Which five words best describe Cherish Each Moment?
Eloquent, Poetic, Poignant, Heartfelt, and Inspiring
Can you share one highlight from the book?
One huge highlight from my book is that every single section of my book from I. Teachable Moment, II. Moments of Wisdom, III. Moments of Faith, IV. Defining Moments, V. Moments of Love, Mercy, and Grace, and VI. Remembering You/Memory of You Moments celebrates life, family, love, every moment (and where people are at). It’s about making each moment last, and going beyond present circumstances to witness the beauty in everyday being special.
Quite too often people wait too late to give the flowers, to say the words, “I love you!”
“I forgive you!”
“I’m proud of you!”
“I miss you!
You’re special!”
You’re amazing!”
You’re beautiful!
“I need you!”
WE NEED OUR FLOWERS NOW, IN THE MOMENT!
This is I believe a major highlight of my book that definitely can’t be denied.
What is the purpose of this book?
The purpose of my book is to comfort, challenge and inspire every generation to take care of what really matters most.
Imagine you lost the one you loved the most in this world. Can a heart-broken and distraught person find a way to “Cherish Each Moment.” For this reason, I picked up my pen to write this book. The purpose of my book was my affirmative “YES” to that question I posed to you in my opening statement.
In the course of everyday life certain moments can be hard to channel or even deal with and there are ones we would prefer to bypass truth be told if we could. Nevertheless, with life you can’t have a rainbow without the rain, sunshine without the pain, good without the bad, birth without death, and light without death, and peace without despair.
Are there themes that you find turn up again and again in your work?
The themes that I find that turn up again and again in my work are love, forgiveness, faith, life, and family.
A common thread?
A common thread in my work is good versus evil, light versus darkness, life versus death, and new versus old.
Which character or part of the book was the most fun to write?
The parts of the book that were the most fun to write were especially the ones I wrote for family and friends. Several of my poems and spoken words I wrote to commemorate such occasions like my Pastor Appreciation Acrostic Poem, a tribute to my dynamic two pastors’ Rudolph (Senior) and Latoya (Co-pastor) Moseley of Bread of Life International Worship Center. Shooting Star which was written for my nephew, John Paul, Jr or JP as we love to call him for his high school graduation from Brandywine High School in Delaware. Mother of Mine, a poem dedicated to my mother. A Graduation Message and Prayer For You Poem, this is a poem I wrote when my sister graduated from college. Goodbye to Sin is a poem I was inspired to write after leading someone to the Lord. Finally, I enjoyed creating the song, My Everything.
Which part was the hardest?
The part of the book that was the hardest to write was the section titled, Remembering You/Memory of You Moments. Although my entire book is dedicated in loving memory to my beautiful mother, Annette Jackson (February 3, 1943-October 22, 2008), the last section is the one I designated as the one to pay tribute to her. In the opening of this section I thought it fitting to share a powerful Psalm that speaks to me from the depth of my heart that deeply still misses and grieves for my mom who is no longer here on earth but in heaven, “Why are thou cast down, oh my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God” (Psalm 42:11 KJV). Without my steadfast hope and complete trust in God I truly would have been lost. God was and truly is the true source of my strength and supply. He’s the One I rely on everyday to see me through life without my mom. My mom’s poetic and poignant last words to “Cherish Each Moment,” not only led to the creation of this book title, but also the song tribute included in the last portion of the book.
None of us want to say goodbye to anyone that we have come to love and cherish. This is why it’s important that we “Cherish Each Moment” we are granted by God. It’s imperative that we don’t take for granted any time we have here on earth.
I think everyone can relate to this prayer uttered by George Bailey, the character played by Jimmy Stewart in the Classic Film It’s a Wonderful Life. “Dear Father in heaven, I’m not a praying man (person), but if you’re up there, and you can hear me, show me the way. I’m at the end of my rope.” He said these lines were not a part of the original script. “Stewart said he “felt the loneliness, the hopelessness of people who had nowhere to turn. It broke Him.” Bailey’s prayer is the cry for help. Today, there are many that are feeling wounded, broken, lonely, poor in spirit, hopeless, and at the end of their rope.
This year I know has been an extremely challenging and difficult year of uncertainty for every generation with the global pandemic impacting all of our lives. Between social distancing as a result of the COVID-19 virus spreading rapidly around our world. Our nation has had to struggle to adjust becoming virtual. We’re living in unprecedented time, poverty running rampart, emotions running high, minds are on mental overload, overwhelming fear oftentimes overriding faith, not to mention the sickness, death, and sorrow to top it all off. Needless to say, everyone can’t wait to see the end of 2020 and welcome what we hope will be a better, healthier, happier, wealthier, fuller, positive, and a coronavirus-free existence, and a more carefree way of life.
More than ever, we need to make the most of every opportunity we have, by telling and showing others we love and care about them even if it can’t be in person and it has to be virtual. One thing we can’t afford to do is make excuses or put this on pause because we are God forbid in a self imposed quarantine or some other kind of isolation. There’s nothing wrong with you reaching out, if it seems like others are silent on their end.
It’s always hard to say goodbye to loved ones that depart from this earth.
I don’t know about you but I have personally lost someone close to me due to the virus. I know others who have also been impacted by this virus and I’m sure it has touched your life in some way. My prayer is that the vaccination will work amazing and that a cure would be found. soon. May we all live without regrets, then when a loved one dies we don’t have to soberly think about what we could have, should have, would have said, or did instead of what in reality our actions spoke loudly and clearly.
Can you tell us something that even your most loyal fans may not know about you?
The thing that not even my most loyal fans may not know about me is I plan to make Cherish Each Moment into a workbook and game. Also, they more than likely don’t know I’m almost done with my third book about my family titled, The Jackson Family Legacy Journey Album.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
In this poetry collection, you’ll find the rhythms of an unshakeable heart, inspiration that illuminates the soul, encouragement that beckons you to go beyond present circumstances, and comfort that reaches its arms around you and draws you in.
Join me on an unforgettable journey. Step into the pages of time where each moment is a poetic oasis in a desert. Take the time to live as if the present is a gift from God. Don’t you think, it’s time to “Cherish Each Moment.”
BOOK LINK:https://amzn.to/2KuKXQb
AUTHOR’S BIO
Mary’s voracious love for reading birthed a desire to write life-changing literature that speaks about the power of faith in God. She has a strong desire to inspire, to motivate, and entertain a multicultural diverse group of people by encouraging and challenging them to live a life of purpose.
Queenie's BookTalk and Reviews 