Today is my anniversary! WooHoooo! I feel blessed from my split ends to my toenails.
No, it’s not my wedding anniversary or the yearly remembrance of the day I first became a mama, although I do celebrate those milestones too. Today I commemorate – with total praise from the very core of my being – the incredible day in June, 2023 that my publisher informed me that 2 million copies of my Too Blessed to be Stressed books are now in the hands of readers seeking a closer relationship with Papa God.
Whoa. To realize that He used me to help provide that connection still gives me God bumps even today.
Because you know, that was my biggest prayer back in 2002 when I started writing … that Papa God would use the passions, talents and abilities He’d nurtured in me my entire life for His glory. To build His kingdom. To encourage others stumbling in their faith journeys to hang in there even on the hardest days. To look for the funny. To be honest enough to tell my own embarrassing failures and repeated stumblings so that other women like me would know it’s perfectly normal to fall flat on your face once in a while.
Maybe even every day.
To help my BFFs (Blessed Friends Forever) realize that Papa God isn’t about judgment and disappointed frowns and head-shaking; He’s about redemption and loving smiles and fresh starts.
I LOVE that about Him. And I want more than anything else for my BFFs to fall head-over-stilettos in love with Him too. Because that’s the kind of love that lasts forever. Where else can you find that compassionate kind of love and acceptance in this world? Nowhere. 
I recently received this letter from a beautiful BFF named Karen M, who joined my book launch team for my new devotional, Bless Your Heart: (you can join too if you’re interested in helping get the word out for other people like Karen)
Hi, this is Karen. I’m so excited to be here (helping to launch Deb’s newest book, Bless Your Heart)! I got my mom’s copy of Too Blessed to be Stressed after she went to be with the Lord. I have SO enjoyed it. I have read it every day since God pulled me out of the deep, dark place I was in. I lost two best friends, also my mom, and my dad within two years, and it all came tumbling down on me. I begged God to just take me. But instead He sent me your devotional, Deb. I realized my way wasn’t working, so I committed to reading my Bible and your devotional. I’m relieved to say I haven’t missed a day in 95 days – Praise God!
I’m a new creature today, at peace, and again, loving life.
Here’s what I wrote in my journal this morning: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways, acknowledge Him, and he will direct your path” (Proverbs 3:5,6).
Lord, I just love this woman, Debora Coty. She really inspires me in more ways than one. I would love to meet her, talk and laugh with her, share stories, and tell her thank you. Her stories come alive in my mind; the pictures she paints are so detailed, and I laugh every day reading her devotions.
Wow. Just. WOW. It’s encouragement like this that keeps me going. Thank you so, so very much, Karen. And all of you BFFs who take the time to write and share your heartaches and triumphs in the comments below with our sisterhood of BFFs.
So today I celebrate hope. And joy. And warm, fuzzy cuddles with Papa God and the people I love. The best things of this life.
And may you, dear BFF, find something to celebrate too. (Hey, even breathing will do!) In honor of the blessings of Papa God, have a warm chocolate chunk cookie straight from the oven with me, won’t you?
Hugs, Deb