Carmela Snelbaker

Author of "Thank You For Your Service, Sheep!"
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  • Tag: hope

    • Defeating Defeat

      Posted at 2:41 PM by carmelasnelbaker
      Feb 21st

      dreamstimefree_227245

      Let your inner Child of God help. Life in this world is not easy. When everything around us makes no sense, pray. It does not matter where you are or how eloquent your wording simply ask for help. I heard  Dr. Wayne Dyer speak once as he explained so beautifully that when we open our hearts to allow a divine connection with God we are always in touch with the solutions we are seeking. Please read more of his thoughts here.

      I enjoy listening to a variety of inspiration music. One of my favorites is Matthew West, Hello my name is…  I hope you also will take a moment to listen to the entire song by clicking below. It also speaks of reaching beyond ourselves and connecting with The Divine Spirit that can lead us to a peace that surpasses all understanding.

      https://carmelasnelbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/01-02-hello-my-name-is.mp3

      1 John 3:1 Behold, What Love our Father has bestowed on us…..

      With respect, hope, joy and love,    Carmela

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

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      Posted in Meditative Writings | Tagged defeat, God, hope, hopelessness, inspiration, Jesus, joy, loss, love, peace
    • Our Family’s Safety Ring of Peace

      Posted at 5:28 PM by carmelasnelbaker
      Feb 20th

      Peace-ring00

      Much time has passed since my last post. I seem to have been at a loss for words since the passing of my grandson. Grief is a very strange thing. There is much written about it and many thoroughly explained steps of grief are defined, but there is no quick recovery and each event is so very different.

      Several months before Wyatt’s passing he was very anxious and afraid. He was having bad dreams and medications were causing some hallucinations. I happened to be wearing a thin silver band ring with the word PEACE engraved on it. I gave him my ring, and had a conversation with him.  “This can be your safety ring. Do you remember in church how we share the peace with our neighbor?” Shaking hands and saying “Peace be with you”. “Yes” he answered. “Wear the ring to remind you that you are safe and fold your hands and say, Dear God, Please take all the scary stuff away.” The ring reminds us that we’re not alone comfort is just a prayer away. The ring and prayers brought him comfort.
      We also talked about having a family ring made. He could chose what he wanted it to look like and say. We each would have a ring and wear it so even when we are not together we can wear and feel safe. He discussed the ring with mom dad and sisters and they decided on having a silver band with a small heart stamped on the band and inside the band it would say forever loved. We had them made and wore them. We were comforted by the connection of the ring and the reminder we are not alone. The ring continues to bring me comfort I treasure the daily reminder of my loving grandson’s presence and the comfort of our loving God.

      With respect, hope, joy and love,  Carmela

      blogfamilyring

       

       

       

       

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      Posted in Family Stories, Meditative Writings | Tagged Carmela Snelbaker, challenges, children, Christianity, courage, dignity, family, grandchildren, hope, hospice, joy, loss of child, love, peace
    • Our Internal GPS

      Posted at 10:42 AM by carmelasnelbaker
      Sep 24th

      We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

      PROVERBS 16:9

      As I write this my heart is so incredibly sad. Watching my grandson’s health decline is a sadness unlike anything that one could ever image or explain. I have always treasured, and continue to treasure, each second of being a mother and a grandmother. I can remember when my children both were old enough to start school. I went through feelings of great sadness. Although I enjoyed seeing them grow up and take on new adventures, I also missed the daily adventures that we enjoyed together in their infant and preschool years.

      On Wyatt’s birthday as he and I walked into his house that night after watching some fireworks in his backyard, some very distant lightning flashed in the sky. It was beautiful. It was as if a beautiful white spotlight was shining from behind big white fluffy clouds. “Look, God has sent us a light show” I commented to Wyatt as we stopped to watch.”Isn’t it pretty?” “I just seen heaven tonight” Wyatt said. I then was able to tell him that my mother is in heaven, and she is just like me.  “Really?” he said. “Yes” I said, “I look like her and I even talk like her.”  As a grandmother I want so desperately to be there waiting for him.
      I keep saying my prayers for strength, wisdom and peace. I truly believe the spirit in each one of us is equipped with an internal GPS system “God’s Planned Steps” for our lives. Each step may not be easy, but along the way as we may fall to our knees in tears completely overwhelmed with sadness, God does provide us with the strength to keep going and opens our eyes to reveal awesome beauty and fills our hearts with peace and love.

      With respect, hope, joy and love,   Carmela

       

       

       

       

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      Posted in Meditative Writings | Tagged God, Holy Spirit, hope, inspiration, Jesus, joy, love, wisdom
    • The Road Of Life

      Posted at 10:56 PM by carmelasnelbaker
      Sep 2nd

      – author unknown-

      At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like a president. I recognized his pictures when I saw it, but I really didn’t know him.

      But later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.

      I don’t know just when it was that he suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since.

      When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable…… It was the shortest distance between two points.

      But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds: It was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness, he said “Pedal”.

      I worried and was anxious and asked, “Where are you taking me?” He laughed and didn’t answer, and I started to learn to trust.

      I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure.  When I would say “I am scared”  He’d lean back and touch my hand.

      He took me to people with gifts that I needed: gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me gifts to take on my journey, my Lord’s and mine.

      We were off again. He said, “Give the gifts away, they are extra baggage, too much weight.” So I did. to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received and still our burden was light.

      I did not trust him at first, in control of my life. I thought he’d  wreck it: but he knows bikes, how to make it bend to take sharp corners, how to jump to clear high rocks, and how to fly to shorten scary passages.

      I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I’m beginning to enjoy the view and cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.

      When I’m sure I just can’t, he just smiles and says “……….. Pedal”.

      With respect, hope, joy and love,

      Carmela

      After I posted this page, I then found the Daily Post Challenge, Identity

      We receive a name when we are born, however anyone can steel that name and attempt to sign it, speak it and claim to be you. But we are all created amazingly unique….. with a fingerprint that is unlike anyone else’s, with a heart and soul that no-one else can own or understand! I believe our truest identity is within our heart and soul, our truest and most honest feelings, not in our names.

      My heart wishes to be identified with God, as a child of God,  an individual who prays for forgiveness, guidance, to know and share unconditional love and gratitude for life!

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      Posted in Meditative Writings | Tagged Carmela Snelbaker, Christianity, Gifts of healing, hope, inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, joy, kindness, love, patience, peace, positivity, respect, Tandem bicycle
    • Attempts At Success

      Posted at 3:43 PM by carmelasnelbaker
      Aug 25th

      success_beach

      This post has been written in response to the Daily Post Challenge: Success

      Ultimately the one thing that I wish to accomplish with my words, whether it is through the blog or from within a children’s book, is to use words to teach a child and parents how to treasure life and live with gratitude.

      No matter how sad, poor, or unhappy a day may seem there is always something within that day to be grateful for. It is never easy to look past our own hurts and needs but if you make it a point to do this you will always find that there is someone out there, and often times many people out there, who are suffering more greatly than you.

      The greatest thing my heart longs for is to teach children to live positively, be thankful, kind, compassionate to others, forgiving when they are treated with less than these, and most importantly to be confident in who they are as a person. “Only you are you” It is OK to be unique:)

      Although I may never know if I am successful, I pray that my efforts will touch others in a positive way.

      With respect, hope, joy and love,  Carmela

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      Posted in About the Author, Meditative Writings | Tagged carmela, Carmela Snelbaker, children, children's literature, compassion, Education, good, hope, human goodness, inspiration, joy, love, Mental health, positive, positivity, success, successful, Teacher, Unconditional love
    • Celebrate Differences

      Posted at 7:49 PM by carmelasnelbaker
      Jul 30th

      Image

      Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Each one of us is totally unique. As I am writing this I am remembering a pair of silly socks one of my children had growing up. It had a little stick figure hanging upside down with the quote “Normal Is Boaring”, and I truly believe the world is certainly a more beautiful place because of our differences.

      Why then are there so many people who spend so much time and energy forming “hate groups” showing great animosity, hostility, and malice against people who act differently, or believe differently than they do?  I can’t help but wonder what is behind that? Could it be because they are that insecure in their own lives that they fear differences are contagious?  Do they think that living beside someone who believes or acts differently then they do, may  cause them to one day wake up mysteriously acting like and following the beliefs of their neighbors? Or are they so inclined to influence and rule the lives of their children and grandchildren that they feel the need to make everyone else in the world act and believe as they do so there is never a possibility that their child will ever stray from what they feel is the proper way of life?

      I sometimes like to ponder things such as this in other areas of our lives to get a different view. I live near the Amish community. I often will park near the buggy hitch and go over and pet the horses and talk with the Amish individuals. One day as I was talking to a friend we began to wonder, when they all meet and go to church do they ever come out and take the wrong buggy home? What if the world we live in required that we all drive exactly the same vehicle?  I truly do not think I would do well with this. I recently was driving a white rental vehicle. My day was quite busy and a little stressful.  I came out of the store and tried to get into two wrong vehicles before I finally found the one I came in!

      What if we all had to where the same outfit, or if we wanted a pet and the only pet we could get was a Black Labrador? I choose to believe that we all were created with beautiful unique qualities, physical abilities, and likes and dislikes. We need to celebrate our differences and learn to accept and respect each other.

      Most certainly the world would be a better place if we all began understanding each other. We need to move beyond simple tolerance and embrace and celebrate the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.

      With respect, hope, joy, and love,

      Carmela

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      Posted in Meditative Writings | Tagged Amish, Christianity, community, diversity. uniqueness, God, hope, joy, love, Pennsylvania, people, Religion and Spirituality, respect, understanding, United States
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