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You’ve got to have something to eat and a little love in your life before you can hold still for anybody’s sermon on how to behave. Billie Holiday
She was an amazing blues singer. A black woman who wowed audiences. Raped at ten and then again in her teens, Billie never dealt with her issues…..never learned she didn’t deserve what happened. Her singing….full of passion…full of soul – she poured her pain into every song……connecting with audiences that kept them coming back for more.
But Billie couldn’t put the dope down. It held her a prisoner to the past…even though she used it to forget. It became a doubled edged sword…not doing what she needed. And in the end it brought her down….took her life……killed her.
Billie Holiday knew…..professionals…preachers telling you how you should act…and live…what you should do…..and if you don’t…something wasn’t wrong with the message….something was wrong with you.
I heard that all the time. I was told I didn’t want help if I didn’t do what ‘they’ said. But when you’re hungry…starving….and your soul is growling to be filled…..not for food….but for a touch of love…..you can’t hear nothing. Words become meaningless….empty. And like listening to a dripping faucet….over time they just becomes annoying.
Touched by love….feeling safe…..being accepted has greater power than any words. I had a radio interview yesterday. When asked what made the difference in turning my life around – I knew – the touch of His love…..love made a difference….love that waited….love that never forced me to be or do anything. A gentle and accepting love that met me right where I was….in the dark….in the pain….in the shame.
Love had the power to do what no amount of words could. It was like cortisone for my soul….a healing ointment…that removed the infection, the pain and eventually even the scars.
His love made the difference. It gave me what nothing else did. It became an anchor to hold onto and fight back.
About A Write to my Voice
I believe in the strength of the human spirit and in the Power of God!
Write to be Heard 
>Oh, such a beautiful testimony! This line says it all…"love made a difference"Praising Him for loving me and making a difference….
>Amen to Him. Blessings. Annie
>Sarah, "Such a little thing, but the difference it made was great." This quote reminds me of your testimony. Love may seem like a "little thing," but it can mean the difference between life and death with a person who is hurting.-L. Rose
>One can not know true unconditional love until they have come into a one on one relationship with Christ. His love is like no other. You have experienced this awesome love for yourself and know how it feels. I pray that through your writings others will come to feel this love as well.Love you my sweet Sarah!
>It's true, Sarah, what you said about love. Love can make all the difference in the world. Love, mixed with prayer, can move mountains. Susan
>I didn't know about Billy Holiday. So many painful pasts – Thank God for God and his miracles. Blessed Easter.L O V E -Sandie
>You're right– love is so important and can make all the difference in the world. That's part of the reason I am thankful for my dog– she loves me unconditionally and expresses it freely. So I guess the love can come from many sources. As long as it's there.Wishing you well,NOS
>Oh, how beautifully said. Billie's story is such a sad one. How I praise God that His love reached you!Congrats on the interview – sounds like it went great. And yes, His love is the only thing that heals – His scars cover ours…GOD BLESS!
>Love never fails. It is we who fail to love.
>Sarah,Thanks for the reminder.. When I see others hurting, His Love flowing through me by the power of the Holy Spirit is what will transform their lives. 🙂 The power of His Love is indescribable!Blessings,Tammy
>Beautiful, honest words Sarah. God is really using you to help others. Isn't He amazing how He delivers us and then makes us deliverers?
>Hello Sarah,what you say is very empowering.God's love truly can be life changing..God Bless Barb from Australia
>sad for those that can not find the way. You know it's hard, Sarah. You heard the message, you felt the love as you say, others don't. It's sad.
>Love that reached down to the broken places of our hearts… making no demands, only pouring healing love… giving, until the wounds were healed, and all the hardness melted…Such love indeed!I felt so sad at the story of Billie.But I am so glad you are not in that place where Billie was – but ou have moved on.Have a lovely Resurrection Sunday.LoveLidj
>Wow! What a beautiful post to find on Good Friday.
>When Billie sang she sounded as if she were crying inside, and I guess she was. I wonder if she had any real friends.Radio interview? Can we learn more about this? Sounds interesting and exciting.