Back in the Saddle!

This morning I woke up with a huge smile on my face, for the first time in a long time. I felt as though the dark cloud that had been hanging over me had finally passed and the sun is shining through again.

You see, for the past year I have been suffering with the most debilitating depression. I’d given up my business, lost my marriage and now more recently, my home, and was at such a low place in my life that there were times I honestly felt I would not survive another day. If it wasn’t for my two boys and the wonderful support of friends and family, the cloud may have consumed me entirely.

This post is really to say thank you to some very special, wonderful people. Sometimes it’s the little insignificant things you do or say that can make a world of difference to someone else. When that spur-of-the-moment urge strikes and you feel you should make the call, send the SMS or email – DO IT! You have no idea how powerful that one moment of contact can be.

Last week two amazing incidents helped me more than words can say. The first was an email I received from my dear friend, Marvin Phillips in USA. If you’ve seen the acknowledgement section in my book, you’ll know that Marvin is “My angel without wings”. Better than any Red Bull, he gives ME wings! Thank you Marvin so much for sending that email which arrived at a time when it made the most difference to my life. I love you to bits!

The second incident was a phone call from Glen McQuirk author of Map4Life and founder of The Purpose Club. I’ve been a member for some years now and once wrote a testimonial for their website but haven’t actively participated for a while. Glen would probably have been one of the last people on the planet I’d expect to hear from. Anyway, Glen called because he just “felt that he needed to encourage me” – out of the blue – imagine that. Oh what a blessing! Glen, I’m taking your advice, I’ve pulled out the visions, dusted off the dreams and am going to make sure the last few months of this year see me heading right toward my goals. (I’ve dug out that second manuscript and am hopping right back in the writing saddle again!)

To my long-suffering friends and family who have encouraged me so much just by being there – even when I spent months hibernating in isolation from everyone, thank you! Thank you for not giving up on me when I was being a pain in the you-know-what. In thinking about this post, I started counting the friends who’ve been so wonderful and as the list grew and grew I was overwhelmed by the amazing people in my life (see, that’s why the Bible says “Count your blessings”). Mom, Dad, Sandy, Kevin, Janelle, Brenda, Bruce, Ian, Tessa, Candy, Mark, Charl, Chris, Glen Thomson, Dudonne, Rod, Lande, Victor, Stella, Saldri, Andre, Sally, and so many many more!

I wrote this poem over a year ago and it has always been my favourite but today I see that with each kind gesture shown by each and every one of you, I was granted that touch of the cloak that I so desperately desired. Thank you for being that contact with my Father, here on earth, when the pain was so bad that one small touch could make a difference. Thank you, thank you, thank you! God bless you all!

Oh, to touch His cloak

Oh, if I could only touch His cloak
And feel the rough fabric as it brushes past my skin
To know that for one brief moment in time
I was right there, standing close to Him

If I could reach out my arm to touch Him
Even if just with my finger tips
My whole life would be changed forever
As songs of gratitude leave my lips

His awesome power would fill my being
Like light shining in a darkened place
Revealing my hidden hurts, sorrows and pain
And replacing them with His healing grace

I don’t need to see His face smiling down
On the children dancing at his feet
I don’t need to shuffle to get ahead
Of the people crowded around Him in the street

All I need is just to touch His cloak
Just one small contact with my King
And I’ll be cured of my pain forever
The rest of my life His praises to sing

I’ll close my eyes and block the world from my mind
As I stretch out my hand
He’ll know it when I touch Him
He’ll feel His power leave and He’ll understand

I don’t mind if He keeps on walking
He doesn’t need to stop and turn my way
Just one touch is all I ask from Him
There’ll be nothing else, no words to say

More than that, would be the greatest gift
A blessing too awesome for me to bear
Just one touch Lord, just one touch
And for Him to know that I was there

Bronwyn Johnson

Thank you all for being that one touch!