Month: May 2022

Welcome to another chapter of Grateful Heart Monday, which for today is for one of my Facebook friends I have yet to meet in person, but someone who still made a big impact upon my life a few weeks ago when they reached out to me via Facebook Messenger. Due to the subject material of the conversation we had, I opted to leave their name anonymous in today’s entry.

I know many don’t use the Facebook messaging client anymore or never have. I still do though and tend to check my messages multiple times a day there. A few weeks ago, when this person reached out to me there via the video side of it, I was hesitant to answer because I had never communicated to them before, yet something told me I should at least respond via the texting side of it. They told me they were a fellow person in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction and would like to talk to me when I was available. I made time later that day and called them where I learned they had just come through a battle with cancer and were now in remission. They told me the purpose of wanting to talk to me through was more about how much my blog has helped them through many of the difficulties they’ve been facing in life.

Honestly, I was speechless. Here was someone who had just come through a serious health crisis that was taking the time to let me know how much I had helped them when I had never even met them. Sometimes I don’t really know the impact of the words I write in this blog. Sad to say I seem to irritate many with my writing, especially when I discuss things involving God or in recent years the pandemic or politics.

Nevertheless, I was told how much my words had moved them again and again, comforting them and helping them on their own spiritual journey. I think what moved my heart the most though in the conversation was being told how much they felt I was doing a good job in life and making an impact here in Toledo, a place where they were from as well.

I have lost count of the number of days over the years here in Toledo where the darkness has tried to convince me that my writing is pointless and that I should just hang the towel up. Given the fact that maintaining this site costs me several hundred dollars a year, it seems as God keeps giving me one reminder after another that the price I’m paying to keep it going is worth it. This is why I’m so grateful today for this individual who had the courage to reach out to a total stranger and share about their recovery, both from their addiction and from a cancer battle, and also provide me an invaluable message of love in their own words. Words that said I do matter in this world and words that said someone was proud of me too, things I never heard much of in my life ever since I was a kid.

So, thank you my friend, you know who you are because I know you said you continue to follow my writing. I’m grateful that you took the time amidst your own struggles and spiritual journey of life, all to thank me, and let me know in your own way, that God is watching me and is proud of me. You have no idea how much your words affected me greatly in a beautiful way, I dedicate today’s Grateful Heart Monday to you my friend.

Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson