Printed on old yellowed paper, I’ve kept a clipping of these powerful little lines, entitled MORE WITHIN by William Arthur Ward: An acorn is more than just an acorn; Within it is a giant oak.

A caterpillar is more than just a caterpillar; Within it is a brilliant butterfly.

An egg is more than just an egg; Within it is a beautiful bird.

A thought is more than just a thought; Within it is a generous deed.

A dream is more than just a dream; Within it is a joyous reality.

An infant is more than just an infant; Within it is a triumphant adult.

Unfinished things are more than human eyes can see, And ‘mortals’ are much more than we appear to be!

These words reminds me of getting to know Patsy Clairmont, an inspiring, dynamic speaker of the former nationwide Women of Faith Conferences. Her published words encourages us to believe if we face our fears we continue to grow stronger. Author of YOU ARE MORE THAN YOU KNOW, she says that, to help us in challenging times, God uses broken people to help broken people. She says ‘God has designed us to be capable, functional, joyful, and ingenious. Add to the mix sane, sensible, and stable.... We are truly more than we know.’

Quoting A. A. Milne’s WINNIE THE POOH, ‘Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe.’ Clairmont says that it’s her belief and experience that if we can handle the daily fears, we will be better prepared to deal with the more profound fears. She adds, ‘Although any little fear can potentially morph into a biggie when we are in the struggle.’

Sometimes we struggle with supposedly impossible people, but Thomas a Kempis wrote: ‘Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.’

Clairmont says that God created our will to be stronger than our emotions, so that when our feelings are unreasonable, inaccurate, or out of control, we don’t have to become a victim of their intensity.... Strength within us can help us choose to be brave and take deliberate steps toward health and balance.

Clairmont had to learn to be brave as she began to overcome being an agoraphobic-- being afraid to leave her home and sometimes even her bed for several years. Little would she have believed that a few years later, she would be an inspiring speaker for crowds of millions (mostly women). She would fly all over the U. S., even training people how to be platform speakers. She moved from having a fear-based life to a faith-based life of freedom. It took time and courage.

To change ingrained bad habits will take knee-knocking gutsy effort and personal mercy. She also says we have to become our own cheerleader. It’s not easy when we have spent years saying mean-spirited things to ourselves to then attempt being kind-spirited and tender-hearted. She adds that we can’t outrun ourselves. Our untended heart will spill out in ways we had not meant it to. We are invited to enter green pastures of goodness and mercy, for it’s in the presence of Christ and under His tutelage that we are assured of our worth.

We are to look for what’s right in life and people, instead of what’s wrong. Anybody can find the wrong, but it takes the astute to discern the right, the good, and the worthy. Then, show your appreciation; it adds joy-sparks to your conversations and your relationships.

So, we have choices in order to make things better for ourselves. Our attitude MUST BE positive. God created us with potential beyond our understanding, says Clairmont. When we are eager to learn and are willing to make the reasonable choices even in unreasonable circumstances, we enter into the ‘more,’ and then life becomes a joy, people become necessary, and faith a privilege. After my husband passed, then my sweet dog, too, I felt somewhat lost. Then COVID hit, so my social life stopped until I realized my experience wasn’t as truly lonely as those in nursing homes, so I began making Valentines, Thinking of You, and Christmas cards, using card stock with old card fronts and embellishing them. I did this for 3 homes in Seminole and 3 in Wewoka. I did this 3 times a year for about 400 residents. That’s over 1,000 a year for 5 years, (but now I only create the summer and Christmas cards).

And to reach out to others, I continue to writing this column to give hope and inspiration--for 10 years now. These activities do require self-discipline. When I feel like it doesn’t matter or I don’t matter, I usually bump into people on the street, the post office, or a restaurant, telling me they read my columns and to keep up the good work.... So, I continue on with encouraged confidence. I appreciate the privilege of being able to do it.

Have a blessed week and share kind words with a smile. You just never know how it may affect others. It may rekindle beliefs of worthiness that had slipped away. It’s worth the effort!

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