Despicable Slaughter of the Innocent in Newtown, Connecticut

This weekend my husband and I spent time with my sister and brother-in-law who brought a group of kids from their church and a few in the community to see the show “Medieval Times” at Broadway on the Beach. Right after we finished having lunch, one of the patrons at the restaurant told us about the tragedy that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School this morning. As with any decent human being would feel, our hearts dropped and we began to pray for the victims and everyone affected by this unspeakable act.

As we talked about the kids who we were with this weekend, watching the excitement and awe in their faces, our hearts ached for the horrific news about the innocent lives lost at Sandy Hook Elementary School this morning. Whether at Columbine High School, Virginia Tech or the deadliest school massacre in U.S. history that occurred in 1927 at Bath Township Elementary School in Michigan, lives will never be the same.

“Why” is always the resounding word that comes after the initial shock of such a horrific occurrence. However, nothing dispels the fact that evil is evil and there is no proper way of putting it. You can’t label it, you can’t comprehend it and you can’t explain the perpetrator’s motives . We ask this day and all the days of our lives that we shall put on our whole armor of God, be diligent in our prayer life and strengthen our relationship with God! We can’t walk around in fear each day, but we must walk in faith and believe in our protection from The LORD.

We pray for God to grant encouragement, comfort and hope in each of the lives affected by this morning’s tragic events. These killing sprees must end. God’s power conquers the Devil’s powers. We have access to God’s powers or the Devil’s curse. It’s up to us to choose which one to relate to and embrace. As long as we live we may not ever be able to eradicate the presence of evil, but we have the ability to bring down and destroy it with the power we ask God to give us. 

The End of a 12-Year Run!

Well, we have seen the arrival of 12/12/12, which if some of you remember when Y2K arrived, there were vast predictions of the impeding “doomsday” scenario among many conversations around the world! A coworker of mine brought up an interesting point that made me reflect differently about number-related dates as we have witnessed over the course of the past 12 years. How interesting these comparisons are.

January 1, 2001 – 1/1/1

February 2, 2001 – 2/2/2

March 3, 2003 – 3/3/3

April 3, 2004 – 4/4/4

May 5, 2005 – 5/5/5

June 6, 2006 – 6/6/6 (Wonder if this day put the fear of God in some people’s hearts)

July 7, 2007 – 7/7/7

August 8, 2008 – 8/8/8

September 9, 2009 – 9/9/9

October 10, 2012 – 10/10/10

November 11, 2011 – 11/11/11

December 12, 2012 – 12/12/12

One thing is for certain, we will not see this type of occurrence again in our lifetime that would happen in 12 consecutive years. But wait, what about other similar numerical incidences during the last century? They only cover a scope of 9 years, but not successively. They were all 11 years apart!

September 9, 1999 – 9/9/99

August 8, 1988 – 8/8/88

July 7, 1977 – 7/7/77

June 6, 1966 – 6/6/66 (Bet this day scared the crap out of a few people)

May 5, 1955 – 5/5/55

April 4, 1944 – 4/4/44

March 3, 1933 – 3/3/33

February 2, 1922 – 2/2/22

January 1, 1911 – 1/1/11

Of course, we can continue to go back further into history to find numerical similarities among certain months, on certain days, in certain years. However, from 2001 to 2012, this is the only time in my lifetime where I will see a consecutive 12-year mono-numerical significance, which gave me an intuitive moment to pause. I was aware of our 12-year pattern of fixated numbers, but I never stopped to take all of this in!

Now this was certainly a “things that make you go hmmmm….moment!" Not quite the end of the world!

Attitude, Gratitude and Overall Thanksgiving

Although we will celebrate the national holiday of Thanksgiving Day on Thursday November 22, 2012 may we always be reminded of giving thanks every day of the year. Many people expressed their beliefs about not celebrating Thanksgiving Day, because this particular day is not in the Holy Bible. If they were to read their Bibles however, and ask God for revelation and understanding, then they would know that “thanksgiving” is clearly defined in The Word.

Unfortunately, the comprehension of what thanksgiving means has been overshadowed by much commercialism. We have our meals with our families, but by the time we finish with our deserts, then we are off to other activities where those heartfelt moments of thanksgiving are lost before the day is done!

I was listening to a Thanksgiving message this morning, “Overflowing with Gratitude” by Dr. Charles Stanley, that put into perspective the reason why we should be thankful and give thanks every single day we breathe! Being thankful is being grateful. He outlined the characteristics and evidence of a grateful heart, which made me do a self-examination of my gratitude. I would like to share those points with you.

1. Positive attitude
2. Aware of God’s presence
3. Have a humble spirit
4. Have a sense of peacefulness even in the midst of a storm
5. Be thoughtful of others
6. Have a generous spirit
7. Be unselfish
8. Be expressive about your gratitude and feel free to share your story
9. Be friendly
10. You will be contagious. Your heart will connect to the heart of others.
11. Be motivated to give, serve and share.
12. Have a servant’s spirit
13. Have a high level of faith
14. Have the spirit of fruitfulness
15. Be joyful

Last year, I made a commitment to keep a Gratitude Journal for an entire year and posted it: "What Keeps You Grounded." This made me stop and avoid sweating the small stuff. When I did this, I found the beauty of the things that were right, instead of harping on the things that were wrong. When I found things that were wrong, I tried to find a solution to making it right, instead of making a big deal about how wrong and crazy it was. If it was not in my power to make it right, then I had to walk away and not allow it to take away my joy and gratitude.

So yep, I will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day this year as I always do, because I do it naturally every day of the year anyway. There was a song we used to sing in church when I was growing up that was called “Count Your Blessings, See What God Has Done!” There were far too many for me to name and far too many for me to count one by one. I will never be able to keep up with them, because the blessings are happening even when I am not aware that they are. The blessings are infinite and until it’s time for me to depart this life as I know it here on earth, I will continue to keep an attitude of gratitude and truly know from where my help comes from. This keeps me grounded, humble and gives me peace! 

This Thanksgiving Day, it’s not all about the food, the Native Americans or the Pilgrims, but about how sincerely grateful I am! Have an awesome Thanksgiving Day everyone!

“We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.”

- 2 Thessalonians 1:3 (NIV)

The Veterans by Rudyard Kipling

"The Veterans"

By Rudyard Kipling

To-day, across our father’s graves,

The astonished years reveal

The remnant of that desperate host

Which cleansed our East with steel.

Hail and farewell! We greet you here,

With tears that none will scorn,

O Keepers of the House of old,

Or ever we were born!

One service more we dare to ask,

Pray for us, heroes, pray,

That when Fate lays on us our task

We do not shame the Day!

May we never forget the sacrifice that so many military personnel gave for our country. May God bless them and their families for enduring such a sacrifice. Our hearts ache with those families who lost love ones, who fought on the battlefields. May we be better and more united because of this. We salute our veterans and we thank you for your service!

*This poem is in public domain.

Storms Do Not Discriminate

According to Wikipedia, a storm is any disturbed state of an astronomical body’s atmosphere especially affecting its surface, and strongly implying severe weather. It may be marked by strong wind, hail, thunder and/or lightning, heavy precipitation, strong winds or wind transporting some substance through the atmosphere. Storms generally lead to negative impacts to the lives and property, such as storm surge, heavy rain or snow, lightning, wildfires and vertical wind shear.

Tragically, we do not give credence to the fact that everyone will experience some type of storm(s) during the course of their lives, whether it is physical, materialistic, weather related or spiritual. Some type of conflict can invoke a storm, which can intensify to various levels of a storm. This intensity depends on the updraft that will either ignite chaos and confusion, or stir up the will to band together and create a community of people rebuilding for the common good.

As we witness with the post tumult of Hurricane Sandy’s furor, we find that many victims are consumed with rage, turning them into monsters instead of supporters. Terror and desperation from the lack of food, gas and electricity, (some of the those necessities that we take for granted) is causing people to fight, turn on each other and even to commit horrific crimes just to survive.

As we look at the path of destruction that Hurricane Sandy, along with other natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Hugo, the major tornados that struck areas that usually do not get tornado activity, as well as the tsunamis that hit Japan and India, we see that these storms did not discriminate. Young and old, rich and poor, male and female, educated and illiterate were hit with the agony of feeling defeated due to the pattern of storm activity that surround every individual.

Another thing that is not discriminatory is God’s love. So often we lack the ability to see His love when we are in the midst of grieving and suffering. When we seek God’s guidance and direction in situations that look grim and hopeless, it is then that He will grant us peace to get through these tough situations and circumstances, so that we could lend a helping hand to others who may really need it.

Psalm 119:81-83 (NIV)

My soul faints with longing for your salvation,

    but I have put my hope in your word.

82 My eyes fail, looking for your promise;

    I say, “When will you comfort me?”

83 Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke,

    I do not forget your decrees.

Is Beauty Really Skin Deep?

Recently, I saw a report on television about a new trend in beauty that is exploding and becoming a multibillion-dollar industry in the Asian market. This particular trend is nothing new, but poses great concern to a stereotype that continues to be disturbing and deemed acceptable among certain ethnicities for centuries. This common thought process has and can continue to create resentment among cultures, a false sense of success, a coerced attraction to the physical appearance, while at the same time, lowering the self-esteem and status of many people.

I worked in the fashion and beauty industry at many levels for 28 years. During that time I saw people go to extremes to either cosmetically enhance their bodies or lighten their skin for all of the wrong reasons. As I continue to watch the growing trend of many people (particularly women of darker skin tones) who buy into the belief that the lighter your skin is, the richer, prettier, purer and more successful you are, I also see an increased element of depression, self-destruction, resentment and remorse that can result in deep regrets.

While it is important to improve the areas that you feel you need to in your life, whether spiritual, mental, physical or emotional, you should always embrace the beautiful creature that God created you to be. As an African American, I understand how such misconceptions can cause people to delineate the part of their history that shaped who they are. I understand the significance of why many people are attracted to the physical attributes they feel will add greater validation to their lives. At the same time, it also adds to the stress of upkeep, while trying to fit in and be accepted in a world that will not recognize or accept them…the great pretenders. All too often, when we are caught up in the game of pretending, we can become entrapped in a dark place and find it increasingly hard to either let go of or to escape from.

I think about my all time favorite, classic movie, “Imitation of Life” and realize how tragic it is to try to be someone else, while you are missing all of the beauty and blessings that can abound in your life, if you would only embrace who you are. If such physical enhancements are done for corrective or reconstruction purposes, then I think that is completely acceptable. However, to change your physical appearance to take on a false identity to try to force your square peg to fit in a round hole will only add greater heartache to an already fragile situation. Do not lose your born identity unless it is for self-improvement and not based on a preconceived idea or notion by someone else.

Be true to yourself and be yourself. Beauty is in the heart and spirit. Regardless of how much you pay for aging or skin lightening creams, if you are blessed to live a long life, then there is no potion that can change your age.

Celebrating National Custodial Worker Day

One of the most under-appreciated professions in existence is that of a Custodian. Today is National Custodial Worker Day in which we recognize individuals who clean and maintain residential or commercial buildings.

Thank You to all of our Custodial Workers everywhere!

It is unfortunate that many people believe that custodial workers are uneducated, poor people and that by all means is far from the truth. By speaking to many people who work in this field, you learn that there is something awe-inspiring about the humbleness this position can bring. Many years ago, a friend of mine asked if I would like to help clean up a building with her, because she did not have enough manpower to finish the job in a given time allotment. I happily obliged, although people at the time thought I was demeaning myself, because I was working in an upper level management position that required me to be dressed to the nines every day. On the contrary, the thought really didn’t occur to me, because this was not something that I was above.

No doubt, custodial work is laborious and not the most appealing job at first sight, but it is unquestionably vital to public presentations, health regulations and spiritual groundedness. Each time you go into a public restroom, please be cognizant of the fact that you should not recklessly create a mess and expect someone else to clean it up, just because they are paid to do so. While it is true that someone is paid to clean up, try putting yourself in their shoes if you had to clean that area up.

If everyone responded in a manner of respect for the position of a custodian when they use public restrooms in particular, they would embrace the compassion that comes along with human respect and dignity. Don’t ever turn your nose up or look down on positions like sewage workers, waste collectors, house cleaners or janitors. They are not castaways, but ordinary people making an honest living, and unbeknown to others, many of them are financially wealthy. Unless it is a book, never judge people by their cover. They may be an angel in disguise!