Glass Jar of Gems

Written By: Deanna Marie Battista

Welcome blue ribbons! You’ve got mail. With this letter from heaven the angels sent us, I am going to reflect one of the most potent gifts that God has given me and offer this up for others to further be inspired and motivated by. What makes someone that has ties to the utmost vulnerable want to share with the world the levels of truth, light, and darkness in comparison to before she knew God versus after he found her? How in the varying degrees of contrast can we see from walking through the world stepping on broken light bulbs in Act I of my life, and then correlating the beginning to the end which was just adjacent to another beginning imparting my way of being the one that lights the match instead? I have found many points of breaking and mending throughout the maze of journeys. God both called out for me in the distance and waited for me just the same. I’m a writer. God has made me in this way. Through suffering, healing and then the back and forth those have called to one another, I have always had writing become an echo of my voice that grew more than just silent. In this world of so many, I want to share to make an extension of my bubble turning more than just light blue one day. God has so granted the aspect and notes worth mentioning to all of you. I was always a writer. But I wasn’t always a good one. Just like I’ve always been wounded, but not always good about carrying my wounds. I’ve healed, in many ways and some that were wrong. One may even question, how could one heal in a wrong way? When it’s without God. Many things in this world drive us. Whether it be the bustle of the day to day. The schedule and calendar that hangs on the wall or planner we carry with us. Family, work, school and so much more. Not to mention when the passions or dreams you have in this world drive you. Also some may yearn for greater things to come of their career or sought after wishes to have a happy ending as they see it (from their will), all the while battling the sins and temptations of this worldly paradise all around. I think the key here is to use me as an example. Whether it correlated to my everyday responsibilities as an employee, student or daughter. Or if it had to do with my own potential that I wasn’t trying to snuff out but couldn’t use in the right way; the answer is this. It’s because my heart was divided. It’s not about the sadness that can wash over our lives. It’s not even about the joyous times or those that are deemed as “lucky.” It’s the focus of walking with your creator knowingly compared to when you haven’t. We all have been washed by the blood of Christ. Most of us have even been made clean by the waters of holy baptism. Some of us walk the fine line towards redemption and penance for the forgiveness of sins. But nothing can compare to the gift one can find on this earth, the closest to heaven we can hold. When the spirit and soul connect as one. The semblance of the breath of life God departed to Adam that he then lost, we get back in a measurement of a single mustard seed. That’s faith. That’s knowing your Father in heaven. That’s when the direct line of the lamb will come and save you, mostly from yourself and the dangers the rest of this world poses when you continue to walk through your journey without him. Run towards the Father, not away from him. Know God to know yourself, hear him to decipher your own voice and curate the utmost importance with reverence to prayer and how vital a relationship with Jesus is. To turn your face towards his grace and follow his will. It will become your own. “Sometimes God will call you out of the fire and will protect you from it, but sometimes God can call you through the fire and protect you in it.” No one is better than God. But more so, no version of you is better without him! Until the next letter from heaven falls down from the clouds above, use this letter as a lock and key to a better tomorrow and a heartfelt goodbye to the you that was yesterday.