I have been watching interviews and reading reviews about The Six Triple Eight over the past few days, and all are true. The movie accurately portrays the strength of the Black woman and our ability to take on challenges and excel. We’ve always had to prove ourselves worthy of our positions and place in this world (even today). I know the mental anguish all too well. Believe me, I have my own military stories, as well as civilian ones. As Johnnie Mae kept saying, being in the military was no different from being back home. She and Charity Adams were my sheros in the movie.
So, when I wrote my initial thoughts about the movie, I chose to focus on Lena’s character and her journey. Not her journey as a soldier but her journey as a woman trying to navigate through pain and still perform as if everything was okay. Still trying not to give too much of the movie away. Yes, I know that pain as well. Mine may not have been caused by the same thing, but the pain was there. As I said, I have my own military stories.
As I wrote in my last post, the movie was awesome! It’s definitely a must see!
I have always believed in creating something solid. Something that would outlast even me. Something sustainable.
Sustainability was always one of my first thoughts when asked to work on community-based research projects, especially those that had the potential of making or breaking communities—leaving them healthier or leaving them worse.
I always asked—and I’m pretty sure many were annoyed—What’s the plan for after?
After the funding ends.
After the results aren’t found favorable, or publishable.
After a bigger and better opportunity comes along.
What’s the plan for the community?
I have found that commitment, longevity, and endurance are key to sustainability. You have to be committed to the plan (the vision), and in it for the long haul. You have to push through the hard times. Now, I am not going to lie, there were times when I wanted to give up. Times when my heart was so broken that I did give up. Y’all, people be peopling. However, I am now realizing that when God has a purpose for your life, even you can’t stop it!
So, here I am.
What I am building will last. I know this to be true because God didn’t give me a vision for something temporary. For a quick fix. He gave me a vision for something sustainable, where communities will thrive.
Here’s another great share from Bruce Van Horn. When I tell you his posts kept me encouraged! He is missed.
Slowly, but surely, things are happening.
One crawl, one step, and one leap at a time. It will happen… It is happening.♥️
Hello! I’m hoping you’re doing well. I realize I haven’t greeted you in ages, which is pretty rude of me. It’s like me walking into a room and not speaking, or waking up and not saying “Good Morning.” Please forgive me for not acknowledging you before sharing my thoughts. I promise to do better and not only let you know you are loved at the end, but that your presence is appreciated at the beginning.
So, while looking for inspiration for this post, I found this prayer in one of my “Wednesday Writings” (July 21, 2021). It is one I haven’t said in a while or been mindful of. Here it is —
“I pray that I recognize and accept the opportunities He [God] sends my way. I pray fear does not stop me from moving forward. I pray God gives me the strength– mentally, spiritually and physically– to endure this task.”
I ended it with —
“I know God’s got me, but do I have myself?”
Hmmm…
That was a great question. Did I have myself? Well, I thought I did, and to some extent I did. However, I was still working through a lot of stuff. One of which was learning to put myself first. To stop overlooking my needs, desires, and feelings to appease others. That was in 2021. Today, I can’t say I am 100% there; however, I am pretty close (95-98%). Had to get over the guilt of feeling selfish. The interesting part is the ones who mattered the most, my two hearts, were the ones urging me to take care of myself, first. Maybe they are actually the reason for my growth. I just love them and the way they love me. I guess I said all of that to say, “Yes, I got me!”
I also found another gem in the post (besides the prayer). I was celebrating my continual days of writing. Here’s what I wrote —
“I’m on my 67th day of continuous blogging and refuse to stop until I reach 100 days.”
100 days…
100 days was my goal…
Y’all, I’m in tears! Today makes 1170 days of continuous blogging. And to think I was only trying to make it to 100. Back then I was struggling to post once a day. Now, I’m posting at least twice a day, and not only on this platform but others. Yep… I’m crying. I had no idea of what I was capable of. It may not seem significant to you but it’s huge to me. These are my 1170 blue hearts.💙
I’m going to go ahead and end here because I’m crying (tears of praise and gratitude) too much to keep writing. Praying you have a wonderful Sunday. ♥️
Here is what I shared earlier on my social media platforms:
God is forever working behind the scenes on our behalf. Our job is to be patient and trust Him while He works, even when we don’t see anything happening. Eventually, everything will work out in our favor, and it will be better than we imagined.♥️
On this date for the past two years, I have shared this same image with the caption “Trust the process.” I guess that’s the real message. Trust God’s process.
Moment of transparency…
Since the end of June 2022, I had been struggling to secure contracts as an independent consultant. Even applying for jobs did not work. Then, in August of that year, my mom had a stroke and I became her primary caregiver. Even though I was with her 24/7, I was still looking for work (even remotely) and nothing panned out. I kept hearing to rest and just spend time with her. That I had enough to sustain me. I did not need more.
Sadly, it wasn’t until almost the end of her life that I actually understood what was meant by resting and spending time with her. I am so grateful I eventually listened. I needed that time with her.
After she passed last May, seemed like nothing was working in my favor. Everything was just “blah.” And it was also during this time that I was experiencing the greatest spiritual pruning of my lifetime. I mean, I did ask for this side of 50 to be different. I just did not know what that entailed. Basically, patience, trust, faith, hope, and endurance. Lots of endurance!
By the end of last year, I had completely surrendered control to God because nothing I attempted to do was working—nothing. And that’s when things began to change. I started receiving job offers out of the blue. I felt like Celie in The Color Purple after she found Nettie’s letters. There were so many of them. Unfortunately, most were not a true match but I kept an open mind.
Fast forward to today. I just secured another contract as an independent consultant. God is so good!
Listen, even when things appear to be falling apart, they are actually falling in place. Most of the time it happens when we cannot feel or see God working. As I stated earlier, our job is to be patient and trust Him to work things out in our favor. Amen
The quote I used for my previous blog was the caption that I used when I shared my Wednesday Writings blog on Facebook a year ago. While searching for content for today’s second blog, I decided to actually read Wednesday Writings. Y’all, it was too good not to share.
Although I am providing the link to the blog, I am also sharing it in its entirety.
I’m slowly learning that setbacks, or plot twists – as I call them because I definitely feel like I’m in a movie, a Tyler Perry movie – are designed to make me stronger. I know they are preparing me for something greater.
Yesterday, I experienced one of those “plot twists.” Not going to go into details. However, I will let you know I was on an all-time high where things just seemed to be falling in place, then.. BAM!, everything began to unravel as fast as they had happened. Although I was somewhat disappointed, I didn’t become upset. Instead, I remained calm as everything played out.
Y’all, I’m so thankful for my daughter (one of my gifts from God). I texted her while celebrating and she responded with, “Whatever you desire happens!” Because she’s witnessed God’s goodness over my life. Then, I texted her as things began to crumble. Her response, “It will work out how it needs to.” Y’all, it was the response I needed. Smiling. Proud mom moment.
So, yesterday, I decided not to be the problem solver that I always tend to be, and I allowed God to lead. I’m not going to lie, I wanted to make sense of everything that had happened and find a solution. But God asked me to release the reins and allow Him to lead. And I did.
My birthday theme for this year (Year 49) was Smooth Sailing. I said that I was going to sit back, relax and let the waves take me wherever they pleased. Guess what? I didn’t account for storms. As the storms roll in – and boy do they seem to be coming – out of habit, I want to sit up and take control of the ship. However, every time I get the urge do so, God reassures me that He’s got it all under control. All I have to do is sit back, relax and trust Him. As Bishop T. D. Jakes preached Sunday, I have to remain Steady in The Storm.
Thank you for reading today’s blog. I pray you’re also trusting God to guide you through your storms – because I know I can’t be the only one going through them. Smile.
Be Blessed♥️
Y’all, storms don’t last always. I know they seem to last forever while we are in them, but they don’t last. Sending prayers up for everyone going through storms at the moment. May God grant you peace, patience, and endurance. Just hold on. Your breakthrough is coming.
It’s Shaun’s World 
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