The Strawberry Chapter 18

Staying within the theme of Seeds. Since the title of the book is "The Strawberry". To show how one seed seems to spread across the United States. The stories. I do not mention states or locations on purpose. The name has also been changed, except for Sister Elizabeth. That is because she was a very special woman and friend. She was one of the very influential people along with my aunt who encouraged me to write. Sister Elizabeth talked about my need to write about twenty-five years ago. It has taken all this time to actually do it. May she rest in peace. I am sure she is saying in heaven " It's about time!"

My aunt who is alive has encouraged my steps. Through every step. Pushing me along to keep going.

These two seeds or soils were thrown my way. Have come from two completely different states across the country. At different times I lived in those states.

Whether you are in a plane flying to another state or country there are still opportunities to meet and have people influence your life. Or for you to influence others for the better if not for the better or for the worse.

However, your moment in time interacts with them.

The power of communication can help build a person or break them. If a person someone came my way sucking out my oxygen. I desired to RUN! The other way.

There was time. In my youth, I was pretty much on my own.

To find out what was going on. Neither family nor friends stepped in to assist. Besides. One of those visits from my cousin.

I remember crying out to God. His answer was "You will never walk alone again".

From then on. I didn't worry about what was going on in my life at that time. I knew He was going to take care of me.

I have held on to that all my life. I am not letting that go.

That is the Biggest SEED in my Trinket Box.

People can come and go. But He never left me.

Genuinely

We have all worked at jobs that seem out of our norm.

Here is a thought. What if you were not at that job for you. You were there for another. For you to tell them something they needed to hear.

Rights

People put their thoughts and decisions into making them.

From politics to schooling to even deciding what to eat.

Manuel

The seed of being able to think for myself enables me to help others do so for themselves.

Youth today do not know that.

It is pretty scary. If one can not think of small things. How will they be able to think about making big decisions?

Helping someone to think can be one of the biggest changing factors in their life.

I know I do not have all the answers. I have to look it up.

I have been at jobs where no one wanted to train me. They were jobs outside my box or my job field. I would ask the person what we are supposed to do. They would hand me the manual and say " Read the manual". They would do it basically to keep me busy and keep me out of their way.

My reply had always been. "Ok, I will read the manual. I would take notes and graph all the steps necessary that I needed to do or the list of tasks that needed to be accomplished to do the job.

Once I finished that. I was pretty set. I didn't need their help.

The person was always sorry they gave me the manual to read. Because I had learned all the basics. The manager now required them to follow the manual and level up their work abilities to follow what the company had been asking them to do. From the simplest to the highest job. If someone doesn't want to give me the time. Then I will get the manual or I will find a person who will show me. Get my trusty notepad and learn it.

So when the person does finally want to show me. I do not need them anymore. I have already passed them and moved on.

It has pretty much been the same with understanding life problems or situations. I go to the manuel. Which is the Bible? I don't understand it all. Then I dig even deeper. I met a very nice lady who was getting her house fixed. So she would listen to bible study. While I was at work. She asked me to listen with her.

The way the Reverend broke down the scripture. He only went over two scripture lines. By the time he finishes an hour later. I told the nice lady. "I get it!" He broke it down well and explained it. I told her " I Bible for dumbies". Please do not take offense. I am talking about myself. It didn't click in my head after all these years of having read the bible in the past this time of the Bible study. By the time she had finished getting her house fixed about a month later. The Reverend has finally finished the whole book. I was excited. I told the nice lady. I thanked the lady. Then I said. "Poor Job".

I heard the breakdown of the book about four years ago and I still remember and understand it. I can still say. " Poor Job".

I truly appreciate the nice lady. I still listen to the service. The Reverend still breaks down the books.

What a valuable seed to add to my trinket box.

Try reading the manual.

I actually wrote this portion of this chapter a year ago.

Marine

It is a story I feel I am ready to share.

Thought it out myself. I consider myself a strong woman with flaws. I know I have written. I am a work in progress.

I always held on to the love of God.

I know He never meant for man to live in the world alone.

After all these years alone.

I am single. Not that I haven't come across a person.

It just didn't work out because. They hadn't chosen me.

I told myself it didn't hurt. I moved on with my life.

Then the roller coaster of life happened. Which lasted a long time.

The one thing I held so tight to was God's love. I am guessing

Loosen up a little. You are holding on so tight. I can't even take a step.

I encapsulated that in my heart.

So when a very dear friend died last year. I didn't realize how much it would affect me.

When I heard they died. It put a tiny Crack in my heart. No answer. I was because I loved my friend. This tiny made me realize I had carried pains from the past with the love I felt for God.

With that tiny crack, I have been able to let the pain of past hurts go and make way for even deeper feelings of my faith.

While I may have been very sad that my friend died. I am grateful it made way to grow stronger in faith.

May my friend rest in peace. Seimper Fi.

Yes, they were Marines.