August 2017

“The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; and with all you’re acquiring, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7

I’m excited to be back with you all another year after a very successful symposium in beautiful San Diego.  As my late great Grand-Father use to say, “What a time, we had” experiencing growth through shared knowledge and experience.  Like many of you, I have returned from the symposium encouraged, empowered and determined to do my part in making a difference where I work and within the organization.  We had many dynamic speakers! Each gave their unique perspective on developing leadership through educational experience and personal development. There are many paths towards success, however there are necessary tools we each need on the journey. You have to believe in you, knowing your gifts and putting them to good use brings strength to the Sea Services. Never miss an opportunity to share experience and add value thru mentorship up and down the sphere of influence.  Wisdom facilitates a sense of speed and responsive action, not in response to change but as a result of being in front of change.  The shared collective knowledge of managing people, programs and resources through trusted relationship allows for sharing unperfected ideas- as VADM Crawford said “Working out Loud.”  Living with healthy humility and integrity grounds us in our perspective of who we are and how we can empower others.

Continue to stay motivated in the months ahead as we chart the course towards another successful year!

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” -Albert Einstein

Chaplain Kimberly Cain

July 2017

Greetings NNOA Family,

Welcome to the wonderful month of July!  Each year we celebrate the 4th of July as America’s Birthday.  However as we sometimes rush into all the cookouts and festivities, we sometimes forget what this day  truly represents.

We celebrate July 4th, 1776 because that is the date the founders adopted the Declaration of Independence.  We celebrate because the Declaration’s concepts and ideas were truly revolutionary.  The Declaration’s preamble reads as follows: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Please never forget how rich and wonderful life truly is at this moment. Please do not let another moment slip by without letting your loved ones know how much they mean to you! Remember to always give Thanks for the creature comforts indulged in that make life worth living.  Today consider what independence really means to you and your family and remember why you continue to serve. Freedom is never free, someone has to pay the cost to defend freedom-

May God Bless You for all that you continue to do!

Chaplain Kimberly Cain

June 2017

In June we celebrate our beloved Fathers, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12 NIV
Happy Father’s day in honor of our Fathers who continue to lead with dignity and grace-May we always remember the sacrifice, and service.

Whenever we faced setbacks and challenges as children,  our Father  gave us this priceless  advice “stay positive.”  Fathers encourage their children to not lose hope when facing adversity and trials.  This teaching instilled strong character, morals and honorable ethical behavior.  We will face obstacles in life, however true success is born out of how we overcome our obstacles.  Maintaining a positive attitude keeps you focused on the good things going on in and around your life and improves your overall health.  We can always find something negative to complain about, but learning to stay positive is an art which requires listening to the Father’s voice and deeply knowing who you are and where you are going in life.  Slow down, take a moment to reflect on where you have been and where you are now going- STAY AWAKE, STAY POSITIVE, STAY FOCUSED!
Celebrate our Fathers, our Heroes,

Prayer Thread:  We give thanks for our Fathers  who taught us the virtues of hard work and prayer.  Thank you God for the memory of the elders and ancestors who are now called to rest but who’s voice we still recall because of the legacy they left behind in the life they lived. May we always remember their hard labor,  sacrifice and the honorable life they committed to living,  AMEN!

Chaplain Kimberly Cain

May 2017

Greetings NNOA Family & Friends,

Welcome to the fabulous month of May!  During this month we celebrate Mothers, and the valuable wisdom of the Elders.  I often recall words patiently spoken from my Mother, her unwavering Faith in God and deep conviction that everyone’s voice mattered and held a measure of truth.  How can we experience the fullness of life or celebrate our personhood without being able to effectively communicate?  The goal of communication is to convey information from one person or group to another.  Daily communication is necessary in doing our job and succeeding in healthy relationships, however it is hard to hear a message if we allow negative energy to filter out the essence of the message.  People with high emotional intelligence perceive, understand and manage emotions even in stressful situations.  This helps them use their communication skills to interact effectively with others.  They are also generally able to make well thought out decisions and stick with them until the task they are working toward is complete, because they know what they want; they have a clear vision and clear goals and have clearly communicated these things to others.  As we approach Mother’s Day, recall the lessons of the elders.  I can still hear my Mother quoting Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”  Speak words that build bridges allowing healing waters to flow.  Understanding emotions help decide what is important and how to respond.  I am remembering my Mother in a happy way, she taught me how to laugh, love and forgive- mostly she taught me how to say “Thank you and I apologize.”

Kimberly Cain, Chaplain United States Navy

April 2017

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.

“I’ve been thinking,” He said, “I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone.”

~ Author Unknown

Chaplain Kimberly Cain