Author: Carol Gibbs

I See You

The sweetest words that we can ever receive from another… I see you. I hear your words. I know your struggles. I feel your pain.

The most encouraging words… I see your heart. You are forgiven. You belong. There is hope.

The most powerful… I know you. You have purpose. I will go with you.  You are loved. 

I see you!

By Carol Marchant Gibbs

I have had the privilege of hearing many people’s personal stories through the years. It no longer surprises me, the ease at which people share their hearts and lives. People want to be known and whether their lives have been completely joy-filled or riddled with challenges, people are always eager share who they are and where they have been.

I am frequently overwhelmed by the injustice that many have been forced to endure in their lives. Life can be so unfair at times and it causes me to ask the question; Why? What if life was different for them? What would the world look like if everyone understood their true value? What if every person had a support system that came alongside them to encourage them throughout life? How would we respond to one another if  we loved without conditions? What if we truly loved?         

I often think about the way Jesus modeled love. To Jesus, love is not only a feeling but an active participation in the life of another. He has loved us from the beginning of time and has been actively involved in our lives, many times we are totally unaware. But, human beings don’t always love the way Jesus does. We need a reason to love, to see the best in others before we can choose to love them. Thankfully, that is not the way Jesus loves us. Jesus’ life of love was and is today for the sake of others. What would it look like if our lives reflected that same love?

May Jesus show Himself to each of us this Easter season. May our hearts be filled with the compassion that only He can give and may we love others as He does. 

Have a blessed Easter!!

Carol Marchant Gibbs

Stories Changing Lives

The Goodness of Life

I celebrate the goodness of life.  Memories dance joyfully through my mind.  They fill my heart with gratitude. I cherish the moments. I think of You as I am still… and I know.

I celebrate the goodness of life. It has been a gift to me. I smile when I  think of family;  “I do” for a magnificent lifetime.  The gift of children warms my heart. I am captivated by their beauty.

I celebrate the goodness of life. The laughter of grandchildren fills the air like beautiful music, it captures my soul.  Hugs and more hugs. My heart is overwhelmed with joy. 

I celebrate the goodness of life. For You have shown me what is good, Oh Lord.  I see your reflection in the face of another and I am completely undone. 

I celebrate the goodness of life. You beckon to me to speak for those who cannot for themselves. I welcome the privilege and open my mouth…Your words come forth.  “Well done”, You say. I dance for joy and You celebrate the goodness of life. 

 By Carol Marchant Gibbs

The challenges of this life can easily blind us to the joys in this world. It is too easy to focus on the hardships and miss the goodness that is occurring all around us. 

I attended a funeral this week that powerfully brought this to mind. It is in moments such as these that I am reminded of the goodness of this life. There is much to celebrate. Even in the midst of sorrow, God shows up in extraordinary ways, pouring His love upon the grief, bringing an ointment to the loss.

I am reminded that there is intention in our existence. We were created for a purpose. Our lives are not our own but designed to be given away. Like a sweet offering we are to bring the goodness of life to this world. Each day is a new opportunity to offer a life of celebration to another. 

Share the celebration this week!

Stories Changing Lives

Listen

We are strangers yet I think I know all about you.  My thoughts answer questions as we sit face to face.

“Who ARE you”?, I ask with great anticipation.  You smile and respond with your kindness and grace.

Then you joyfully tell of your family and friends.  You share childhood adventures, the turns and the bends. 

You tell of your antics, your books and your forts.  You talk about music and your favorite sports. 

I smile in agreement, then share after a time.  Great laughter erupts…and your friendship is mine.

Then, we share of our hardships, our struggles and fears. You take hold of my hand to give comfort to tears. 

We share of our victories and of our great faith… Our marriages, children, and we celebrate. 

We listen and learn and cherish our time.  Now family to me… for a lifetime. 

Listen. 

By Carol Marchant Gibbs

Something profound happens when we take time to really listen to another person. Listening can appear to be a very simple gesture but it has the potential to change us. Our hearts become open to new attitudes and our lives to new friendships.

Too often, our assumptions can deceive us, painting pictures of people that are a poor distortion of who they really are.

Allow the Great Artist to reveal a masterpiece to you today. May you be blessed with the gift of listening.

Blessings,

Carol Marchant Gibbs

Stories Changing Lives!!!

I have had the privilege of living enough years on this earth that I have seen how the power of love can transform hearts. I began to have a deeper understanding of God’s love for me when I looked into the eyes of my newborn sons the minute each of them were born. I was smitten by their beauty and the perfection of their creation. I believe God looks at us that way. He loves and cherishes us and desires for us to extend that to each other.

For most of us, loving our family and friends is easy. There is a history we’ve shared. Life with them is familiar. We know their stories and they know ours. 

But, there are many people out there that we do not know and actually resist getting to know. How do we love and cherish othersthat are different from us?We love others by listening to their stories. It is in the depths of transparency that an amazing exchange happens. As we listen and share life with another person, the voice of love is heard, “your life matters to me.” 

This season, take time to listen to someone’s story. You may be surprised by what you learn.

Blessings,

Carol Marchant Gibbs

#Storieschanginglives #whodoyousayiambook

Into the Wilderness

I go into the wilderness… 

My spirit tries to flee the darkness but cannot. 

I am paralyzed by the fear that surrounds me. 

Silence hangs like a shroud and I am overwhelmed by its weight.

“Deliver me”, I pray. “Show me the way. I am lost.” 

Then, Your voice pierces the darkness of my soul. “Remember.” 

I struggle to comprehend your words and You repeat,  “Remember.”

You take me by the hand and lead me forward, whispering, “I Am here.” 

The shroud begins to rise and light illuminates my world. I begin to see more clearly each color increasingly more vivid than before. 

Your words ring in my ears, “Remember… you are mine.”

Carol Marchant Gibbs (March 2019)

The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts through Easter, representing forty days that Jesus spent in the wilderness being tempted by the devil, at the beginning of His ministry. (Luke 4:1-13)

In the bible, the word “wilderness” is used to describe a place for intense experiences; a need for food and water, of isolation, of danger and divine deliverance, of renewal and deep encounters with God.

Jesus encountered many wilderness experiences:

*In the wilderness He was tempted by the devil for 40 days.
*His job of faith required that He be constantly traveling. Food and shelter were a daily need.
*People were often challenged by what He had to say and some resented that He professed to be the Son of God. So, there were many attempts on His life.
*And then… the cross.

And, just like Jesus, we, too, will experience the wilderness some time in our lives… as much as we try to avoid it. It may be in the form of mourning the loss of a loved one, or a job, or the rigors of caring for an family member, or a general disappointment in the direction of life. God goes with us into the difficult times of life. He reminds us of our identity in Him… His love and faithfulness… His power and authority. In the wilderness place, we are prepared for anything that comes into our lives.

Jesus was led by the Spirit into and out of the wilderness, but there are many people today who live in a “wilderness” state because circumstances of life have placed them there. They are the marginalized… people who have been judged because they differ in their skin color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion and yes, even people with disabilities. They are those who have been hurt by the lies of this world that question their identity and worth. Though they desire to be known, they live in isolation because of fear or an inability to communicate who they are. They are children of God.

This Lenten season, offer to God what He deeply desires. Pause from the busyness of  life to respond to His invitation…whatever it is. God may be inviting you into a new adventure… a new relationship. He may calling you to enter someone else’s world to bring His kindness and encouragement. Explore the possibilities with Him. God has plans for each of us and we can trust in His love. Remember…we are His.

Stories Changing Lives

     Between 1890 and 1924, America experienced one of the greatest influx of immigrants to this country. Millions of people, many fleeing hardship, came with hope of a better future. America quickly became known as a “Melting Pot” of many nations. (A term coined by an immigrant, Israel Zangwill)      People quickly changed their names as they walked through the gates of Ellis Island and other ports, fully embracing their new identity and exciting future. All people were considered Americans and everyone wanted to learn what it meant to be so. My grandparents were included in this population of immigrants.      My grandmother was only three years old when she arrived here with her family from Sicily. Most of her memories were made here, very few remained of her home in Italy. They came because the financial situation in their little fishing village had become bleak. America offered the hope of a new life.      My grandfather came much later. He was 17 years old when he boarded a boat to America. He was fleeing similar circumstances. Poverty cast a shadow over his village, and organized crime attempted to offer a better life there. My grandfather refused to succumb to that lifestyle and came alone to a country he knew nothing about. He did not speak the language but arrived with a piece of paper in his pocket, having the name and contact information of his closest relative here.      When he arrived at Ellis Island, he too altered the name he was given to become more “American”. He quickly located family, got a job, and enrolled in English classes.      My grandfather was never allowed the privilege of going to school in Italy. At a young age, he would help to work the family farm to make ends meet. So the fact that he became so proficient at learning the English language that he would substitute for the instructor on occasion was quite extraordinary. He was very proud of this accomplishment.      When my grandparents met up again in America, they fell in love, married and began their life together. Connecting with relatives between New York and Baltimore and in search of employment that would support a family of four children, my grandparents traveled some before settling in Baltimore.      This is where my story begins. My parents met here, fell in love, and raised a family of five children.       I’ve often thought about my grandparents and where I would be if they were unable to immigrate to America. Would I even exist?       When I think about our present state as a country, it saddens me to see that the “melting pot” that use to be a symbol for our all-embracing nation has become a boiling cauldron of intolerance, promoting a society divided by race, religion, nationality, and gender identity, resulting in blatant persecution of those who are different. The words “and justice for all” appear to becoming less of a reality.      How do we respond as we experience one of the greatest influx of immigrants in the history of the United States?      Compassion develops when we begin to know someone. Hearts and attitudes change when we hear someone’s personal story and get a clearer picture of their life.      Where does your story begin? Are you the child or grandchild of an immigrant? How would your life be different if your family was unable to come to this country?  “… I was a stranger and you invited me in.”Matthew 25:35

Stories changing lives!

     The Reverend Martin Luther King was one of the most influential civil rights activists in history.

     Born in Atlanta in 1929, he became a Baptist minister, incorporating Christian beliefs and the non-violent nature of Ghandi in his teachings. 

     In 1954,  he became actively involved in the civil rights movement, striving to put an end to racism and segregation through non-violent means.

     I was young when he was struckdown on April 4, 1968 in Memphis Tennessee by James Earl Ray but I remember the riots that resulted from his death and was afraid. I lived well outside of the city but have talked to those who were a witness to the violence that occurred. Below is an excerpt from an earlier post. 

  “I grew up in Baltimore city during the civil rights movement (1954-1968). As a child, I never sensed there was a ‘movement’ of any kind going on. I was blessed that way, I guess…

    I vividly remember the night of Dr. King’s assassination. My sister and I were spending the night with my grandmother. My grandmother lived on a very busy street. I would take great delight in seeing the shadows from the headlights of the cars make funny shapes through the blinds on the walls of her house. That night, there were no dancing lights streaming through the closed venetian blinds as I happily played. What was going on, I wondered?  I remember going to the window, peeking through the blinds and was horrified by what I saw! There were army tanks and soldiers with long rifles riding up and down the middle of the streets patrolling them and the behavior of the residents. There were no cars coming or going about their business anymore. My grandmother said there was a curfew in place because people were rioting after learning of Dr. King’s death. Rioting? I didn’t know what that was. I was blessed that way, I guess. I remember being so afraid and wanting to go home but there was no way out. We were supposed to go home the following morning but were forbidden to leave because of the curfew.  People were being arrested for breaking the curfew. We had to stay put for several days. I was ten years old. ” 

  I would love to be able to say that we have moved well beyond this injustice today but I don’t believe that is true. In some ways we have, but in other ways, we have gotten far worse. Why do we continue to divide people into groups according to race, nationality, sexual orientation, religion… and so on and so on? For what purpose?  

  It is my prayer that we will one day live out the the words of Martin Luther King, Jr.:

“Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.”

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed – we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”

“Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.”

God bless you all,

Carol

  Happy New Year!! What a beautifully full season this has been. I hope that you are feeling exceptionally blessed and that 2019 is like no other. 

My husband and I spent the weekend at the Q Christian Fellowship Conference in Chicago. 1,250+ people from the LGBTQ Community gathered from across the nation and other countries to worship and encourage each other in their faith. Affirming seminaries and other organizations were present to deliver a voice of invitation. Parents came to learn more and support their adult kids. Love filled this place. I had the privilege of hearing one story after another. Laughter and tears flowed freely. It was a sacred moment. 

If you ask if Jesus was here… He was…in an amazing way. He poured his love out all over this conference and you couldn’t miss the power of His presence…the joy. It was a privilege to behold. 

As I look forward to this new year, my thoughts venture to my new book and the privilege of hearing more stories. It is my hope that as we enter into people’s lives, we would gain a new perspective, and our presumed differences would dissolve before our eyes. 

May you experience the fullness of God’s love this year!!

Blessings,

Carol

     During this season, I look forward to the Advent devotional provided by Biola University. It is a collection of daily encouraging messages that beautifully depict Jesus through the arts.

     A few days ago, I was struck by the life and writing of  the poet Vassar Miller, mentioned in the devotional. Miller’s lifelong struggle with cerebral palsy made every physical task difficult. She began writing when she was a child, using a typewriter because her crippling disease profoundly affected her. Much of her work explored religious themes but she also wrote about the difficulties of living with cerebral palsy and the isolation she experienced. It was surprising to me how such a successful woman could feel so isolated. The beauty of her poem shared in the devotional touched me so deeply that I wanted to share it with you.

Invitation
by Vassar Miller

Here is the land where children
Feel snows that never freeze,
Where a star’s the reflection
Of a baby’s eyes.

Where both wise men and shepherds
Measure all Heaven no smaller
Nor larger than He is
And judge a lamb is taller,

Where old and cold for proof
Would take a stone apart,
Who find a wisp of hay
Less heavy on the heart

Come near the cradle where
The Light on hay reposes,
Where hands may touch the Word
This winter warm with roses.

     There are many people who experience isolation during the holidays. The reasons are numerous but the feeling of living outside of community for whatever reason is filled with pain. Do you know someone whose life circumstances may be causing them to feel isolated? What can you do to encourage someone during this very special season?

Stories changing lives.

Christmas blessings!!

     This is my favorite time of year. Despite the cold nip in the air, and the hustle and bustle, it’s a special time to think about those we love and design creative ways to express that love. 

      I am a gift giver so finding the perfect gift is important to me. I spend hours thinking about each person I love and what gift might best express that. I often solicit gift ideas from others and am grateful for their input but I am profoundly thankful to my daughter-in-law who in recognition of my “perfect gift” mentality, whole-heartedly supports my efforts. Now, she would tell you that she is not a gift giver, but I have witnessed a thoughtful precision in her choosing of gifts that results in each person feeling valued and very loved. Though she is a wife, and mother of four, and has to take into account Santa’s role in the mix, she always offers me the very best of her gift ideas. This is love for me. 

     It reminds me of a passage I was reading in the book of I Peter. I was captured by the words in chapter 1; “…love like your lives depended on it.” I don’t read The Message version of the Bible very often but it inspires many thoughts that other versions do not. This passage made me ask myself, how do we “love like our lives depended on it”? I have pondered this for a long time and am still trying to fully understand it but I do know one thing…Love may require us to go to extreme measures to express it and everyone needs to experience this type of love.   

      Because we are all unique, the giving and receiving of love can look different for each person. Love can find its expression in many ways. Gary Chapman, the author of The 5 Love Languages, illustrates how people receive love differently. Written originally for couples, he describes five ways that people communicate love: Words of affirmation, Gifts, Acts of Service, Quality time, and Physical touch.

     It is important to know how the people in our lives receive love. If you are buying expensive gifts for someone and their love language is “acts of service”, you may want to invest in a rake and help them rake the leaves in their yard instead. Remembering another person in a special way can be a wonderful thing but knowing them well enough to respond in a way that they feel loved is powerful. 

     Sometimes our giving of love is to a perfect stranger because our hearts have been touched by their lives. This is also a powerful expression of love that says to a person that someone sees them and they really matter.

     The NIV version of the same verse says, “…love one another deeply from the heart.” Whichever version you read, loving others is always the answer.

     Lives may not be dependent on my daughter-in-law’s providing of gift ideas but her response to me expresses a deep love that words do not and I am so very thankful.

     Tis the season to love extravagantly…“like your lives depended on it.” What could be more loving than the God of the universe humbly coming to earth in the form of a baby just so we could experience His love first hand? 

May you experience the fullness of giving and receiving love this season. 

Christmas blessings!!