My mom passed away on July 15th and I realized, when writing about her, that I needed to share the success secrets she’d given me. These secrets took me from being a penniless, abused mom working in a health club, to owning a company with 125 locations providing weight loss and wellness. Want to know how to build HEALTHY WEALTH? The first article spoke of secrets to business success. The second spoke to building greater happiness. Today’s article shares the keys to having a peace-filled, purpose-led life. These articles are taken from the obituary I wrote.
Over the last year, a group of family and care-givers cared for my mom in her home 24/7. When new caregivers, home health care workers, or hospice providers would visit, she would say, “Thank you” for every single little thing they did. She probably said “thank you” 200 times a day because she thanked you for everything. She’d done this her entire life. The new folks were usually moved to tears by her “thank you’s”, as were we, even though we knew her to be the most grateful person we’d ever known. Because even in her weak and very sick state, she thought of the other person.
Healthy Wealth Pt. No. 13- SAY THANK YOU. Gratitude holds within it a miraculous power. The person receiving thanks sees the authenticity in it and desires to do more for the one offering it, and he one offering it eliminates anxiety, depression and worry when giving it. Praising others and pity parties don’t co-exist.
She taught everyone around her about sowing and reaping. She taught us that you love someone no matter what. She taught us that if you hurt someone, you ask for forgiveness. Will they always forgive you or see the wrong they did? Not necessarily. But she taught that you make it right whether they do or not. She never had an unforgiving moment in her life. She knew a lack of forgiveness would rob her of joy.
Healthy Wealth Pt. No. 14- FORGIVE AND ASK FOR FORGIVNESS. Holding a grudge against someone is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.
She taught us that love is supposed to be at the center of ALL of our words, thoughts and deeds. You may say, “But Donna, you said she was successful. Love and production don’t match. How can that be?” She taught me that when you truly love someone you help them be productive. She taught me that love is the best producer of all.
Healthy Wealth Pt. 15—OUR WORDS, THOUGHTS AND DEEDS PRODUCE OUR REALITY. We become what we think and speak. When we’re in it for the other person, we show them how to succeed and we help them become all they’re capable of becoming.
She was full of wisdom. When I asked her how she’d gotten through so much pain in her life and so much hurt, she told me the key was to always stay busy. She said, “An idle mind is the devil’s playground and idle hands are the devil’s workshop. I was able to keep going because I always kept busy.”
Her outlook, perspective on life and her words were never anything but positive. Regardless of how bad she felt, she always said, “I’m doin’ pretty good.” She taught those around her that the words we speak out loud reflect what our faith believes.
Healthy Wealth Pt. 16- STAY BUSY, SPEAK POSITIVE. Over- thinking accompanies idle time and that can result in worry and fear. Find the good in everything. Iit’s there. Then speak it out loud to as many people as you can.
Regarding church, she knew we are The Church. She wasn’t just active in every church she’d ever belonged to (that was a given with Jetta Leonard) she was active in her walk with the Lord.
When she was an 8-yr-old little girl, she went outside to tell her daddy that dinner was ready. She found him dead in the driveway. He’d had a stroke. The Great Depression began at the same time. She and her mother had to move out of their home and live in rooms in other peoples’ homes. As they were packing to leave their home, the song God Will Take Care of You came on the radio. Her mother told her, “Jetta Faye, that song is for us. We’re going to be okay. God is going to take care of us.” She told me that story hundreds of times.
Near the end of her life here, as she lay sleeping and very weak, we found that song and lifted the phone to her ear. It stopped abruptly near the end and her eyes popped open. She heard it! As I watched this unfold, I just wept at how good God is. The same song that promised her over her entire lifetime that God would take care of her, gave that same promise yet again. And it promises that same comfort for you and I even now. God will take care of us.
Healthy Wealth Pt. 17- HAVE FAITH. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Fear prevents us from succeeding and faith can’t coexist with it.
It goes without saying that she gave to multiple ministries and missions the entire duration of her life. And she was an encourager! If you stood at the door when she exited a Sunday service, you would regularly hear her say, “Pastor, that was the best sermon you’ve ever preached.”
Healthy Wealth Pt. 18- BE AN ENCOURAGER. What we say either builds up or tears down. Be a builder of people’s dreams.
Having lived through more adversity than most of us can possibly comprehend, she always maintained the stance, “This too shall pass.” She’d tell everyone, “The Lord takes care of us. All we need to do is just trust Him.” Her new favorite song was Lynda Randle’s version of God On the Mountain, sung with the Gaithers. The message was the same as her life’s message. The God of the good times is still God in the bad times. The God that we praise when we’re on the mountain is the One we should seek in the valley. He’ll make a way, always.
Healthy Wealth Pt 19- THINGS ALWAYS WORK OUT, A WAY WILL BE MADE. Think about every difficulty you were sure was going to end your life, result in you losing everything or times you were completely falling apart. Those fears didn’t become reality, right? Everything ALWAYS works out. God’s got this!
He made a way for her through tuberculosis, cancers, lung problems and congestive heart failure. He made a way through tragic deaths and no income. He made a way through loss, heartbreak and disappointment. He even made a way for her in the valley of the shadow of death. In the last moments of her life here she said, “Is this Sunday?” “Yes, it’s Sunday.” She then said, “I need to get ready to go to church.” Those were the last words she ever spoke. It is this daughter’s belief that God looked down from heaven and said, “Oh Miss Jetta, do I ever have a church for you to go to this Sunday! It will be a service unlike any you’ve ever attended. And the love, joy, peace and worship you will experience will be unparalleled. Come, go to church with Me.”
Her life was a witness for Christ with every breath she took. Even in death, without breath, the witness that God is real, as is His love, continues. It seems only perfect and fitting to end my time with you with the words she’d want me to end with. She’d want me to ask you, “Do you know Jesus? Have you made Him Lord of your life? Because He will take care of you.”
~ Donna Krech
(Proud to be the baby girl of Jetta Faye Freeman Jones Elrod Leonard)
Want to know more about building Healthy Wealth now? Please accept, as my gift to you, free training videos featuring none other than my mom. Visit www.youtube.com/DonnaKrech then click on Success Stories and look for Meet My Secret Weapon.