A jolly hello from Inspiration from a Blind brought to you monthly by www.ShirleyCheng.com !
I have some exciting news to share with you! But first...
Do you know that I am the happiest girl you will ever meet? Okay, maybe one of the happiest, but I tell you, you will not find many people happier than I.
Why am I so happy, you wonder? Do I have ten bank accounts, each filled to the maximum FDIC-insured amount? Does my countenance radiate such beauty that every guy drools whenever he simply glances my way? Or do I have the happily-ever-after marriage that girls dream of? No, none of those; for one, I am not married—yet. (Psst, do you happen to know a chap whose happiness matches mine?)
I am an individual who is both blind and physically disabled, with the severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis that decided to call my body home for good when I was a mere infant twenty-five years ago.
A blind and disabled gal, happy? Is being blind and disabled the secret to my happiness? Well, not exactly, but it is what helps confirm the most important life lesson I have ever learned, received, and observed, so it makes me a very happy blind and physically disabled lady.
I have gathered and experienced firsthand that in life, everything is generally divided into two segments: the spiritual and the worldly. Those things that belong to the spiritual realm are everlasting—they do not know time; they do not know age. They withstand all trials and tribulations. Those who welcome the spiritual elements—long-suffering love, unconditional gratitude, undemanding hope, unwavering faith, and invaluable values—will achieve true success and happiness that will last well beyond life in this world, while leaving a legacy.
The worldly, on the other hand, give you only earthly success: wealth, power, and fame. When you die, these things die with you. What good is a roomful of money when you are dead? When we live, we need to collect treasures that will last forever so we can enjoy happiness forever. Many times, we are so focused on achieving what our flesh wants, we forget that whatever our flesh achieves will die with our flesh.
I also learned from the wise Teacher that the darkness, pain, and suffering of the worldly will all be things of the past, and death will be our last enemy. It brings no fruit to those who dwell upon the passing trials and tribulations, but it will be rewarding for those who use challenges as exercise machines for their minds and spirits. So being a spiritual person, embracing the spiritual aspects, will lead you to an enduring, fulfilling life. We are here to strengthen our spirits, to learn what Heavenly Father wants from us, so we can return His love and live by His almighty rule, eternally.
Therefore, I have enthusiastically embraced the spiritual segment of life with my whole heart and soul, and it has been the foundation of my happiness despite all the high mountains I have had to scale. Specifically, the cornerstone of my bliss lies in my deep faith in Jehovah God; it has allowed me to love and appreciate the life He has graciously given me, in turn enabling me to conquer fiery oceans and thorny jungles to come out with stars in my arms.
Indeed, I am blind and disabled, but I can still talk, I can still hear, I can still type, and I am still alive, so I utilize all those wonderful treasures to become an award-winning author with twenty book awards and nine books to my name, not to mention the more than a dozen books to which I have contributed.
If your best friend gave you a special present, would you not do your very best to care for it? My life is the most precious present God has ever bestowed upon me (besides my beloved mother, of course), so I do not want to give it up. I cannot give it up. I must not give it up. I have the responsibility to make the most of my situation, to embrace all life has to offer, to return Heavenly Father's unconditional love by accepting a virtuous way of living, and to share the good with others. And fulfilling my responsibilities, as you can see, makes me the happiest gal you will ever meet!
~*~Q&A with Shirley~*~
This month, an online friend and subscriber e-mailed me a question, and I thought it good to feature it here because it's applicable to anyone who desires to know what to focus on in life—that means most, if not all, of us.
Question: People seem to rush and don't have much time to help others. Many lecturers or professors in our school seem too busy to help us with our study (even just stopping for a moment and giving us advice wastes their time). They told us the motive to study better is to make money—it's unacceptable to me. I frankly think that money does help us a lot but it shouldn't be the motive. On my way to achieve my goal, I don't want to ignore others. If I pay too much attention to my study in school and future career, I'm afraid that I would turn my back on the values of kindness, goodness I've been taught. I'm really confused. What should I do, Shirley?
Answer: First, I applaud you for treasuring your values so highly. If more people held values and morality the way you do, then what a better world this would be! Values and morality is what life should be based on, and what people should value the most.
1. Never abandon your values, no matter what. Instead, always try to build your life upon them.
2. Ask yourself: what's my #1 priority in life? Personally, my priority in life is goodness (being good and doing good) and spreading the Gospel. That should be the priority in any Christian's life.
3. Once you have identified your #1 priority, focus on how you can achieve that through whatever career you choose. Once you have chosen your career, use that priority to motivate you to doing your best in your work. Examine how you may be able to use your career to expand your priority to help others. For example, I use my career as an author and speaker to achieve my priority to help others learn about Jehovah and Jesus. I agree, money should not be the sole motivator in anything.
Instead, one should put what is eternal first (the Kingdom of God) and be satisfied with making enough to support oneself and one's family. We're only going to live on Earth in this current life for an average of 80 years. What good would money do us when we are dead? So we must focus on the spiritual aspects of life that are eternal. And once we are resurrected, we have those eternal treasures to last with us forever. In short, we should focus on what lasts forever: the Kingdom of God and the principles that govern the Kingdom, which are love, peace, joy, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance—the fruit of the Holy Spirit. So right now, it is best to use that priority to motivate us in whatever we do in life. That's certainly my biggest motivator, and as you already know, that's the secret to my happiness.
~*~Shirley's Corner~*~
I'm highly honored and delighted to say that my story will be featured in the upcoming fall issue of Dr. Rick Warren's new quarterly magazine, Purpose Driven Connection, which will be available in stores nationwide. My story tells how Jehovah God Almighty has played the most vital role in my life and how the loss of my eyesight is a divine turn of events. You will be able to read my journey when the issue comes out later this month. Call your local Wal-Mart or major bookstore to see if they have the magazine.
In addition to the above good news, I have just released my favorite—and by far the most important—book: Do You Love Jehovah? God Almighty's Infinite Love & Wisdom to Propel You to Greatness.
Ever wondered where you came from and where you will go? Is your life more than the cradle and grave? Will the fruits of your works last merely eighty years? Your origin, purpose, and future do not have to be enigmas. "Do You Love Jehovah?" will help you discover your purpose and gently direct your way to align with the most sacred will: that of your Life-Giver, Jehovah.
Besides answering life's colossal questions, "Do You Love Jehovah?" clears up some of the most commonly misunderstood teachings about the Bible—all by using guidance straight from the Bible itself.
This book is non-denominational. The goal of "Do You Love Jehovah?" is to empower you to study the Holy Scriptures on your own to develop a lasting, sacred, fulfilling relationship with your Heavenly Father. Want to take up this most important mission you could ever undertake, now?
"...this book deserves to sit on the shelf next to the Bible...Shirley has all of the properties, emotions, logic and spiritual being that (Jehovah) was hoping to instill in each one of us. Shirley may be in a wheelchair, but has walked the universe. She may be blind but see's the true color and beauty in the world..." -Jan Hayner, Professional Organizer, Motivational Speaker and Personal Coach
"(Shirley) could preach a sermon with the best of the 18th century preachers." -Laura Evans, United Methodist Pastor's Wife, Certified Instructor
"(Shirley's) grassroots story telling make this book an excellent read for individuals who haven't made the time to read the Bible. This book would benefit anyone who has feelings of loss, loneliness, anger, selfishness, and low self worth. Great for children to learn the foundation their life was built upon." -Trish Lay, Life Coach, Speaker
"Jehovah is not about a new shiny car or winning a political election, Jehovah is about eternal love and goodness for all. He wants nothing more for this world that he created than a spiritual balance and harmony." -Dorothy Lafrinere, Women's Self-Esteem Expert
ISBN: 9780578000794; Trade Paperback, 377 pages
Available through Ingram, and autographed copies are available from www.ShirleyCheng.com (take a peek at the cover under "New Releases"!)
Do you want to know your purpose and how you fit in Jehovah's sacred plans for all? Do you want to experience the greatest love, joy, and peace? Do you want to learn more about your very Life-Giver to develop a lasting and fulfilling relationship with your Father?
If you said, "I do," to any of the above questions, then get an autographed copy of my book now. It makes a great gift for those you truly care about—that includes yourself! Today is the day that determines your future. Get your autographed copy now at www.shirleycheng.com
In closing, I leave you with this quote:
"…happy is the people whose God is Jehovah." (Psalm 144:15)
Have a super duper month! See you in October.
Content Copyright by Shirley Cheng; All rights reserved
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Award-Winning Author with 20 Book Awards
9-Time Parent to Parent Adding Wisdom Award Winner
Mom's Choice Awards Recipient
Miracle survivor, inspiring author and contributing author of 25 books by age 25, poet, motivational speaker, self-empowerment expert, advocate, and a co-author in the bestselling Wake Up...Live the Life You Love book series
Board member of World Positive Thinkers Club
http://www.shirleycheng.com Having a bad day? Then meet Shirley Cheng, A.K.A. the modern day Helen Keller, to inspire, empower, and motivate you to go for the gold medal in life!
"Although I'm blind, I can see far and wide; even though I'm disabled, I can climb high mountains. Let the ropes of hope haul you high!"
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