Never Give up!!!

[Nicolete]

Don't give up.....
One day I decided to quit...
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
"God", I asked, "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer surprised me...
"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them.
I gave them light.
I gave them water.
The fern quickly grew from the earth.
Its brilliant green covered the floor.
Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.
And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said.
"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed.
But I would not quit.
In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would
Not quit." He said.
"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared
To the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...But just 6
Months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.
It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.
I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."
He asked me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots".
"I would not quit on the bamboo.
I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others."
He said.
"The bamboo had a different Purpose than the fern.
Yet they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come", God said to me.
"You will rise high"
"How high should I rise?"
I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned.
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and brought back this story.
I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.
Never, Never, Never Give up.
For the Christian Prayer is not an option but an opportunity.
Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is,
Tell the problem how Great the Lord is!*******************AMEN, AMEN, AMEN,

Heavens door open this morning, God asked me... My CHILD...
What can I do for you?" and I said "Daddy please protect and bless the one reading this message.
God smiled and answered ... "request granted ............
This message is now in your hands.
What will YOU do with it?

[KJM]

Thanks for the inspiration. Lord knows I need some right now.

[Shannon Wise]

Thank you, Nicolete. I had a really rough weekend and felt I was ready to check out. It's even very hard to look for God when you're messed up in the head with such negativity. I always try to remember two things...Be still and know that I am God, and Bloom where you are planted.

[Tricia McLaughlin]

Thanks, Nicolette, for posting this. I *really* needed to hear this tonight. It's been a long week, full of battles.

God Bless,
Tricia

[jayne]

Thank you for the encouragement. This poem is something every student should have posted somewhere so they read it several times a day, especially on those days when passing a test is impossible. Thank you again for posting this.
jayne

[Nicolete]

This was definitely an E-mail that I felt compelled to share. I'm sooooo glad that everybody who has read it so far found the inspiration in it. As court reporters students, especially, I know that we need it at ALL times. LOL.