Author: Geri Mason

Being yourself is needed!  For several weeks now I have literally been on Cloud 9 because of how God has shown up in my life beyond my grandest expectations.  It has taken me a couple of weeks to decide if/when/how to share this particular story.  Timing is everything!  In talking with a friend recently she said that I have several testimonies in this one story so here it is.  I will try to keep it brief and organized.

During the Covid-19 crisis I have applied for and been hired for three jobs on the Indeed website.  In each instance I was either hired during the phone interview or at my in-person interview.  It has never been a situation where we will call you back.  I thank God for that.  Two weeks ago I resigned from my latest job after being there for a year, because of reduced hours through no fault of my own.  Of course, being the organized person that I am, I already had another job.  Matter of fact, I turned down one offer (by phone interview), because they called after I had accepted my current position.  When I turned down that position, the person said, “If it doesn’t work out, which I hope it doesn’t, then please call us back, because we really hate to lose you.”  Mind you now, this is someone who has never met me fact to face, only did a phone interview, and based on my resume and my responses to her questions, she offered me a position.  Now let’s go to the position that I did accept!  During my in-person interview I was asked how soon can I go for a physical?  My response was, “I can go immediately if this means that you are hiring me.”  Their reply was, “Yes I’m hiring you!”   So I went on to ask, you do know that I’m currently working for another agency and I need to give two weeks’ notice right?, which she responded yes!  So I asked, are you willing to work around my current schedule for two weeks”, and the response once again was yes.  We were so excited that we forgot to discuss salary and I had to call back.  Now back to my resignation!  When I turned in my two weeks resignation my employer was very receptive and understanding.  In fact they said if for some reason the new job doesn’t work out, then they will always be there and I’m welcome to come back.  In addition, they asked if I would be willing to fill in sometimes if they called.  Needless to say, after all of the above I was almost in tears.  When I shared this with a friend recently she said something that I rarely think about.  I told her that I didn’t do anything magical.  I was simply being myself.  Her response was, “Geri you don’t realize that being yourself is a blessing to so many people.”

(Excerpt from the book – Pg. 47)

If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you!  There are many people and things that influence our direction in life.  However, we are ultimately responsible for the choices we make.  Your current situation or circumstances do not have to predict your future.  Do not let others decide your identity for you.  You must decide who you are and who you want to be in life.  If you do not succeed, then you have no one to blame but yourself.  Sometimes we allow others to pressure us into acting a certain way in order to be accepted in the group.  What does it mean to be successful?  There are many definitions, but Webster defines success as, “outcome, result, the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence or high ranking.”  You need to decide what success looks like for you.  Do not let commercials, your peers, society, or anything else make that decision for you.  Success should be more than material things.

The highway of life may get rough sometimes, but when you know where you are going it makes the ride a little less stressful.  When you have a destination in mind, you anticipate the joy and excitement of arriving.  You are in control of what the outcome of your trip will be.  Life is a journey and you should enjoy the ride.  Do not wait until you reach mid-life to decide your destiny.  It is twice as hard to get there and it’s impossible to catch up.  Live each day to the fullest, keeping in mind your ultimate goal and purpose.  If you fall down do not stay down.  As long as you can look up you can get up!  Do not be afraid to go against the grain sometimes.  Do something unexpected, something you wouldn’t normally do or something you have dreamed of doing.  Take some risks!  Don’t worry about what people will think or say.  Others judge you on what they have seen you do.  You need to operate on the basis of your vision for yourself and the things that allow you to grow and gives you a sense of really being alive, and a sense of satisfaction.  The key to the game is positive thinking.  If things don’t work out chock it up to experience and move on to life’s next adventure!

Photo by Karla Hernandez on Unsplash

Your Problem Can Become Provision!  So many times in life we only see challenges as an inconvenience to where we are trying to get.  We may be blinded by the end result and fail to take our eyes off the prize long enough to look around inside our peripheral vision, where therein lies the answer to another prayer.  Maybe we find ourselves so fixed on fixing what we perceive as a problem that we overlook the solution that the problem brings with it.  Remember, there is always a problem and the problem creates an opportunity to solve it.  I’m not just talking about the saying, “God won’t put no more on you than you can bare.”  We all sing that tune from time to time!  I’m talking about expecting an answer in the midst of your crisis.  Knowing that all things work for the good of those who serve the Lord and are called according to His purpose.  That’s Romans 8:28 and a scripture that I stand on whenever I’m perplexed about what God is doing or trying to show me in any given situation.  I also remind myself to “ONLY BELIEVE!”  As long as I believe then I am one step closer to seeing my goals, visions, and dreams materialize whether it’s through a crisis in my own life or the life of another who is dear to me.  I am always aware that no matter what I go through He will get the glory on the other side of my mess.  God strengthens us so that we may be strength to others.  So, with that said, keep the faith knowing that Your Problem Can Become Provision!

With all that is going wrong in the world there are days when I feel guilty because of my happiness.  Maybe it’s just me!  I’m not sure.  When I scroll and see so much devastation, death, and pain in the lives of others, I’m hesitant to post my blessings on social media.  Why do we downplay our joy when we know that God said in His word, “The poor you will always have with you?” Should we all hide our joy and happiness so the less fortunate will feel more comfortable with their plight in life?  Does God want us to stop praising Him so that our light does not overshadow the fog and pollution that so easily take our breath away?  I would think not!  We serve a God who knows all about us and the world at large.  He made this world and gave all of us choices, although everyone’s plight is not based on something of their choosing.  I firmly believe that my little light helps the world believe in something bigger than themselves.  I know that for me, I’m always encouraged when someone shares their blessing either through social media or in person.  No matter how blessed I am or ever become, I will never take anything for granted.  I am constantly reminded that, there but for the grace of God go I, especially as a caregiver.  It’s OK to be happy.  This world needs your joy, your light, and your encouragement however you choose to sit at the table of life!

 

You hear people say, “I don’t want to talk about my past.”  Excuse me!  Your past made you who you are today.  If I didn’t have a past, then I wouldn’t be a Speaker, Author and Writer.  All my speaking engagements and my books hold pieces of my past.  So why would I ignore my past.

When you go down memory lane and see the old buildings and the old dreams that you used to have, isn’t it amazing to look back to where you came from?  My past is the thing that helped me create my present.  Without dreams and goals that required me to think beyond my current situation, I would still be living where I used to live.  I’d be in that small one stop-light town, with no college degree, and several children out of wedlock.  I wouldn’t be able to encourage others to reach their highest potential, by moving beyond their circumstances and seeing themselves inside their dreams.  My past made me a strong woman and a survivor of many challenging situations.  As a pregnant teenager at age sixteen, my past created a beautiful young lady who graces this world with dignity and style.  That experience taught me how to take care of someone other than myself, while reaching for higher heights to make sure that she never felt the lack that I did as a child.  Although there is no training for raising children, the first gave me experience for the second child.  At age thirty-two I was better equipped emotionally, physically, and financially to handle my business.  That’s because my past had taught me well.  As you consider where you are headed in life and career, be sure to look back at what worked and what did not work in the past.  Those are good barometers to help determine your next course of action.  If it isn’t broke, then don’t fix it, however if there is room for improvement, then by all means improve.  Your past is a good thing if you use it to propel you forward.  Don’t pass up the past!