Friendly

Proverbs 18:24 KJV A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Most people would define friendly as being kind or helpful. For the most part, I think we are able to be friendly towards our friends because it's a beneficial relationship, but what about when it's not. What about when it's inconvenient? What about when we are offended or when we disagree? What about when we're tired or had a bad day? Are we still friendly? Are we still kind? Are we still helpful? Let's try to be like the friend that sticks closer than a brother. Let's try to be more like God. Let's try to be friendly.

Reach

How far is your reach? What does your sphere of influence look like? Do people listen when you speak? Are you a leader? Are you an example? Your reach extends past your immediate circle. In this new digital age, every post and every picture can have a global impact. Things go viral everyday. We should be mindful of what we do because of our reach. Our reach impacts others. Our touch, our speech, our sentiments, our opinions matter. They have reach.

Process

Trust the process! We hear this all the time, but its hard to trust the process when you don't trust the processor. God is the processor. He is the one who is ultimately in control. It's easy to acknowledge God as creator, supplier, and healer because all those roles benefit us. However, it can be difficult to acknowledge God as a processor.  A processor by definition is responsible for executing a sequence of stored instructions called a program. There is a plan for your life that was established before your creation. God designed your program.  He is the executor, all you have to do is trust the process. 

Black Power

The term "Black Power" was popularized by Stokely Carmichael and Willie Ricks during a speech in 1966. However, Richard Wright's book entitled Black Power was published in 1954. Since then, there have been several terms that celebrate Black Empowerment, (#BlackGirlMagic, #BlackGirlsRock, #BlackLivesMatter, #BlackisBeautiful, #ImBlackandImProud, #BlackPride, #BlackExcellence). All of these terms resonate within the Black community. 

I finally saw Black Panther. I posed with my fist in the air next to signage. I dressed in all black. I encouraged my daughters, mother, and mother in law to do the same. We posed with our stuffed T'Challa beaming with pride. Representation matters. Gianna and Jai'Lynn will remember that three generations of their family went to see Black Panther on a school night. They will remember the Dora Milaje. They will remember the pretty little girl in the bathroom with dashiki. They will remember Shuri, the STEM genius. 

Black Power is about representation in the global marketplace. It is about economic, social, and political empowerment. It is about positive media representation. It is about reclaiming our time, our talents, and our heritage. 

Martin's Dream

The political landscape in America is changing. Party lines, race, sexuality, and religion have divided us more than ever. Ignorance is running rampant. Tolerance is running low. We are still struggling to realize Martin's Dream. We have yet to hold certain truths to be self-evident. We still don't believe that all men are created equal. We have yet to sit at a table of brotherhood. Mississippi has not been transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. Black and Brown children are not being judged by the content of the character. Our nation, now more than ever, seems to be determined to undermine the progress of the last fifty years. We are moving closer to embracing Jim Crow and redlining and calling it the norm. Systematic racism and sexism is alive and well. I often want to ask, whatever happened to Martin's Dream? Do we still want freedom to ring from every hill and mountaintop? Do we want to stay woke or are we content with the nightmares on our street?

“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” Martin Luther King Jr., Strength to Love, 1963

Mercy

mer·cy (ˈmərsē) noun- compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.

We will never do enough good deeds. We will never show enough kindness. We will never give enough love to deserve God's mercy. It is new every morning. No matter what we did the day before if we wake up, we have a second chance to get it right. We can repent. We can make an about-face. We can try again, every day. Amen to that. Great is thy faithfulness. 

Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Grace

Happy New Year! I thank God for another year. I thank God for my village. I thank God for continuing to extend his grace and mercy toward my family. I won't complain. I won't give up. I will continue to run this race. I am looking forward to all that 2018 has to offer. New victories. New lessons. New memories. New mercies. New grace. 

2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.