Extraordinarily Ordinary

By Melinda Wadsworth Neal

In most regards, Melinda has lived a rather ordinary life-one that most would consider standard with no special distinction. She was born and raised in the small town of Sylacauga, Alabama, living with both her parents and two older sisters. Home was within the humble confinements of a small yellow house on a corner street in which Christ was the center. Sunday church was more of an expectation instead of a weekly request. Being loved was never a question. Despite this mundane upbringing, Melinda questioned her self-worth and purpose. She began seeking refuge in the people and things of this world instead of recalling her once-childlike faith of only looking upward. The disappointment of outward appearance began to override the vitality of inward beauty. Melinda eventually lost sight of who she was, more so inwardly than outwardly. During a life-altering weekend in August 2015, Melinda promised her mother that she would begin making herself a priority, taking care of her physical, emotional, and spiritual welfares. It was at this time that 2016 was declared as the "Year of Melinda." In September 2015, Melinda then found herself in the most excruciating valley of her adult life due to the loss of her mother. This loss taught lessons of grief being messy, depression being extremely real, but God being so much bigger than all situations-even those of greatest heartache. Melinda used this loss, drawing closer to God. Nearly two years after this life-altering loss, Melinda then lost her only remaining parent-her father. This time, however, she clung to the comforting assurance of God being all that is necessary. With her eternity known, Melinda was to now use grief sustained from her father's Heavenly homegoing to draw others closer to God. Through life's highs and lows, Melinda journeyed through to a better understanding of her earthly purpose. Through life, love, and loss, God provided hope in this always beautiful, but sometimes broken world-altering Melinda's ordinary into the extraordinary.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1643498355
• ISBN13: 9781643498355
• Release Date: September 2018
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc
• Length: 106 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"