. But it eventually swelled with pride for the tenderness and kindness you treated her with. In fact, mothers are the one who should be called Angels. It is not flesh or blood, but the heart that makes them mothers. The heart of a mother is the loveliest masterpiece of God’s heart. The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which we will always find love. To the world, you are just a person. But to Carmen, you are the whole world.
My daughters were sitting on my lap as I was reading the story. With each word I read, I gave them soft kisses on their cheeks, hugged them tightly to my heart, and cherished each and every precious moment I shared with them. My eyes filled with tears of gratitude for still having them on earth.

 

Have a peaceful weekend,

Hamsa

 

I can honestly say, I have never in my life felt such joy as a writer, as when I read his letter, and Chicken Soup for the Soul made that experience possible!  It is no wonder then that I continue to write for the franchise and I most recently jumped at the chance to review the editor-in-chief’s book, Simply Happy – A Crash Course in Chicken Soup for the Soul Advice and Wisdom by Amy Newmark.

Nine years ago, Amy and her husband, Bill took over the extremely successful Chicken Soup for the Soul franchise from founders Jackchicken-soup-for-the-soul-simply-happy-9781611599497_hr Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen.  Amy, a successful Wall Street analyst, decided before taking on the huge responsibility of CSS that she would read the 10,000 plus stories from the books published from 1993 on.  “That was my crash course in Chicken Soup for the Soul advice and wisdom, and it was life changing,” she writes in the introduction.  “I had never seen anything like this before, so much selfless sharing by people who were willing to pass on their best tips and their life experiences so that others could tweak or even completely reboot their own lives.”  It encouraged her to take CSS to the next level staying true to the legacy that Canfield and Hansen had left for her.

Her book Simply Happy is different from all other CSS books because there are not 101 contributors to this book.  She is the sole author, but she shares the main pieces of advice and wisdom she has gleaned from all of the stories in the CSS books that have been published.  It is a “Crash Course” of meaningful, easy-to-implement advice and strategies to allow the reader to become more positive and purposeful about life in general.  Using excerpts from some of her favorite stories, as well as using her own life experiences, Amy has penned a feel-good book that is uplifting and practical.  It is not necessarily a “self-help” book, although it does give some sound advice to follow, but it more so embraces the life stories of those writers who have contributed to the books over these many years.

I read the book in one sitting, something I rarely do unless completely enthralled by the content of a book.  I found that much of what Amy said I could relate to in a timely way.  She talks about the “Impostor Syndrome” in chapter three that hit me right between the eyes!  I have always been my biggest critic and as she shares about her A-type personality, dealing personally with negative self-talk and the like, I felt the tears tumble acknowledging she could easily have been talking about me.  She repeats throughout the book about “counting your blessings” and indeed I try to do that, but there are times I struggle with perfectionism and she addressed that neatly as she relates the story of a woman who decided to give thanks every time she used a possession, or saw a stain on her carpet, or ding on her furniture, remembering that it was the imperfections in life that made the most memories.

Much of her principles for happy living, although not stated implicitly, have a solid basis in Biblical teaching.  Whether that was intended by her or not “Treat others as you would have others treat you” is a common theme in the book.  Chapter 21 – It’s Not About You speaks to the fact that as my Pastor used to say: “Hurt people, hurt people.”  Sometimes when people are nasty to you, it really has nothing to do with you, it’s just you happen to be available for them to vent to.  Amy says to “not take it personally”, and “don’t get angry about it”.  Jesus would say, “Turn the other cheek.”  I am reminded of the scripture verse: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”  (Proverbs 15:1).  Amy also talks about forgiveness and the power of gratitude, important themes in the Bible.

I highly recommend reading this life-affirming book.  It is filled with inspiring stories, quotes and anecdotes, and if you love the CSS books, you will certainly love reading Amy Newmark’s insights about what she has personally learned from reading and now contributing to the many books in this franchise.

 

 

 

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I Suck at Praying

Posted on October 6, 2016 by Lynn

Have you noticed how many books have been written over the years that teach us about prayer?  There’s a good reason for that.  For many of us (including myself), prayer is not something we’re particularly good at.  Oh, sure, I know all about the importance of prayer, the power of prayer, even the purpose of prayer but I still really suck at praying.

I hear about how you should be persistent in prayer.  Pray without ceasing, bring all your requests before God and He WILL answer them.  I know all about that and I believe that to be true with all my heart but yet I can’t say I pray unceasingly.

I know that it is a vital discipline to draw close to God and seek His Will but I still find myself at wits end to pray the right words at the right time.  I listen to others pray and I marvel at how easily the words seem to slip easily from their lips.  The eloquent words of others praying leaves me breathless and I can’t help but feel even more inadequate at expressing myself to God in prayer especially in front of others.  I’m a writer but a pray-er?  Uh, uh.

I often ask others to pray for me and my needs because I’m so bad at it myself.    I’m terrible at ad-libbing.  I stumble, stutter and lose focus and can’t seem to remember all the people (by name) to pray for, or to express how magnificent and worthy of worship God is (like David does in Psalms).  I get so tongue-tied, I feel like I’ve gone in a big circle of repeating myself and feel flustered and frustrated by my inability to express myself.  I WANT to pray, but I just suck at it.

I had been lamenting my inability to pray cohesively when our Pastor gave a couple of messages about praying the Lord’s Prayer.  “Everything”, he said, “that we need to pray about is encapsulated in that one prayer.”

14b1fc420aba44b85049debed881f830(Matthew 6: 9-13  NKJV) 

As I have been praying these words regularly during my quiet time, I have drawn closer to the Father as never before:

“Our Father” (You are amazing.  Your works are masterful.  Your creation is beautiful.)

“in heaven,”  (You are Lord of Heaven and Earth.  I cannot fathom Your greatness.  You love me with all my faults and died for me so that I may one day be with You in Heaven.  I am so unworthy of Your grace but You abound in grace!)

“Hallowed be Your name.”  (Your Name is above ALL names.  I am so honoured and privileged to come to You in all humbleness, knowing that whatever I request in Your Name will be done according to Your perfect will.)

“Your kingdom come.”  (I long to dwell with You throughout eternity!  The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!  Hasten that day, but show me how to redeem the time here in the meantime, so I can be used of You while I am walking this journey road on earth.)

“Your will be done”  (I sometimes have a long “wish list”, Lord.  You know my needs before I even speak them.  Give me patience and faith to know that You have heard me, You WILL answer, but only according to Your will and timing because You know what is best for me.)

“On earth as it is in heaven.”  (Father, grow me up so that my life will show Christ living in me.  Allow me to experience You in Your fullness here on earth as well as in heaven.  Give me a passion for Your Word!)

“Give us this day our daily bread.”  (You are the Bread of Life.  You are all I need.)

“And forgive us our debts,”  (Forgive the many things I do each day that may disappoint and not be honouring to You.)

“As we forgive our debtors.”  (Allow me to show the same kind of love and forgiveness to others as You have shown to me.)

“And do not lead us into temptation,”  (I fall into the trap of sin when I am not close to You as I should be.  Draw me close, keep me focused on You!)

“But deliver us from the evil one.”  (The enemy prowls around like a hungry lion waiting to devour me.  I must be always on my guard against him.  If I submit to You, Lord and resist the devil, he will flee!)

“For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”  (You are the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.  I need not fear because You are in control now and forever.  Your rod and Your staff comforts me!)

“Amen.”  (May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to You, O’Lord, my strength and my redeemer.  Psalm 19:14)

 

 

 

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Come, Lord Jesus, Come! No, wait!!

Posted on October 4, 2016 by Lynn

celebration of life This weekend my husband and I attended a “Celebration of Life” for a wonderful, Godly man whom we have known close to twenty-five years.  In fact, over a turkey dinner meal twenty-two years ago, we sat down with Allen and his wife, Catherine, and we bought their house!  That transaction was completely orchestrated by God.  They needed to sell, and we fell in love with their acreage.  We have lived here these many years making family memories ever since.

The “Celebration of Life” for Allen was filled with laughter and warm memories of a man who had “fought the good fight” and had a “life well-lived”.  There were few tears because for most of us, we know that while we will miss him, we will be united again some day.  A friend of mine remarked after the service, after the tributes and the hymns, that “this is a glimpse of heaven”.  All the saints gathered singing praises to God and being together in spirit.  I totally agreed.

One does not like to think about dying.  It will come to us all, some sooner than later, and all of us will fight it until our last breath.  It’s ironic that we fight so hard to live in a world that is fallen and hard and difficult, when for those of us who believe, death is our reward!  Our hope is not here on earth, but in Jesus and being with Him throughout eternity.  We should not fear death, but rejoice in the knowledge that when we escape the constraints of this world, we will be “made new” in Christ.  So I can’t help but think, why wait?  Come, Lord Jesus, come!  Rapture your Church!  The sooner the better!

Then I immediately cry out, “No, wait!!”

The reality is, for me at least, that I’m just not ready to go!  I still have memories to make with my loved ones, and I still believe God is still writing my story here.  I’m not done yet, and neither is He!  I have family members who do not know Jesus as their personal Saviour and I don’t want them to be left behind.  I have friends and neighbours who do not live for eternity but live for themselves.  If Jesus should come for His Church too soon, they would be left behind.  I want my Hope to be their hope!

So, as much as I long for the day when we will all meet in heaven, where tears will be no more, I am not ready to go quite yet.

But some day….

 

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