STORYTIME TAPESTRY

The Newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world

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Special Treat ? Christmas Contest Submission ??“ Sharlette Hunt

Dec 18, 2005

? All special treats will be Christmas Contest entries from now on.?  This way I can maximize on the number of stories I can get out to you.?  Please do not influence your vote because you see a writer has a special treat.?  I will pick a story at random for this selection.?  The soul purpose of using the special treat section is to get out my Christmas stories to you.?  You will still vote for your favourite writer at the end of the contest whether or not they were slotted for a special treat or remained published in the main newsletter.

Carol Roach

? And now for today??™s selection:

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A Season? For Change

?  Sharlett F. Hunt

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?  Something has happened inside of me lately.?  I don't know if it is the Christmas spirit or just a new gratitude for a life that I have been given.?  If you knew me, you would probably wonder if I am a lunatic for I don't have much materially.

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?  This change didn't? come overnight.?  I used to wonder if people really can change but I am here to say they definitely can.?  Whether you believe in God, as I do, or not, seeing is believing.?  I am a product of all that has happened to me, good or bad.?  I believe we are all inherently good but sometimes life throws us for a loop and it takes time to work it out, especially when addictions are present.?  Old habits are indeed hard to break.

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?  In my case, I had drank alcoholically for many years.?  I know for almost fifteen years straight I drank daily from sun up to sundown, until? I became physically addicted and was sleeping a couple hours, waking up and drinking, then passing out again.?  I got to the point that I couldn't distinguish between day and night.? I would go to bed with my 2 liter bottle of whiskey on my night table.? By then I wasn't even bothering to mix it.?  I? drank beer as a chaser and wondered daily if it would ever end.?  I wanted nothing more than death.?  I knew it would come quietly and I would have no more pain.

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?  This time of year was particularly hard for me.?  I had lost my children, if fact, nobody in my family was speaking to me except my dad.?  I had no friends, they had long ago left when I started getting violent at the least provocation.?  I was alone, no, not quite.?  I had my only friend, my bottle.

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? ? Then I developed cirrhosis which was caused by not eating while consuming vast amounts of alcohol daily.?  I had alcohol poisoning several times previously to being diagnosed but that didn't sway me in the least.?  Unfortunately, cirrhosis hurts.?  I turned green and lost control of all my bodily functions.?  I was hospitalized and knew a peace I hadn't known in years.? I thought? I had been given sedatives because it was such a beautiful, soothing feeling.? My doctor told me later that she expected to sign my death certificate.?  I wasn't supposed to make it.

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?  I know now that it was God who had come and stayed with me and I had no fear.?  I wanted to die but He wasn't going to allow it.?  He had other plans.? 

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?  It was as if the old proverbial light bulb flashed, it happened so suddenly!?  I realized I wanted to live!?  With all my problems forgotten I knew I could do this thing called life.?  It was a moment of clarity!?  I started praying like I never had before!? 

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?  I won't say my life changed immediately after that but it did start improving.?  My body became stronger physically and mentally.?  I put myself on a health regimen of exercise along with the right foods and vitamin supplements.?  I had gotten down to 98 lbs. (I am 5' 5 1/2 in.) and I started slowly gaining weight.?  When I went for my six months check-up, my doctor said she didn't know what I was doing but to keep it up.? 

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?  I became so healthy that my liver started functioning normally.?  Actually, I gained too much weight and have a hard time even today keeping it off.?  I still suffered from bouts of depression and realized I had a lot of anger still inside me along with unforgivness.?  I couldn't forgive me ? and still have some trouble with that.

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?  Today, as I look at my twinkling little Christmas tree, it is hard to imagine that was me I am writing about.?  I feel so blessed every day God allows me to have.?  He really does restore my soul.?  I am beginning to get my self respect back.?  I see now that I have so much to be thankful for.?  Times when I feel down,?  and it is hard sometimes, I think of all I have been given.?  I found hope when there was none, I thought.? 

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?  Isn't that what this time of year is all about??  Hope??  Anticipation of a brighter tomorrow.?  This feeling must have come from down deep inside of me for I didn't know it existed.?  It had been hidden for so many years right along with love, faith and joy.?  I had none of those for I had no future.?  I simply lived in the past and dwelled on things I was unable to change instead of trying to change the things I could.?  I had to learn to accept my lot in life and find ways to be happy with it.

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?  I realize today that happiness is a choice.?  I can choose to be happy or I can sit and dwell on the negative.?  I? am learning to control my thoughts by thinking of positive things and living in the moment.?  This comes with practice and I? still know I can't let my guard down? and this all takes time.?  God didn't create all this in one day.?  I know that my sense of time and? His are vastly different.?  I believe my entire lifetime is but a fleeting moment in spirit.?  I just wake up every? morning and do the things that need to be done in that day.?  I can't live in yesterday because it is gone, or tomorrow, that hasn't even happened yet.? 

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?  People are another problem entirely with me.?  I do get out and about more these days and am beginning to actually enjoy myself.?  Shopping is a real thrill this time of year.?  Even for those of us who don't have a lot of money to shop, it is still good to go just to be around others who will sometimes take time to stop and chat for a moment.?  God has sent me many angels I have met in unlikely places like the city bus? that otherwise I would have never seen.? 

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?  I started early developing my Christmas spirit.?  I realize how much I have.?  My friend Nelson came back into my life after almost thirty years.?  I still don't have it all, however. ?  My three children, whom I adore, are grown now and I have a grandson by each but don't get to see them.?  Some of my family talks to me? though there are still? some I may never have a relationship with but it is okay with me today.?  My daddy who is 88 now, still loves his daughter and has always done so.?  I appreciate him so much more now than ever.?  I keep my focus on the positive.

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?  I love Christmas carols and listen to them a lot.?  I find myself singing along and just enjoying the feel of the season.?  I love all the sights, sounds and smells that come with this time of year.?  I intend to relish each one.?  This is the time we celebrate the birth of Christ and I intend to enjoy it!?  For many years I didn't even look at the decorations I was so filled with hate and now it's like seeing them for the very first time and I am, in a way.? 

?  I've learned it has nothing to do with what you get, it's what you give.?  I am finally able to reach down inside and give the love that I so selfishly hoarded for so many years.?  I am becoming able to share some of this joy I feel that I never thought was possible.?  I am so thankful to my Savior for giving me this chance to live.?  It is a daily learning experience.?  What comes easily to some as a child didn't happen to me until I was middle aged.?  I believe that every little thing I went through was for a reason.?  A lesson learned through strife is not easy to erase.?  And, yes, I do believe in miracles.

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Sharlette863 @aol.com


About Me:

I was born in Alabama, the middle of seven children. At about age four we moved to Central Florida and I have lived here most of my life. I am a Viet Nam Era Veteran. I have always enjoyed writing and as I get older it seems to come more naturally to me. I believe everyone has many stories inside them and some are blessed to be able to share them.