Category: short story

My title says it all. I have no words to express what is happening in the world today. If I did have the words, this post would be pages long, but I will write this: I am commanded to love (John 15-12-17). And that is what I do, with the help of the Holy Spirit, every single day. The lyrics below pretty much sum it up for me.

Mandisa – Bleed The Same ft. TobyMac, Kirk Franklin

Published in 1891, “Hope” Is The Thing With Feathers by Emily Dickinson is a simple yet poignant poem. Indeed “Hope” remains.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.

Cited From: The Poetry Foundation

Source: The Poems of Emily Dickinson Edited by R. W. Franklin (Harvard University Press, 1999)

(c) 2017-2020 ANEETA PEARSON ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

A few days ago, while watching an award show, I was happy to hear the winners thank the people that helped them on their journey. Usually, God, mother’s or father’s are first then the producer, manager, or significant other is second, or vice versa. Sometimes a teacher, coach, friend, or a former boss is recognized, sometimes not. Whatever the order is, or whoever it is, someone is acknowledged.

During the acceptance speeches, I thought about all the people I met along the way who sowed into my life. From my childhood to adulthood, I remember every individual that supported me, had my best interest at heart and was committed to my success. My thank you list would be very long if I gave an acceptance speech-with God being first. In any case, the fact of the matter is: no one succeeds alone.

*A special thank you to my Heavenly Father and to everyone who helped me along the way. You know who you are. God bless you!

Photo Credit: sasint, Pixabay, License: CC Public Domain

Lillia’s Diary: The Bereavement available on amazon.com

(c) 2017-2020 ANEETA PEARSON ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I lost a loved one last year. The unexpected death of my loved one hit me hard. Really hard. It was a reminder that life is short, no matter how you look at it. While saying my last goodbye, I could not help to think about my life. My moment of self-reflection included an array of questions as a born-again Christian: Have I forgiven others? Am I living my life pleasing to God? Did I say I love you?

The ‘realness’ of death shook me to my core. I still remember how cold my loved one’s body felt to this day. From that day forth, I decided to be quick to apologize, quick to forgive and live life to the fullest in Christ every day. Thankfully my loved one accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, therefore, I am at peace that I will see my loved one again in Heaven one day.

Photo Credit: Free-Photos, Pixabay, License: CC Public Domain

Lillia’s Diary: The Bereavement available on amazon.com

(c) 2017-2020 ANEETA PEARSON ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Written by Dr. Maya Angelou in 1995, “A Brave and Startling Truth” needs no introduction. I hope this poem resonates with you as it did with me.

We, this people, on a small and lonely planet
Traveling through casual space
Past aloof stars, across the way of indifferent suns
To a destination where all signs tell us
It is possible and imperative that we learn
A brave and startling truth

And when we come to it
To the day of peacemaking
When we release our fingers
From fists of hostility
And allow the pure air to cool our palms

When we come to it
When the curtain falls on the minstrel show of hate
And faces sooted with scorn are scrubbed clean
When battlefields and coliseum
No longer rake our unique and particular sons and daughters
Up with the bruised and bloody grass
To lie in identical plots in foreign soil

When the rapacious storming of the churches
The screaming racket in the temples have ceased
When the pennants are waving gaily
When the banners of the world tremble
Stoutly in the good, clean breeze

When we come to it
When we let the rifles fall from our shoulders
And children dress their dolls in flags of truce
When land mines of death have been removed
And the aged can walk into evenings of peace
When religious ritual is not perfumed
By the incense of burning flesh
And childhood dreams are not kicked awake
By nightmares of abuse

When we come to it
Then we will confess that not the Pyramids
With their stones set in mysterious perfection
Nor the Gardens of Babylon
Hanging as eternal beauty
In our collective memory
Not the Grand Canyon
Kindled into delicious color
By Western sunsets

Nor the Danube, flowing its blue soul into Europe
Not the sacred peak of Mount Fuji
Stretching to the Rising Sun
Neither Father Amazon nor Mother Mississippi who, without favor,
Nurture all creatures in the depths and on the shores
These are not the only wonders of the world

When we come to it
We, this people, on this minuscule and kithless globe
Who reach daily for the bomb, the blade and the dagger
Yet who petition in the dark for tokens of peace
We, this people on this mote of matter
In whose mouths abide cankerous words
Which challenge our very existence
Yet out of those same mouths
Come songs of such exquisite sweetness
That the heart falters in its labor
And the body is quieted into awe

We, this people, on this small and drifting planet
Whose hands can strike with such abandon
That in a twinkling, life is sapped from the living
Yet those same hands can touch with such healing, irresistible tenderness
That the haughty neck is happy to bow
And the proud back is glad to bend
Out of such chaos, of such contradiction
We learn that we are neither devils nor divines

When we come to it
We, this people, on this wayward, floating body
Created on this earth, of this earth
Have the power to fashion for this earth
A climate where every man and every woman
Can live freely without sanctimonious piety
Without crippling fear

When we come to it
We must confess that we are the possible
We are the miraculous, the true wonder of this world
That is when, and only when
We come to it.

Cited From-Angelou, Maya. A Brave and Startling Truth. New York: Random House, 1995. Print.

(c) 2017-2020 ANEETA PEARSON ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

A few days ago, while searching for a popular book, our children turned our home library upside down. My husband almost had a cow seeing his extensive (and expensive) collection of law books scattered on the floor.

Him:

Me:

Together we reshelved the books after experiencing  a ‘parent life’ moment. The Republic, The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History with the President, The City of God, The Wealth of Nations, The First Urban Christians: The Social World of the Apostle Paul, The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces, The Oxford History of the Biblical World, Bulfinch’s Mythology, and Four Tragedies, are just a few titles of the large and diverse collection of books we own.

Me:
“Look at these titles…our kids will think we are boring, if not already,” I said, smiling as I reshelved our son’s book, Rocket Science for the Rest of Us.

Him:
“Its okay if they think we are boring. They will thank us later. Besides, as Christians, we (our family) should not shy away from knowledge. Likewise, it is important that we study the Bible and live by its truth so that we can be an effective witness for Jesus. Understanding knowledge creates dialogue and allows us to meet people where they are in life in the event of witnessing.”

Me:
“Yeah, I agree. ‘Scare-witnessing’ to people about Jesus is definitely not the way to go. So, do you think we are cool parents?”

Him:

“I’m the coolest parent ever! Are you?”

Me:

Photo Credit: IvanPais, Pixabay, License: CC Public Domain

Lillia’s Diary: The Bereavement available on amazon.com

(c) 2017-2020 ANEETA PEARSON ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Dear Younger Me,

Thank you for surviving. The traumatic events you experienced were not your fault. I am sorry that solitary reading was your only escape. I am sorry that people told you-you would never amount to anything in life. I am sorry that the traumatic events robbed your childhood.

However, I honor your courage to speak up and fight back. I honor you for surviving. I honor you for not giving up on yourself. I honor your inner strength to pray: “God, I know You love me and have a plan for my life. Please help me.” You never stopped believing that life will get better.

I am here today because of your unbreakable spirit. I am proud of you. You are beautiful. You are loved. Thank you. 

Love you,

A.

*If you suspect child abuse & neglect or domestic violence, please contact your local authorities or The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453).

Photo Credit: PublicCo, Pixabay, License: CC Public Domain

Lillia’s Diary: The Bereavement available on amazon.com

(c) 2017-2020 ANEETA PEARSON ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Over the holidays, my husband and I chillaxed and watched kid shows from the 90’s. We laughed at funny scenes and reminisced about our younger days. During a commercial break, he asked, “Can you name all the shows you watched as a kid during the 90’s or earlier?” I knew his mental list of shows was longer than mine by the silly smile on his face. Nevertheless, I took the challenge and presented my faves that I could remember.

1. Hey Arnold!
2. Rugrats
3. Clarissa Explains It All
4. All That
5. The Magic School Bus
6. The Wild Thornberrys
7. Boy Meets World
8. Bill Nye The Science Guy
9. Arthur
10. Doug
11. The Secret World of Alex Mack
12. Wait Till Your Father Gets Home (70’s)

As usual, the attorney in him had to challenge my list.

Me:

After a mini-debate, he finally admitted that my faves were cool. But he takes my list and adds his own.

Me:

13. Batman
14. Johnny Bravo
15. The Ren & Stimpy Show
16. Pinky & the Brain
17. Dexter’s Laboratory
18. Space Ghost Coast to Coast
19. The Flintstones (60’s)
20. The Jetsons (60’s/80’s)
21. Daria
22. Animaniacs
23. Aaahh!!! Real Monsters
24. The Fresh Prince
25. Family Matters
26. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
27. Kenan & Kel
28. The Simp-

At this point, I stopped him because he was showing off.

Me:

We laughed wholeheartedly at each other. “So what did you learn from all your shows?” I asked, trying to catch my breath. “Nothing! They were just funny!” 

Me:

Photo Credit: Javier-Rodriguez, Pixabay, License: CC Public Domain

Lillia’s Diary: The Bereavement available on amazon.com

(c) 2017-2020 ANEETA PEARSON ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I am not ashamed of my faith. I am a born-again Christian. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior many years ago. I believe Jesus was born of a virgin, died, and resurrected after three days. I believe in the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I believe to go to Heaven, I must repent of my sins and place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9, NIV).

I chose to believe in God for a number of reasons. First, till now, scientists cannot explain the origin of complexities of the universe or creation for that matter. Every answer remains a theory. (Genesis 1, NIV) states how creation began. Second, it deeply moved me that God loves me and wants a relationship with me before I knew about Him while in sin (1 John 4:19, NIV). Third, I did not want to chance going to Hell if it exists (John 14:6, NIV; Matthew 13:42, NIV). Last, the personal testimonies of new born-again Christians about how Jesus changed their lives was encouraging.

I will not worship, nor believe in a creation made by man. No man can create God. If so, how? (Psalm 90:1-4, NIV). No man can definitively explain all His creation (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NIV). It is by faith I believe (John 3:16, NIV). I treasure my relationship with Jesus. The constant transformation in my life is evidence that He is at work. I am grateful for His promises and everlasting love.

If  there is a small chance that God is not real; I am living the best time of my life believing I am loved, forgiven, free, and at peace. People ask me, “What if God isn’t real?”  I say, “Well, what if He is?”

Photo Credit: Geralt, Pixabay, License: CC Public Domain

Lillia’s Diary: The Bereavement available on amazon.com

(c) 2017-2020 ANEETA PEARSON ALL RIGHTS RESERVED