Can we let 'em say it?

I don’t know…maybe I’m just picky, weird, you can define me , but it sorta bothers me that we aren’t too good at listening to someone sharing a special encouragement they’ve received or learned without seeming to feel we just gotta try and point out how we’ve also been there, done that….and honestly it comes across as if we’re saying “I can top you”.

I am sure that many of these comebacks aren’t intentional, but can we try a little harder to give them a “great”, “proud of you”, “proud for you”, “praising with you”, or something akin? In other words, let them have their “moment” .

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From here to there

A lot of you are familiar with or at least know of my only niece, Scarlett (or Sweet Scarlett, as I often refer to her). A brilliant gal in the prime of her life and career was involved in a horrible car accident at the age of 36, leaving her with a severe brain injury. God has brought her so far….so many accomplishments that she wasn’t “supposed” to ever achieve. A couple of years ago while she was going through a particularly hard struggle, she said to me, “Aunt Ann, I know I’m gonna make it, but right now I’m in that in between place”. I knew exactly what she was saying…and I’d imagine you do, too, right? We believe that God’s gonna walk with us and get us to the other side…however, sometimes it just seems like a longggggg way from here to there, doesn’t it? We’re gonna make it..but there are times we sure do need a hand to hold or place to rest on the journey….’cause we aren’t “there” yet…and we need to hear from somebody, who actually cares where we are struggling, that w...

Faith Giving

My parents taught me about being quick to give but to use good judgment and wisdom in who to give to and making sure I give for the right reasons. I’ve been truly blessed these past few days by true givers. Typically January is a slow month for traveling ministries like Downing Ministries. This month has been especially challenging in that one weekend had only one booking and this past weekend just didn’t book at all. Having seen the major snowstorm that blew through late last week, we wouldn’t likely have been able to fulfill dates if they had scheduled. I’ve been hesitant to do a “plea” as such for help, somehow feeling that God had this and could work far better than I could. I want to report, as I do the happy dance, that “giving folks” have started doing just that…GIVING out of their hearts to Downing Ministries. To make the happy dance last longer, let me say that most of these gifts are from some folks I KNOW don’t have it to give in ...

No Matter What

Several years ago a friend shared with me that his route to work every day took him through a toll booth....and he tried to always choose a certain booth. This is because the gentleman manning that booth was an elderly man who always had something "bright and sunny" to say to him. Every morning my friend would hear "Have a good day, no matter what!" Now, there were days my friend drove up to that toll booth with zillions of questions in his head of how he was gonna make it through a challenging day that was always before him when he arrived at his workplace. But he just kept those words in his head...and heart..."Have a good day, no matter what". Now, that's a choice, isn't it? "No matter what"???? I don't know about you, but I honestly don't find that coming naturally to me...it's a struggle to find sunshine on those cloudy, dreary mornings...'cause it just doesn't show up in my eyesight. But, that's w...

Reality Check with Ann Downing...

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