When I started writing this book I had a broken heart. I was in pain; I was suffering. I had been disappointed before, but I had never had my heart broken. It was a crushing and painful experience. As this book goes to print, I am no longer broken in spirit or heart. One man broke my heart; another whom I was calling on and believing in all along gave me hope and a renewed spirit. I now understand what is meant by the phrase “hurting people hurt other people.” Even more so, I understand and believe in His ability to bring an end to an issue where we see no end in sight. I can truly say I am better and not bitter over the whole experience. I can say that I am able to love freely again. These short stories are both my joy for my husband and my pain from his actions as well as my calls on a higher power to help me through.

PART OF A WHOLE If I am a whole person and I enjoy my own company, if I have my own money and my own place to lay my head. If now I can reproduce without the need for physical contact what do I need you for? The truth is I do not need you but you need me. I was designed to complete you to make you whole. We are each here for the emotional need of the other. There are areas where you may have gifts that are stronger than my gifts and there are areas where I have been given a stronger gift than you. But when we come together and flow in our gifts as one we should work together as a well organized team. When you are looking at what you brought to the team as compared to what I brought to the team we will not function properly. It is written that a man or woman who constantly compares what he has to others is unwise. If we did the same thing the same way something would be overlooked or left out. Our gifts and talents are life unto the members of our body. Comparing them is like the foot telling the eye that is was more important and worked harder. They all work together that I might be able to function as God intended. Yes one could function if a part was missing but the best way is for all the members to function together. Often times in a relationship one party may feel as though they are giving more than the other party and this may in fact be true but truly it is a trick of the enemy to hold your sight on the unfair and uneven distribution of talents and gifts given of the Lord. God Himself is in charge and if you take your issues to him he will either give you strength to endure or change your thinking concerning the matter he may even change the situation. But it may not be in the way that you are looking for so be careful how you complain and what you are asking from the Master of the Universe.

Sharon W. Perkins, a native of Montgomery, Alabama, and a long time resident of Northwest Indiana. I have a strong sense of family and not just husband and wife or mother and father family. I have always had a unique way of looking at people and situation. This never seemed unique to me only to those around me. In these few pages, I have allowed myself to express myself like never before. I am a mother, wife, aunt, great aunt, sister and daughter, but most of all I just consider myself as a child of God.