It's A Conversation

By Gwen La-Lande and Robbie Jennings-Nowlin

Communication is the venue people use to invite others to their mental party.

It's a Conversation is a head-to-head and heart-to-heart collaboration between two friends. During their casual talks, they decided to use Post-its and record comments that sounded special and worth remembering. These jotted Post-its grew and became this book. The authors agreed early on that what people say frequently includes onion-peel layers of meaning that extends further than the literal words being spoken. This book shares their perspectives with the reader by offering some clarity to selected, familiar phrases and buzz statements.

It's a Conversation takes a second, sometimes third look, before responding to the situations presented in each idiom. The authors are looking at the big picture, not just what was said. For example, an old adage like "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" can unpack a deeper meaning once it is studied.

It's a Conversation highlights the power your words have. Words can add to or subtract value from a person's quality of life. Unlike perishable groceries, words don't possess the luxury of a shelf life or an expiration date. Words outlive their microphoned participants, and yes, what is said, who says it, how and why it is said--always matters.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9781639619030

Book preview

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It's A Conversation

Gwen La-Lande and Robbie Jennings-Nowlin

ISBN 978-1-63961-902-3 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63961-903-0 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Gwen La-Lande and Robbie Jennings-Nowlin

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

I'm Not Perfect, But I Am Forgiven

Your Reflections

Love Is an Action Word

Your Reflections

Believe Patterns, Not Words

Your Reflections

Don't Live Your Life in Default

Your Reflections

All You Need Is Traveling Shoes

Your Reflections

Open Your Suitcase

Your Reflections

Find Your Peace

Your Reflections

A Life Lesson

Your Reflections

Why Forgiveness?

Your Reflections

Everyone Is Just Trying to Get It Right

Your Reflections

All Things Are Temporary

Your Reflections

It's the Little Things

Your Reflections

A Gift

Your Reflections

We Choose

Your Reflections

Moments

Your Reflections

You Can't Have It All

Your Reflections

Your Words Are Currency!

Your Reflections

The Apple Never Falls Far from the Tree! Sometimes We Blame the Apple—Sometimes We Blame the Tree!

Your Reflections

All We Can Do Is Our Best, and Not Everybody's Best Is the Same!

Your Reflections

You Can't Put a Grown Woman in a High Chair!

Your Reflections

What We Achieve Inwardly Will Change Outer Reality!

Your Reflections

You Have to Have Heart!

Your Reflections

Just Do It!

Your Reflections

Embrace Life Like You Do a Steak—Do Not Eat It Whole!

Your Reflections

There's No Time Like the Present!

Your Reflections

If you have your health, you have everything!

Your Reflections

That Blew My Mind!

Your Reflections

It's Like Hitting Your Head against a Brick Wall!

Your Reflections

You're on a Roll!

Your Reflections

Don't Let Your Left Hand Know What Your Right Hand Is Doing!

Your Reflections

Don't Let the Rabbit Out of the Hat!

Your Reflections

Keep It Moving!

Your Reflections

My Hands Are Tied!

Your Reflections

24–7

Your Reflections

There's No Time Like the Present!

Your Reflections

Be for Real!

Your Reflections

The Best Seats in the House!

Your Reflections

Silence Is Golden!

Your Reflections

This Is the Last Straw!

Your Reflections

Let Your Light Shine!

Your Reflections

When You Have a Good Cover, You Stay Under It!

Your Reflections

It's Not What You Say, It's How You Say It!

Your Reflections

Be Careful—Don't Make Blanket Statements!

Your Reflections

I'm Tired of Heavy Lifting!

Your Reflections

Wait on Him!

Your Reflections

It's Like Putting Money in a Pocket That Has Holes in It!

Your Reflections

You Have to Close Your Eyes to See!

Your Reflections

There's Always Tomorrow!

Your Reflections

An Exercise in Futility!

Your Reflections

Been There, Seen That, Done That!

Your Reflections

A Labor of Love!

Your Reflections

Hold Your Peace!

Your Reflections

Arm Candy!

Your Reflections

Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Lose!

Your Reflections

Flew the Coop!

Your Reflections

Empathy!

Your Reflections

I Can't Walk on Water!

Your Reflections

Color Inside the Lines!

Your Reflections

People Just Want to Get It Right!

Your Reflections

Just Cut to the Chase!

Your Reflections

Let Me Be Clear!

Your Reflections

This Piece Doesn't Fit My Puzzle!

Your Reflections

Sorry Is a Sorry Word!

Your Reflections

When Someone or Something Is Golden!

Your Reflections

That Goes Beyond the Pale!

Your Reflections

You Get What You Pay For!

Your Reflections

Actions Speak Louder than Words!

Your Reflections

A Man's Got to Know His Limitations!

Your Reflections

Back to Square One!

Your Reflections

High Maintenance!

Your Reflections

Stay in Your Own Lane!

Your Reflections

A Bevey of Evidence!

Your Reflections

Money Talks!

Your Reflections

Tunnel Vision Means You Are Having a Singular Focus!

Your Reflections

Marriage Is a Question, Not a Solution!

Your Reflections

Shelf Life!

Your Reflections

Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover!

Your Reflections

About the Authors

Gwen L. La-Lande

Robbie Jennings-Nowlin

The pen is mightier than the sword!

—English Author Edward Bulwer-Lytton 1839

I'm Not Perfect, But I Am Forgiven

We were all born to make mistakes—no one person is perfect. No matter how often we've been told this, we continue to strive for perfection in our lives. We want the perfect job, the perfect mate, the perfect children, and the perfect relationships with those we love. The pursuit of perfection is embedded in fear—the fear of rejection. There is the fear of not living up to the expectations from both others and ourself. When you make a mistake, then the fear of not being perfect makes you feel angry, alone, and frustrated. It is at this time that you can call on the creator and ask for forgiveness for your mistakes. You need only to ask for forgiveness, and it will be given to you. Do not fear perfection, for it is unattainable. Recognize that there is a much higher power that promises to never leave you alone.

Your Reflections

Love Is an Action Word

To say you love someone is not enough. The word love is so overly used today that the power of the word has lost its meaning. I love chocolate, and I love that dress and pair of shoes. We need to find other ways to give and show love, for much of what we say and do is all about love—the love we want for ourselves and the love we want to share with others. Love is an action word. We must become creative in our efforts to express and show love to those who matter in our lives. It's not such a difficult task to just say a kind word to someone or a simple gesture that lets someone know that you care and appreciate them. Make time to show love to the people you love in your life.

Your Reflections

Believe Patterns, Not Words

You have probably been told to listen to what a person says about themselves. They will tell you who they are. Most times, we are so busy that we forget to listen to what they're saying. Better still, we don't see the things that they are showing us about themselves. We have already decided who or what kind