Month: April 2021

Keep going…

Keep, going…

Keep, trying…

Even when you are:

Tired.

Frustrated.

Discouraged.

Annoyed.

I admit to being a bit tired of climbing mountains, slaying dragons, conquering the unconquerable foes.

To be honest, the day, tapped me on the shoulder, asked me if I was ready for it, and I valiantly said….MEH…turned over, and took another nap.

Yet, here I am, again, climbing me some mountains, tearing up some dragons, conquering these unconquerable foes.

We got this, people. We can DO this life. Do it, together.

Focus NOT on all the chaos around and in you. Focus on standing, on giving, on loving. Mostly, focus on LIVING this life, not surviving it.

Keep going. I go with you. God, Life, Yike!, Egads! and Jaybird all go with you.

Cassandra

#YouMatterToMe

Store up your acorns.

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=z6DhNR3eO0U&feature=share

I try to do these three things EVERY day:

Read, something positive.

Listen to, something positive.

Watch, something positive.

If I can’t do all three, I do at least one.

This stores up needed faith, joy, hope, peace needed to sustain when life gets a bit hectic and rough.

Currently jamming to ‘Bulletproof ‘. AWESOME song. Get you a nice playlist together. Play some EVERY day, whether you feel like praising or not. Amazing how jamming on positive music can turn your whole day around.

Get some good Word in you. Psalm 31 was delish this morning. Even if you don’t yet know The Father, as your father, it’s a great Psalm to read/digest/ponder.

Watch an inspiring movie, clip, show, video. The heart/soul/spirit enjoys some positive viewing!

If you have been hanging in there, with me, you will need to get refilled. Getting refueled, as we speak.

Now that we have made it to Easter…whew…will be getting back to other things like standing, walking, dancing, and many other topics.

Be sure to get some rest in there somewhere. When you have done all you can for the day, leave the results to God and Life. Not really our business what happens after we have done our part.

Don’t judge yourself off the result or lack thereof. God and Life have the endgame in mind. You may never see the endgame. Does that really matter?

ALL that matters is you have done YOUR part to fix the relationship, deal with the work issue, life issue, family issue, circumstances, whatever.

Refresh, renew and keep it moving.

Moving with you,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

#Jaybirdmatters

Real talk: Kick rocks, Bacardi!

Change is hard, yall.

Some days, REAL growth seems near impossible to:

Sustain.

Maintain.

Remain.

Thankfully, as we continue to stand on THE SOLID FOUNDATION, of God’s Word, God’s CHARACTER, and God’s Deep and Abiding Love for us, HE will help us, when we fall down.

After writing to mom, I fell, hard, for a bottle of Bacardi. Fell hard, into it.

Got tore up, from the floor up, I did. Can’t even tell you why. I was not sad, mad or any kind of ‘ad. I was introspective, yes. Sad? No.

I find, in finding all my broken pieces, and in taking them for healing, I just don’t want ANY distraction to come between me and God, Life, Jaybird, Yikes! and Egads!

Yikes!

Egads!

Hey there. Yall could have shown up, last night, and saved me a hangover.

Full disclosure: I am not much of a drinker. My roaring drunk was actually two shots mixed with those tiny bottles of coke.🤣🤷‍♀️. Drinking just makes me sleepy.

Fell asleep on Season 4 of ‘This is Us’. Best show in the history of television, in my opinion! No, joke. If you have not seen ‘This is Us’, run, not walk to HULU and catch up.

Woke up. Told Bacardi to kick rocks and got back to standing.

NEVER allow distraction to keep you from standing.

Circumstances and given us all a reason to be distracted. Covid, racial unrest, national unrest, national divide, has distracted and divided us all. We cannot afford to be divided. We cannot afford to be distracted. Time is too short, and times are too important to be distracted.

Tell whatever you are currently being distracted by, to go kick rocks. This country needs you to be engaged. God needs for you to be fully engaged. YOU need for you to be fully engaged.

KEEP GOING. KEEP BELIEVING. KEEP DOING YOU. WE GOT THIS!

forgive all the yelling. It appears there is a bit more Bacardi in me than I thought.🤣🤷‍♀️

We really do ‘got this’. Don’t let the present circumstances to discourage you, make you afraid, keep you from keeping on.

Enjoy your Easter. As for me and my house, we fixing to enjoy some good yak time and a chocolate chip muffin with The King.

You Matter to Me.

Cassandra SOBER😁

Letter to Mom: I have Cherry, because of you.

Dear mom,

This letter has been a long time, coming. God and Life, have been asking me to write to you. So, I can move forward. Without you, in life. WITH you, in spirit.

I could not, mom. I was broken. After your death, broken into a million pieces. Am gathering, those broken pieces, my broken heart, still, mom.

Because of the love, of a friend, who has stayed silent, and allowed me, to fight to bring my broken heart, my broken pieces, to God, The Father, for healing, I can write, now.

I’m writing from Cherry, mom. I grieve that I was never able to give you a ride in her. I will never forget your look of pride when I told you about her:

Brand new, 41 miles, Cherry Red.

Took me almost 50 years to get the new car I had always dreamed, long to have.

You told me a million times to go for it. I didn’t. I was always, afraid. Afraid, I could not keep up with the payments. Afraid, it would get repossessed. Afraid I would lose my job and lose the car.

I realize, now, mom. How much of my life I lived afraid, while you were here.

I was always afraid to disappoint you. I never felt as if I were enough for you. Rather, felt like I was the ‘too much’ folk always seemed to put on me:

Too, loud.

Too, passionate.

Too, bold.

Too, old.

Too, fat.

Too, ugly.

I never really felt those things, myself. You hear things, enough, you begin to believe them? I think.

I don’t think so. Yet, mom, if I had NOT believed, those things, deep down, would I have made other choices:

With, my broken pieces?

With, my broken heart?

With, me?

I have no idea. Thankfully, mom, Easter is here. I took my anger, THAT anger, THAT moment, my broken pieces, and my broken heart to Jesus, to The Cross, for resurrection. For healing.

It is finished!

Upon a hill.

Upon a Cross.

Jesus, bore the weight, of ALL of me. Because of Him, I am now set free.

Am writing, from Cherry. The very last time I heard your voice, was within Cherry’s bosom. Sat behind her now precious wheel, and talked to you of everything, of nothing.

Your last words to me were, among them, “I love you”. I cherish THAT moment, with you, mom, sitting in Cherry.

I am proud of her. I worked hard to earn her. Bought her, with MY OWN MONEY!

She is bought, purchased, with mine own hands.

As my life, was bought, purchased, by Jesus Precious Blood.

Fitting, Cherry is red.🚗❤

Thanks, mom. For:

Loving, me.

Believing, in me.

Thanks, mom. For sacrificing:

Your dreams, in order that I may win mine.

Your hopes, in order for my hopes, to come true.

Your freedom, in order for me to live a life of freedom.

Your health, in order to keep me healthy and safe.

Your financial freedom, in order for me to find financial freedom.

You could have been selfish and left us kids to fend for ourselves. You did not. You welcomed us home EVERY time we had the need.

I am me, mom, in part because of you.

You gave your last. You scraped enough to feed others. Even when there was not much to go around. You found the way, to make due.

You did the very best you could, mom. Did your best to love my broken pieces, to love me.

I write no words of regrets, mom. For, either of us. You loved me, best you could, with your broken pieces.

I did my best, to love you with my broken pieces.

I am so thankful you are:

Whole!

Healed!

Free!

Continue to rest in peace, mom. I WILL see you, again.

I love you, mom. Your life mattered to me. Your life matters to me, still, always.

I miss you.

Tell Jesus hey for me. Hug dad for me and tell him I miss him.😥

Love God’s Daughter and yours,

Cassandra/JAYBIRD

#YourLifeMattersToMe

#Jaybirdmatters

Afraid of the dark: No longer.

The older, I have gotten, the less driving I did, at night.

Once the sun set, that was a wrap. On driving, that is. A bummer. No more:

Movies.

Popeye’s runs. 😱💔!

I don’t know why, really. Just happened. One day, I was happily trucking through the night air. Next thing I knew, I was fleeing, the coming evening.

It’s harder to see, in the darkness. It’s impossible to know what those objects are, in the darkness.

Innocent buildings, by day. Menacing enemies, come darkness.

It’s easy to be confident, when it’s daylight. Less so, when darkness, begins to descend. Even less, when full dark comes upon us.

We find it harder to stand, in the dark. Rather, we revert, to old ways and begin to stand on:

Old, fears.

New, fears.

Past, memories.

Current, situations.

We find it more challenging, more difficult to stand on SOLID Foundation:

God’s Word.

God’s CHARACTER.

God’s Deep and Abiding Love.

We, confidently, stand:

In, broad daylight.

In, sunshine.

When, things are going well.

When, we think ‘We got this!’

What do we, DO then, when we:

‘Don’t got this’.

Are, in darkness. From:

Fear.

Anger.

Hurt.

Pain.

Inflicted upon us by:

Ourselves.

Others.

Life.

Our, circumstances.

Our, broken, hearts.

Our, broken, pieces?

The more healing, the more freedom, the more fixed pieces God and Life returns to me, the less willing I am to:

Run from:

Darkness.

Others.

Life.

Opportunity.

Moments.

Me.

So, joyfully, timidly, I jumped in Cherry, popped over for some Popeye’s for Jesus, Jaybird, God, Life, Yikes!,Egads!, and me.

Dinners on. Who is coming for dinner?

God is with you. Through ALL. The darkness as well as the light. Both of no consequence to/for Him.

LIVE, your life. Stop, surviving it. Time is short. Distractions, are but, subtractions of, the fractions, of the life you have, yet, to live. *Cassandra thinks this last sentence awfully clever!*

Fear not, beloved. Live. You got this. You can do this. You CAN.

His Always,

Cassandra FREE

Beyond April 1st: Time to turn the lights on.

5:26. I noted the time.

I turned on the lights, at 5:26 pm.

For the past ten days, I have spent EVERY one, doing the same thing:

Praying.

Writing.

Praying.

Crying.

Praying.

Wondering.

Praying.

Despairing.

Praying:

Writing.

Crying.

Wondering.

Despairing.

All done in complete silence, save my music, in darkness:

No, lights.

No, television.

No, sleep.

No, distraction.

Have felt as though, I have been in a tomb, entombed.

Ah! My Lord, My Savior, My King, is set to return, triumphant, with the keys to:

Death!

Hell!

The Grace!

He, will have conquered The Cross, come Resurrection Morning:

Easter.

I realize, now, tomorrow is Easter. I had spent so many days, pulling myself, trying to pull others, to The Cross, before Easter, I wore myself out.

We are almost there, because He is almost here:

Resurrected.

We, are almost:

Free:

To, choose:

New, life.

We will be able to

Take our pieces:

Our, broken, pieces.

Our, broken, hearts:

To, Jesus, for healing, for resurrection. THIS moment, is my moment, is your moment, for healing.

I shall meet you, at:

The Cross.

See you soon,

Cassandra/Jaybird

ARISE! It is time. Time to, stop fighting. Time to, stop hiding. Time to, start loving. One another. it’s time. Time to deal with your broken pieces, your broken heart. Let Jesus Heal them. Heal, you.

#YourLifeMattersToMe

#TurnOnTheLights

Naked: Yet, NOT ashamed.

I am naked.

Yet:

NOT:

Ashamed.

Heart:

Tattered.

Shattered.

What, does that matter?

Not, at all.

Heart:

Broken.

Heart-broken.

Broken:

Pieces.

Pieces:

Broken:

By, life’s hands.

By, other’s hands.

By, my hands.

I am:

Naked, yet NOT:

Ashamed.

NOT, ashamed to:

Admit to:

Having, broken pieces.

Having, broken, in pieces.

Those, broken, pieces:

Having, broken:

Me.

Having, been broken, in pieces.

Those broken pieces, Have NOT:

Broken:

Me.

I am naked, NOT ashamed.

My heart:

Shattered.

In, tatters.

No, matter.

My:

Savior:

King Jesus:

Has, healed.

Me.

In, these pieces:

My, broken pieces:

My, Father.

King, Jesus.

The Holy Spirit.

Life.

Now resides.

In, these pieces, my pieces:

I ever remain:

Grateful.

Thankful.

For, these pieces, my broken pieces:

Led:

Me:

To:

He, who:

Saved, me.

Set, me, free.

From:

Sin.

Anger.

THAT, anger.

THAT, moment.

EVERY, moment.

Naked, I am:

Yet:

NOT:

Ashamed.

Ashamed?

Not! Why, should I be?!

My pieces, my broken pieces, are NOT:

Me! 💃💔❤

Beloved, we are, all of us, broken. We live in a broken world.

That said, NEVER be ashamed of your broken pieces.

You are NOT:

What has happened to you.

Those things, HAPPENED, to you.

Those things, did NOT:

Those things, certainly, will NOT:

Shake your life, forever.

Keep, making you:

Naked.

Ashamed.

NOT!

Know ye, not?

You are, I am, we are:

Child, of God.

We are, loved by:

King Jesus.

The Father.

How much more:

Priceless.

Precious.

Loved.

Cherished.

Seen.

Heard.

Respected.

Could we be?

So, let’s be:

Naked:

Yet:

NOT:

Ashamed.

Together.

Together, our broken pieces…

…fit.😎

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

#Jaybirdmatters

We Give You Thanks: Thank You, in advance.

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=QKTOOv7QJwA&feature=share

Dear Jesus,

I HAD to begin, this way. You ARE, DEAR TO ME!

You ARE:

My Homie.

My Bestie.

My Life.

My Love.

Thank You, My Friend. For who You are. For ALL, You have done!:

For, us.

In, us.

With, us.

Beside, us.

In spite of, us.

Because of, us.

Thank You, My Friend.

For freeing, me. From freeing, all who but ask of Thee!

Freeing, me. Freeing, us from:

Sin.

Anger.

Division.

Strife.

Bitterness.

Unforgiveness.

Hatred.

Of/from:

Ourselves.

Others.

Thank You, in advance, My Friend. Easter is coming. For those, truly in the know, Easter is a bit tough to swallow.

Why?

Because of US, You had to bear the:

Weight of our:

Sin.

Anger.

Division.

Strife.

Bitterness.

Unforgiveness.

Hatred.

Of/from:

Ourselves.

Others.

You bore those things. Took them ALL, with You, as You, hung on The Cross.

For, Me.

Because of, ME!😥

For, them.

Because of, THEM!

BECAUSE OF ALL OF US!!

Because of Your:

Unfailing.

All-encompassing.

Relentless.

Love for:

My, broken pieces.

My, heart.

My, life.

Their, broken pieces.

Their, hearts.

Their, lives.

Thank You, Jesus. In advance, for Easter.

I owe You one.

We ALL of us, owe You:

Gratitude.

Thanks.

You are about to repay a debt, not Yours. To win back our lives.

I thank You.

We thank You.

I shall meet You there.

We shall meet You there.

See You on Sunday.

Jesus, we’ll see You, soon. Pun, intended…*smile*

I love You, My Friend.

Can’t wait to see You,

Cassandra JAYBIRD RENEWED

#YourLifeMattersToMe

#Jaybirdmatters

P.S. Tell all the other Jaybirds out there that I love them and care about their lives. You have cache! Speak to them, for me. Remind them to never give up on themselves. Let them know they truly WILL be okay. Let them know, of a surety, they will be healed from, will move past, their moments. Tell them to keep:

Standing.

Fighting.

Trying.

Striving.

For:

Freedom.

Home.

Love.

Joy.

Peace.

Forgiveness.

ALL they must do is bring You their.

Broken, pieces.

Broken, hearts.

Broken, families.

Broken, friends.

Broken, communities.

Broken, governments.

Broken, lands.

Tell them, bring ALL these things, to You, and You SHALL, you WILL, SET ALL THINGS RIGHT! YOU SHALL MAKE ALL WHO COME FREE!

With the words: It is finished, it WAS finished!

It is finished…

His broken pieces.

Broken pieces.

Broken.

Pieces.

Devastating.

I’m, tired. Of seeing, so many broken pieces.

Mine.

Yours.

Everyone’s.

It is:

Exhausting.

I want to:

Run, from yours.

Hide, from mine.

Distance, from everyone’s.

I won’t lie. Writing has been a pain lately. Truly, painful. I have confused, some. Angered, many.

I don’t blame, people. I have been angered, confused, myself.

Wondering, what in the fresh hell is God and Life so fired up about, already!?

Have not been able to watch tv, eat much, sleep much, do much other than hollering about broken pieces: yours, mine, everyone else’s.

Yikes!

Egads!

Hey! Where have yall been hiding? Can’t say as I blame you! Jaybird has gotten on MY last nerves.

Enough, already!

Healing, can be exhausting.

Standing, can be exhausting.

Believing, can be terrifying.

Loving, can be scary.

Nevertheless, I:

Stand.

Believe.

Love.

We be loved, people! How great is that!?💃

We are, all of us, His Broken Pieces.

Yet, now we can:

Fit together.

Live together.

Love together.

Don’t believe the foolishness that all is lost.

The ONLY thing, we shall lose, is the distance between one another.

We, the people. For, the people. By, the people.

Let us, come together, as broken pieces. HIS broken pieces:

Loving one another.

Looking out for one another

Have my back as I shall endeavor to have yours.

If your eyes shall find your way to these words they were indeed meant for YOU.

I love you. I got you. God and Life, had us all. We be mates.

His and yours,

Cassandra JAYBIRD

Let your Jaybird fly! You were uniquely and wonderfully made. Do you, beloved. 😎❤

#YourLifeMattersToMe

#Jaybirdmatters

You are not, your broken pieces.

Beloved, you are NOT your broken pieces.

You are NOT your:

Pain.

Anger.

Loss.

NO man, can meet your needs. Some, yes. Most, not even close. We were not meant to be each other’s savior.

We were not meant to forever be ‘proving ourselves’ to our:

Family.

Friends.

Loved ones.

Peers.

Strangers.

There is no price tag, on us. At least, there never was supposed to be.

Why?

Because we are:

Priceless, above measure.

Precious, beyond price.

God does NOT see you, as broken. Yea, He sees your brokenness.

He sees YOU.

You are NOT:

The things that have happened to you.

The things you have done to you.

You deserve:

To be loved.

To be seen.

To be valued

To be heard.

To be cherished.

You WILL be:

Loved.

Seen.

Cherished.

Respected.

Valued.

ALL, you need to do, is to ALLOW, love in. Let anger, fear, doubt, pain go.

Let it go. We are, all of us, doing the best we can.

Hold onto, one another:

Through the mad.

Through the sad.

Through the hard.

Let’s LOVE one another. We all we got folks. Yet we all we need.

If you have noticed by now I don’t even want commas between us!

Don’t allow moments even tough moments come between you and the people you love. Who love you.

If you must fight then fight FOR one another.

I fight with for you!

Cassandra JAYBIRD ALWAYS

#YourLifeMattersToMe

#Jaybirdmatters