Happy Birthday Chris

July 20th is Chris Cornell’s birthday. I wrote something special in his memory.

I woke up feeling so sad that it was overwhelming. I don’t believe that I will be getting over his passing anytime soon. The year was 1991 my mother purchased Temple of the Dog on cassette and Badmotorfinger later that year for me.

When  I discovered Soundgarden it was one of the best moments that I will never forget. I remember staying up late to watch Soundgarden appear on headbanger’s ball. My favorite time watching Soundgarden appear on headbanger’s ball was when they went bowling. We got the chance to witness Chris’s sense of humor and radiant smile.

Chris had such an amazing voice. Such an extraordinary songwriter. Such an out of this world guitarist. Such a gorgeous man. Such a beautiful soul. What a profound loss.

I can’t believe that I missed so many opportunities to experience seeing him play live through my eyes and not through someone else’s camera len’s. I was guilty of taking time for granted thinking that I would have a chance to see him one day. Well that someday will in no way happen now.

I remember how badly that I wanted to see Soundgarden. I would be riding in the car with my mom and I would look over at the Boathouse and say mom I want to go there. Since then my mom has passed away, the Boathouse was torn down and Chris Cornell has passed away.

Chris Cornell had a great voice that carried a great message. One of those messages was being shown how to live which is something that we all must do. Live and not take anything for granted especially time. Live and not hurt anyone. Live and inspire. Live and let everyone you love know that they are loved while they are still here. Live and have no fear. Live and write something memorable. Live and listen to your favorite song really loud. Most importantly live in a way that there are less regrets and more joy.

Happy Birthday to Chris Cornell the voice of our generation. Thank you for all that you have shared with us. We miss you.

Happy Father’s Day

It’s not easy being a single parent, it’s something that no-one signs up for. Parenting isn’t about just the easy stuff like picking something from out the refrigerator for the children to eat or taking them to the park. Parenting is about the hard stuff too like staying up all night when a child gets sick or for me helping your autistic son to understand what puberty is. Indeed, parenting can become a frustrating job at times and some mothers want to claim father’s day too.

Believe it or not there are a lot of excellent fathers who are in their children’s lives. Some fathers are still with the mothers of their children and are a positive entity. There are fathers who weathered the storm of the ups and downs in a relationship or marriage. There are also fathers who aren’t with the mothers of their children but his presence is still felt. There are fathers who don’t only see their children on holidays but often. There are fathers who take their children to school who knows their children favorite foods and colors. There are fathers who are making memories with their children not just making children who dream of seeing them. There are fathers who don’t just pay child support and feel that’s enough. There are fathers who put their children first and it stays that way regardless of whatever happens.

There are fathers who want to see their children but can’t. There are fathers who are single parents too. Is it really okay to rob the excellent fathers of their day because some of the mothers are in their feelings? Mothers day is in May. Father’s day is in June. Single parents day is in March we must understand the difference. Happy Father’s day to all of the great fathers around the world you are appreciated truly. Blessings!

Butterfly

Just when things appeared to be over

Just when it appeared to be the end

It was only the beginning

Wow look at you

I barely recognize you

You have changed so much

You have made it through

Your struggle

You are in a new light

Looking all brand new

You used to be crawling

But now you are flying

May your new wings help you

To reach higher heights

 

One

The walk of a journey
Begins with one step
There is great power
In the power of one
Many times people
Do not take the time
To recognize or realize
The strength behind this number
One second makes up part of a minute
Of one hour
Of one day
A penny makes up
A part of a million dollars
One penny less of a million
It is no longer a million
It all starts with the number one
One DNA
One set of fingerprints
One you
One me
One heart
One mind
We are one of a kind
A special moment
Relived never feels good
As the first time
Never under estimate
It’s importance
For it’s power
Is very significant
Winning the million dollar lottery
Can only happen once
One bad choice
Makes an impact for life
One planet Earth
One father
One mother gave you life
One wish
One star
One dream can take a person far
So never ever
Forget the significance
Of the power of one

The Pain Inside

People who aren’t fans will never

Understand they say that we idolize

They think that we are going overboard

For wanting you to receive

The proper recognition that you deserve

I mean who really thinks that what

Took place at the billboard awards

Was proper I mean it was absurd

A moment of silence that lasted

For like a blink of an eye

Because they don’t realize

How your music impacted our lives

How your music got us through

Very tough times

Through tears that we cried

Sometimes day and night

When there was no one in sight

Who we could trust or confide in

Without them passing judgement

People have absolutely no clue

About how the feeling of depression

Can seduce you

Thoughts of negativity

That swarms the mind

The worse part of it

Clueless people think that depression

Is of darkness

They truly have no idea

Depression just is

Anytime it can happen

Like at a finger’s snap

And no one is exempt

Women, men, teen, poor or rich

It swallows you into an abyss

It’s victims constantly

Long for freedom’s kiss

The pain hits hard like a fist

People must understand that no one

Willingly choose to feel like this

I’ve been depression’s victim

Feeling it squeeze the emotions

From out of my body

Had me walking around like a zombie

Thankful for your music

Coming to the rescue

Yes I smile

But behind it

Lies a pain

Like nothing that

I have ever felt before

I am mourning you

Crying the blues

Praying to God

Because I don’t know

What to do

This pain is killing me inside

No one will ever know the reason

Behind what I am feeling inside

I am trying hard to deal with

The pain right now

Is so unreal

Wishing that we had

More time to hear

More of your melodies

More time to enjoy

More memories

Of concerts, new music and videos

Now we are left with wondering

What another albums

Could have been in store

For us to enjoy

Why were you taken away

From us so soon

Your voice could sing any genre

Loved your covers of Billie Jean

And Nothing Compares 2 U

Your lyrics were always just

What we needed

Your music was everything

I say this with the utmost sincerity

From the looks of it

The pain that I am feeling ending

Appears to be nowhere in sight

People who aren’t fans

Will never understand

The treasure that was lost

Check Out the Lyrics

This is one of my favorite songs by Sade which is quite appropriate with the way I’ve been feeling lately.

“Keep Looking”

Some will tell you that you’re wrong
You do it all the wrong way
Some will tell you that you’re wrong
That you don’t know the way
They enjoy cheapness
Don’t show your weakness
Don’t let them bother you no
They enjoy the cheapness
Don’t show your weakness
Oh no

It’s no use sitting down
Don’t walk round with a frown
Oh no (aah) keep looking
It’s no use sitting around
With your head in your hands
Oh no keep looking

Say let my life alone

Some will tell you that you’re wrong
You do it all the wrong way
Some will tell you that you’re wrong
That you don’t know the way

They enjoy cheapness
Don’t show your weakness
Don’t let them bother you no
They enjoy the cheapness
Don’t show your weakness
Oh no

It’s no use sitting down
Don’t walk round with a frown
Oh no (aah) keep looking
It’s no use sitting around
With your head in your hands
Oh no keep looking

Oooh
Aah
Keep looking
Oooh
Aah
Keep looking

Don’t lay awake at night
Thinking about your worries
Thinking about your problems
Don’t lay awake at night
Thinking about your worries
Keep looking
Don’t lay awake at night
Thinking about your problems
Thinking about your troubles
Don’t lay awake at night
Thinking about your problems
Keep looking

Keep looking

If you never let it show
They’re never gonna know
Aah Aah
Keep looking

If you never let it show
They’re never gonna know
Aah Aah
Keep looking

Don’t Be A Fool Being A Bully Isn’t Cool

Today I read a very disturbing post an eleven year old girl committed suicide. The little girl was a victim of bullying. Even more heartbreaking about the story was who found her body it was her three year old sister. The little girl who committed suicide saw no way out except for taking her life. Bullies are a huge situation that should not be ignored. Children aren’t the only bullies adults can be too which is actually sadder. There are different types of bullying it’s important that we know what they are so we can spot them.

typesOfBullying-02

Bullying affect people in negative ways it can push people to the point of no return. Children deserve to experience a happy life that’s bully free. I feel sorry for the bullies too hurt people hurt others. Many times bullies feel insecurities inside so they pick on other people. Bullies most times are bigger than their peers physically and have trouble at home.

Society really has things stacked up against parents with the internet, promotion of violence and disrespect of others it’s a lot for parents to monitor. I’m old schooled so the main thing I would tell another parents is to keep a open line of communication with your children. Pay attention to your children so you can notice if they are withdrawn, angry or sad remember children are very scared when it comes to a bullying situation. Parents should talk with their children’s teacher if they sense a problem. Teachers must report any problems to the principal or the dean most importantly inform the parents about everything.

I also touched on adults sometimes being bullies too because it’s the truth many of them use social media to publicly humiliate others. When it comes to adult bullies others should not back what they are doing causing them to stop. Bullies feed of the power off of having an audience and fear. Let’s make this clear one is a fool if they think being a bully is cool. If you are a bully who is an adult you are a even bigger fool… so grow up.

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Let’s pray for people who are being bullied and ask God to protect them from harm. Be a bully nor quietly observing mistreatment of another person is not cool. What if it was you? What would  you do? What would you want to see happen?

The Art of Forgiveness

The moment a person hurts me
I forgive
The moment a person uses me
I forgive
The moment a person judges me
I forgive
The moment a person breaks my heart
I forgive
The moment a person disappoint me
I forgive
The moment the person betrays me
I forgive
The moment that a person makes me
Feel anything else besides positive
I forgive
If a person does these things to me
I develop an understanding
Rather what was done to me was done
Purposely or not
I choose to forgive
The moment that I forgive my peace
Begins and my pain ends
Forgiveness is a process
Don’t know if it can ever be perfected
It’s hard to forget
About a messed up situation
Especially when most of the time
The biggest test of forgiveness
Is forgiving a person who caused pain
That came from a person whom
Was trusted the most
Betrayal rarely comes from a stranger
Forgiveness isn’t holding on to grudges
It’s letting go of them
Besides the person doesn’t know or care
About the trouble that they caused
We all need a lesson
It’s a two way street
We all at one point has hurt someone
Purposely or unintentionally
All we can do is ask for forgiveness
You can’t push it
If we do
That means we are only thinking of ourselves
We want to be free of guilt
When we do wrong we must deal with
It and respect a person’s space
Closure may mean losing a person without a trace
Just be thankful for God’s grace
Many times that has to be enough

Seeing the Gold

The internet can be a crazy place. We see true stuff, fake news as Trump calls it and lots of added on stuff. The internet can be a world filled with gossip. Recently I wrote about reading a book called The Woman Code in it the author of the book ninth code was Do not gossip. The Bible talks about gossip a lot one doesn’t have to be a Christian to realize how badly gossip can affect a person’s life. I know that I don’t want to gossip or indulge in it either. I wouldn’t like to be lied on. Gossip causes a lot of damage most of it cannot be undone. Proverbs 16:28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

Let’s think about it what are some reasons why men and women gossip about a person or people? Let’s be honest most times gossip are lies. I mean why else would the person who’s spreading the gossip tell a person not to tell anyone? Why won’t the person who’s doing the gossiping tell the person whom they are gossiping about directly? Hmmmmm….sounds suspect to me and I’m not Lieutenant Columbo. “One more thing sir…”

Angry people use the internet to publicly humiliate others they are nothing more than keyboard gangsters who hides behind the screen…a bunch of trolls who belong under a bridge in some land far far away. Yeah I said it! They don’t have any facts but lots of lies. So if you talk behind a fool one will sound like one.

We all should know better than to take anything on the internet as facts. Right now I am taking a Statistic course. Last week I turned in an assignment and had points deducted from me because she said that  I needed to support my work with facts…..allow that to sink in. I have had people tell lies about me I knew why they were angry with me some still are. Once people stop talking to you they start talking about you. Our enemies are nothing more than estranged family members, formal associates,or formal friends. Think about it if a person is no longer speaking to another person anymore how true is their information. Example if a person is still gossiping about someone after a long period of time and have not been in contact with the person how accurate are their words? Why would a person continue to gossip about a someone whom they no longer speak to? Just something to think about.

I always try to be Christ like and try to put myself in other people’s shoes. If  I were to see something on the internet about someone  I would question the person who wrote it. Gossip is something that an angry person does so I would wonder why they are doing that. Not everything we read or find on the internet is true. Beyonce went to dinner last night now her photo has been made into a meme already no telling what they say. People make up memes, create rumors, and twist things around to cause division, turn people against each other,and fuel hate. People who gossip about someone else does it in hopes of hurting the people whom they are talking about and isolating them from others by attempting to turn people off from that person. As a Christian I pray for discernment I don’t want to share or spread lies about a person on social media otherwise I would have to question my character as well as why would  I want to put faith in angry words.

When we assassinate the character of others we inescapably annihilate our own in the process. We become no better than whatever we’re saying about another. The soul is better fed with words that speak life and hope.

I don’t know about anyone else but I’d rather be a peacemaker I don’t want to play a role in causing the flames of gossip to grow higher I rather put them out. Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

My Name Is Gossip.
I have no respect for justice.
I maim without killing.
I break hearts and ruin lives.
I am cunning and malicious and gather strength with age.

The more I am quoted the more I am believed.
I flourish at every level of society.
My victims are helpless.
They cannot protect themselves against me because I have no name and no face.

To track me down is impossible.
The harder you try, the more elusive I become.
I am nobody’s friend.
Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same.
I topple governments and ruin marriages.
I ruin careers and cause sleepless nights, heartache and indigestion.
I spawn suspicion and generate grief.

I make innocent people cry in their pillows.
Even my name hisses.

I AM CALLED GOSSIP.

Father God help me to have control over my words and to see the gold in others.

Proverbs 11:27

27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.

Pray About It

There is power in prayer. There has been so much that  I have been through prayer helped me out a lot. What I have learned is if God brings you to it He’ll bring you through it.

Daniel, Nehemiah, David, Paul and even Christ prayed. Yes at times tests come along that can make things difficult still we can’t forget about all the times God brought us through. God is not a part-time God He works overtime and we see His work over time. The devil send situations that can try to make us anxious but the Bible says not to be. Sometimes God allows things to happen right away and sometimes it takes time either way God is always on time.

A couple of things that we have to have for others is empathy and compassion. We shouldn’t be so quick to tell a person to just pray about something. Yes, it’s important to pray but  I don’t want to be a person who says “just pray about it” as a way to silence a person. You don’t want to come off as being dismissive. Remember God sent that person to you for a reason so never brush a person off by saying “just pray about it”. Allow a person to vent then we pray for them after we suggest praying about a situation. Perhaps God gave you something to say as way to show the person that everything is going to be okay. I can’t tell you the number of times when I was waiting for a sign from God and a person would come with a word that was confirmation.

All I want to do on my walk with Christ is grow. I know that I have a ways to go and I am no perfect. I will stubble at times but with the power of prayer  I will be fine. Having a relationship with Christ is worth everything that comes my way because I know that everything with be okay. Thank Father God for the gift of prayer.

Matthew 6:9-13

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.