Madison Sanders Writes

Be a friend. You don't need money; Just a disposition sunny; Just the wish to help another Get along some way or other; Just a kindly hand extended Out to one who's unbefriended; Just the will to give or lend, This will make you someone's friend. Be a friend. You don't need glory. Friendship is a simple story. Pass by trifling errors blindly, Gaze on honest effort kindly, Cheer the youth who's bravely trying, Pity him who's sadly sighing; Just a little labor spend On the duties of a friend. Be a friend. The pay is bigger(Though not written by a figure) Than is earned by people clever In what's merely self-endeavor. You'll have friends instead of neighbors For the profits of your labors; You'll be richer in the end Than a prince, if you're a friend. I decided to share this in honor of a friend who is going through a physical struggle. Sometimes we all

Today pain grips me. I didn't sleep well, so I waited to get up. I wanted at least a little good sleep, and I did. I might as well get up, I thought. No sense in lying here. When pain or hardship comes, what will you do? Are you going to lie down and hope it goes away or will you get up and choose to have a good day in spite of how you feel? I chose to do the second one this morning. But there have been times when I couldn't get up. I've had times that I couldn't quote the Bible. I couldn't do anything but moan and cry. Today is a different day. I have weapons in my arsenal, and I know how to use them. I put a special cream on my foot that has a mixture of muscle relaxant, an anti-inflammatory, and a numbing medicine. I ate my breakfast. I took my pain pill. I praised Jesus. He is so good to me that He deserves a "Thank you, Lord for all You are doing and have done." This post is for those who have lost their will to fight. It's not

Molly Bukowski, Director of Special Projects at Teza Technologies, contacted me a few months ago and asked me to post something in honor of International Day of the Girl. While International Day of the Girl was October 1st, Teza Technologies and I believe women should be celebrated more than one day of the year! International Day of the Girl is a holiday committed to celebrating the successes and opportunities available to girls all over the world. Teza Technologies CEO Misha Malyshev believes that everyday should be the Day of the Girl in order to celebrate their successes in life. These opportunities pertain to everything in life, but Teza Technologies wants to celebrate the women in science, technology, engineering, and math(STEM). There are many reasons women should be celebrated. A woman's strength is unmatched. Just her presence alone changes the atmosphere around her. This is especially true in science, technology, engineering and math because women are not often in th

After praying on Saturday, this prayer came to me: Father, forgive me and the Church for putting You in a funnel. We've said that You have to move this way. Don't do anything on the weekends, God, because that is MY time. We don't want to be flexible. Forgive us for not letting You move the way You want to. Forgive us for getting in Your way. We have put You in a box. Your power is not to be contained. It is to be spread throughout the world. We haven't desired to see You move in all Your glory. We have only wanted a trickle here and a trickle there. Just enough to satisfy our wants and needs.  But You are SO much more than that! Your power is unmatched! You do miracles every day, but our eyes have grown dim to Your provisions. We have turned away from all that is pure and holy. Oh, God, help me draw closer to You. I repent for my selfish thoughts. I repent for not trusting You.  ~ Amen Then, it came full circle while reading Psalms 4:2, which says, &quo

My pastor's wife, Mrs. Geraldine, needs a kidney. She is the most caring and giving woman you will ever meet. Since the blogging community is so vast, I thought I would do a blog post to help spread the word. She needs a kidney from a living donor because the kidney will last longer. Here is a little bit about how she came to need a kidney: David and Geraldine Coker have been married for more than 45 years, have five children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. They are the founding pastors of Gateway Believers Fellowship in the small, rural town of Carnesville, Georgia where they have ministered for nearly 30 years. At the age of 42, Geraldine was struck with Wegener’s Granulomatosis, a rare disease causing inflammation of blood vessels and restricted blood flow to many vital organs. Following an intense battle with the disease, Geraldine went into remission for 15 years before the Wegener’s once again wrecked havoc on her body. She is currently in complete remis

I hear the longing in your voice Wishing for former days. Those days when you were agile, quick, and giving. Those times when you knew you made a difference. A little smile or a hug made all of your worries fade away. You didn't think about the long hours, Or the toll your work took on your body. You did it because you care. You did it because you knew you could help make people better. Now, things have changed. You are lonely. No longer able to move as quick. You seemed to have lost your sense of purpose, Your mind is filled with thoughts of what was, Unable to grasp what is. I hate this unwelcome visitor has robbed you of your health, But I will always be here I will always care. Though we might be separated by distance We are a kindred spirit. You and I keep the light burning bright for each other When I was down, you gave me hope. It's my turn to do the same for you. You didn't cease to matter the day you could

Woman Jogging Blur © Ariel da Silva Parreira via freeimages.com  Every day is a fight. My mind is made up. I will not quit. I don't care how bad the pain is. I am the victor. I will overcome. God's grace is more than enough. My body will do what I say. It has to move when I say, "Move!" I am not going back. Just as God said a few months ago, "My pain will not stop me. It will propel me. It will launch me." My spirit is going forward and my body has NO choice but to follow. No more slowing down. It's time to fight. Gloves are off. Lights are down. It is me against myself. I know the negative thoughts. That voice says, "Look at how many times you've fallen. You won't get back up this time." There's something deeper. Something the naked eye can't see. I have a spirit of determination that won't be quenched. Try to quell the fire inside, And it just burns brig

When I am going through a tough situation or having intense pain, I get two choices. I can wallow around and talk about how bad things are, or I can focus on something else. For those who may not know what to do when trouble comes, I thought I would share some of the ways I encourage myself. Here are some Scriptures that I think on and say whenever I feel pain: 1 Peter 2:24 says, "He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” Psalms 103:2-3 says, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases." I encourage myself by saying that God is my Healer. He is my life giver. He is my miracle worker, my personal surgeon, and my refuge. I encourage myself by saying that if God is for me, who can be against me? I say that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is working in my body, healing

© Tammy Sanders Today, I saw your face.  I have many times before, but this time your face was crystal clear to me.  I could see all of the hurt. The weariness in your eyes.  I could tell you are tired of fighting. Tired of fighting with yourself. Tired of believing the lies you've been told. Over and over, they weigh you down. You lose your tall stature. Your vision. Your hopes. Your dreams. Even though you were not in my presence, I prayed for you. I prayed you would let down those walls you have built, I prayed you would let love in. I know it's hard to trust. The pain must be a heavy burden to bear. But, today I prayed that you would see what God sees in you. That you would see what I see. The truth is you are a leader. You have so much to give. You will overcome. One day, you will be able to forgive. As I prayed, I couldn't stop the tears from flowing. I found a napkin tucked into my book. I gently dabbed my eyes as

Around the World © Jesse Therrien via freeimages.com This world is not the one I once knew. Last night, I was lying awake in bed thinking how much things have changed. I miss the days when people were kind to one another. They didn't expect anything in return. It was just human nature to help someone in need in any way possible. I miss the days when people actually talked. Today, our communication is centered around status updates, selfies, and texts. I miss the days of exploration and fun. Gone are the days when kids can just play for hours, maybe wandering off to explore the creek nearby. I play with my nephews outside, but it's just different. I miss the days of less government involvement. It seems like there is always some new rule or regulation being made that encroaches on our rights to privacy and security.  I miss the days of hardworking people. My grandparents and great grandparents worked for everything they had, and wouldn't dare a

My mom and I took a second journal donation to Greenville Memorial Hospital this afternoon. Some will be given to parents who have children in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and teens. This is my fourth journal donation total since I started last year. There were around 385 journals. Spector & Co. donated 362 7x10 eco journals that say "You are Just Awesome!" Ex Libris Anonymous in Portland, OR donated again. This time Jacob sent around 20. I didn't count them all this time. Ex Libris Anonymous is unique because they make blank journals out of old books. Each cover is unique and every book has some of the original pages throughout.  Morgan, one of the volunteers with Child Life Services, said, "Thank you so much for thinking of us!" This was more than just a nice thought. Greenville Memorial Hospital did SO much for my brother and I as premature babies. I can't say enough about the fabulous NICU team, including

I love my nephews more than they will ever know. They put a smile on my face even when I am hurting. They motivate me to be better. They make me question why I do things. But some days being an aunt hurts. I hurt when I can't be with them. Just the other day, I wished I could be helping my oldest nephew trace his letters. I wanted to help him learn everything at that moment. My mom came home, and my brain was bursting with words that began with different letters of the alphabet. "B is for bankrupt! T is for tractor! Or what about elephant, garage, Gram, octopus, old?" I said. "Did you think of those words while helping him? After thinking about it and talking with my mom, I realized I wanted to make everything easy for Mason. I wanted him to have the best environment every day, one that was conducive to learning and growing. I wished I could have been there to read to him, but the fact was I couldn't be there. Life is not perfect. "Really, Mason

© Tammy Sanders My nephew just finished his first week of Pre-K at the big elementary school. He has done a year at another place that was half a day. As he was in school this week, I was praying for him and the teachers. I thought I would share it here. Father, thank You for the safety of all the students. Your angels are positioned all around the building. No weapon formed against them shall prosper, and I plead the blood of Jesus over all of the students no matter where they go during the day. I thank You that give the teachers a grace to teach the material in the way the students can understand it, even the smallest ones. I thank You that the teachers mold the students. I say the students are being developed into leaders, problem solvers, and creative thinkers. Their minds soak up all of the information like sponges. They grasp the hard concepts and say, "I CAN do this!" Thank You, Lord, that teachers have grace among the chaos. Peace reigns in their

truck stuck in the mud © Nico van Diem  via freeimages.com It is common for muscles to stop working when you don't use them. The ability to move is there. You are just stuck. Even if you move around, you are not functioning at your highest potential.  Some synonyms for paralyzed are: incapacitated, powerless, and immobilized. While most people think about this in the physical sense, I started thinking about the Body of Christ. When the Church stops doing what they know to do, they are paralyzed. They are not as effective as they could and SHOULD be. What are some things the Church has quit doing? First, the Church has abandoned the Word. Psalms 119:11-16 says,    "I’m single-minded in pursuit of you; don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted. I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin myself bankrupt. Be blessed, God; train me in your ways of wise living. I’ll transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from your mouth; I

Don't slip © blue sky via freeimages.com I saw something tonight that inspired me to write. I saw someone who had let their standards down. They speak one thing out of their mouths, but their actions tell a different tale. Once this person got what they wanted, their standards have slipped. They are more lax about things than they used to be because it doesn't matter now. I don't have to be moral. I can let this slide. I can change my image just a little. I fit in now.  They didn't say these things out loud, but the message is very clear. Some may not even notice a change, but I did. It left me heartbroken. I am sad because there are fewer and fewer people who live by any kind of standard. How long are we going to be comfortable with the way things are? How long are we going to be comfortable with how we are? When are we going to start raising the bar? The first step is admitting that we have gotten slack in some areas. Someone told me, "The worst

I woke up this morning and I felt like a rubber band being pulled in every direction. My stomach muscles ached. I've been having some muscle spasms. In general, I've been in a very uncomfortable place. This morning, the words of my former physical therapist rolled over in my mind. "I believe in Madison." Sometimes, you just have to know that people believe in you. When the storms of life are raging and your strength is zapped, just keep doing what you know to do. When I am frustrated and irritable, my mom's words provide the anchor I need to stay steady. "Just keep doing what you need to do, Madison," she says. "Every day that you get up, sit up, and move around, you are doing something. You are exercising those muscles even if doesn't seem like much." Boy, do those thoughts try to bombard my mind. It doesn't seem like much. Some days are a struggle. Other days fly by. Instead of dwelling on where I am, I choose to pr

© Tammy Sanders Lushness contrasted with the wooded walkway. To the naked eye, it was nothing more than a way to get from point A to point B. I saw something different. The green foliage intertwined with the worn walkway to create something beautiful. This reminded me of our journey through life. When it seems like our life is like a weathered plank, there is something around the corner to make it beautiful. After Mama showed me the pictures, I noticed lights in several places. We are called to be a light to the world (Matthew 5:14). We all have places in our lives that are like that foliage. Some places are overgrown and messy, but when coupled with something to help you get through the mess, your life takes on a whole new meaning. Like the walkway, we need to make sure we are "walking" over the bad places in our lives. Don't get tangled up in unnecessary drama or stress. Stay on the path.

Geology 5 © Sean Carpenter  via freeimages.com I am having trouble being content with where I am physically. I am doing far more than I was a year ago for sure. "But I just want to get up (from my wheelchair) and start walking a lot. I want to get up and tell my body 'Let's go!' I said to Mama. "You should be content with what you are doing now," she said. I should be, but I know what I could be doing. I could be walking several days a week. I could be chasing my nephews around. I could be... How many times do we let the "could be's" in life stop us from seeing and celebrating what we ARE already doing? I am walking with my walker some. I am sitting up more. I am able to do some simple exercises. I am working on my book. I am helping more at church. I am making progress. I am being consistent with doing all that I know to do. I know that at this stage in life it's not about how much I do, it's about

Butterfly © toniambs  via freeimages.com I wrote this for The Celebration blog several years ago. It has been on my mind for a few weeks, so I decided to post it here. I am still being changed! Every day I become a little more like Jesus. I will never be perfect, but just to know that I don't have to stay broken and discouraged is so amazing! Watching my mom flip through magazines gave me something to focus on as I completed the exercises in physical therapy. (This was several years ago.) Suddenly, she stopped on one page. "Look at the stages of the butterfly. Maybe that would make a good post." I nodded and filed that away in my memory bank for later. The butterfly begins as an egg. It doesn't look like much to begin with. Guess what? When we are babies, we have much to learn! After a while the egg becomes a caterpillar. A caterpillar's main job is to eat. As young Christians, we, too, are hungry for the Word. The Word gives us life and promises that help us

© Tammy Sanders I was thinking about how my life has changed since I became an aunt. Here's my "You Know You're an Aunt When" list! 1. You know you're an aunt when your Youtube channel is filled with recommendations for Batman, Cars, monster trucks, and Sidewalk Cops episodes. 2. You know you're an aunt when you think about your nieces or nephews when they are not there. 3. You know you're an aunt when you sacrifice that afternoon nap to play with the boys. 4. You know you're an aunt when you look at your nieces or nephews and feel like your heart might burst! 5. You know you're an aunt when you find yourself planning activities and trips based on what kids like. 6. You know you're an aunt when you start spontaneously singing and dancing in the car just to make your niece or nephew laugh. 7. You know you're an aunt when you are constantly laughing at the silly things your niece or nephew says! 8. Yo

Arrow Sign on the Road ©  sardinelly  via freeimages.com I am having to stay focused on my goals right now. I can't think about how things were several years ago. I remind myself over and over of the phrase, "You can't go forward looking back." To stay focused and joyful while dealing with pain, I set small goals. I do a few exercises. I read a few chapters in a book. Another way I stay focused is by relaxing. Your muscles tense up when in pain. I have to be intentional when relaxing. I take deep breaths and focus on something else besides pain. Sometimes I sing. Sometimes I think about going on an adventure with my mom. I rehearse the positive things I've done during the day. The biggest thing for me is to just keep moving forward. Even if I can't quite sit up a whole day, I do something. Most of us get bogged down by the fact that we are not where we want to be so we end up in a rut without realizing it. My encouragement to myself and to you to

To do list © Kimberly Vohsen  via freeimages.com There are many books with for dummies in the title. These books are intended to help you understand a complicated subject. Here are five tips for being a better communicator. 1. Don’t overshare I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen phone numbers posted on people’s social media accounts. Why would you want the whole world to have your number? I really am puzzled by some things that are posted on the Internet. Many people tell where they are going and when. Some feel the need to post about every event that goes on in their lives within the hour. Who cares? 2. Be respectful Like I said in an older post, people thrive on drama. It’s no different on social media. The same kids that post questionable things often grown up to be people with no common sense. I do not understand why people continuously comment about petty situations. Things will get out of hand. Sometimes you just have to let things go and agree to disagree. Do

For a long time, I was not comfortable in my skin. I was too tall, too thin, I just did not fit in. One day, I told a close friend that I was ugly, She said, "I better never hear you say that again." When I got sick, the feeling was compounded. My smile never left, but the fire inside of me was quenched. I didn't look healthy. I was frail and thin because of health issues. But the thing that I had to fight the most wasn't my body, it was the thoughts within. Would the agony ever end? Since that day, I have been on a journey to love myself in my skin. Not changing with every fad, Not wearing much makeup. I prefer cardigans and tanks to mini dresses. I have never wanted to be the center of attention. I finally love me for me, In spite of what I've said and done. Now when I look at myself in the mirror, I am content. I know I will never be like the images in magazines. That's okay. I am imperfectly me.

Stephanie on Bench © Jamie Hack via freeimages.com While talking to my mom last night I said, "I must scare people." I said this because all throughout my life, people will get close to me, and then disappear. One instance happened a few months ago. Someone who knows me would talk to me occasionally and reach out through social media. This person came and saw me at home. I wasn't having a good day physically, so I was in bed. This person's jaw was slightly open upon seeing me. Yes, this is my reality. Cerebral palsy causes muscle tightness and pain that is worse on some days. I was smiling, but I could tell they were unsure of what to say next.  I think this person - and most people who know me - are shocked because I don't post about everything I go through on social media. I don't "check in" to my doctor's offices every time I have an appointment. I am a private person. I think if you really want to know how I am doing, you will ask.