Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit of Being Me

If you’re interested, then you can journey with me as I continue to learn about myself and express my thoughts on Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Being Me.

I’ve thought about changing my blog and starting an online gossip magazine. It would feature the latest news and gossip on celebrities. It’d probably get more views am I right? The thing is, it’s easier to write about the lives of other people. To give opinions on the way they live their lives is easier and possibly more interesting, but it takes a lot of guts to write about the journey you are on.

To expose your own imperfections and inner thoughts. To share with the world the experiences you’ve had is courageous, I think. All of those various situations and circumstances I’ve attempted to conceal due to shame from childhood till now. This isn’t something I have to do. No one is asking me to share these tales and these thoughts. This is something I’ve chosen to do. To release myself to the thoughts and opinions of others, but on my own terms. The way I am most comfortable doing so.

It could be due to the fact that I’m fully aware that I have been misunderstood majority of my life. My dad and I joked about this a few weeks ago because not too many people grew up like me. Being aware, even at an early age that I am sometimes unrelatable, I’ve attempted to blend in. It’s been a survival method for me. Not wanting to appear too different because differences lead to being noticed with the possibility of receiving negative consequences.

I use this platform as a way to explain myself. To showcase why I am the way that I am. Allowing my introverted-ness to have a voice because you won’t consistently hear it on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any other Social Media platform. I just can’t be on Facebook every hour posting something. I am not a selfie poser that must check the lighting to show the outfit of the day or my newest hairstyle. I feel uncomfortable doing these things on those sites. Ironically, I feel more at home on my website, my blog, which is my place of release doing those things.

So this is where I am most freely showing you who I am and the place I feel most safe to do so. All at my own pace, about whatever I want, and however I want. I will always as best as I can be respectful….

I’m now okay with being different. I no longer have the desire to try to blend in and conform. I am finally okay with being me. If you’re interested, then you can journey with me as I continue to learn about myself and express my thoughts on Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Being Me.

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Please read my previous blog post: Venting: Feeling Unappreciated

Venting: Feeling Unappreciated

It would be nice to hear that my hard work is noticed by my superiors. It would just be nice to receive genuine acknowledgement.

I don’t want much and I’ve never been one to want more than what’s deserving of me. However, I do want to be appreciated, acknowledged, and praised. Who doesn’t? I don’t desire this all the time and not just for any reason, but it would be nice when I am doing my job and doing it well. As an adult I realized that I have a tendency to be a people pleaser. When I say people I mean my superiors. I always want to show them that I’m doing what I am supposed to do well.

I work my butt off every day at work and I am never praised for a job well done. For all the years I’ve been a teacher. Some may think that this means I’m not doing a job well done, but my evaluations and test scores say other wise. I build relationships with the challenging students same as I do the lovable ones without bribing them with candy. I don’t need to blow a whistle in my classroom to calm my students down, because they respect the class expectations enough to get quiet when I tell them to. The same teachers being nominated for various awards are the same ones watching how I handle the difficult children that we both share and trying to mimic me.

I provide laughter into my classroom to build a safe haven and a family atmosphere. I encourage my students every day and spend too many hours trying to make sure that I am always giving them the best of me. I do all I am supposed to do in this profession and I am never acknowledged individually. Of course, the group praise is always given because the faculty made the school look good for having high test scores. The “I can’t do this without you all” and the “You guys work so hard”, is common and cliche’ by now, but individually? Never. After a while, it hurts. I begin to feel unappreciated.

I didn’t become a teacher for the praise and I know that I’m doing a great job. I am often told this by my colleagues and I just know. We all know when we are truly doing a good job or a horrible job at something. I can tell that my current students enjoy me and our class My previous students continue to reach out to to me to remind me of what they remember learning and to tell me how much they enjoyed having me as their teacher. Honestly that is why I became an educator. To make a difference in the lives of students and to be remembered by them as I remember my favorite teachers. For making an impact and being there for them when they felt alone.

It just would just be nice to receive genuine acknowledgment from those that I keep making look good to their superiors, that they notice a job well done from me.

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Read my previous post here:

Accomplish Something

A Divine Perspective 17: Be Humble…

Some of us like to walk around like our “mmph don’t stink”. As if everything in our life is perfect and worthy of envy.

Some of us like to walk around like our “mmph don’t stink”. As if everything in our life is perfect and worthy of envy. In 2 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul talks about how he prayed for God to remove the “thorn in his flesh”. To remove this thing about him that he struggles with. To paraphrase, he said that God told him that he wouldn’t remove it because He gave him grace to endure it. What ever Paul’s thorn was, it was something that kept him on his knees and from being conceited. Something that kept him near the cross. It was a reminder that he didn’t get to the place he was without God and that he couldn’t get through it without the grace of God.

No matter how far we’ve come in life with our many accomplishments; with our numerous titles and degrees, there is something in our lives that makes those achievements irrelevant. I’m not trying to say that God wants you to remember your failures or your struggles, but he wants you to remember that it was Him that brought you from where you came from and His Grace is keeping you from where you could be. What is the thorn in your life that keeps you humble?

This scripture also discusses how God encouraged Paul by saying “my power is made perfect in weakness”. In other words, you may be weak in this area, but when you are weak God is strong. This is a beautiful reminder that in those times of weakness, calling on God will give you strength because He is made strong in our times of weakness. He is our Father and He has our best interest at heart.

We should never get too proud and forget where we come from. We should never forget that it was God’s grace that brought us through those difficult times or is currently bringing us through the difficult time. Be humble and remember that God is the reason you are where you are. Continue to call on him for your strength.

2 Corinthians 12 New International Version (NIV)

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

12 7 Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

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A Divine Perspective, formerly called Soul Food Sundays, are posted every Sunday.

Accomplish Something

So as I’m thinking about this topic and formatting it to black and white, I realize that I’m wrong.

In one of my last posts, The Follow Through, I mentioned that I wanted to accomplish something. That’s not to say I’ve never accomplished anything in my life. The official definition of the word accomplishment is something that has been achieved successfully. Technically, I’ve done this. I have been successful in life, having therefore accomplished certain regular life goals. For me though, I see an accomplishment as something done that isn’t a part of the regular routine of life or a challenge.

I became a teacher and have had the privilege of teaching close to 2,000 students all of these years. That number doesn’t include students that I’ve had to encourage and reprimand that weren’t on my class rosters. I’ve been married to the man beyond my wildest dreams for 12 years, happily, which in itself is no small feat. Not everyone can say the same while smiling. However, these aren’t the things I’m speaking about when it comes to my definition of an accomplishment.

I see an accomplishment as living in another country for like a year or backpacking across Europe (it doesn’t necessarily have to be Europe). Making a living from a hobby, losing a tremendous amount of weight, preparing and running in a marathon, or becoming an entrepreneur…. These are the types of things I feel are accomplishments because they aren’t necessarily planned out, not the regular and expected, but the unexpected. They aren’t the typical things that go along with the the everyday plans of life. They’re just things that one chooses to do and follows through with it.

So as I’m thinking about this topic and formatting it to black and white, I realize that everything I said I don’t count as an accomplishment actually is an accomplishment. Getting married and twelve years later still enjoying it are two accomplishments in one. Attending and completing college is another, I went through some unplanned challenges but was still able to succeed in walking across that university stage. Even my career of being a teacher. You may not believe it, but teaching is umm, how can I say this? It’s not for the timid and it isn’t the colorful world of crayons, bows, and story time. It’s uh,… wooo, something else, but I’ll leave the details (the good and the bad) in another post. I will say that dealing with depression, self doubt, and the feeling of inadequacy from administration and colleagues can be a lot, but making it through is an accomplishment.

The problem is me. I have to change my view and the way I look at life. Accomplishments are more than just the big write the vision and make it plain things. They are the dictionary definition. Those memorable situations that brought along with it some challenges. Not just the challenges themselves. Accomplishments are things done that aren’t part of the routine of life. It’s just not fair for me to only acknowledge accomplishments, through one frame of thinking.

We all have achieved something successfully, whether it was planned or unexpected. No matter how it’s viewed. Go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back, say a thank you God, and know that you were meant to succeed in that past or present endeavor.

Being Successful in whatever you’ve put your mind to do is making an accomplishment.

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Back after Break

I can’t believe how ready I was to return to school. To be back from break. This year has been different. I’m not as stressed as I would normally be.

I can’t believe how ready I was to return to school yesterday. To be back from break. I had a good two weeks off and of course I wouldn’t have minded a little more time off, but surprisingly I was really looking forward to returning to school. I honestly don’t know when the last time I’ve felt this way about a holiday break ending.

This year has been different for me. I’m not as stressed as I would normally be. This school year is more relaxed, which is taking some getting used to. This is the first year that I’ve had this sense of freedom EVER in my career. I’ve never not taught a state tested subject until this year, so I’m starting to feel as if I can be like famed singer Jill Scott and “live my life like its Golden”!

The pressure is gone. This would normally be the time of year that I would be preparing my students for their test, with intensity. Obviously preparation begins as soon as the first lesson is taught in August, but after Winter Break lessons are taught with even more rigor.

Yesterday, before I left to go home, I felt as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. For one thing, I was able to leave work on time. I’m normally not able to do that, so it felt odd. Like there was something that I had forgotten to do. There seems to always be something for me to do that didn’t get done during the day or something that urgently must be handled for the next day. There’s always copies to run, power points to complete, parent calls to make, emails to catch up on, grading, or revising lessons. I’m not used to this feeling of release; at least not in January. I normally tend to feel burden-less after my subject’s state test has been given, which is around April or May (school ends in late May).

There’s always this pressure for your students to do really well. As if their scores are a reflection of the teachers ability to teach. This can be a bit stressful since it’s as though many students seem to not really care about testing or classwork until it’s actually time for testing or report cards. I’ve always been made to feel that the only way to prove I’m “doing my job” well, is if my students show that they are passing these mandated state tests. A high passing rate means a teacher is fulfilling their job requirements of teaching! #sarcasm

If these tests were very necessary for student scholastic success, then why aren’t they required in private schools? I’ve always gone above and beyond in making sure my students are prepared and ready, but the excess pressures that are added on to an already stressful job is unnecessary. It begs you to ask the question, “What did I do in life to deserve this torturous hell on Earth”?

So again, yes. Yes, Yes, Yes!!! I am glad to no longer be under the heal of oppression. It’s actually helped me to look forward to coming in to work…on a Monday and after a two week break!

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Read my Previous Post: A Divine Perspective 15: Looking Back

Read my Previous Post: Divorce is NOT an Option

Featured Image Photo Credit: weareteachers.org
Photo Credit: Jill Scott album cover/UK version:Sbme Import
Photo Credit: Bugs Bunny/Daffy Duck/: freedomworks.org/Looney Tunes
Photo Credit: Comic Strip: Oregon Saving Our Schools
Photo Credit: memegenerator.net

A Divine Perspective 16:Walking in Expectation

As children of God we should have the same expectations for the promises of God, that my pups have for the food from my plate. You’ve got to have the faith to believe that God will do it and then walk with Expectation.

A Divine Perspective 16: Walking in Expectation

My puppies, have such a great life! They have their toys, snacks, and as much playtime with mommy and daddy as we possibly can manage. Every blanket we have for tv watching somehow becomes theirs, and they then become snuggle blankets. These pups know they are loved. Friends and family say they are spoiled. My response, “They aren’t spoiled, they’re just well taken cared of.”

They do have a tendency to be barkers towards strangers and anything out of order, and they get excited when it’s time to eat. Let me clarify, They get excited when it’s time for my husband and myself to eat. They seem to believe that the Huz-band and I are supposed to share our food with them. Meaning, they beg. When it is time for us to eat, all of their focus is turned to us. Kody uses his eyes for intense staring, Kasey holds his front paws together while moving them up and down as if he were praying, and they both sometimes become vocal with low growling, since obviously we aren’t noticing their attention-grabbing ways of begging. They have such high expectations, and faith that we will eventually give in to them and sometimes we do.

As children of God we should have the same expectations for the promises of God, that my pups have for the food from my plate. They’re so used to getting blessed that even when we bring shopping bags in the house they try to look and see if anything is for them. Like them, we need to be looking for and seeking out our blessings.

Our heavenly father is the creator of the universe and the giver of marvelous ideas. He has everything you need. Just ask, in his name. Have the faith that he will provide and then walk in the expectation that God wants the best for you.

That idea that you know could have only come from God: Do It, Stay Focused, & Follow Through with it! If He gave you the idea, why wouldn’t He help you to see it through? He’s blessed you before. He’s shown himself to answer your prayers and to give you the desires of your heart before, so why wouldn’t he do it again? You’ve got to have the faith to believe that God will do it and then walk with Expectation. Once He’s provided, share your testimony with others, so that they may know of the goodness of the Lord.

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My Puppy Boys: Kasey (Polar Bear) & Kody (Panda Bear) begging while I’m eating.

Read my Previous blog post : Divorce is NOT an Option

Read my Previous Soul Food Sunday post: A Divine Perspective 15: Looking Back

Divorce is NOT an Option

It was April 1992 when my parents finalized their divorce. I didn’t know what the word meant, but I didn’t like the sound of it. I knew that nothing good came from it.

Divorce is NOT an Option

*If I’m not mistaken, it was April 1992 when my parents finalized their divorce. Being an only child, this was difficult to deal with… alone. I remember the time that led up to this immortalized memory. The time when it seemed things were looking worse for my parents. They were arguing more than usual and I remember days when my mom wouldn’t get out of the bed. I didn’t know what was happening nor what any end result could be. I just tried to act as normal as possible.

*I remember the day I was told that my parents would be getting a DIVORCE. Hearing this word was like a sudden punch in the gut. I didn’t know what the word meant, but I didn’t like the sound of it. It was a word that sounded mean, evil, and disastrous. I knew that nothing good could come from it, and for some reason I knew that my life would be forever changing. This was a decision that, at the time, my parents believed was best for them.

When my huz-band and I were dating, we knew we had found “the one” and because of my experience with divorce, we decided that divorce would be “against our religious beliefs”. I don’t believe anyone wants to go through the agony and pain of divorce. We would do everything within our power to prevent that word from being a choice. Divorce would not be an option. We promised each other to discuss everything, no matter how challenging it may be, and to continue to always work on our communication. I’m sure the Huz-band has had times of thinking “What the hell have I gotten myself into”? If I’ve thought and murmured these words, I know he has… but we have never once lost faith in Us. We both have had our moments of being the more challenging one. Of course we will because challenges will come, but we have never allowed our pride, emotions, or frustrations to cause us to walk away.

I thank God that I was blessed with a spouse that continues to be patient with me even when I can be difficult and emotional and spoiled and unsure. He’s never tried to change me, but has only encouraged me to be my best self. We lift each other up. We hold each other accountable and have realized that we are partners, a team orchestrated by God…not by chance. We started off as friends, and unexpectedly our friendship grew into something magical. I was recently asked if I could imagine myself without him. I could, but I’d desperately be trying to get him back. There’s no one else for me.

Happy Anniversary to Me & the Huz-band!!

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*In no way was this meant to insult, embarrass, or degrade my parents. I love them dearly and understand that sometimes difficult choices have to be made in order to gain personal peace.

Check out my last Blog Post—>The Follow Through

December 29, 2018: Love is You!

The Follow Through

No basketball shot or volleyball serve can be complete without a follow through. Same with goals in life. It’s always easy to begin, ….

Happy New Year to Everyone all over the World! For some, this is their favorite time of the year because it’s like getting a do over. For others it’s a time to welcome new adventures or turning to a new chapter in the book of You.

I think I’m looking forward to a little bit of both really. A fresh start and looking forward to what this New Year will bring. The summer of 2019, was a bit rocky and unexpected. The chaos of what it brought overshadows anything that happened earlier or later in the year.

Today and yesterday I’ve been quietly thinking about what I can focus on achieving in this New Year. I’m at a point where I need to think about the big picture. I thought I’d always done this, but I realize I’ve always been okay with not completing my goals and plans. This year I want to live as if this is the last resort so that I can accomplish… something. The follow through is necessary.

My 6^th grade teacher told me that I struggled with seeing things through to the end. His words have continued to stay with me, until of course, I would forget them, but they were still embedded in my mind. Recently watching an episode of “Married with Children”, one of the characters was told this same thing. It was then I remembered Mr. Casteel’s piercing words. This also helped to remind me that I can no longer live just for now. I’ve become too complacent with just going with the flow and falling back on the present. I must live and act with urgency. I need to be focused on the future and all that may come with it.

No basketball shot or volleyball serve can be complete without a follow through. Same with goals in life. It’s always easy to begin, but the continuation through to its finish is what matters even when rough patches come. I want to have 20/20 vision when looking at the dreams I want out of life. I want to see all that comes with it, so I can’t allow the start to also be the end. I must remember the follow through.

To read about my Summer of 2019, click here—-> Summer 2019

Check out my previous blog post here—> It’s Finally Christmas Time!

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

It’s Finally Christmas Time!

For some, Christmas is not embraced as the icing on the cake that helps to end the year with a jolly “Ho Ho Ho”. Instead, it’s met with a grumbling “Bah-Hum-Bug”. Even these simple things can grow a Grinch’s heart and make a Scrooge smile.

It’s finally CHRISTMAS TIME! I’ve been looking forward to it since June…honestly since the last Christmas. I love this time of year! I love when the Autumn season comes because it is a prelude to the holiday season. I look forward to Halloween because it means that Practice Christmas, I mean Thanksgiving, is around the corner and I can work out any recipe kinks to have an enjoyable Christmas Dinner. The preparation of butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, onions, season salt, and cheese must be handled with the utmost care and perfection; or all could be lost. Could this be a bit dramatic? I’m sure it is, because that’s the kind of girl I am. In the nostalgic words of Popeye, “I am what I am”…. There is so much joy that comes this time of the year.

For some, Christmas is not embraced as the icing on the cake that helps to end the year with a jolly “Ho Ho Ho”. Instead, it’s met with a grumbling “Bah-Hum-Bug”. Not just because of bad Christmas experiences that have turned them into Scrooges or Grinches, but because CHRISTMAS IS EXPENSIVE!!!! The cost and length of your Christmas To-Do List can bring on stress and cause one to feel overwhelmed. Why you ask? Why? Because we want everything to be perfect and memorable! We want our Christmas Traditions to continue to be passed on. We want every Christmas to be the one that outshines the last one. We want our children to be amazed at all that Santa has brought for them. We want to impress and bring smiles to hardened faces. This inevitably requires money. Christmas is probably the most expensive time of the year. The groceries for dinner (including desserts), Christmas Trees, Lights and Decor for inside and outside the home, Christmas Pajamas (a fun extra), Christmas Cards, and Christmas Gifts all add up.

–Did you know that some people take out loans to have a Holly Jolly Christmas? I just found this out. I mean, yes the lights and decorations can still bring a since of awe and wonderment no matter the age, but I ain’t takin’ no loans out so people can “ooh and ahh” and not help with the light bill.–

But here’s the thing, you can’t allow all the pressures that come with Christmas to bring you down. You can’t allow this time of year to stress you out or turn you into a Grinch or Scrooge. Yes this time of year is expensive, so do what you can, and be grateful that you are able to do just that. Enjoy this time of year with family and friends understanding that it isn’t always the big things that bring the best memories. Sometimes the little things, like watching a Christmas movie every night or baking homemade cookies is all you need to bring on traditions and memories. Even these simple things can grow a Grinch’s heart and make a Scrooge smile. I’ve seen it happen. What can you do to have a Happy Christmas?

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Friday means Movie Night

Friday Nights, oh how things have changed!

Its finally Friday! What are you planning on doing this weekend? Movies?

I remember the days of yore when the movie was the thang to do on a Friday Night. I grew up with a mom that made Friday’s our date night! It was something to look forward to. This consisted of me wearing my “mini” jean skirt and purple boots a Movie and Pizza. As I got a little older, she would give me money so that I could purchase what I wanted from the concession stand. Nachos, Pickles, Popcorn, and Cherry Coke! She always had a movie planned for Friday Night. The best was the food we brought from home. Shhhh! Don’t tell anyone okay.

In college, we would go to the 9:00pm show. Why we waited so late knowing full well that girls had curfew. Yes I went to a University where girls had a curfew. Makes sense, since we can get pregnant without any help right?Anyway we would go to Cheddars after it and rush back to campus to be in by 1 am. Ahhh, those were the days.

Now, I don’t even care that I haven’t been to a movie since Us came out back in…what was that, April? I don’t know, but that was the last movie I went to see. There are plenty of movies that I want to see, but by the time I am free to go, movies are the last thing on my mind. Rest and Sleep are priorities now. I’ll get there when I can, but until then I’ve got Netflix!

What are you doing tonight?

My Mother Survived a Walmart Shooting

Sunday, September 1, 2019, my mom went shopping at a neighboring city’s Walmart around 3:00 in the afternoon. She heard loud popping noises and witnessed people running with fear.

Sunday, September 1, 2019, my mom went shopping at a neighboring city’s Walmart around 3:00 in the afternoon. After making her purchases, she walked to the basket area to return the basket she was using. While there she began a conversation with a lady entering the store. As they were talking, both ladies heard loud popping sounds coming from inside the store. Looking around in search of the noise, they witnessed hundreds of people running out. All of these people were running out, with a look of panic and utter fear across their faces. Leaving the conversation, my mother also ran for her life, as gun shots continued to ring in the air.

I thank you God for getting my mother out of the store just in time. Thank you for the hedge of protection you placed around her and the many others that were able to escape death’s door. She’s still a little shaken up, but doing fine.

My mother was born and raised in Chicago but left after joining the Army and beginning her own family. She eventually came back home after being away for about 25 years. Unfortunately, Chicago is a beautiful city plagued with Gun Violence every day. She recently relocated to an Indiana suburb, to be safer and to no longer have to deal with other issues within the city. This Gun Violence in Chicago, and in other major cities, has been out of control. Where can people go now, when the “safe” suburban cities are now places of local war-fare? When will there be laws set aside to make sure that these copy-cats are handled justly? What is going to be done to make sure that people can not feel comfortable going into places with weapons and attacking?

This true story didn’t make the news due to what was already headlining: the Odessa/Midland, TX shooting, the boat off California that caught fire with 30 people on board, and the devastation of Hurricane Dorian engulfing Grand Bahama Island. Is that fire still destroying the Rain Forest in Brazil?

There’s too much going on in the world, but remember even in the midst of all of the chaos, God is still Good. He still has a plan and it will be accomplished.

What should be done to protect the innocent on stores and schools? Please comment your ideas.

September 2: It’s Labor Day!

It’s Labor Day 2019 here in the good ole U.S of A. Wherever you go, the scent of bar-b-que is sure to be found close by along with the refreshing smells of watermelon and sunshine.

September 2: It’s Labor Day!

It’s Labor Day 2019 here in the good ole U.S of A. A time set aside to honor those that labor every day, so that they may have a day of rest. Obviously it’s not a day where all those that work are off, because stores and restaurants are open. For those that have the pleasure of being off, these people honor this day with picnics, family, and shopping.

Labor Day sales are prevalent and television commercials remind you to spend your money on this day, in order to, you know save it….Families get together for formal reunions, by gathering at parks for picnics, or homes. Wherever you go, the scent of bar-b-que is sure to be found close by along with the refreshing smells of watermelon and sunshine.

I, on the other hand, like to spend my Labor Day doing absolutely nothing except for the things I want to do. Reading, Writing, Sleeping, Eating, and Netflixing. I don’t want to visit anyone and I don’t want any visitors coming to me. Hearing the Huz-Band yell at the television about the College Football game that’s on and the pups playing is all the noise I need. Not to be disrespectful to anyone, but I prefer to be at home cuddled in my pajamas while living my life like its Golden. This Laborer still has to go to work the next day and I want to feel rested. Maybe I’ll re-watch Game of Thrones and pretend the travesty that was Season 8 didn’t happen.

Thank you for reading. Please comment below and tell me how you’ll be spending September 2 or for my international readers tell me how you spent September 2?

*You can read all about the facts and fiction of Labor Day by clicking on the links below-

https://www.dol.gov/general/laborday/history

http://theconversation.com/have-we-forgotten-the-true-meaning-of-labor-day-64526

A Divine Perspective 14: Safe In His Arms

If there was one thing I have always known is that my dad loves me. I was always able to trust him even at times that I should have been afraid. This is a picture of how God the Father wants to be with us. In every situation, he wants us to feel safe with Him.

A Divine Perspective 14: Safe In His Arms

If there was one thing I have always known is that my dad loves me. I was always able to trust him even at times that I should have been afraid. I used to love jumping from high places, into his arms because if he said he was going to catch me I believed he would. I never doubted that he wouldn’t catch me. I felt safe in his arms. I was confident that my daddy wouldn’t ever do anything to harm me or bring harm my way.

Whenever I fell out of a tree or off a slide, he would pick me up and hold me. As gently as he could, he wiped the grass and dirt off my face and clothing. This was his way of comforting me and it worked. I was accepting of this love because I knew that’s exactly what it was. He would speak in a sweet voice telling me “It’s okay, it’s okay”. Continuing with “baby, baby, baby” as he tried to assess the damage. He would then ask me if I was ready to go, and look with happy surprise when I would say, “No”. Shocked that I wanted to re-climb from where I had just fallen, but proud that I wasn’t giving in to fear. During this second chance, he would remind me to be careful and watch me as I succeeded on this second round. He would then capture the moment with a photo.

This is a picture of how God the Father wants to be with us. He’s always there for us when we fall. He wants to wipe away our tears and smile when we learn lessons from life’s many tests. He wants to bring us comfort in the times we need His gentle touch. When you are in a place that seems like there’s nothing else to do but jump, Can You Trust God to Be There with His Arms Wide Open? Just as I felt safe in the arms of my father, Our Heavenly Father wants us to feel Safe in His Arms.

The only way you will know God desires this for you, is by getting to know his heart and his love for you. To do this find a church that will encourage you to build a relationship with God for yourself. Get to know him by praying and reading The Bible. Your prayers don’t have to be formal, just speak to Him often about whatever is on your heart. The more you do this, the more you will begin to recognize His voice. You will hear it as He comforts you and discourages you from making unwise choices. Whether it’s your second, third, or eighth time. When you finally get to that high ledge, you will know then that you are free to feel Safe in His Arms.

Thank you for reading. Please comment and tell me about the situations in your life when you felt Safe in God’s Arms.

Read my previous Soul Food Sunday Article: Soul Food Sundays 13—Year of Me: It’s Not Too Late

The Meme Below Part II: Where I Stand

This kneeling is in protest and in prayer for OUR country to be better. No matter your political or religious beliefs, wrong is wrong. If you choose to remain Ignorant, I can only call you what you are.

When I saw this meme, it completely threw me off. I read what it said and looked at the name of the person that re-posted it. I was stunned. I didn’t think this person, this former co-worker…, this eclectic person that I thought was open minded to differences felt this way. How did I miss this? How could she feel this way? She’s much older than me, but she seemed to have an understanding about current injustices towards mankind and not just towards animals and the environment.

What maybe hurts the most is my naivety. I have a tendency to assume the best in people…. The entire issue of kneeling for the pledge was never to disrespect OUR country’s flag. Why must this statement stay on repeat? Colin Kaepernick and many others were trying to bring attention to how those sworn to Protect and Serve seemed to be “out to get us”. By Us I mean African Americans, black people, black folks. Police lives do matter, but don’t forget that black people’s lives matter too. Who do we call to protect us, if those that are sworn to protect and serve won’t protect us? Please don’t try me with that black on black crime because obviously every race commits murder or other crimes amongst their race because that’s who they live around. Certain groups of people are shown more negatively on the news, unless they’re shuckin’ and jivin’ for the masses as entertainers musically or in sports.

It’s like black people aren’t allowed to speak out and express their dislike or disdain for issues. We’re supposed to just go on with problems and be satisfied that we are “free”. The Devil is a Lie! That slavery mentality will not stand anymore! We will speak out when injustices are seen! Are things better for us than they were 100 years ago or even 60 years ago, yes. Are we Hanging from every tree at a PicNic? No, things are better, but they still aren’t where they should be. No matter where darker skinned or black people are in the world, it seems we have to put up with more hatred. What more do we want? To be able to speak out…to be able to feel equal and believe the equality is true…to be able to live freely and carefree and not feel the need to call a loved one when we get pulled over. To feel the need to not have to put our phone on speaker phone so that we can notify our loved ones about what’s going on when stopped by a police officer. To not have to teach our sons and daughters survival skills so that an officer doesn’t fear for their life. To not have to dry through a town and read bumper stickers that say “If you don’t like it down here, go back to the North” while they proudly have the confederate flag waving alongside the American Flag on the back of their trucks.

Again, we will not sit idly by while our people are being killed and bullied being who we are. We will not sit idly by and continue to watch our people be handled like wild animals. Excuse me, like cattle. Animals of the wild are given more compassion. We’re killed for selling water because someone unnecessarily feared for their life. When Naked Nathan can shoot and kill his family and attack police and civilians, there must be a mental reason, because NO ONE feared for their life and and Naked Nathan wan’t shot up like 26 times. We live in a world where fabric is chosen over a person?

When will it be appropriate for black people to voice our concerns that we see broadcast on the news? People are tired of turning the other cheek because there are no more cheeks to be turned. This protest was a choice to act and speak up with the use of violence, although violence had been used on us. This kneeling is in protest and in prayer for OUR country to be better. How can you not understand this? I feel like I am pleading for this to understood. No matter your political or religious beliefs, wrong is wrong and right is right. If you choose to remain Ignorant to the issues, I can only call you what you are. Because of your meme, now I’m right. No matter how much of a good person you are.

Thank you for reading Part II of The Meme below. Please read The Meme Below Part I: The Backstory

I would love to discuss these feelings I am sharing. Please comment, like, and subscribe.

The Meme Below Part I: The Backstory

Though many were friendly and open-minded with me while at work, Facebook Statuses reveal hidden thoughts, conversations, and viewpoints. The whispers spoken when I wasn’t around. The home discussions of how you truly feel regarding information from the news. The meme below showed those inner thoughts.

It’s disappointing when you turn on Facebook or Twitter or any type of Social Media communication forum and realize that someone you know doesn’t quite think the way that you thought they did. You, for whatever reason, believed that this person didn’t feed into the stereotype of their race or racial/ political affiliation. I try not to discuss politics or racial injustices in order to maintain ignorant bliss…and I guess to also ignore the fluorescent pink elephant sitting in the “room”.

At my last teaching job, I worked pretty much with all white woman. There was also 2 white men and 2 Hispanic teachers. The student population was reflected in the staff. Working pretty much with women is one thing, but to work with those that look nothing like you can be a lot to handle. This is for anyone no matter the race. Working with people that are different than you can be challenging.

The time I was at this school, I unknowingly felt the need to do everything perfect. After recently reflecting on this time, I realized that I felt the weight of perfection that many African Americans deal with situations like this. What I mean is, many African Americans, realize that in order for them to be seen as “equal”, we have to perform at the same level and often times better than our white counterparts. We have to watch what we say, watch how we dress, and watch how we do our hair, so as not to appear “threatening or intimidating”. We have to be bubbly, very friendly, and sociable, so as not to fall under the category of being the Angry Black Person. Even if we aren’t in the mood. We may not be in a bad mood, but again to not appear “threatening or intimidating”, we must change so no one is uncomfortable. We must watch our tone when speaking and our body language so that we aren’t the “eye-rolling” stereotype that is known as the “sassy” black woman. Some parents struggled with my personality and I was later informed that a few parents discussed with each other how I wouldn’t last long at the school.

The times I would discuss with my superior about any parent issues possibly being about race, was ALWAYS shot down. Race could NEVER be why a parent was complaining to the principal instead of to me. No matter how the parent always “misunderstood” my way of communicating because I sounded too “strong” in the way I spoke. I wasn’t trying to “play the race card”, even though this card stays in the deck, but I didn’t want to throw it out either. My blackness was new to these parents. Everything about me, my hair, my jewelry, my way of speaking to their children was new for everyone. I never disrespected any of them or made them feel unimportant, but I didn’t talk to them like they were babies or still in Kindergarten either. So my “strong” voice didn’t help matters. I had entered a bubble which didn’t include very many me’s.

I didn’t care that 98% of my students didn’t look like me. I believed that maybe I was their teacher, so that they and their parents could see that the stereotype of black people shown in media was not how ALL black people were. While I quietly fought these issues in my head, I still often wondered if anything about my race could be an issue for some of the teachers I smiled and conversed with daily.

Though many were friendly and open-minded with me while at work, Facebook Statuses reveal hidden thoughts, conversations, and viewpoints. The whispers spoken when I wasn’t around. The home discussions of how you truly feel regarding information from the news. The meme below showed those inner thoughts.

Please Read The Meme Below Part II: Where I Stand

Please Comment and tell me how you handle racial discussions at work?

Have you ever had to be “extra careful” at work because of who you are?

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2 Corinthians 12 New International Version (NIV)

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

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Happy Anniversary to Me & the Huz-band!!

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

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