The Dream Never Dies | Showers’ Blessing Inspires | Jacqui Showers

Dreams that transcends you, also transcends time. They live beyond you, because they are for the greater good. They have an impact on lives, because they are rooted in serving humanity. Self-centered dreams produce self-centered actions. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a selfless dream that continues to live today.

The third Monday in January we are reminded of how one dream can have a lasting impact on society and transform a world. It’s the day we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Just like Dr. King, you also have a dream and you must live it.

A God-given dream moves beyond the limitations of this world. It is not limited by demographic, sociographic, or geographic boundaries. Nothing can prevent it from becoming a reality.

Don’t ever stop dreaming. Rooted in your dream is your purpose for being. Each of us have been created with the capacity to fulfill every dream that has been placed inside of us. You cannot allow your dream to remain dormant. Your dream is bigger than you and beyond you. Don’t minimize the importance of your dream to have a major impact on the lives of others.

Your dreams have influence. Each one is waiting for you to make them a reality, so they can influence the world for a greater good. You cannot be selfish with your dreams. Remember they are not exclusive to you. They are vastly bigger than you for the greater good of humanity.

Do you have a dream? What is your dream? Does your dream move beyond you for the betterment of humanity?

Your Twelfth Christmas Gift| Showers’ Blessing Inspires

For 12 days, that started on Christmas evening, I have been giving the gift of encouragement. It is my way of saying thank you for your support for The Showers Group Ministries, The ME Place, Showers’ Blessing Inspires, 11:59 A Minute ‘til Midnight Marketplace Bootcamp, Kingdom Marketplace Connection, and your support on all of our social media platforms. It is my prayer and hope that these gifts of inspirations will continue to propel you in 2023 to become all God envisioned so you can experience what God saw, spiritual, abundance wholeness and wealth.

The “True Love” mentioned in the song doesn’t refer to an earthly suitor, but it refers to God Himself. The “me” who receives the presents refers to every believer. The twelve drummers drumming represent twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell [the grave]. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:2-3 (KJV)

An Awesome Gift

Over the past couple of decades, we have witnessed an increased effort to eliminate the true reason for the Christmas season. Rather than identify Christmas as such, people feel the politically correct word is “holiday”. What is that all about? Let’s view it as Holy-day in its true reflection of Christ.

We have experienced an escalation of battles waged to not have the nativity scene or the Ten Commandments in public places, or even on private property. Believers are afraid to display or reveal their affiliations at work because of the perceived separation of church and state that is not a part of our Constitution.

Increasingly we find that our society is moving further away from the Word of God in which this country was founded. In its departure we have seen an escalation in crime, divorce, as well as the deterioration of our families, communities, and moral attitudes and actions. Drugs and guns became the substitute when prayer was eliminated from our schools. We have gradually embraced the opacity in discerning what is good and what is not. Our society finds itself exclaiming that evil is good and good is evil and forcefully defending the misconceptions.

During this holiday celebration, I wanted to share that the perceived pagan rituals and symbols that for years we thought were just that, are in fact symbols for us to share our Christian faith. Societal propaganda has hidden and muddied the true meanings of these symbols. From the Christmas tree to the candy cane, to the Twelve Days of Christmas and more we can use them to share our faith to provide hope, healing, and life.

Just like those who created a nonsensical rhythmic song to share their faith hundreds of years ago, we are finding ourselves in a comparable situation. Some of the reason is our lack of knowledge when it comes to our unalienable rights as outlined in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. As a result, it is hard to even help our children understand what their rights are as citizens attending school public schools.

Oh yes, they have the right to practice their religion, to assemble, and the freedom of speech. If we do not educate them, which in many instances we do not because many of us are not aware of our own rights, how can we help them?

One feeble woman orchestrated an effort that took prayer out of our schools. Yet, we who serve a massive God has not been able to get prayer back in; not even through the back door by training our children about their rights in establishing bible study and prayer groups. Our tax dollars ensure our children are provided with a place to assemble on school grounds. Most do not know about that.

When I embarked on this journey 12 days ago, I did so because my family has been committed to singing this song every Christmas. Years ago, my inquisitive nature caused me to research it to find out its true meaning. I just wanted to share with so many that we can never lose sight about why we celebrate this holiday season.

It is more than Black Friday, (for many consumers it’s actually Red Friday). It is more than going into debt buying gifts that you cannot really afford. It has nothing to do with drinking yourself into oblivion. It is more than becoming holiday gluttons when we eat so much, we almost burst open. It is so much more than that.

Rather than get so caught up in religious dogma that we miss opportunities to share Christ and our faith, let’s be open-minded to understand the meaning of these symbols before we simply dismiss them. Let us learn so we can share the gift of life with others.

Give someone the gift of true life! It doesn’t matter whether it is Christmas or not! God gave it to us through the birth, life, and death of His son Jesus. And, what an awesome gift!

It is my prayer that you have enjoyed these 12 days of Christmas. It is my desire that these words of encouragement will propel you further down your path of success. I pray that your appreciation for this nonsensical song helps you to realize it is not so nonsensical but chocked-full of meaning for believers walking in compassionate love in sharing their faith. Every day throughout the year, embrace the greatest two commandments to be your guiding force to live out your purpose in the marketplace. We are marketplace influencers on a Kingdom assignment. Allow God to reveal to you who He created you to be and the assignment that He has for your life as a Kingdom marketplace influencer.

Have a blessed prosperous year.

Enjoy Your Gift!

Jacqui Showers

The Bold Encourager
Business Encouragement Coach

Special thanks to Dennis Bratcher, CRI/Voice, Institute for excerpts. Visit this site for more in-depth information.

Your Eleventh Christmas Gift | Showers’ Blessing Inspires

The “True Love” mentioned in the song doesn’t refer to an earthly suitor, but it refers to God Himself. The “me” who receives the presents refers to every believer. The eleven pipers piping represent the faithful Apostles: Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James bar Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas bar James. The list does not include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to the religious leaders and the Romans. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. Acts 1:13 (KJV)

Walking on the Water

In August 2001, I received these words of faith, walk on the water. Every week since that first occurrence I hear these words and when I need it the most, I hear them several times a week. These words have and continue to propel me to operate in faith regardless of what is happening.

Without faith you cannot please God because he has given each of us a measure of faith to succeed. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. It is hard to have faith if you do not intimately know God’s Word. It is faith that brings into existence your hopes and desires.

Many don’t understand the process of faith. We know faith is the substance of things hoped for; so, what is the substance of hope? Hope is the trials and tribulations that increase your patience as you experience life’s twists and turns. It is this hope that never disappoints us as we walk in great faith.

Faith is action. Faith is fluid. It is forever moving forward and never moves backward. Faith is the main ingredient to renewing your mind by transforming your thoughts. One positive thought can chase away 1,000 negative thoughts and two positive thoughts can chase away 10,000 negative ones. Transforming your thoughts through positive daily biblically based aspirations will transform your world. Negative thoughts no longer have dominion over your life as you team up with God to unleash unlimited possibilities.

Faith is seeing the unseeable…believing in the unbelievable. It is speaking into existence what the human eye cannot see, but the spiritual eye acutely envisions. Faith breeds miracles. With faith you walk in the realm of miracle-working power every day. It is that same miracle-working power that brought my sister Patricia back from the dead and gave her a second chance. Faith keeps you from attending the pity party, because you always have an invitation at the prosperity party. Faith is the process to manifestation. God provides the vision, but it takes faith to get you to the manifestation of that vision.

Faith is what makes you sit down and take a look at yourself to make sure you are still in His will. Being in His will is all about Him and not about you. Once you realize His thoughts are higher than yours and His ways are higher than yours, then you truly can surrender to Him.

True, He provides glimpses of your future, but only He knows the complete story. Faith is about trusting Him in such a way that you know that He always has your best interest at heart. On yes, there are times when unpleasant situations may come towards you, but it takes speaking and walking in faith that propels you through them.

Faith wards off the fiery darts thrown at you with exceeding joy, peace that passes all understanding and to love those who have waged all manner of evil against you. It takes faith to move forward when devastation hits–rather it is death, joblessness, divorce, strife, confusion, or whatever; faith exclaims, I can do it because God says I can do it! Faith is that overcoming power that propels you to live an abundant prosperous life, not just here but for all of eternity.

1. The more you connect your words in prayer it will escalate your faith. When your faith is propelled into another stratosphere, there is nothing that can prohibit you from operating in the miraculous realm of impossibility.
2. Fear of failure immobilizes your faith and paralyzes you causing you to refuse to dream and prevent you from embracing life.
3. How we maximize the “now” determines our success in fulfilling our potential. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Potential is the unseen that propels us into the manifestation of our hopes and desires. Every day (evidence of things hoped for) is the fulfillment of the potential God envisioned before we were born. It is impossible to please God without faith.
4. Our words frame our world, and they are a representation of the image we want to project. Our daily vernacular either builds us up or tears us down. Faith words bring life and fear-based ones don’t. It is as simple as that.
5. Never underestimate God. When you do, you no longer defy the gravitational pull of fear with great faith, but you succumb to doubt that inevitably will destroy you.
6. Faith begins in your heart. Out of the heart the mouth speaks. Put faith in your heart with the words that you speak because out of it flows the very source of your existence.
7. Words of faith produce a bountiful harvest of increase; words of fear do the exact opposite.
8. Faith principles rooted in prayer culminates in a new perspective and a winning attitude that translates into winning actions.
9. The valley experience is a death experience. You have to die to the fears of captivity to walk on the liberating path of faith.
10. The valley is the battleground of two wills, fear and faith, your decisions and actions will determine which emerges victorious in your life.
11. Fear blinds you to the greatness inside you. Faith enables you to not only see the greatness God saw, but to take bold actions in living the great life God envisioned for you.

I do hope that you enjoy this gift of love on the eleventh day of Christmas. It is my desire that these words of encouragement will propel you further down your path of success.

Enjoy Your Gift!

Jacqui Showers

The Bold Encourager
Business Encouragement Coach

Special thanks to Dennis Bratcher, CRI/Voice, Institute for excerpts. Visit this site for more in-depth information.

Your Seventh Christmas Gift | Showers’ Blessing Inspires

The “True Love” mentioned in the song doesn’t refer to an earthly suitor, but it refers to God Himself. The “me” who receives the presents refers to every believer. The seven swans-a-swimming represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, and compassion. The evidence of the Spirit’s presence is given to each person for the common good of everyone. The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak with wisdom. The same Spirit gives another person the ability to speak with knowledge. To another person the same Spirit gives {courageous} faith. To another person the same Spirit gives the ability to heal. Another can work miracles. Another can speak what God has revealed. Another can tell the difference between spirits. Another can speak in different kinds of languages. Another can interpret languages. There is only one Spirit who does all these things by giving what God wants to give to each person. 1 Cor 12:7-11 (GW) God in his kindness gave each of us different gifts. If your gift is speaking God’s word, make sure what you say agrees with the Christian faith. If your gift is serving, then devote yourself to serving. If it is teaching, devote yourself to teaching. If it is encouraging others, devote yourself to giving encouragement. If it is sharing, be generous. If it is leadership, lead enthusiastically. If it is helping people in need, help them cheerfully. Romans 12:6-8 (GW)

PURPOSE IN THE CROSSES

Riding down the highway enroute to my cousin’s funeral, one of my sisters asked me, “What do the three crosses mean alongside the road?” I hadn’t seen the crosses. After she mentioned it, I started looking for them. Shortly thereafter, I spotted one of them. Immediately, I told her that they represented Christ, His crucifixion, and resurrection. Naturally I had to seek out the true meaning of the crosses and why they existed. When I returned home, I jumped on the Internet to find out more.

I discovered that Rev. Bernard Coffindaffer, a Methodist pastor, and retired coal washing business owner, had started erecting these crosses along the highways in September 1984. After two heart surgeries, Coffindaffer liquidated his business and stopped working. Two years later he received a vision with explicit instructions to plant crosses for the world to see. For the next nine years until his death in 1993, Coffindaffer planted 1,864 clusters of crosses throughout 29 states, the District of Columbia, Zambia, and the Philippines. Coffindaffer felt that the wealth he had amassed over his 35-year career in the coal industry was for him to fulfill the true purpose for his life.

What intrigued me the most is that it wasn’t important to Coffindaffer that he had amassed wealth as a business owner, but that after decades he truly understood his purpose. His wealth was just a conduit to be used to fulfill the mandate on his life.

I do believe that each of us at some time in our lives are given instructions about why we’re created. Some will heed them, and some will not. Those that don’t will leave this world without fulfilling their purpose. Yet, there will be others who will embrace it with passion as Coffindaffer did. That is not to say that they will have fame or fortune, but they will use the gifts and talents God has given them to fulfill their purpose and touch the lives of others.

You see, fulfilling your purpose is more about God than it is about you. Our gifts, talents and resources are used for God’s glory. Along the way, we lose sight of what our sojourn on this earth is all about. It is when you begin to understand that your existence is bigger than you. Each of us will leave a legacy behind. The legacy you leave will be determined by your moral convictions and values. It will also be determined by your relinquishing your will to God’s will and using your gifts and talents for a Kingdom agenda and not your own.

Coffindaffer realized his true meaning for being, even though the dictates of this world defined him as already a success. He moved from this world’s view of success to God’s. The interesting thing about it is that he did not have a huge staff to help him. Daily operations were fulfilled by him and a secretary. The crosses were erected by people who volunteered their sweat, tears, and time. Even in death Coffindaffer’s purpose does not end, because others have picked up the mantle to continue the work he started. Your purpose exceeds your earthly existence.

The next time you are riding down the highway and you see those three crosses, take a moment to reflect on their true meaning. We know that they are to remind us about the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, but they should also make you reflect on your purpose. If you do not know your purpose, it’s time for you to take a moment and ask God, “Why was I created? What are my gifts and talents? Really, you don’t have to wait for the ride up the highway. You can stop and ask Him now.

1. Your purpose comes from God. No one knows your purpose but God, because He is the one that created you.
2. Seek and ask God what your purpose is. He is the purpose giver and the purpose revealer. Sometimes God is trying to tell us our purpose, but we are too afraid to hear, not to mention to walk in it.
3. Your purpose has nothing to do with fame and fortune, but it has all to do with your obedience to God as you pursue it with passion and fervency.
4. Your purposeful assignment is beyond you. Your purpose is always in a particular geographic location, or locations; and it is always connected to people. God didn’t create us to be alone. It is serving your neighbor with your gifts and talents.
5. Your purpose is revealed to you early in life. Every talent and gift that God has given you is entrenched in your purpose. At some point when you were young, God revealed it to you. If you ask Him, He will take you back to the place of the first mention of your purpose.
6. Your purpose has nothing to do with whether or not you can finance it or not. It is who God has created you to be. When you begin to walk in your purpose, God will do what is necessary in propelling you to achieve it.
7. Your purpose outlives you. The legacy that we leave has more to do with making this world a better place. God instructed us to subdue, replenish, increase, and take dominion. Our purpose should expand the Kingdom agenda in sharing the love of God as we live out the greatest two commandments—to love God with all our hearts, minds, and souls and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

I do hope that you enjoy this gift of love on the seventh day of Christmas. It is my desire that these words of encouragement will propel you further down your path of success.

Enjoy Your Gift!

Jacqui Showers

The Bold Encourager
Business Encouragement Coach

Special thanks to Dennis Bratcher, CRI/Voice, Institute for excerpts. Visit this site for more in-depth information.

Your Fourth Christmas Gift | Showers’ Blessing Inspires

The “True Love” mentioned in the song doesn’t refer to an earthly suitor, but to God Himself. The “me” who receives the presents refers to every believer—that includes you. The four calling birds represents the Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, which proclaim the Good News of God’s reconciliation of the world to Himself in Jesus Christ. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 2 Cor 5:18-19 (KJV)

No Charge

The priceless gift of God’s love when He gave His Son so we could experience life to its fullest and have eternal life is priceless—it is unquantifiable. I believe with all my heart that God wants us to use every talent and gift He placed in each of us to make this world a better place. Jesus stated that He came that we would have life and have it more abundantly. I do believe with all my heart we must tap into the well-spring of talents and gifts that God has given us to succeed.

The four gospels echo of the unending love God bestows on us every single day. It began with His Son’s birth and culminated in His resurrection. It cries of His faith in His Son and His faith in our believing in the liberating possibilities His Son has given from the manger to the cross.

You do not want to squander the priceless gift of your future. Regardless of who you are or your perceived plight, there is so much greatness inside of you to be unleashed.

Do not allow the temporal forces of this world to prevent you from moving forward. All you must do is tap into the wellspring of greatness inside of you and experience the fullness of life God envisioned. He wants you to have a spiritually abundant whole and wealthy life every single day. The beauty is that there is nothing in this world to stop you. Nothing can prevent you from experiencing this gift of love that continues to give even beyond your last breath.

“What does all this cost?” No Charge!

I do hope that you enjoy this gift of love on the fourth day of Christmas. It is my desire that these words of encouragement will propel you further down your path of success.

Enjoy Your Gift!

Jacqui Showers

The Bold Encourager
Business Encouragement Coach

Special thanks to Dennis Bratcher, CRI/Voice, Institute for excerpts. Visit this site for more in-depth information.

Your First Christmas Gift | Showers’ Blessing Inspires

The “True Love” mentioned in the song doesn’t refer to an earthly suitor, but it refers to God Himself. The “me” who receives the presents refers to every baptized person. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on December 25, the first day of Christmas. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge that feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, recalling the expression of Christ’s sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: “Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered you under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but you would not have it so . . . .” (Luke 13:34)

I Am that I Am

My mother gave me a priceless gift to love God and to love others. Her instructions were simplistic, yet expansive, “Love one another.” I believe everything hinges on that humongous powerful four letter word — L-O-V-E.

God wants us to understand the magnitude of the role he plays within each of us, but he also wants us to understand the magnitude of the role we play in each other’s lives. Living out the greatest two commandments to love God with all our mind, body, and soul and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. I believe these two commandments, when kept at the forefront of our lives, keeps us grounded to serve and love one another.

Many times we want to feel that we are in this alone. When we isolate ourselves we become more consumed with what others can do for us and lose sight of what we can do for others. Self-serving attitudes and actions only lead to destructiveness and limitation. I AM—God within us—connects us and unifies us. God is love. We are united in His love. Together we exemplify unity in all of its nuances to achieve much more than we could ever achieve alone. Our actions and behaviors have a direct consequence on each other because when one is affected everyone is affected.

When we allow the I AM power dwelling in each of us to be our guiding force, the veil that prevents us from understanding our purpose is lifted. Allowing God, I Am That I Am, to guide and lead us to our expected purpose, we come up against mental strongholds that try to prevent us from experiencing all God has for our lives, which is directly connected to all God has for others’ lives.

Each of us may not want to fulfill our responsibility for the welfare and well-being of others, but we have no choice. It is rooted in the two greatest commandments. We are responsible for banning together and making things happen. God provides the purpose, but He also provides us the wisdom to know collectively we can do much more.

Working together we experience progress. We must respect the enterprising spirit inherent in each of us. If we don’t respect each other and support our respective dreams and aspirations, we will never excel to the heights God envisioned. Such a small word with illimitable power that not only transforms our lives, but enables us to love others in transforming their lives as well.

The Spirit of I Am answers the questions looming in our lives. His purpose is for us to be prosperous. His purpose is for us to be protected and safe. His purpose is for us to have the desires of our hearts. His purpose is for us to have power and a sound mind, not to be controlled by the limitations of this world, but to be controlled and guided by divine peace, joy, love and the Spirit of I AM.

1. At the core of God’s Spirit is love, which He gave to us when He gave us His only begotten Son, Jesus, for us to have eternal life and an abundant life in the earth.

This is your first gift of the 12 days of Christmas.

Enjoy Your Gift!

Jacqui Showers

The Bold Encourager
Business Encouragement Coach

Special thanks to Dennis Bratcher, CRI/Voice, Institute for excerpts. Visit this site for more in-depth information.

If you would like to receive the Twelve Days of Christmas Gift of Inspiration, subscribe here.

Merry Christmas! Accept My Gift to You | Showers’ Blessing Inspires

Greetings,

I love Christmas! I have more decorations than I almost have a place to put them. Over the years Christmas has meant more than just decorations for me. It is a time to celebrate Jesus’ birth with family and friends and pour out love to everyone. When I think about Christmases gone by, I can’t help but reminisce about how much fun my family enjoyed. We’d kick it off on Christmas Eve and celebrate every day until New Year’s Day.

The celebration included singing the Twelve Days of Christmas. Everyone loved singing the song since my sister Portia introduced it to us decades ago. In essence, each person is given a card with four of the gifts randomly chosen for them to sing at their respective time. That is what makes it so much fun!

As you move through the Twelve Days of Christmas, each person stands up and sings the portion of the song that is listed on their card. We are jumping up and down, singing, laughing, and just having a great time.

One year, I wanted to know more about the Twelve Days of Christmas and exactly what we were singing. To my amazement, it was more than a nonsensical song, but was a way for Catholics in England to practice their faith during a period when they were prohibited from doing so in public and in private. They were able to teach their children about Christmas and Christ using the symbols of each day. I was interestingly intrigued that the twelve days did not come before Christmas but started on Christmas evening and ended the evening of January 6. Over the years, the Twelve Days of Christmas have come to represent more than just a nonsensical song to me.

Oftentimes, at the end of one year and the beginning of another, we are always in a place of expectation. Celebrating Christmas this year, the significance of the Twelve Days of Christmas means giving gifts that propel others to fulfill their dreams and live out their purpose.

For twelve days, beginning on Christmas evening and culminating on January 6, expect a gift of encouragement. It is my way of saying thank you for your support for The Showers Group Ministries, The ME Place, Kingdom Marketplace Connection, Showers’ Blessing Inspires, 11:59 A Minute ’til Midnight Marketplace Prayer Bootcamp, JASSAI Publishing, The ME Place, and my family during the loss of my beloved sister Shirley Lee Holmes Mallette. It is my prayer and hope these gifts of inspiration will continue to propel you in this year, the next year, and years to come as you become all God envisioned so you can experience what God SAWW, Spiritual, Abundance, Wholeness, and Wealth.

Enjoy A Merry Christmas!

Jacqui Showers

The Bold Encourager
Business Encouragement Coach

If you would like to receive the Twelve Days of Christmas Gift of Inspiration, subscribe here.

Celebrating Family! Celebrating Thanksgiving!

Greetings,

As I approached this Thanksgiving, I was somewhat melancholy. I found myself missing so many family members and friends who were no longer here. Yes, I longed for Thanksgivings of yesteryear. I realize this was and continues to be my most favorite time of the year, the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. Although I lived hundreds of miles away from my family, I always managed to travel back to share in the holiday festivities. Rather than allow myself to be pulled into a place of melancholy, I decided to celebrate their lives by enjoying the holiday season.

Many are experiencing the loss of loved ones as they celebrate the first Thanksgiving without them. Others just missed their loved ones, even if they made their transitions in previous years. Nevertheless, it causes you to reflect on how much you miss them, love them and cherish their memory.

As you celebrate Thanksgiving and the rest of the Christmas season, garner joy in knowing how much their lives touched yours and brought meaning to you and how much you touched theirs. Don’t be afraid to remember all the great times shared. I am not minimizing the intensity of the loss, I know it quite well having lost mother, father, five sisters (one rhis year), a niece, two nephews, uncles, aunts, cousins, two pastors, and friends. I am no stranger to it.

I realize celebrating their life, contributions and legacies is more beneficial for my well-being. Remembering them is all of part of moving forward. They are as much a part of me as they were before they exited this life. Love and memories live in the heart and can never be destroyed. If you want to cry and shed some tears, that’s all right. Go ahead and do it. But also, laugh about the good times as well. Cherish and delight in the memories. Don’t allow the melancholy of the loss to consume you and push out the great memories you shared. Make a concerted effort to celebrate their life with joyful appreciation of how it brought meaning to yours.

If you have never lost anyone, reach out to someone who has. Spend time with them in celebrating their loved one. Don’t become impatient when they talk about them too much. They just need a compassionate listening ear. You’re there to help them through a difficult process. What an awesome gift to give—the gift of you.

Whatever holiday traditions you had, believe me your loved ones want you to continue with them. They enjoyed them while they were here with you and they want you to continue to enjoy them. Not to mention, for you to pass on to subsequent generations the importance of family and upholding family traditions.

That’s my commitment. Not to focus on what is a perceived loss, but that I am and have been so blessed with family, both then and now. In our hearts, each one is always with me. Won’t you join me in celebrating Thanksgiving for every blessing of family God gave each of us!

Enjoy Your Family!

Have a Happy Blessed Thanksgiving!

Jacqui Showers

The Bold Encourager
Business Encouragement Coach

Celebrate Memorial Day In Remembering Our War Heroes!

Greetings,

After May 2013, Memorial Day has never been the same for me. My sincere celebration of the holiday has taken on new meaning. Before I  celebrated Memorial Day more for the time with family than truly honoring the millions of fallen soldiers who gave their lives so we as Americans can enjoy freedom as no other nation. Now, I truly have an American Hero to celebrate.

My sister and best friend, Major Patricia Holmes-Ellison, led a command of soldiers, 273rd Military Police Company, in the 1991 Gulf War–having been one of the few women allowed to maintain leadership of a coed squad in combat. Early morning on May 14, 2013, she succumbed to lingering wounds from Desert Storm. She was a soldier’s soldier. Through her life, commitment to this country and death, I realized that these soldiers, even those who lost their lives, would fight again if given the opportunity. That is not to say that our country has always honored their efforts, commitment and ultimate sacrifice. I witnessed my sister fight for benefits that were rightfully hers being forced to prove that she was ever in combat.

Our patriotism for those who fight and sacrifice so much, even their lives, for us is grossly under celebrated. Not long ago I can remember the patriotism of America for those who had given their lives. Flags hung from houses as we were proud Americans honoring our war dead. In school we learned the battle and celebratory songs of this country in celebration of our country and those who gallantly served this country with honor and dignity. We recited the Pledge of Allegiance with pride knowing it united us not just as a nation, but as a country committed to God.

Today, most of our children don’t know those songs because of cuts from our music departments and we don’t sing them at home like we once did either. The majority of them don’t know the Pledge of Allegiance because God is mentioned and we are more concerned about offending rather than uniting in a corporate commitment to our country and our freedom.

Many of Americans are clueless about why we celebrate Memorial Day. Most of them feel it is another day off work; when in actuality it is a time for us to celebrate our war dead. These are the women and men who unselfishly gave of themselves and sacrificed the ultimate in battle, their lives, so we can have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Join me this Memorial Day to celebrate the millions of women and men who gave their lives so we as Americans can enjoy freedoms unlike any other nation. Pray for the strength of their families who lost their loved ones, some during battle and others later from wounds acquired during battle. Let us join together with pride knowing that their efforts and sacrifice will never be forgotten and they will never be in vain. We salute each of them throughout the history of America for their bravery, their courage and their sacrifice for us to be one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Enjoy a blessed momentous Memorial Day

Jacqui Showers

The Bold Encourager
Chief Encouragement Officer

Safely Enjoy Your Christmas!

This year has been extreme! As we continue to be shuttered away from celebrating with family and friends in person, we learn to improvise in our celebrations. Last evening, I had a great time celebrating with my family via Zoom in our traditional Christmas Eve Gift Exchange.

Last year we were shuttered away from family and friends because of the pandemic. I recall not missing a beat when it came to coming together with my family. We celebrated our beloved holidays, not being together, yet we were together. Thank God for technology that affords us the ability to still connect with family.

After almost two years of uncertainty, we find ourselves still battling an invisible foe. It seems as though when we think that it is just about winding down, it rears its ugly head again. Most of us thought that we would be enjoying our families without trepidation of a killer virus that has taken so many. Yet, we continue to be in that place. Unlike last year, we are not shuttered away. Unfortunately, the numbers of those being afflicted by the virus, and even succumbing to it is on the increase.

As we celebrate this holiday season, let us remember why we do it. It is because a loving God gifted us with His only son, Jesus Christ. In an unselfish display of love, God gave His only begotten son that we would have eternal life and experience an abundant life here on earth. I believe beyond belief, that abundant life included us uniting together in the face of adversity. We are facing one of the worse adversities of my lifetime. A pandemic that appears to be relentless.

We have to be just as relentless and vigilant in our efforts to ensure a different outcome for Christmas 2022. It begins with each of us exhibiting that same unselfish love God demonstrated. It begins when we love each other enough to do what is right for ourselves and others. I continue to wear my love mask, even though I have been vaccinated and received the booster. These are love gestures in my commitment to living the two greatest commandments—to love God and to love my neighbor as I love myself.

You see, I want everyone to experience an awesome Christmas with their loved ones. It is my desire that there will not be an empty place at the table when families sit down because their loved one was snatched away by COVID. It is my hope and desire that our children will be able to attend school mask-free, without fear of catching a virus that they can potentially take home. I look forward to the day when we can gather together without fear of events becoming super spreaders.

Every time, I put my mask on, I envision the day when I won’t have to wear it. Until then, my love gift is to put it on so others and myself can live. During this holiday season, let’s continue to demonstrate love by doing what is necessary to annihilate this disease.

Have an awesome Merry Christmas as you safely enjoy your family and friends!

Jacqui Showers

The Bold Encourager
Business Encouragement Coach