Some days you wake up and you’re greeted with a beautiful morning sunrise. Other days, you’re witness to an inspiring act—someone going out of their way to help another. And still other days, you come across a few simple words that touch a deep part of your soul.
That’s what happened to me. I was out with my wife one day this summer browsing a craft shop. Usually on these trips, she’s in deep shopper mode and I’m along for the ride. But on this trip, a simple sign stopped me in my tracks:
“I feel safe even in the midst of my enemies; for the truth is powerful and will prevail.”
I’d seen the Sojourner Truth quote before, but seeing it right then hit home all over again.
Born into slavery around 1797 in New York, Sojourner Truth escaped to freedom in 1826 and became a legendary orator for human rights. Her powerful words about equality, faith, and strength ring just as true today.
They’re a quiet, unshakable reminder that noise and deception might win a news cycle, but facts and moral reality win out in the end.
A Call to Action.
Has a random quote or phrase ever stopped you in the moment and then stuck with you throughout the rest of the day or even weeks later. Let me know if the comments what quote stayed with you.
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That’s a powerful quote and the unexpected context makes its impact the more powerful. 🙏
I was randomly scrolling last week and came across a reel of a guy I follow who raises lions in a sanctuary. He said something like, “they know they are loved, because I love them as they are and not who I expect them to be.” That really touched me, as you can imagine, as a caregiver.
I think of these moments as little God winks – small moments of encouragement to keep going.
I read your comment this morning and have been thinking about it ever since. “God wink” moments. I love that — I think they are moments to help keep us going, to see ourselves and to encourage us. I know I need moments like that!!!!🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️😎😎😎😎
I can’t take credit for the term. I saw it on someone’s blog – Wynne’s maybe – and it resonated with me as a concept. Yes, we need more of these moments!
Yes, I’ve had this happen, almost like they replaced there and meant for you to see them and take them to heart. The last one that struck me that way was
‘You are Enough.’
“I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” – Henry David Thoreau.
Thoreau didn’t face the type of violent and public oppression that Sojourner Truth did. But I see the similarities in the wisdom. Knowing who you are, knowing that truth is on your side, and believing in justice and the process.
Perfectly said Jessica. Lots of similar themes! “Knowing who you are, knowing that truth is on your side, and believing in justice and the process.” I need to remember this.
“May our house always be too small to hold all our friends and family.”
Bought it. Hung it up. When that house came apart, I passed it to a dear friend who cried with me as she accepted the gift. Will never forget the quote, the physical sign, or the gifting.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Yes, such a wise and loving verse. The second part. I remember as a kid questioning my mom if God really meant it. “Even brothers?” And my mom saying “everyyyyyyyyoooonnnnneeee.” 🤣🤣🤣🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️😎😎😎
This is such a great question! One quote that has stuck with me for years is by Lucy Maud Montgomery, “Dear old world, you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you.”
I have a lot of quotes that I love but the first thing I thought of when you asked was “Stay Gold, Ponyboy.” LOL sorry, that’s all I got this morning a quote from a movie that was talking about a poem.
Oh my that’s awesome Tracie! No sorries needed. Stay gold Ponyboy is high literature! It’s perfect. I gave that advice to my wife on her first day of school last week. 🤣🤣🤣😎😎😎
I’m paraphrasing here, but I recently read a good one from Gloria Steinam (RIP), “the one place where we are all equal is at the ballot box”. It really stuck with me, especially in light of the mid-term elections just around the corner.
Yes, yes, yes, midterms can’t come soon enough. And yes, I love the equal nature of voting — someone can yell, scream, and lie all they want, but we’re equal because we each get one vote — that’s it.
Several years ago, a quote from Erma Bombeck inspired my novel, Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me. Here’s the quote. “Your grandmother pretends not to know you on Halloween.” My book is about a grandmother who suffers from dementia and tells her teenaged granddaughter a secret that impacts the family.
One thing I loved about fifth grade was teaching US history, despite the way so much of it is tried to be whitewashed by the current administration. Her “Ain’t I a Woman” speech is a classic.
I was going to get into that whitewashing … but I keep coming back to how that’s a wonderful thing about the truth. You don’t need to preface it. You don’t need to support it. The truth stands up on its own. Sojourner’s words pack as powerful punch today as strongly as they did in her times. Thanks Pete!
Writing from the Heart with Brian 
That’s a powerful quote and the unexpected context makes its impact the more powerful. 🙏
I was randomly scrolling last week and came across a reel of a guy I follow who raises lions in a sanctuary. He said something like, “they know they are loved, because I love them as they are and not who I expect them to be.” That really touched me, as you can imagine, as a caregiver.
I think of these moments as little God winks – small moments of encouragement to keep going.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I read your comment this morning and have been thinking about it ever since. “God wink” moments. I love that — I think they are moments to help keep us going, to see ourselves and to encourage us. I know I need moments like that!!!!🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️😎😎😎😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t take credit for the term. I saw it on someone’s blog – Wynne’s maybe – and it resonated with me as a concept. Yes, we need more of these moments!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I’ve had this happen, almost like they replaced there and meant for you to see them and take them to heart. The last one that struck me that way was
‘You are Enough.’
LikeLiked by 3 people
“You are enough.” So powerful! Love that line. It says so much in three simple words. A wow word!
LikeLiked by 1 person
“I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” – Henry David Thoreau.
Thoreau didn’t face the type of violent and public oppression that Sojourner Truth did. But I see the similarities in the wisdom. Knowing who you are, knowing that truth is on your side, and believing in justice and the process.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Perfectly said Jessica. Lots of similar themes! “Knowing who you are, knowing that truth is on your side, and believing in justice and the process.” I need to remember this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“May our house always be too small to hold all our friends and family.”
Bought it. Hung it up. When that house came apart, I passed it to a dear friend who cried with me as she accepted the gift. Will never forget the quote, the physical sign, or the gifting.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love that message. We have a similar sign in our kitchen — the fondest memories are made while gathered ‘round the table. 🙏🏼🙏🏼😎😎😎
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This quote from Jesus says it all for me 🙂
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yes, such a wise and loving verse. The second part. I remember as a kid questioning my mom if God really meant it. “Even brothers?” And my mom saying “everyyyyyyyyoooonnnnneeee.” 🤣🤣🤣🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️😎😎😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
I always liked the Satchel Page quote. “Don’t look back, something may be gaining on you.”
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Love this quote too. Page was onto something. Love too that Page could throw a fastball and curveball by you too!
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Yup.
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Thanks for sharing the Sojourner Truth quote. I have never read or heard it before. So powerful.
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It’s such an amazing show of right from wrong and a show of strength. Love it.
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👍🏼
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This is such a great question! One quote that has stuck with me for years is by Lucy Maud Montgomery, “Dear old world, you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you.”
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Oh I love that line. It’s new to me … but I love what it says about life and how to live your life.
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“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” – L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
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I’m feeling Montgomery’s quote today. Very much in an autumn mood. Of course, I’m jumping the gun. The high for us today is 80. Oops, too soon.
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I have a lot of quotes that I love but the first thing I thought of when you asked was “Stay Gold, Ponyboy.” LOL sorry, that’s all I got this morning a quote from a movie that was talking about a poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my that’s awesome Tracie! No sorries needed. Stay gold Ponyboy is high literature! It’s perfect. I gave that advice to my wife on her first day of school last week. 🤣🤣🤣😎😎😎
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Perfect!!!!
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I’m paraphrasing here, but I recently read a good one from Gloria Steinam (RIP), “the one place where we are all equal is at the ballot box”. It really stuck with me, especially in light of the mid-term elections just around the corner.
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Yes, yes, yes, midterms can’t come soon enough. And yes, I love the equal nature of voting — someone can yell, scream, and lie all they want, but we’re equal because we each get one vote — that’s it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes. E.B. White’s quote ‘Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder’ has always stuck with me. Big time.
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Oh that’s a great one Jennie. Wonder. Too many people lose their sense of wonder. It’s an amazing thing!
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Several years ago, a quote from Erma Bombeck inspired my novel, Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me. Here’s the quote. “Your grandmother pretends not to know you on Halloween.” My book is about a grandmother who suffers from dementia and tells her teenaged granddaughter a secret that impacts the family.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love Bombeck’s quote. Love how it shows the special relationship between grandmothers and grandkids. Love the premise of your novel Abbie. Wow.
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One thing I loved about fifth grade was teaching US history, despite the way so much of it is tried to be whitewashed by the current administration. Her “Ain’t I a Woman” speech is a classic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was going to get into that whitewashing … but I keep coming back to how that’s a wonderful thing about the truth. You don’t need to preface it. You don’t need to support it. The truth stands up on its own. Sojourner’s words pack as powerful punch today as strongly as they did in her times. Thanks Pete!
LikeLiked by 1 person