Silence

I’ve never been gifted in the art of keeping silent. Growing up, my mama used to say…”do you always have to speak your mind?” My reply was always the same, “yes.” A mentor in undergraduate school once said to me right in the middle of me making what I thought was a valid point, “you are too cut and dried.” Not only was I “cut and dried,” I was ignorant so much so that when the mentor walked away, I remember asking those around me, “what’s cut and dried?” I laugh now because I realize how green I was back then, but time, life and education has a way of catching up with your desire to speak truth intelligently as so moved by the Holy Spirit.


This gift was given from above and is a banner that I am not ashamed of adorning because it has made a difference in countless ways. I write about this gift as a badge of honor. Fearless to some, extreme to others, but no doubt a characteristic if honed produces fruit for generations to come. Ordained and order by God to speak against injustice and inequality; and for peace and love. One that at times is a lightening rod, but soft as a cloud if understood from whom the message is conveyed.

Where would the world be if people like Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, Sojourner Truth and others had remained silent? Many think that silence is golden and can be, as Rosa Parks only spoke a few words, but her actions spoke louder than her words. As I meditate on silence as an option, I respect the ability to have the choice to speak out or act upon and I say let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable and pleasing unto you Oh Lord!

I miss you Edie...Happy Birthday!

It’s been seven months and it feels like yesterday. My heart is still broken because God took you away. In my heart I know you are in the Lord’s hands, and for you my dear, you deserve such a resting place. I long for our conversations, your guidance and prayers. I miss you telling me to not look at my problems, but to call one of my friends who needs encouraging. You always knew what God would want me to do. But you're not here anymore to tell me those things and I miss you so much.

My tears are a constant reminder of a love so true, so dear and so pure. I love you mommy and I wish you were still here with me. My faith has only grown stronger on each passing day. It has too as you were the greatest example of long suffering I’ll ever know. Your triumphs and trials were a blessing to so many and showed us how to remain strong through it all. Your heartaches and pains were vast and many, but you always remained in the admonition of God who comforted you.

You expressed and loved unconditionally and only wanted the best for not only your children but for everyone. I strive to have the faith, love and charity you exhibited throughout your lifetime.

You left behind many people who love, adore and prayed endlessly for you and who miss you greatly. The grief is unbearable sometimes, but we still continue as we know that we all will have to go someday, but pray that we too will be in heaven where you eternally rest.

I love you Edie, yearn for your guidance, but know for myself that God is my light and in him shall I trust. Happy Birthday, I miss you so much.

 

Failure

Does failure equal fear? Fear of not passing the test, fear of not measuring up, fear of not being who YOU and OTHERS think you should be? You fail for various reasons, but if experience doesn’t teach you how to succeed from each failure have your really failed successfully?

I believe that failure is a way of telling you, you can do better. You can make it if you try harder, faster, wiser and with more effort. Don’t allow your failures to get the best of you.

If you walk by faith and not by sight failure never gets into the game. There is not room for failure if you fill your Spirit with faith. No room for failure to nag, loom or be in your space. Failing is a healthy way of reminding you to stay on your toes. Keep your chin up and to watch out for the punch of failure that can knock you out for the count.

Don’t think too long or hard about how you will whip failure into success. Think and pray upon success as willed by God in all you do and failure will have no choice but to get thee behind you and take a back seat.

I AM

Without a shadow of a doubt there is a purpose for all of us. Finding what is good and acceptable in God sight is a task, but not for us to make up or to concoct. He is the maker of all things including me and I will rejoice in the fact that He made me! Trials, fails, successes and triumphs are what make me stronger each and every day. Following His principals are what makes me realize just how precious I am in his sight. Were it not so, he would have told me. But what He’s revealed to me is so special and anointed I must keep to myself until the appointed time.


I fear speaking of it because it will go against what his teachings have been to me all of these years. I dare not ask “why God why?” It is not my place to ask such a question, but my place to accept God’s Holy plan for my life.

I am who God says I am

I am not what others think of me

I am not what I think I should be

I am wonderfully made in the image of God

I am purposed to do God’s Will regardless of what I think

I am set apart to be a blessing at all times in the best of time and in the worst

I am special, divinely sent from the Father to do what He has me here to do at all times

I am going to fulfill His perfect and acceptable Will no matter what I see, hear, think or feel

I am living for I am His and He has made me for His own great and glorious plan here on this earth

I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM!

Falalalalalalala

Once upon a time there was you and me

Falalalalalalala

Happy, joyous, elated to be

Falalalalalalala

Singing, smiling, styling and profiling

Falalalalalalala

Ah to be or not to be, what to be, how to be, should we be?

Falalalalalalala

The future lies in the hands of the beholder, but our desires are to hold each other

Falalalalalalala

Should we be? He love me she loves me not; She love me, he loves me not’

Falalalalalalala

Two strangers passing in the night, where opposites attract, but like magnets that are forced together;

Falalalalalalala

Sign sealed delivered I’m yours!

Falalalalalalala

My Daddy, My Hero!

Today is Father’s Day 2010 and I am feeling so many emotions from reading the various comments on my Face Book page. Personally, I was blessed to have my father in the home growing up and he and my mother celebrated 54 years of marriage in January 2010. My daddy, Ollie Lee Jr. was the hardest working man for his 4 girls, son and wife. He did not allow his lack of education (7th grade) to prevent him from working 3 jobs at once to support his family. He was a strict disciplinarian and someone who you knew expected nothing but greatness in your appearance, delivery, presentation and overall life.

He supported me, my sisters and brother through college and one through graduate school; never complaining ALWAYS working. He was a stickler for having immaculate credit and taking care of business as it was required. His consistent demand that we be disciplined children has made me who I am today. He lived in my middle school as the nuns always knew if they called Mr. Lee, Edith would straighten up and fly right. His attentiveness to our education has taught me to do the same for my daughters.

When he was tired of the children in public schools wanting to fight my sister and me, he enrolled us in a catholic school. To this day, I give him much respect for caring enough for us to change our environment even though there was a hefty cost for tuition. BUT HE DID IT!

When my dad was a young man, he was an exceptional baseball catcher and was being looked at by professional teams. He was offered an opportunity to go play with a team, but turned the offer down to stay home and work helping to support his family. Through the years, my mother has raised many, many children in the neighborhood, and my dad never once asked her why are all these kids here? lol. He just very quietly made his way to his bedroom and continued providing for not only his biological children, but for every child that ever crossed the threshold of our home. Oh and it wasn’t just the children…the pets were all treated like part of the family too. There was never a stray dog that we bought home that he said had to go.

Family is very important to him; he gets a great kick out of watching his 3 year old twin great-grand daughters. They give him much joy as they come into his room to steal bubble gum from the gum ball machine he has there. They love their granddad and anytime they are there, they will both just go in his room and sit on the side of his bed with him to watch TV or to jibber -jabber to him. This is truly something to behold.

Of course he was human and had his issues, but my daddy is my hero. Ailing now with the beginning stages of Alzheimer's, dementia and other health issues, I had a chance in May 2010 to spend with him a good quality afternoon, just he and I talking. We reminisced, laughed and talked so vividly about family times. I praise God for the opportunity to have had the father I have and I pray that he knows how much his being in my life has made a difference to not only me and my sisters, but my children and the Lee generations to come. So that he will know, I plan to read this to him over the phone today as he lives in Pittsburgh, PA and as far as my recollection goes, I’m only aware that he has traveled out of the state one time, and that was for his sister’s funeral.

I love my dad and I know that his genes are strong in all his generations. So we who are his seed have NO excuses. His love for us inspires me to persevere even when quitting is an option I would love to choose. His love and support is sufficient enough for me to run on all in the name of his love, discipline and high expectations. I love you Daddy. Happy Father’s Day!

My Commencement Speech to the Class of 2010….

We are blessed beyond measure. The Favor of God is on those who believe and is distributing throughout. Yes it is very evident that for those who believe in the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost blessings, favor grace and mercy are with them daily. But I have also witnessed blessings and honor in the favor of unbelievers too. But that is a fine example of how great is our God that he would love those who choose not to love him. 

Breath New Life in Christ Jesus…renew your commitment to him. Allow him to lead, guide and protect you as you venture into the next glorious part of your life. Strengthen your faith; share with another the goodness of God; rejoice in your accomplishments and the accomplishments of others.

Rules to live by…build up the defeated others… rise and be heard…watch and be diligent.  Love God with all your heart, soul and mind.   The time has come for understanding the master plan and for seeking more wisdom on the plan.

The foundation is poured and a structure is in place, where will your building blocks come from? Whose walls will you help to construct; whose seed will you water. Pay it Forward is a must.

Your witness, your counsel and your generosity is needed in the world today. Don’t hide it or squander it…RELEASE IT for the world to know…

Love, Peace and Blessing Class of 2010

My Lover Man!

Sex me, text me, perplex me…

My lover man

Good son, good father, good friend

My lover man

Hard worker, provider, protector

My lover man

Creative, bright, entrepreneurial

My lover man

Strong, bold and deliberate

My lover man

Engaging, enlightening, engrossed

My lover man

Inviting, intense, invigorating

My lover man

Committed, faithful and true

My Lover Man!

The Ultimate Friendship

They were 2 peas in a pod

Both loved God

There was a bond so tight

So there never was a fight

But one day there was a wedge

Although they forged ahead

No one could tell

That there was a scream and yell

It was unconditional love

Divinely from above

An understanding so deep

A friendship for keeps

SURRENDER

There was a time when I said enough is enough.

A time when I thought I couldn’t take anymore.

When I threw in the towel, closed the door, wrote the last chapter and turned my back.

I didn’t quit I surrendered. I surrendered my will for God’s Will. I laid it all on the altar.

For Him to do his perfect and divine Will.

I gave it to Him.

Surrendering to some is an admission of defeat and giving up.

But to me, it is Victory in Christ Jesus.

Jesus asked God to “take this cup from; yet not my will but yours be done.”

Even Jesus surrendered…Have you?

Surrendering means you have to humble yourself.

Recognize that it’s not about you.

That you are powerless and your thoughts, dreams, desires and wants mean NOTHING, if God doesn’t say YES.

And there are stipulations on that “yes.”

You have to delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

There’s always a price to pay, Jesus paid the ultimate price…Have you?

Because I know that I serve a living Savior who came so that I might have eternal life, my desire
is for all mankind to know this truth.

Surrender your will for the Will of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, EPH 6:12.

Why wrestle with the Lord when you can surrender to His Will and His way and allow Him to fight the battles you will never win without him.

How’s the word “surrender” sound to you now?