Empowering Speeches

Why do we let the little things bother us so much? I believe this happens more often than not to us all; we let easily overlooked details trouble us to such an extent. For example, seemingly insignificant details like going out with somebody you weren't intrigued by or getting a terrible grade that won’t affect you. At that point, discovering that someone’s decision broke your trust or that the grade wound up being for some odd reason, we tend to associate these little things as a direct connection to our self-esteem. If the situation persists, it stings the most.

I, most definitely, do not believe that I would have affections for any of the minuscule things. That is certainly not what, more often than not, drives me to a state of discontent. As the well-known adage goes, “The wind blows, and the leaves change.” To illustrate this, when your leaf—once a charitable green leaf of growth—fades into the browns of your past, that is where your discontent lies. It wasn’t on the missed opportunity, but the falseness on which it happened, blowing in the painful memories of the past of things that did, in fact, mean something. Consequently, when those seemingly insignificant things trouble you, don’t neglect the little things you once thought were meaningless; understand why they make you feel lesser. It’s not because you find significance in them or care for them; it’s because they remind you of the vital things in your life.

The wind blows leaves so it may free the earth of the weakening browns of our past to prepare for more to fall, so the tree may grow more leaves of green. So let the leaves change, let the wind blow those of the old, bedraggled past, and may only the leaves of value never fade. I wish you to accept the tiny disappointments and take them graciously, as they are not a reflection of you but a reminder of the person you may yet become.

— by Helen Najar, Lionheart

My heart is screaming in agony about what I see in this world. We have encountered many challenging situations. Our lovely coronavirus is one such situation that we must all face together. Spiritually, despite our faith, we must stand as one. We must help one another in our communities and all around us, despite the quarantines we face today.

Are you scared? Are you sad? Are you afraid? Are you having difficulties with faith, or have you turned to it out of fear, though it never used to be part of your life? The answer is likely yes for many of us. We are all scared—some more than others. Some of us are in denial of what’s going on. Some of us are pointing fingers, blaming others for our current crisis. Not surprising, is it? We are all humans; pointing fingers is something we’ve always done. Isn’t it?

Well, I’m no prophet. I am not a priest, nor am I the government. I am simply an average individual who is in the same situation as you are. I want to tell you not to be afraid. This is the time to strengthen your faith. If you pray, don’t just pray because you need Him. Pray because you are grateful for everything despite the circumstances. If you keep trying to strengthen your faith, you won’t be afraid. Wonder why? The answer is simple—because the most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire, as Ferdinand Foch once said. Think about it. Soul power is with the spirit; strengthen that, for our Lord hears all our voices. He sees all and is everywhere. Don’t be sad because you can’t be at church (or any other religious place you go to). It does not matter where you pray; the Lord is everywhere. He has created the world, and anywhere on earth is His home. Don’t be anxious, afraid, or sad. Be faithful and pray, for the most powerful weapon is the human soul.

With that being said, as the Lord stands with us all spiritually, there will be nothing that can scatter us. The Lord will stand with us as He has always been there, though we’ve often turned away in the distractions of life.

— by Helen Najar, Lionheart