Damaged Goods

Ariel Here! I have the pleasure of co-authoring this post with a lovely person!

When my blog was in its planning stages in 2021, there were many questions I had to sit and think about including the name, the purpose, the vision, and who would be my target audience. Besides writing for myself, I immediately thought of a strong, powerful lady whose nature is to give, give, and give. Sometimes till she’s bone dry. So it’s a miraculous turn of events that this person is now being featured in today’s post!

Even recently, when Idomizue was on break, she requested to post her written journal entry to encourage others. This request motivated me to begin posting again. When I think back, this woman of God is one of the many reasons I started my blog. I wanted to find a way to encourage others who felt how I felt - like we’re running on empty.

Today, I would like to introduce you to that strong, powerful, generous lady whose name is Janet M. Graddic. This woman has many great roles which, today, includes being the author of today’s featured work, “Damaged Goods.”

She’s a cashier at Publix Supermarket and has 27 years of experience working in retail! While working in retail she’s learned that she is a natural born leader. In fact, she quickly became a manager at Kenny Rogers Restaurant before she became the mother of 3 children (which includes me 😁). Although she’s been offered management positions many times over the years, she rejected the offers to be what she likes to call it, a “hands-on” mom who's available and in the lives of the people she cares about most.

One thing that has kept her in retail for so long is her love for customer service. She loves her family and her customers dearly - especially the youth and the elderly. Everyday she prays that God allows her light to shine, to create in her a new heart, and renew a right spirit within her. Her loyal customers and family can testify to this answered prayer as she does indeed shine bright, bright, bright despite difficulties, opposition, and challenges she is faced with.

Please enjoy Janet M. Graddic’s written words, straight from the journal, as encouragement just for you! Take it away mom!

Damaged Goods

1. Products that are broken, cracked, scratched, etc.

2. Informal: a person who is no longer desirable or valuable because of something that has happened: a person whose reputation is damaged or ruined.

- Britannica.com

I work in retail. When we come across damaged goods, we label them and ship them back to the manufacturer for store credit. One day I was feeling low and depressed. I started thinking about all the disappointments in my life.

1. I did not finish my college education.

2. I had my First-born Son out of wedlock.

3. I’m a forty-nine-year-old divorced woman.

4. I lost myself along the way, so I don’t know my purpose or passion.

I was talking to the Lord, and I said, "I feel like damaged goods."

He immediately reminded me of Psalms 139:13-14. It says, I’m fearfully and wonderfully made.

Psalms 147:3 He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds.

Psalms 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

He also reminded me that He is the Manufacturer, and I can run to Him, and be restored. I really wanted to share my story to help someone else that may be going through a low place in their life. Jesus gave me peace of mind that day because he led me to the scriptures. Please remember we are not alone, we have a Comforter that is waiting on us to call on Him.

Thank you for reading this post! We hope that you all will be encouraged and remember that despite the failures and the low points in our lives, those moments do not change who God has already called us to be.

Let’s find comfort in Him, who is according to 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 , “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”