What's the Point in Making More Lemonade?

By LaDonna Murphy

This book is for those of you who may be going through trials, challenges, and testing seasons. You may even want to give up due to lifes circumstances. Many of us can feel helpless, stressed, depressed, confused, afraid, unsatisfied, lonely, angry, and hopeless at times because of all of the challenges around us. I have written this book because the majority of my life has been a challenge.

I am blessed with lemon trees! What do you do with a normal fruit tree? You eat the fruit or make something out of it, right? Well, I have enough lemonade to feed many. And I am still here.

I can be a testimony to others, and so can you. Therefore, if anyone is thinking about the selfish act of suicide, I will just say, Dont do it! It will be too late to say you wish you had not. Think about all those who you will hurt and leave behind. That alone should frighten you!

Ask for Gods intervention immediately and then seek other counsel. After you read this book, you may be able to identify with some of my lemons, and then you can write about your own. Whatever the situation is, face it and deal with it, and you will get through it.

Life is full of cycles and seasons, like the weather; therefore, this too shall pass. If giving up is not an option, then what are the alternatives? Start with chapter 1, and make a glass of lemonade!

Facing it, always facing it, thats the way we get through. Face it.
Joseph Conrad

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 12, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504911726

LaDonna Murphy

People have often referred to me as a workhorse. This can be positive and sometimes be a weakness. I have always been a very dedicated worker, whether at work or at home. I like to have things neat and organized because it simplifies my life. It is easier for me to clean up as I go, then things will always be in their place. We all choose the way we want to live by our priorities. Everyone has the same amount of time in a day; therefore, you can’t say you did not have time. You just chose other things to do. If you need help with time management, please read my book “Self Management to Time Management.” It can be read it in an hour. When I was younger I used to say someday I would write a book. Little did I know I was using positive affirmations before knowing what they were, especially when it came to marrying the man next door and then having his son. I had confessed those things that were not as though they were. (Romans 4:17) I wrote this book because of my life’s up and down challenges. Silly as they are and have been, several of those trying times seriously made me want to give up on life a few times. I had thought all the difficult times with my son were hard; however, it also became more difficult when I became hurt, older with health issues while being single. That can change someone’s life drastically and fast, especially lying on the floor and not being able to get up and no one around to assist. Prayer, hope, love, faith, affirmations, and a positive attitude are what pulled me through those tough times and will continue to do so in the future. The same may hold true with people who have had to fight cancer and many other illnesses and difficulties. My life is in God’s hands; when he says it is time to come home, then he will take me home. Until then, I need to live my life to the best of my abilities (as we all should). I worked two to three jobs at once most of my life while going through trials. And I wanted you to know that if I can get through all the drama, so can anyone! The only positive about thinking about suicide is that you can tell others how you felt and how you got through it so they can get through it too! My son David wanted me to include this comment: “If you think you have it bad, chances are someone else has it worse.” He is so right! All we have to do is turn on the news! My hope and prayer is that you will feel better about yourself and your circumstances after reading this book. Hopefully my positive outcomes will be in my next book! May the God of our hope continue to bless you, your families, your friends, and everyone you know and meet and keep you strong and in faith!

Book preview

What’s the Point in Making More Lemonade?

LADONNA MURPHY

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AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2015 LaDonna Murphy. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version), first published in 1611. They are quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, copyright 1983, by the Zondervan Corporation.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007. They are used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Published by AuthorHouse 06/10/2015

ISBN: 978-1-4969-6409-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-1172-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015907439

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1 What’s the Point?

Chapter 2 LaDonna’s Early Years

Chapter 3 The Drug Demon

Chapter 4 Katie the Manipulator

Chapter 5 The Prodigal Son Returns Home to Mom

Chapter 6 True Funny Stories

Chapter 7 Starting Over Again

Chapter 8 Falling in a Pit

Chapter 9 Work Saga and Medical Leave

Chapter 10 Dating

Chapter 11 Credit Card Fraud

Chapter 12 Mommy Dearest

Chapter 13 Goals and Persistence

Chapter 14 Motivation and Faith

Chapter 15 So What Is the Point, and Who Really Cares?

Chapter 16 Risk Factors for Suicide and Prevention Information

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am dedicating this book to all those who have or have known someone who has thought about taking their own life, and those who actually did. I also dedicate it to those who have constant challenges and sometimes feel that they want to give up. Keep in mind you are not alone and giving up should never be an option. God put us all on this earth for a purpose; we all need to figure out what that purpose is and pursue it.

I want to thank my mom for all the valuable work ethics she taught me. Even though we never had a real ongoing, loving relationship, I will always admire her and love her!

I also want to dedicate this book to my son. No matter how many trials my son put me through, I always thank God for him and how proud I am of him! My son and God were, and are, the reason I keep keeping on and making more lemonade. I believe some day my son will fulfill God’s purpose for his life.

Sometimes the best ways to get our minds off our problems are to listen to someone else’s problems. Maybe by reading this book you may be able to identify with some of my lemons and your life won’t appear so bleak after all.

I will continue to press toward the Mark (Philippians 3:14).

Books for Reading

• Self Matters, by Phillip C. McGraw, PhD

• The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren

• Battlefield of the Mind, by Joyce Meyer

• The Power of Focus, by Jack Canfield

• The Power of Positive Thinking, by Norman Vincent Peale

Index of Bible Promises

Bible scriptures and quotes are from the King James Version and the New Living Translation.

• When your burdens seem too much to bear, Psalm 55:2,2 Psalm, 145:14

• When you need courage to go on, Joshua 1:19, Job 11:18, Isaiah 57:15

• When you are struggling through a big crisis, Romans 8:28

• When you are struggling with big decisions, Psalm 23:3

• When you feel abandoned by God, Deuteronomy 7:9

• When you are going through great adversity, Isaiah 43:2, Matthew 11:28, Romans 8:28

• When you wonder if the Bible is true and accurate, 2 Timothy 3:16

• When you want the comfort of knowing God is there for you, Psalm 121:8

• When your life needs direction, Proverbs 3:6

• When you feel like giving up, Joshua 23:10, 1 Corinthians 1:8, Galatians 6:9

• When you need some guidance on your next move, Psalm 23:3, Psalm 32:8, Psalm 37:23-24, Psalm 138:8, Proverbs 3:6

• When you feel helpless, Psalm 72:12

• When you need hope for tomorrow, Isaiah 25:8

• When you’ve lost your joy, Nehemiah 8:10

• When there is great pain in your life, Romans 8:28

• When you lose your patience waiting for God to act, Lamentations 3:25

• When you need some peace, Leviticus 26:6

• When you wonder what plans God has for your life, Psalm 138.8

• When you know you can’t make it on your own power, Isaiah 40:29

• When you wonder if God hears your prayers, Psalm 9:12, Psalm 145:18, Matthew 7:7, James 5:16, 1 John 5:14

• When you are in trouble and want to feel the presence of God, Isaiah 43:2

• When you need to be restored to strength, Isaiah 40:31

• When you are feeling sad and discouraged, Isaiah 25:8

• When nothing seems really satisfying, Psalm 107:9

• When you think your sins are too big for God, Isaiah 1:18

• When you are suffering from a broken heart, Psalm 147:3

• When you are going through great suffering, Romans 8:28

• When you are tempted to listen to evil advice, Psalm 1:1

• When you are facing temptation that seems too great to resist, 1 Corinthians 10:13

• When you feel tired and weary, Psalm 145:14, Isaiah 40:29, Matthew 11:28

• When you feel fear, 2 Timothy 1:7

• When your troubles start oppressing you, Psalm 9:9

• When you have lost your will to go on, Nehemiah 8:10

• When you want to know the will of God for your life, Proverbs 3:6, Jeremiah 29:11

• When you would like more discernment and wisdom, Proverbs 1:23, James, 1:5

• When work is getting you down, Psalm 145:14

• When you are feeling pretty worthless, Philippians 4:13

• When your body is giving out, Malachi 4:2

• When you want to draw closer to God, Jeremiah 29:13

• When you wonder where God is, Deuteronomy 4:29, Joshua 1:9

• When you wonder if Satan can harm your soul, Matthew 10:28

• When you feel the Christian life is too hard, 1 Corinthians 1:8, Hebrews 3:14

• When you wonder what it’s like to be a Christian, 2 Corinthians 5:17

• When you think God has given up on you, Philippians 1:6

• When you long for something more from life, Psalm 107:9

• When you are angry and more vulnerable to sin, 1 Samuel 11:6

• When you want to deal with anger appropriately, Ephesians 4:26; John 9:4

Whatever you are going through, there are helpful scriptures for you in the Bible.

CHAPTER 1

What’s the Point?

Have you ever thought of suicide?

If so, there is always a way out!

Maybe you have or know someone who has attempted or actually completed suicide. Obviously we can’t talk to those who are gone, but we can talk to those who have tried and have overcome. Those who have overcome can be a testimony to those who consider this selfish act.

In the Bible God says he will never give us more than we can bear. When we are tempted to do something bad, he will show us a way out. Everything starts, changes, and ends in our minds. Always remember that! Therefore we need to use our minds for all the greatness that is in each and every one of us.

Ephesians 6:11 says, Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

I can’t speak or think for others that have thought about suicide or completed their suicide mission. I can, however, come up with several reasons why it may have happened—because I have been there more than once. There may be many who have contemplated ending their lives at one point or another. They say, What’s the point? Sometimes life sucks, and some of us are dealt lemons. There are those who are less fortunate, and those who have physical and mental challenges, and those for whom shit just always happens. Even kids are looking for purpose and fulfillment. Many are connected through technology, and some reach for drugs and other escapes.

Many people have lost loved ones, gone through divorce, lost jobs, lost their homes, and gone through serious illnesses or an array of other things. There are many who are born into rich and famous lifestyles, and some of them have contemplated and actually committed suicide. Sometimes people just want to give up because what they are going through seems hopeless. Almost anything can trigger suicidal thoughts.

I know from personal experience that the holidays can be very difficult when you are alone, have lost a loved one, and or have drama with family. Suicidal thoughts can happen internally when no one may know. Some people have said to others, Just get over it, but it is much deeper than that. People who get to this point don’t even know who to talk to or who they can confide in. They may think that if they tell someone they will get reported and end up in a straight jacket. They may be humiliated or embarrassed to talk to anyone about this. However, we do need to talk to someone and to God.

Find a place where there is joy, and the joy will bring out the pain.

—Joseph Campbell

I had an employer friend who managed a grocery store. He was such a nice and kind man. He had a wife and several kids. It seemed he was happy and always going on vacation. After I moved a few miles away from his store, I found out that he transferred to another nearby store. A few years later I visited the former grocery store and ran into a man who still worked there and knew him. He too was always very friendly. After speaking with him for a while, I asked him if our friend Craig was still working at the other grocery store. He then looked at me and said, You don’t know? I said, Know what? He said, Craig committed suicide. My heart fell to my knees with shock and disbelief. Apparently no one knew why it happened. Not everyone leaves a note behind.

I couldn’t understand why someone like Craig would commit suicide, especially since he was a Christian. However, due to all my silly circumstances, I can now see why this happens. I have been placing students and adults into employment for over twenty-five years, and one time one of my students hung herself because her boyfriend broke up with her. She was only sixteen. I was beside myself. I wondered how she could have done this at such a young age over some guy.

INPUT FROM OTHERS:

• My son told me once that one