Day 26: Self Help Love Notes

How many of us have visited the "Self Help" aisle at the bookstore?  I admit it.  I have spent many hours perusing the shelves looking for that one book that would solve all of my life's problems.  Oh and the money I spent!  I have purchased books on coping with divorce, anxiety disorders, dealing with the death of a loved one, motivational books and even emotional well-being!  I can't speak for anyone else, but I never found the answers in any of those pages.  No one ever reached out from the bindings and hugged me with inspiration and a set of directions on how to navigate through the rough patches.  They were comforting at first, but as I read on, I realized I already knew all of the answers.  Can we really rely on some self-proclaimed experts to tell us how to live a bountiful, pain free life?  Maybe some benefit, but I was not one of those people.  In fact, I don't think I ever finished reading a single one.  We all know the answers, don't we?  We know we have to love ourselves and accept who we are.  We know we have to trust and take giant leaps of faith even when it seems the bottom is going to drop out.  We know that the keys to our salvation do not lie in the author's pen or even in our own hands--it lies with a much greater power and when we finally surrender to that realization; miracles begin to happen.

So I apologize if you are an author of a self-help book.  I'm sure your intentions are good, but wouldn't it be great if there was a book of affirmations that spoke to the real heart of the matter?  We all have struggles.  We all have difficult journeys and we all get lost at times.  But if we follow the Way, the Truth and the Light, we cannot possibly fail.  "If God be for us, who can be against us?" ~ Romans 8:31.  How comforting that one statement is.  God is for us!  He is with us!  Which leads me to my ARK today.....

I was at the bookstore yesterday--I'm sorry, I just can't stay away.  I love the smell of the pages, the way the leather and binding feels when I run my fingers over them.  I love the embossed covers and the printed word.  I can't help it, it's a sickness, I know.  You should see me at the Library!!!  Anyway, I digress.....

As I was saying, I was at the bookstore pouring over art books and I couldn't help but notice the amount of people that were up and down the self help aisle.  Just like I used to be.  I watched the people, mostly women, who seemed to be desperately searching for answers. Almost every one selected a book and made their way to the front to pay for it.  Then.....an idea!  I sat down at a table and tore a bunch of strips out of my notebook and began writing little love notes to stick in the pages of the books!  I felt so devious yet excited at the same time.  I wrote things like, "You are loved-don't ever forget it!"  "You are stronger than you think you are." "You can get through anything, this is a minor setback!" "You already know the answers, you can make it!"

My heart was beating out of my chest as I selected random books and tucked a note deep inside {actually, not too far from the beginning of the books because no one ever finishes them!} As I stealthily hid each note, I thought about how the person who finds it might react.  Surprised at first, I imagined, but then maybe it would give them hope. Maybe they would get more inspiration from the note left there than the actual book.  Maybe they would read the note and realize they had to push harder to find their truth.  Whatever the outcome, I knew it would be a kind surprise that would brighten the day of someone who was experiencing darkness.  No harm in that!  So from me to all of you searching for help . . . a little love note to help you move through this and closer to Him!

"Words which do not give the light of Christ increase the darkness." ~ Mother Teresa