Month: July 2013

The Prayers of Black Women: The Story of A Blind Girl

THE STORY OF A BLIND GIRL

Artist: Unknown
Artist: Unknown

There was a blind girl who hated herself just because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry her boyfriend.

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her and then she could see everything, including her boyfriend. Her boyfriend asked her, “now that you can see the world, will you marry me?”

The girl was shocked when she saw that her boyfriend was blind too, and refused to marry him. Her boyfriend walked away in tears, and later wrote a letter to her saying:

“Just take care of my eyes dear.”

This is how human brain changes when the status changed. Only few remember what life was before, and who’s always been there even in the most painful situations.

Life Is A Gift

Today before you think of saying an unkind word–
think of someone who can’t speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food–
think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife–
think of someone who is crying out to God for a companion.

Today before you complain about life–
think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children–
think of someone who desires children but they’re barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house, someone didn’t clean or sweep–
think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive–
think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job–
think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another–
remember that not one of us are without sin and we all answer to one maker.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down–
put a smile on your face and thank God you’re alive and still around.

Life is a gift – Live it, Enjoy it, Celebrate it, and Fulfill it.

Story and Photo Source:  Facts that will blow your mind

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Inspirational Fridays: The Story of The Butterfly . . .

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly.  One day a small opening appeared.  He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to squeeze its body through the tiny hole.  Then it stopped, as if it couldn’t go further.

So the man decided to help the butterfly.  He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bits of cocoon.  The butterfly emerged easily but it had a swollen body and shriveled wings.

The man continued to watch it, expecting that any minute the wings would enlarge and expand enough to support the body.  Neither happened!  In fact the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around.  It was never able to fly.

What the man in his kindness  and haste did not understand:  The restricting cocoon and the struggle required by the butterfly to get through the opening was a way of forcing the fluid from the body into the wings so that it would be ready for flight once that was achieved.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives.  Going through life with no obstacles would cripple us.  We will not be as strong as we could have been and we would never fly. ~~Author Unknown

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Prayers of Black Women: More Than We Can Bear

ImageLord, please help!

The American nation is torn over the outcome of the Zimmerman and Martin case.  Some people are upset because they feel justice has not prevail; other’s, Lord, are upset because they feel blacks are trying to turn the killing of an African-American teen into a public uncivil racial state of affairs.  

Lord, I’m not sure what went wrong on that dreary rainy night Trayvon took his last breath.  Nor can I comprehend the logic behind the verdict after hearing not all but key parts of how the confrontation began.  

But as a black woman that has endured racial prejudices I do know this . . . You will never give anyone, from any race, more than they can bear.  

Therefore, Lord, I am asking you to make this storm over a loss of life and the preservation of life between those that are directly, indirectly and those that are not involved with this killing at peace.  Because today Lord somewhere in America there are parents that are crying with grief concerning the senseless death of their son, as another set of parents Lord somewhere in America is rejoicing their son was found not-guilty.  As a nation of people search for, or demand, answers for a not-guilty verdict five women made for reason unknown to the public.  Lord, I truly ask that you comfort all.    

And though Zimmerman has been found not-guilty his life and the lives of his family will never be the same.  

For you and Zimmerman hold the truth as to what took place on a night he should have refrained from exiting his home with a gun.  

Sadly, Lord, no one understands soon Zimmerman will learn he is free in body but he will never be free in mind, spirit and soul.  He will live with the fact that he took a life.  A life he did not give, a life that was not his to take, a life that never had the chance to live to see manhood because the owner of that life was at the wrong place at the wrong time, and in the silence of his mind Zimmerman will always remember he alone was responsible for taking that life.    

Lord, I pray that you reveal the truth about what happened that night.  Because I believe someone heard or saw the horrific acts that took place.  I believe Lord this person is scared to come forth.  So I’m praying that you will give them a spirit of conviction that will fill their consciousness with relentless reminders they can set the record(s) straight for a teen that lost his voice in death.  I’m praying Lord that you will give them your spirit of courage to come forth and tell what truly happened on the night a young man was gun-down for youthfully walking in the rain.  I’m praying Lord that once this person comes forth that you will make American people accept the truthful words of not only an ear witness but an eyewitness of the account that left one person dead and another fighting to remain free.  And in accepting truths as they are being told may the American people allow your justice to take place.  

I’m not praying this prayer for your justice to prevail because some perceive the case as a white on black crime, or as others may see it as a black on white crime; but because the fragile American nation is torn behind the verdict rendered.  

With that said, Lord, It is amazing how people have lost faith in this matter.  Lord they have forgotten that you are God.  You sit high and you look low.  Only the foolish believe that Zimmerman has gotten away with selfishly taking a life.  But I believe true justice will be served if a crime has been committed despite any law including the “stand your grounds” law.  Lord, I profess and believe that your laws override man’s law.  I also believe when we commit a sin we either pay now or we pay during judgment day in the hereafter. Thus, Zimmerman punishment may not happen today, it might not happen tomorrow, it probably won’t happen within a year, but, I know for sure you will expose the truth in your time and justice will be served and in-turn redeem the name of the slain if a crime has been committed.  

So once again, Lord, I’m asking that you give the person that saw this incident a spirit of conviction.  Let them not rest until their soul is satisfied that they have done what is humanly right concerning Zimmerman and Martin’s altercation as they allow the laws of God “thou shalt not kill” and “a life for a life” to judiciously prevail.  

Your Loving Daughter,

Annette

 

 

The Prayers of Black Women: Balancing Pain with Pleasure

Photo Taken From: https://twitter.com/AuthorESkoglund
Photo Taken From: https://twitter.com/AuthorESkoglund

A few years after my mother died, I remembered more vividly the times in childhood when she had made gloomy days seem cheerful.  When something special to do inside, such as new paper dolls or a coloring book.  Later, when I was in school, I always knew that on a rainy day I would come home to the smell of cookies baking in the oven . . .

I remembered, too, that in my childhood my mother had always balanced grief with comfort, pain with joy . . . To compensate for my childhood illnesses, for example, she used to read me stories which made the afternoon fly, or she would show me how to knit doll clothes out of the scraps of yarn which she had saved in a worn, brocade knitting bag . . .

Whatever the specific method used, my mother had learned, long before I knew her, how to balance pain with pleasure.

Elizabeth Skoglund

Today’s Prayer:

Lord somewhere in the world there are people in mental anguish over life’s trials and tribulations.  Often such pain is psychologically unbearable.  During these moments sometimes people don’t have the ability to hold their heads high with the assurance of knowing God’s powers to set things right.  Because of their inability to see your spiritual support most times every breath taken produce questions of their existence.  Lord to be honest it is during these times when emotional pain makes a person feel every so often they do not have much use for others.  And everything accomplished is tarnished with the shadow of sorrow; as it seems to their misfortune they were not given loved ones to uplift them during moments of afflictions.  Hum . . . Lord, it is within our moments of tribulations that we see the hand prints of God on our lives.  Therefore, I’m asking for your Holy presence among those who have yet to learn how to balance pain with pleasure.  Lord I’m asking that you teach them that sorrow only last for a moment.  Lord, I’m also praying they learn how to allow thoughts of joy to diminish their temporary gloomy day(s).  So, again, Lord, I’m asking that you turn on your spiritual lights for these people that they might see how to truly balance pain with pleasure; and in turn they will enjoy living once again.  Amen.

Your Loving Daughter,

Annette

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Inspirational Fridays: Letting Go vs. Moving On

Claiming What’s Yours

You need to claim the events of your life to make yourself yours.  When you truly possess all you have been and done, which may take same time, you are fierce with reality.  –Florida Pier Scott-Maxwell

Photo Taken From: www.usatoday.com
Photo Taken From: http://www.usatoday.com

It takes a long time to understand the difference between letting go and moving on, especially if you try to bypass the transitions following life-altering change.  Most women believe we can avoid transitions by becoming very busy.  “Waiting, done at really high speeds, will frequently look like something else,” observes Carrie Fisher hopefully.  Its’ called multitasking.  How often do we use the congestion and sheer occupation of our days to anesthetize ourselves against emotion, thought, and action?  When I make myself busy and permit the activities swirling around me to grab my attention, I tell myself over and over that I can’t think today about the choices I should be making or mourn what my heart is begging my brain to remember.  Call it the Scarlett Syndrome.  I’ll think about that tomorrow.  I’ll grieve over that tomorrow.  After all, tomorrow is another day.  “Life must go on,” Edna St. Vincent Millay Wrote, “I forget just why.”

Sarah Ban Breathnach