Stay the Course...

This morning dear hearts I humbly come before you and ask...for a prayer...for strength...to remind myself I am not alone...never alone. I come before you with a heart of thankfulness for a God who loves unceasingly...without measure...down to the depths...in the midst of the raging storm...no matter how far I wandered I knew I could turn, I could lift my gaze and He was there...always....When I feared, when I cried out for someone to save me....He was there....

My heart this week has been raw...ragged...beating in discordant beats...firm and strong, fearful and pained...every time a time comes for me to step forward and give witness, to relate the circumstances I was in, memories boil to the surface....slapping me in the face with fervour, with intent...wherever I am in the moment I stop, breathe and let it rise unheeded, unhindered...I whisper forgiveness...I whisper grace and mercy for myself and continue on.

This morning as I sit and reflect...let the thoughts come as they may...I think how easy it would be, and would have been...to just walk away...to say nothing, do nothing...in the face of horror, of betrayal of the worst kinds...yes plural, one after the other piled upon the other...in the face of this storm I stand tall and tremble...the words 'stay the course' whispered in time with the ticks of my heart...to continue to stand tall, walk proud and speak my truth...

Tomorrow dear friends I will have the chance to stand up and speak my truth before the justice of this country...and my heart wants to yell, to scream, to demand....to educate how broken the system truly is....instead, God willing and giving me strength, grace, dignity and the belt of truth, I will speak quietly of truth...I pray for favour...I pray for righteousness...I pray for truth to come to those who listen...and I pray for justice.

I would speak of forgiveness...of God's grace...I would speak too however, of what is right, what is just. The law was written in this country for the lawless...consequences to horrific actions...I would speak and ask for justice to be done for myself and for all others who have before me.

This is my prayer for today my friends...that within your own unique situation you would stand for yourself and those who cannot stand for themselves. That you would stay the course...speaking for yourself and every woman who has felt the pain of abuse...who has felt the grinding down of their spirits and have no recourse themselves.

By speaking I truly believe we do so much for our mental health, for our sense of self, for that small hurting child that lives within. I want to be that adult I needed as a child...standing and saying no...standing tall and strong, shoulders back...chin up...words perhaps trembling from our lips, but spoken with conviction and grace....God's grace.

May you go today and everyday forward in His grace, His mercy, His strength...His courage.

Walk tall dear hearts...each one of you a treasure, a diamond in the rough...a gem of the highest quality...worthy of all that is good and lovely, each of us....worthy of a magical kind of love...of compassion, kindness, joy unceasing, peace unsurpassed in its calming qualities....

Stand tall warriors...life begins here, now...in this moment...each step forward a win, a victory...God go with you today and everyday and give your heart rest, your spirit comfort and your physical being, rejuvenation....All my love to you today....all the grace I can impart...

May you know victory in every area of your life...but more....loving kindness...as Maya Angelou said....'Love Saves Me.'

Everyday I know this to be true...love saves me each moment...God bless you dear friends.