Author: LaShona Sellers

It’s a Wrap!

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“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time…” Eccl. 3:11

And so it has begun…the year in review, recaps and reflections. Looking to the new year with anticipation, resolutions and goals. Tis the season for marketers to bank on our regrets and mirror our motivations. We hope and pray 2020 will usher in a better version of ourselves.

Here’s to grand plans and taking small steps. Here’s to big wins and lessons learned. Here’s to peace and unity, confrontation and truth. Here’s to open doors and closed ones too. Here’s to making the most of every moment and in the words of that Cristy Lane country classic…taking it “One day at a time sweet Jesus!”

Happy New Year friends!

Celebrating The Light

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“The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”- John 1:4-5

So grateful for His Light. The Light that shines on my dark places, freeing me to walk confidently in purpose. The Light that gives hope when circumstances are unsure and life doesn’t go as planned. The Light that gives discernment, making me wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove (Matt. 10:16). The Light that compels me to love, to serve, and see others the way He does, extending the same grace He has so faithfully extended to me.

Praying the Light of Jesus shines into your darkness, gives you hope for tomorrow and draws you to receive the gift of His love. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, friends!

Just Finished…

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I’ve always been intrigued by family sagas. And this novel delivered on so many levels. It’s a Palestinian family’s story spanning generations and the globe. From the Six-Day War to the invasion of Kuwait, the story is narrated through the lens of multiple family members. This novel was a reminder that no matter our differences we all share the human experiences of love, joy, loss, grief, and the search for a sense of belonging. A family and story that resonates long after the last page.

Opting Out

/ LaShona Sellers
Psalm 136:1(NLT) Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever.

With the holiday season in full swing, I’m thankful for a Thanksgiving spent at home. With family stretching to the south and to the west, holiday travel is often a given but this year, there really was no place like home (and extra sleep).

Of course thoughts of the holidays don’t always elicit warm fuzzies and good cheer. So what if we opted out? Opted out of obligations that steal our peace. Opted out of traditions and expectations that weigh us with dread and mask us with insincerity. What if we shifted our focus? Changed our perspective? What if we dared to do something different? What if our “yes” was genuine and purposeful? What if our “no” was kind but firm and free of guilt. What if we intentionally set the tone and atmosphere of our space? What if in the midst of it all we took time to just be…

Be grateful. Be at peace.

Happy Holidays!

Giving

/ LaShona Sellers

She looks battle weary. Her face bearing the scars of addiction, her head bowed. She walks the line of cars, the blessing of a busy intersection and a red light.  Quickly she walks, hoping some kindness might be extended to her- a meal, a few dollars, an encouraging word. This day I can offer only a hello and a prayer. She cries and grabs my hands, her gloves stiff with cold. “In Jesus name,” she agrees. “I know He’s going to take care of me” she says. The light has changed, the cars behind  honk with impatience, we say quick goodbyes. Each day I pray, that her absence means she’s found a warm  and safe place to lay her head, that she is bravely fighting her demons, that healing and recovery are in her view.

This woman is just one of  thousands of homeless men, women and children  in Baltimore. The need is heartbreaking and overwhelming but there are individuals and organizations on the front line meeting these needs everyday. If you are considering where to give this holiday season, consider adopting a woman or family (mother & children) at Marian House. They are truly helping women move from dependence to independence.

Journaling is Life

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I love journaling. Like so much so that I designed a workshop to share the love and the benefits (although scheduling hasn’t allowed me to present it just yet, it’s coming…see previous post Writers Speak). I have over 20 years worth of journals stored in bins and periodically go through them to find ideas or just to reminisce. Over at The Writing Cooperative, this article by Karen Thompkins beautifully explains the bridge I found between journaling and discovering my voice as a writer. She also provides some great resources (did you know there was a Center for Journal Therapy?! I am seriously excited about this nugget of new info). Here’s to discovering and staying true to your voice. Keep journaling and writing, friends.

Look up

/ LaShona Sellers

The Baltimore Basilica

Life is busy. Heads down, noses to the grindstone, we’re marching through the day. And sometimes we forget to simply…Look Up.

Find beauty and inspiration in the details.

Writers Speak

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A wise woman told me, “Writers speak and speakers write.”

I have a tormented relationship with public speaking. Tremoring, sweaty hands, a flip flopping stomach and a shaky voice don’t equal good times for me. Speech Communications was the first class in which I ever received a C. I often say I can write it better than I can say it. But over the years, my written thoughts have led to invitations to publicly speak. *Insert alarmed face* And more recently, the causes and issues I’m passionate about have sparked ideas and opened doors that require me to write as well as speak. So, compelled to grow, I registered for a voluntary series of public speaking workshops offered at my job. The first workshop was downright uncomfortable at times (including a 30 second exercise of maintaining uninterrupted eye contact with a stranger *insert alarmed face again*). But I imagine the process is like stretching; it’s a bit uncomfortable at first,especially if your muscles are cold and stiff, but once your muscles begin to warm and lengthen, the release and relief are invigorating. So here’s to growth and stretching out of comfort zones.

Appreciate Your People

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Last Christmas my husband delivered a loving tribute (he is a natural orator, the man can recite Mary Had a Little Lamb and bring you to your feet with applause) and gifted me with an iPad and keyboard to dedicate specifically to my writing. He’d always been supportive and encouraged me, yet there were times I wasn’t sure he fully understood me as a writer. But on that day, in that moment, I knew he got it.

Treasure those who get it. Those who support you, who put up with your quirks and embrace your awkwardness, who give you space to be and space to create. Let them know you appreciate them. When you find your people, hold on to them, love them and reciprocate all the goodness you receive.