About the time this edition
of the FOCUS hits your doorstep (or inbox) we, as a nation, will be paying our
final respects to former President Jimmy Carter. President Carter’s legacy as a
husband, father, grandfather, humanitarian, peacekeeper, and man of God has
been at or near the top of the news headlines since the day of his passing. Mainstream
media, as we all know, is always quick to criticize, ridicule, and mock anyone
and anything that differs from their liberal views. But not this time. And
would you like to know why? Because they can’t.
That’s right. They can’t.
They can’t ridicule and mock President Carter because to do so would be a)
utter foolishness, and b) a super-duper whopper-sized lie that even the media
won’t touch.
For you see, President Jimmy
Carter lived an ecclesiastical life. He knew what Solomon meant when he wrote: “A
good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than
the day of birth. It is better to go to a house of
mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the
destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.” ~Ecclesiastes
7:1-2 NIV
The first phrase in this
passage—the one about the value of a good name—is easy to understand. But the
day of death better than the day of one’s birth? What does that mean? And how
could mourning someone possibly be better than celebrating (feasting) with
them?
When we are born, we are
all equal. Equally helpless, dependent, and positively pure and blameless.
There’s not a single solitary mean thought or intention in our tiny little
cute-as-a-bug bodies. But…
But over time and the
passage of years, we make choices and decisions between good and bad and right
and wrong. We choose to live loving fulfilling lives, or to live with a victim mentality.
We develop such character traits as honor, integrity, loyalty, and kindness, or
the traits of selfishness, passiveness, and intolerance. We choose to honor God.
Or not. And on that day—the day we breathe our last—those who know us well, and
even those who know of us will be left to bear witness to whether or not
our death is one worth mourning.
The way we live, i.e., what
we do, how we do it, who we do it to/with, and the motives which drive us, will
either be celebrated or talked about. Let that sink in.
Of course, they (the
media) talk about the energy crisis, the Iranian hostage situation, and several
other things that happened during Carter’s presidency. But so did he. They have
shared how sweeping Regan’s win over Carter was. But that’s what happened, and President
Carter, being the man of integrity that he was, took it in stride and moved
one. Yes, he, along with First Lady Rosalynn Carter, moved on to bigger (yes,
even bigger than the presidency) and better things.
I won’t take the time to
list these things because you have undoubtedly been reminded of them (or
learning about them for the first time) over the last several days. Instead, I
want to leave you with a single thought followed by a question.
The thought is this: The
reason the media cannot criticize President Carter’s life and legacy is because
there’s nothing to talk about. Instead, it is one worthy of only the highest
and most genuine celebration.
The question is this: When
you die, will people talk about you, or will they be celebrating your life?
Be salt and light,
Darla, aka, Momma D
Who am I?
I’m Darla Noble—Author, Speaker, and Ghostwriter with over thirty years of experience. I am known for being a great storyteller, but not merely for the sake of telling a story. The stories I tell are a) true and b) they always have a takeaway, i.e., a life lesson meant to help you be a better version of yourself.
I’m Darla Noble—wife, mom, nanna, and a little ‘oldish’ lady who loves Jesus, her family, playing in the dirt, walking…walking…and more walking, riding bikes, eating popcorn, roast beef, Mexican food, reading, and watching old sitcoms.
What do I write?
Inspirational nonfiction—Christian devotionals, books that spark the creativity in every mom and nanna’s heart, and one that breathes new life into the art of being a good neighbor and reminds you of why it matters.
Historical nonfiction—WWII and family memoirs.
Character Education & Family Fun—Books that use science and scripture to teach positive character, scavenger hunts of all kinds that are both educational and FUN, and write-in journals for tweens and teens.
What do I say and who do I say it to?
*WWII hands-on display and presentation based on “All My Love, George…Letters from a WWII Hero”. The presentation consists of brief reading from the book, an interactive time of Q&A, and time for participants to view and examine a variety of WWII memorabilia including George’s original letters and medals.
*Keepsake In The Making Classes, using the book, “Please Pass the Memories” as inspiration, the class consists of exploring and brainstorming fun, creative, and interesting ways we can use your family’s keepsakes, recipes, photos, stories, and even traditions (YIKES) to bring past, present, and future generations of your family together. Everyone needs and wants to have a sense of who and where they come from, and the Keepsake In The Making Class is the perfect way to do just that!
*Women’s ministry events/conferences/retreats. I offer several programs that are easily adaptable to fit your needs and timeframe. Workshops for each one are optional. Programs offered include: “Jesus and Zinnias Make Me Smile”, “Deuteronomy 6 Parenting”, “Please Pass the Memories:, “Love, Momma D; Getting to the Heart of Parenting From the Heart”, and “Sippin’ Tea With Jesus”. NOTE: I am also happy to speak on a topic/subject matter of your choosing.
*The Nanna Subscription—an easy, but oh, so fun mini-class which equips Nanna, Gma, Granny, Mama, Mimi, or whatever name your grandkids have for you, with EVERYTHING you need to engage and connect with your grandkids on a regular basis. No matter how young or old they are, no matter how many miles separate you, no matter how many grandkids you have, no matter…anything!
*Brighten the Corner Where You Are” is my newest book as well as the focus of an event I offer to individuals, community chambers of commerce, neighborhood organizations, HOAs (Home Owner Association), church groups, and anyone else interested in reviving the art of being a genuine friend and neighbor. Participants will discover (or rediscover) the value of kindness among neighbors, and of having a small circle of people you can count on and who can count on you…no matter what.
*Fun with science and a few illusions, “The Sneaky Banana Lesson (plus 26 more)” is a character education program for ages 5 to 15. This event is engaging, interactive, and overflows with life lessons young people relate to and that will make them want to be a little better and stand a little taller.
*If you don’t think it’s possible to have fun teaching math, science, verbal skills, ordering, rational thinking, and grammar, social skills, and team building, think again! “The Medium-Sized Book of Scavenger Hunts” event gets kids up and about, inside and out, talking and listening, and learning on the sly. This event is fun for classrooms, parties, family events, social gathers, team building, and lots more.
Fees for events vary. For more information, questions, or to book an event, CONTACT ME at dnoblewrites@yahoo.com, on Linkedin (Darla Noble), or on Facebook (Darla Noble).
Where can you find me?
My books are available worldwide via Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or directly from me when you email me at dnoblewrites@yahoo.com. You can also request any title from your favorite brick and mortar bookstore or order on my Square Store