I think I over emphasize how much I love and appreciate my family and friends often. Gratitude will always push you further towards amazing opportunities. The laws of the universe will greet you with all sorts of miracles when you are thankful. Being thankful for the little things and the bigger things should be an every day ritual, not just one day out of the year. We all have a bevy of things to be grateful for. Even if you are stuck in your feelings for some reason, you do too!
THANK GOD FOR LAUGHTER (HE-HE)
I know your funny bones are bursting with laughter right about now. Looking at
Shaquille O’Neal laugh encourages us all to smile or giggle. Laughter truly is good for your heart. I enjoy being around happy people who can afford to laugh at themselves (I do) and who like having fun and laughing. I am so appreciative for the freedom to be able to laugh unconditionally.
Don’t tell anyone but sometimes before I go to bed at night, the best memories will pop up in my head. Then the rush of giggles comes roaring through me. I am up all night laughing hysterically in the wee hours of the night in the moment. If you were my neighbor you'd probably think I was crazy! Laugh, I promise you will feel so much better. Think about something funny and let it out!
I know your funny bones are bursting with laughter right about now. Looking at
Shaquille O’Neal laugh encourages us all to smile or giggle. Laughter truly is good for your heart. I enjoy being around happy people who can afford to laugh at themselves (I do) and who like having fun and laughing. I am so appreciative for the freedom to be able to laugh unconditionally.
Don’t tell anyone but sometimes before I go to bed at night, the best memories will pop up in my head. Then the rush of giggles comes roaring through me. I am up all night laughing hysterically in the wee hours of the night in the moment. If you were my neighbor you'd probably think I was crazy! Laugh, I promise you will feel so much better. Think about something funny and let it out!
UNDERSTANDING AND MERCY (THANK YA LORD)
An adjective (understanding) and a noun (mercy) can turn a frown into a smile. You know as well as I do we have all sown some unhealthy seeds in life that required someone else to extend understanding and mercy to us or towards someone we love. This is why it is beneficial to reciprocate that exact same human quality to others. How would you feel if you knew a person was doing the best that they could with what they had and you witnessed another person belittling them? Arrogance is not the new advantage point. It is a disadvantage and a flaw in a person’s character if they think looking down on others or never giving them a break is irregular. I am not saying don’t deal with the situation. No, there are always consequences to one’s actions. It is imperative to incorporate some understanding mixed with mercy. If you know a woman is a single parent raising three boys and there is no father present that should be taken into consideration. Maybe she can't go out like you or do the things freely like you. You probably have a more supportive family and husband to help you. You would crave the same sympathy if it was you or someone in your family. I am grateful for folks who are applying understanding with a little mercy on top towards others.
An adjective (understanding) and a noun (mercy) can turn a frown into a smile. You know as well as I do we have all sown some unhealthy seeds in life that required someone else to extend understanding and mercy to us or towards someone we love. This is why it is beneficial to reciprocate that exact same human quality to others. How would you feel if you knew a person was doing the best that they could with what they had and you witnessed another person belittling them? Arrogance is not the new advantage point. It is a disadvantage and a flaw in a person’s character if they think looking down on others or never giving them a break is irregular. I am not saying don’t deal with the situation. No, there are always consequences to one’s actions. It is imperative to incorporate some understanding mixed with mercy. If you know a woman is a single parent raising three boys and there is no father present that should be taken into consideration. Maybe she can't go out like you or do the things freely like you. You probably have a more supportive family and husband to help you. You would crave the same sympathy if it was you or someone in your family. I am grateful for folks who are applying understanding with a little mercy on top towards others.
PROACTIVE PEOPLE
Passive people do not make good leaders, in my opinion. You have to assert yourself to get things done. I am so thankful for the women and men who set fire to their determinations in order to unlock the freedoms that were held up in bondage. They believed they could! They imagined it! In light of those heroes and heroines I am enjoying the fruit of their labor. If you are a member of a committee, a politician or serving on a board, you are basically lifeless if you are not doing what you were purposed to do. What is the point of your service if you are not taking care of the people who put you in office? There is nothing wrong with declaring what is right and standing firm on that truth; using your voice plus actions to affirm and defend it (truth)! If you know your child is behind in math or reading it would behoove you to get him/her the help they need before their senior year. Also, parents if your kids are not on level academically, why would you allow them to play outside for hours when they could be practicing their math or reading a book to become more fluent in those subjects? We have to do our part in anything we desire to accomplish.
Passive people do not make good leaders, in my opinion. You have to assert yourself to get things done. I am so thankful for the women and men who set fire to their determinations in order to unlock the freedoms that were held up in bondage. They believed they could! They imagined it! In light of those heroes and heroines I am enjoying the fruit of their labor. If you are a member of a committee, a politician or serving on a board, you are basically lifeless if you are not doing what you were purposed to do. What is the point of your service if you are not taking care of the people who put you in office? There is nothing wrong with declaring what is right and standing firm on that truth; using your voice plus actions to affirm and defend it (truth)! If you know your child is behind in math or reading it would behoove you to get him/her the help they need before their senior year. Also, parents if your kids are not on level academically, why would you allow them to play outside for hours when they could be practicing their math or reading a book to become more fluent in those subjects? We have to do our part in anything we desire to accomplish.
NO SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS (RIGHTEOUSNESS)
“Stop acting like you are so self-righteous all the time.” Have you ever heard someone say that? Self-righteousness is not a bad thing if it is used correctly; not in a haughty religious way. I understand people love to use the terminology out of term. It has a lot to do with morals. Righteousness is something our world can afford to be intimate with. We need it! We need it with our leaders! If you have been staying abreast to all the madness going on in our world (school shootings, mass killings, and wickedness pervading our land), you would certainly agree that we need some righteousness to soothe our souls and heal our land. We need righteousness to infect our schools, in our neighborhoods, in our places of employment, and in our minds. There is absolutely everything right about doing what is right!
“Stop acting like you are so self-righteous all the time.” Have you ever heard someone say that? Self-righteousness is not a bad thing if it is used correctly; not in a haughty religious way. I understand people love to use the terminology out of term. It has a lot to do with morals. Righteousness is something our world can afford to be intimate with. We need it! We need it with our leaders! If you have been staying abreast to all the madness going on in our world (school shootings, mass killings, and wickedness pervading our land), you would certainly agree that we need some righteousness to soothe our souls and heal our land. We need righteousness to infect our schools, in our neighborhoods, in our places of employment, and in our minds. There is absolutely everything right about doing what is right!
GOOD POLICING :0)
I remember when I first moved out on my own. I went grocery shopping and I was pulling up to my house to go inside and take my groceries in. A police officer was in my court. He walked over to me and sweetly asked me if I needed any help. I said yes. I was so happy! His act of kindness made my day! Where was the news when that happened? They weren’t around. I do believe there are bad seeds in all professions. I am not a fan of bad policing. Not all cops are bad cops. I have friends and family members in law enforcement. The media enjoys hyping up those incidents that seem to incite certain communities in light of the police brutality cases shown. I concede it makes me angry watching it. It's the main reason why the popular phrase "I don't watch the news" is so common. After the officer helped me with my groceries I was laughing to myself saying “I know he didn’t think I was going to say no.”
This story warmed my heart because we don’t get to see these types of stories on the news like we should, regularly! When kids continue seeing men and women who look like them that have negative encounters and interactions with police officers on the nightly news (or in person), it does something to them mentally. It is not a healthy image for them. That is not good! I believe there are more cops like Officer Tony Carlson serving their communities. I am so appreciative of the good cops because they are out there. We need to see more of it! Thanks to all the police officers who are doing their jobs righteously!
I remember when I first moved out on my own. I went grocery shopping and I was pulling up to my house to go inside and take my groceries in. A police officer was in my court. He walked over to me and sweetly asked me if I needed any help. I said yes. I was so happy! His act of kindness made my day! Where was the news when that happened? They weren’t around. I do believe there are bad seeds in all professions. I am not a fan of bad policing. Not all cops are bad cops. I have friends and family members in law enforcement. The media enjoys hyping up those incidents that seem to incite certain communities in light of the police brutality cases shown. I concede it makes me angry watching it. It's the main reason why the popular phrase "I don't watch the news" is so common. After the officer helped me with my groceries I was laughing to myself saying “I know he didn’t think I was going to say no.”
This story warmed my heart because we don’t get to see these types of stories on the news like we should, regularly! When kids continue seeing men and women who look like them that have negative encounters and interactions with police officers on the nightly news (or in person), it does something to them mentally. It is not a healthy image for them. That is not good! I believe there are more cops like Officer Tony Carlson serving their communities. I am so appreciative of the good cops because they are out there. We need to see more of it! Thanks to all the police officers who are doing their jobs righteously!
If you have been reading SFM for the last 3 years you already know how marvelous my family and friends are. Yes, they rock stronger than the wind. I am thankful for them. I am connected to some extraordinary leaders and proactive creatures. We hold each other accountable and we love on each other fervently. Some folks don't have any family so don't take yours for granted. Be thankful for your family. Create some good memories because that is all you have when God says their time is up! I am so thankful for the foundation of family and prayer. I am also thankful for Ms. Lula (my granny). You know I had to mention Ms. Lula! :0)
