Woke up in the middle of the night because it was storming. I could hear the rain pouring down and the wind blowing. We had had tornadoes and tennis ball sized hail reported in different areas of our state so I knew it was probably bad outside. Instead of getting up and looking out the window or looking at the weather app, as I would typically do, I rolled over and went back to sleep. Said I would worry about the weather if or when the weather alerts and sirens sounded—which never happened. Right now it’s very calm out. The storm has passed and there is no more rain in the forecast.
I believe my experience is an example of how things should play out when we encounter storms in our lives. We should not worry or panic but give them to God. Then, we should rest in Him knowing He has us covered.
Right now, Greg O’Quin ‘n Joyful Noyze’s song, I Told the Storm, is playing over and over in my head. Here is a snippet of it:
Even though your winds blow I want you to know You cause me no alarm ‘Cause I’m safe in His arms Even though your rain falls I can still make this call Let there be peace Now I can say go away I command you to move today Because of faith I have a brand new day The sun will shine And I will be okay That’s what I told the storm
I told the storm (told the storm, storm, storm, oh yes I did) To pass (ohh ohhhh) Storm you can’t last (you’ve got to go, yeah) Go (go away) away (I command) I command you to move today (you to move, ohh yeah) Storm (oh storm yeah) When God speaks (when my God speaks) Storm (you don’t have a choice in the matter) You have to cease (you have to cease, yes that’s…) That’s what I told the storm (what I told the storm) Lyrics: Musixmatch
Y’all, we must speak to our storms and let them know we are covered by THE almighty God. They may toss us around, but they will never destroy us. Amen
I pray you have a wonderfully, blessed week. I will be back later with another post.
Saw this memory and had to share. Listen, when I speak about God’s goodness and love, believe me it is coming from a place of complete gratitude. I don’t praise Him for things I desire but for the blessings He has already given me. Maybe this is the reason I am always emotional and intentionally grateful. Y’all, I am so very blessed.
Facebook Memory: December 8, 2019
One more post. Another testimony.
A few days ago I wrote about purchasing a car two weeks before going to see the Odedes. Almost a year later, to the date (December 8, 2016), that car was totaled.
The entire undercarriage was damaged. I still experience back pain and it’s been seven years.
You know how God shows you things before they happen. Well, that’s what happened on that evening. I was driving home from work when the thought crossed my mind, “What if someone hits me?” Honestly, I wasn’t in my right state of mind. I was thinking about all of my problems. Earlier that year, I had taken another job where I took a huge pay cut. Bills were due. I was frustrated because I was still married after almost two years of being separated. I was miserable. So, for a moment, I was like, what if… (kind of hard to admit this was my train of thought). Nothing happened at that moment. However, not even 30 minutes later, someone hit me.
It was so unexpected. I never saw the car coming. I was so focused on my problems and getting home. The lady ran the red light and hit me. It was like a dream. No.. it was like I was watching a movie. I remember getting out of the car and an off duty police officer helping me, telling me I needed to wait on an ambulance. I was trying to go see if the other person was okay. I’m so happy the airbag didn’t deploy because I probably wouldn’t be here.
After my accident, I became more grateful. I believe I was putting the hashtag “ForeverGrateful” on EVERY post. Only God knew how grateful I was, and still am. No matter how tough things get, I don’t want to leave this world before my time. I don’t even want the thought to cross my mind. I know I’m here for a reason. As for the car, it served its purpose. Y’all, please don’t take life for granted.
I had saved this quote on the day of the accident. Had no idea what was coming. God is so good!
PLEASE be mindful of what you think and speak. Y’all, our thoughts and voice have power. Believe me, I know life gets hard and may seem unbearable at times, but please hang in there. You matter. Your life matters. I would have missed out on so much had I not lived. So, when y’all see me writing about how blessed I am, I referring to the gift of life and my two hearts (my babies). Y’all, I am still here.
Be careful not to let your current situation stop you from pursuing your dreams. They say things always seem to get worse before they get better, and I can attest to that. Been through so much over my lifetime. Every time I was about to give up, God came through. He did it for me and I know He will do it for you.
Remember, this is only one small part of your story. As long as you are living, your story continues, and life goes on. God’s got you (and me too).
Just hold on! I promise you great things are coming.
Once again my Facebook memories have come through. Laughing. Was going to add what I am about to write to the comment section of one of yesterday’s controversial posts; however, I will add it here instead. It is just too long of a story to add to someone else’s post. I try to be considerate.
Speaking of being considerate, that’s what the controversial post was about. Okay, here is what’s happening on my show, Tyler Perry’s Sistas. So this guy creep, Gary, has been seeing multiple women (because after what just happened I know there are more out there) simultaneously. Well, during last week’s episode, two of them met and one is seven months pregnant! Maybe five…but that’s not the point. She’s pregnant! Long story short, the one who believed she was the main chick, Andi, found out she’s been his side chick the entire time. Baby!!! If I didn’t want to jump through that screen and let Gary have it!!
I had two problems with how everything was handled—1) the way the ladies (sistas) told Penelope (the pregnant fiancée—yep…they are engaged) was way too dramatic and 2) their main focus should have been on Gary the entire time, not Penelope. I really have a problem with women targeting other women with their aggression when the culprit is the man. Anyhoo…they (not really they but Andi’s friend, Danni) cornered the poor girl and forced Andi to tell her that she had also been seeing Gary and had recently (a week ago) ended things with him. Y’all, he bought them both the same things—car, house (one a penthouse) and used the same engagement ring (Andi said “no” so he gave it to Penelope). Just trifling! And to think I had a soft spot for this……. Oooow!!!
Anyway, Andi tells the poor girl about her relationship with Gary and they compare timelines and all. Then, they finally turn their attention to Gary and let him have it. And in turn, Gary basically pooed (trying to keep it nice) all over Andi’s character. Again, I could have jumped through that screen.
Okay…story time…
I have written about my situation with my firstborn’s father before. We were stationed in Germany. He had a pregnant girlfriend I didn’t know about when we got together, but after finding out I stayed with him anyway. I really liked him. Laughing. I even decided to stay with him after he went home on leave and married her. I was hurt. He said he was getting it annulled, and I stayed. When I finally couldn’t take any more of the craziness and decided to leave, I discovered I was pregnant. Ha!! Y’all life can be hilariously cruel at times. Anyway, I got back stateside and went along my merry way as a single mom. So here is where the drama comes in.
One night, after I had gotten off work, I received a phone call from this woman telling she was my baby’s father’s girlfriend. I was like, “Okay.” Then she began to tell me she had been seeing him since he had gotten back stateside. That she was the one who picked him up from the airport. I guess I should add, he was still writing me letters and calling me about the three of us being a family. My baby was about two or three months old at the time. The girlfriend through in the part about her picking him up from the airport because he was supposed to be with me at that time because I was only weeks away from giving birth. He made up some excuse about his mom being sick or something. Nah…she wasn’t sick. Y’all, there is so much more to this story. I know I’ll have to write a book one day.
Anyway, let me not get sidetracked. After she finished telling me her story, she told me she thought she had said too much and didn’t want oh boy to find out what she had done. I thanked her for telling me and told her that I didn’t care if she was telling me out of spite or concern, that conversation would remain between the two of us. Y’all, I really don’t like drama. Plus, she wasn’t the one in the wrong, he was. Well, she told his mom that she had called me and that’s when all hell broke loose. I told her I wasn’t going to say anything. I was going to find a way out of the mess. But no… When I tell you the drama I experienced in my early 20s made me who I am today. I didn’t have, and don’t have, time for nonsense. Everything I experienced hurt like hell, but I knew back then and still know today, God’s got me. Listen, He loves me!!
Anyhoo…that was only a small part of a very crazy story. The comment I left underneath the controversial post said I would have handled the situation by sitting down with everyone involved and had an adult conversation; one without all the drama. Y’all, the scene was a mess. “Tell her, Andi! Tell, her!!” Penelope crying her poor little eyes out wanting to know what was happening. It was a mess! But…it did make good tv. I tell you, if a show doesn’t evoke some kind of emotion out of you, it ain’t a real show!! Baby, I was hot but I was okay by the end of the second episode. The writer’s room redeemed itself. Listen, I was about to boycott the show…until the next episode. Laughing
Well, I believe I have written enough. Can’t believe they celebrated 100 episodes a year ago! I was having all kinds of proud momma-fan moments.
Just wanted to share what I am feeling in this present moment.
I am feeling a bit:
Anxious.
Scared.
Excited.
Hopeful.
Empowered.
I feel like I am finally coming into my purpose and becoming the woman God created me to be.
If you have been following me for some time, you know that I resigned from my job almost three years ago without any real plan in place. The first big opportunity I thought I had fell through within weeks after I resigned. This left me at ground zero trying to regroup and figure things out. Well, I am still trying to figure things out. When I tell you this has been some journey! I have had so many more losses than wins. Most of the time I feel like I am all over the place and it is mostly because nothing has seemed to work out as I envisioned. It has finally dawned on me that I have been operating as an employee and not the CEO. I have not really put myself out there because putting myself out there opens up a whole world that I have tried to avoid. Life was good when I could attach my name to some other organization. Now, the only name is my own.
Y’all, every day life becomes more and more interesting. Welcome to my world!
Here is a friendly reminder that you must keep going. Listen, you have come too far and been through too much to give up now. As my fav said a year ago, focus on one step at a time.
Facebook Memory: December 6, 2022
Gotta keep going!♥️
I don’t know about you but I can hear Mary Mary singing, “Can’t Give Up Now.”
The saying goes, “When praises go up, blessings come down.” Yessss!
I know you felt that because I sure did. Listen, I’m sending up praises as I write, not only for myself, but for everyone connected to me, including YOU. Yes, praises are going up for you!♥️
I got you covered.
Keep those praises going! You never know who you are blessing.
Here are two more Facebook memories I wanted to share before this day ended. They are my annual reminders that where I am today is not where I am meant to stay. As long as I am breathing, there will always be more to my story.
Facebook Memory: December 4, 2019
Good Morning! Here’s today’s social media find. I’m in tears, y’all. This was three years ago during one of my lowest moments, and a few days before my car accident. Whew! It was posts like this that kept me going. When I couldn’t see my way, I would always find words of encouragement through social media. I’m so grateful I made it through those tough times. I’m here. I’m still standing. What was meant to break me, didn’t work.💃🏽
Originally shared on December 4, 2016
Facebook Memory: December 4, 2020
Blessed. Humbled. Grateful.
I entered 2020 without any expectations. I was tired of expecting things to happen only to be disappointed at the end of the year. This year I decided to allow God to lead. What I discovered is when He leads, AMAZING things happen!
I’m so grateful to be a contributing author in the Finally Free anthology. I’m so thankful for my Finally Free family. I have always believed in divine connections. I know God has placed me where I am at this specific moment in time, with this group of authors, for a specific purpose. For His purpose. He’s so intentional, y’all! It didn’t happen two or three years ago when I thought I was ready. It happened now, in the midst of a pandemic! HOW AWESOME!! He just amazes me! Y’all, I’m so thankful I allowed God to lead.
What a difference a year makes. My brother had just passed away in October 2019, and I was in a funk. I was disappointed, heartbroken, and felt hopeless. I really didn’t want to see or hear anything about expecting great things in the new year. Then, 2020 came and flipped everyone’s life upside down. By the time I was asked to do the anthology, I was just happy to feel normal again. Y’all, God is so good.He knew exactly what I needed to keep me going.
As I mentioned in my previous post, life never really happens as we envision it to; however, it always happens according to God’s plan and in our favor. This year I am without my mom. To be honest, everything feels like déjà vu. However, unlike four years ago, I am going into 2024 expecting great things to happen.
It’s Shaun’s World 
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