Meditate

Phillipians 4:8 NKJV Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 

I based my whole book series on this verse. I recognized that our minds can easily drift to negative places. We naturally focus on what’s going wrong instead of what’s going right. We allow ourselves to panic. We think the worst and even prepare for it, but what if we allowed ourselves to meditate on the word of God? What if we meditated on his promises? What if we meditated on our God-given victories? What if we cleared our minds and thought about what brings us joy? What if we thought about what makes us smile? What if we thought about all our blessings? If you find yourself struggling with anxiety, maybe you should meditate.

Servant

Mother’s Day is Sunday for those of you who have lost track of time. Each day seems like the last. There is no distinction between days. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. As mothers, it’s an endless cycle of care. We care for our loved ones. We care for our home. We serve. We are servants. I’m sure we didn’t think that motherhood would translate to servanthood, and that’s not a bad thing. Christ reminds us time and time again about the importance of servanthood. In order to be first, you must be last. The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve. The bible even instructs us on how to serve. We are to do everything unto the Lord. Serve with all your soul in love. Your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 16:14 Let all that you do be done in love.

Focus

Life is full of distractions that make it very hard to focus. It seems like we get pulled in a million and one directions. Things fall apart at the same time. Kids start acting up. Money gets funny. Life happens. Truthfully, most of us focus on the problem. It’s easier to see than the solution. We focus on our fear. We focus on what’s going wrong instead of what’s going right. We have to condition ourselves to point out the positive. We have to teach ourselves to focus on God in the midst of chaos.

Just Cause

I’ve always loved words, which is one of the reasons I named my company Wordplay. I knew that depending on how you said certain things or the punctuation you used, could change the meaning of the exact same words. Just cause for instance could mean, just because. It could also mean a righteous pursuit or justified reason. We all seem right in our own eyes. We can always justify our actions.

After watching, “When They See Us,” I can see how everyone felt justified, yet it wasn’t true justice. Everyone had their reasons. Everyone had their excuses. Everyone had their perspectives and their biases. Personal motivation is a dangerous thing, and so is self preservation. We never really know what we will and won’t do until we find our backs against the wall. This is why it is so important not to judge, because everyone has just cause in our own minds.

Vulnerable

Self-preservation is a natural instinct. It keeps us out of harm's way. It is our own internal "spidey sense." If you've ever had your heart broken, love can make you a little gun shy. You become protective of your emotions. You don't want to fall in love too quick or too fast. You want to take things slow. Falling in love can be terrifying. Vulnerability is seen as weakness. You isolate yourself and your heart from the very thing you say you want. You find fault in everything and everyone. Being vulnerable is the only way to get what you truly desire. 

"What makes you vulnerable makes you beautiful." - Dr. Brené Brown

Life

Life is meant to be lived. We don't get to choose our family, but we do get to choose our friends. We can't always control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond. Life is full of ups and downs. Perspective is everything. Most importantly, life is a gift. Every day is a gift. Open each day with expectation and fresh eyes. Live your life!!!

No Limit

I grew up listening to Master P and singing No Limit Soldiers. Percy Miller was a tangible rags to riches fairytale. The older I get the more I believe that limitations are mental. I never thought I live to see a Black president nor a Black woman marrying a British royal. Anything is possible. We create our own limitations. We speak defeat in our lives. We doubt ourselves and our abilities. In the words of Israel Houghton, "take the limits off." Live your life with no limits.