Category Archives: Life Experiences

Short story writing collection relating to lifestyle themes.

The Strength of a Woman

Strength of a woman

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater‘s Hope Boykin. Photograph courtesy of Matthew Karas.

The strength of a woman…it is not always physical; for she is capable of so much more.

“She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.”  Proverbs 31:17

The Strength of a Woman

The strength of a woman,

goes beyond expectations.

It is not always physical;

for she is capable of so much more.

The strength of a woman,

how can one even touch the surface?

What may look like weakness to others,

is the very thing that fuels her power.

The strength of a woman,

though mysterious it may seem.

When her world seems to crumble before her,

she simply picks up the pieces and starts building again.

The strength of a woman,

it was uniquely created for her.

With it she has a purpose; with it she has life.

Nothing can destroy her; for her strength is grounded in God.

Felecia R. Weber 2015, OntheWingofaDove.com

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”  Proverbs 31:25

To all women…may you live powerfully in the strength that only God can provide.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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On A Mother’s Work

On A Mother’s Work

mother's workA Quote to Carry You

May 4, 2015

“A man’s work is from sun to sun, but a mother’s work is never done.” Author Unknown

On a mother’s work.  To say that “a mother’s work is never done” seems like an understatement when it comes to my mom.  It seems that no matter how  late it is at night, or sometimes how early in the wee hours of the morning, I can always count on my mother being there to talk to.  It seems that she never runs out of energy; there is always that one last thing she wants to get done before going to bed.  That one thing invariably turns into those last few things, and before you know it…well suffice it to say that she seems to just be getting her second wind when midnight rolls around  That’s my mom; she’s always doing something.  I so appreciate that about her and I’m happy today that I am much the same way.  As far back as I can remember, my mom has worked hard, no matter what the task, no matter what time of the day or night.  There is something else that I remember even more so too.  Through my mothers work, she showed her love for my dad, my sisters, and me…and that is truly something that she has done, and still does, so very well!  Thanks for all you do Mommy…I love you!

May you be sure to take the time this week to let your mother know how much her work means to you.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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A Beautiful Thing

 

A Beautiful Thing

Photograph courtesy of Martin Watson

A beautiful thing…There is a certain freedom in having less rather than more. When all of the adornments have been stripped away…

“I thought I was rich because I had this one flower; but I see that all I have is an ordinary rose…”  Antoine de Saint-Exupery (The Little Prince)

A Beautiful Thing

What do you have when you think you haven’t anything?

What you have…is a beautiful thing.

There is a certain freedom in having less rather than more.

When all of the adornments have been stripped away;

and all that is left is the bare wood, or the rust colored clay.

What is left when the shelf is empty, when the wall is blank?

What is left…is a beautiful thing.

How can one make something from nothing?

“That’s impossible,” one might say.

I beg to differ, there is purity, there is strength, there is dignity;

for when all is exposed and left out to decay…

only the solid pieces remain…building blocks that sustain.

So what do you have when all you have left are shattered parts that once were whole?

There you have it…a beautiful thing…a new creation…from the old is born the new.

Felecia R. Weber 2015, OntheWingofaDove.com

“God can do more with an empty heart than a full one.” (Author Unknown)

Peace and love,

Felecia

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I Got A Song

i got a song

Colored pencil drawing by Felecia R. Weber 1983, OntheWingofaDove.com

I got a song, you got a song, all God’s children got a song…

I Remember When

“I know why the caged bird sings.”  Maya Angelou

I was reminded of the old spiritual hymn “Going to Shout All Over God’s Heaven,” when it was referenced in a sermon given at my church a couple of Sunday’s ago.   As I heard the first few words of the song, “I got shoes, you got shoes, all God’s children got shoes” being sung to illustrate a point in the sermon, my mind was flooded with childhood memories of me singing that song in our church choir, oh so many years ago,  I remember clearly being so nervous singing my very first solo in front of the congregation.  I felt my voice quivering as I closed my eyes and vocalized the lyrics word by word.  It took all of the courage that I could muster to continue singing the soulful tune, but as I listened to the verses that came out of my mouth, somehow my confidence grew and a calm came over me.  As I got to the end of the song, I felt that I truly could “shout all over God’s heaven!”

Indeed, my favorite verse from that hymn is “I got a song, you got a song, all God’s children got a song…”  There is something about singing that places me into a different mindset; it stirs up a solitude within me.  To me, the smoothness of that elongated sound that seems to dance along the musical chords being played by an accompanying instrument mimics the way God guides his children harmoniously through life.  Even though there are times when tumultuous tunes clamor loudly and off key, his voice can be heard beyond the raucous…because he resides in our hearts.  That is where he composes the most beautiful music, and he creates each song uniquely for you and for me.

Yes, “all God’s children got a song,” but the best is yet to come.  Like the birds chirping their morning melodies at the dawn of each new day, those of us who put our hope and trust in God truly do have something to shout about.  For he has not only blessed us with the hope of a new day, he has also given us the promise of heaven.  When I think of heaven, and the glorious eternity that awaits me there, something wells up inside of me and it feels as though it leaps right out of my mouth.  The hope and anticipation of actually being with my Heavenly Father face to face is something that I cannot fully imagine.  It is however, the very thing that fills my heart with so much joy, so much peace, that when I get there, I am certain that “I’m going to  shout all over God’s heaven!”

Today, may you too be filled with the kind of hope that makes your heart sing…and shout!

Peace and love,

Felecia

 

 

 

 

 

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Where Do I Go From Here?

where do I go from here

Pen & ink drawing by Felecia R. Weber circa 1980, OntheWingofaDove.com

Where do I go from here?  Wondering what is the next step one should take can apply to almost any situation in life.

“Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”  T.S. Eliot

Where do I go from here?  That is a question that I am certain has been asked by many at some point in their lives.  It is a questions that doesn’t necessarily have to do with traveling from one destination to the next.  Wondering what is the next step one should take can apply to almost any situation in life.  Life in itself is full of uncertainties, as well as countless opportunities.  Unlike plugging in an address into a GPS device and receiving a clearly charted out route, knowing what direction to take when it comes to making critical decisions can be quite confusing.  All too often, we find ourselves so far off course, that we feel lost.

where do i go from here

Pen & ink drawing by Felecia R. Weber circa 1980, OntheWingofaDove.com

So how does one answer the question, where do I go from here?  I know when I face a fork in the road in my own life, many times I tend to pause and linger too long “taking in the scenery.”  I research, study and weigh my options so much that I suffer from information overload.  I fill my brain with so much “stuff” that, what used to be the perfect amount of information to carry along with me as I move forward, has turned into an oversized mass that I cannot possibly proceed with on my own.  At that point, I feel disoriented and need to seek help from someone else.  Even finding someone to help me can be challenging sometimes…but not when I seek the right source first.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

Where do I go from here?  Although I may not know exactly how to navigate my way to making the best decision, I do know who will always lead me in the right direction.  God is fully capable of and willing to help each of us through any challenges that we face.  He’ll not only direct us and see us safely through any situation, he’ll also work the outcome to be the very best for us.  He’ll make the way clear for us and stay right by our side until we get to where we need to be.  There is one thing that has to be done individually first though…we need to ask HIM, where do I go from here?

where do i go from here

Pen & ink drawing by Felecia R. Weber circa 1980, OntheWingofaDove.com

Where will you go from here?  May you find your answer in Him.

Peace an love,

Felecia

 

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On A Journey

On a journey

Photograph courtesy of David Brown

On a journey…On a journey, here I go.  I don’t have a plan, but I am going, this I know.

“It wasn’t long before Jonathan Gull was off by himself again, far out to sea, hungry, happy, learning.”  Richard Bach (Jonathan Livingston Seagull)

On A  Journey

On a journey, here I go,

I don’t have a plan, but I am going, this I know.

I think I’ll travel far, so I’ll be gone for a while.

Wherever I end up, I intend to enjoy every mile.

On a journey, I may walk on land, I may sail on the sea.

No matter how I get there, this journey is one …just for me.

Felecia R. Weber 2015, Onthewingofadove.com

Do you ever feel like just getting away?  Just packing a bag and heading off on a road with no particular destination in mind…just as long as it is someplace else.  Sometimes when I cannot physically get away, I close my eyes and let my mind take me down a road, along a trail, or even traversing the waves of the wide open sea. No matter where or how far my thoughts allow me to travel to, I always make my way back home…and you know whatI have found?  Home is sometimes the best destination I can ever wish to get to.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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On Adventure

On Adventure

on adventureA Quote to Carry You

April 20, 2015

“Adventure is worthwhile in itself.”  Amelia Earhart

On adventure.  What is the difference between a journey and an adventure?  Which one sounds more exciting?  Which one sounds the most appealing and fulfilling?  To take a journey is to travel from one place to another.  An adventure will get you from one place to another…but the route may not be at all what you expect.  The hills may turn into mountains, or what at first appears to be a crevice, may actually turn out to be an incredibly long and burdensome valley.  Smooth highways may lead to rocky roads that are difficult to navigate.  Now, here is another question…in the end, which one sounds more worth embarking on?

Happy travels…

Peace,

Felecia

 

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It Just Feels Good

It just feels good

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Alicia Graf Mack. Photograph courtesy of Andrew Eccles

It just feels good – It just feels good when things turn out for the best.  It is during those times that I can truly rest.

“As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.  Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”  Luke 1:44-45

It Just Feels Good

It just feels good when good news comes;

it can make me so excited, I just want to scream!

There is so much around that can make me sad,

so I fully rejoice when good things outweigh the bad.

It just feels good when things turn out for the best,

it seems like a weight is removed from my shoulders.

It is during those times that I can truly rest.

It just feels good, when my night turns into day;

the light makes everything bright and new.

No more stumbling, or falling for me…

for my path is illuminated; I can clearly find my way.

Felecia R. Weber 2015, OntheWingofaDove.com

There is something about good news that just feels good.  Life is full of good things to celebrate…getting accepted into the college of your choice, being offered that new job you’ve been longing for, finding out that the first grandchild in the family is soon to be born…I could go on and on.  My inspiration for this poem came from the scripture verses above, where the baby in Elizabeth’s womb, who would grow up to be John the Baptist, leaped for joy when Mary, pregnant with Jesus Christ, arrived.  Unlike the joy that we have because of the wonderful things that we get to experience and celebrate here on earth, the infant John’s joy was based on something far better.  His joy was based on the promise of the coming of our Lord and Savior being fulfilled.  That is not news that just feels good…it is good…it is the Good News!

May your day be filled with the good things in life…and may your good news be the Good News that truly counts.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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