Monday, May 6, 2024

MOTHERS

 




Mothers 

We bear the burden,

take the blame and get none

of the credit.


We lose sleep,

worry and wear the wrinkles.

We fix our faces with smiles,

and cry silent tears in the dark 

when everyone else is asleep.


We are the armor bearers,

the prayer warriors, the advocates, 

the encouragers, and the secret keepers. 

We are the providers sacrificing ourselves

for the unknowing, the clueless and the ungrateful!


We’re mothers doing what we must at all costs 

not for the plaques, the mugs, or the flowers, 

but because it’s who we are, it’s our calling. 


It’s how we love-fearlessly, hard, nonsensically. 

Indescribable, unthinkable, and tirelessly! 

No, thank-you expected because we signed up for this. 

Not always knowing how or why. 

Not knowing that the bad days 

often outweigh the good.


What we did know was that our love was enough. 

It had to be enough to get us and them through 

the good, the bad, and the in between. 

Just love, it was both our superpower and our kryptonite, 

our greatest joy and our deepest pain.


But it’s who we’ve become. 

Birthing nations and futures and possibilities. 

God chose us and gave us everything needed 

to complete the assignment. 

Yes, we’re mothers a crown we wear with honor. 


We know who we are! 

We are Queens with earthly kingdoms 

located within the possibilities of our offspring. 

We are diplomats, negotiating peace 

as effortlessly as ordering pizza. 

We are doctors and lawyers without the degrees,

Fighting and slaying dragons on our knees!


We are Mothers, Slayers, and Prayers.

Leaping tall buildings and loving just because.

Knowing what others did not,

that God had chosen and equipped us.

Then breathed breath into or desires.  

Giving us the stamina to do the work 

that feels like joy and hope and 

all things good! 


Thank you, Lord for the Crown of Motherhood!


Friday, May 3, 2024

GRIEF BITES

 



Grief bites I thought you knew.

Thought you knew that leaving was not you.

Leaving without saying goodbye,

without explaining why

was unacceptable.


Grief steals taking joy leaving pain.

Leaving pain, tears like rain.

Tears raining, soaking my spirit,

a spirit that once lived for you

Is now dead,


Grief bites like rain.

Wet and then dries.

Disappearing when the sun rises

as if it was never there.


Grief bites like wine.

Leaving behind a bitter taste

and a stain like memories.

Like taunting.


Grief hurts, it leaves us bare I thought you knew.

Thought you’d never go without saying goodbye.

Grief is that last sip of Rosé or

Chardonnay. 


I drained the glass for you; my last testament

that I loved you when you were here and

I Love you more now that you’re gone.

Cheers to the memory of you!



Photo credit: Julia Kadel

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

THAT GIRL

 



That girl!

Who rose from the ashes because she was the fire!

God blew on the embers of her possibilities.

and combustion happened birthing life to her dreams,

and smiles that fed those places in

her eyes that had grown dark.


That girl!

Who said no... no to surrender!

No to fear. Grasping instead life and love.

Loving the woman God created.

Seeing her flaws as fabulous and

seeing her tears as rain!


I’m that girl!! That girl is me!


Photo credit: Knight Duong for Unsplash


Saturday, April 27, 2024

REMEMBER ME?





Hello,


I know you hear me. 

I’m the little girl who birthed your dreams.

Remember when you were invincible?

There was a time when fear was unwelcomed,

and, no, never existed. 


I need you to fight for me, the little girl,

who told you that dreams come true.

You are invincible and fearless!

Turn the no’s, into, now’s.


Wipe your tears with memories of yesterday.

Dance to the beat of my little girl’s heart.

Sing like angels dwell within you and

Dance like air is all you need to hold you up!


Photo credit: Michael Mims for Unsplash






Thursday, April 25, 2024

I'M NOT PERFECT - WHISPERS FROM A BROWN GIRL

 



SO THANKFUL THAT I DON’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT 
FOR GOD TO LOVE ME.



WHISPERS FROM A BROWN GIRL
Photo credit: Wadi Lissa for Unsplash

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

I'M FIRE!

 





It’s not about bad hair but bad air.  I breathe fire you breathe rain.

Dousing water on my dreams sending my hopes into steam! 

What was white hot like hope now lies in a puddle at my feet. 


You stand at the mirror reflecting on your deeds. 

You’ve done good, got away with murder, so you think. 

But little did you know my thoughts were of you! 


I included you in my plans. 

Happy not nappy, you pressed your hair, 

I dared to dream. 


I dreamed a world where I mattered, we all mattered,

 where bad deeds weren’t justified at the mirror. 


I breathe fire let’s breathe fire together. 

Let’s flow like lava igniting everything we touch,

creating islands resting in the new thing we created.


It's not the hair it’s the dare! Dare to dream, dare to be different! 

Dare to be fire-breathing. Breathing life, fearlessly fabulous,

Intentional in our intent.


Fire-breathing, no rain, no tears no dousing flames of hope,

Straining to see through steam distorting the scene.

Now standing before the mirror boldly!

Declaring my wrongs, my rights to hope and breathe,

Because I am fire, white hot liquid fire...


...watch me flow!



Photo credit: Boris Rager for Pixabay

Friday, April 19, 2024

BROKEN

 


I AM BROKEN BUT NOT DESTROYED

BECAUSE AMONG THE PIECES IS MY BREAKTHROUGH.


Photo credit: Troy Wade for Unsplash


Wednesday, April 17, 2024

UNBOTHERED

 





Dear Lord,

Please give me the strength to be unbothered by the people who found it so easy to let me go, and so easy to walk away. 

Open my eyes to see the space that was freed up in the vacancy they created.

Help me to understand that the real estate was too
valuable to place in the hands of those who did not deserve to hold the deed! 

So now I can breathe without judgement and appreciate the view of what freedom and true value looks like! 

And my what a view!

Whispers From A Brown Girl 


Photo credit: Tabitha Turner for Unsplash



Tuesday, April 16, 2024

DON'T GET COMFORTABLE!

 



Don’t get comfortable upon hearing about the misfortunes of another as if you’ve dodged a bullet. Sighs of relief are not in order when you learn of someone’s unfavorable medical diagnosis, or exposure because of a business decision gone bad or being caught for wrongdoing or being caught up in a scandal that is now the subject of conversation around the kitchen table and late-night phone calls. “I told you so’s’” or “serves them right’s,” that fall from our lips as if we’ve done nothing wrong, are ALL heard by God. 


The truth is that we are all guilty of something. None of us are immune from bad news from our doctors or safe from prison sentences because of past or present indiscretions. The fact that we are not sick or broke or in jail or humiliated is no cause to celebrate instead it is reason to take a moment to tell God, “thank you!” Life changes from moment to moment and what seems like sunshine today can become a torrential downpour tomorrow with absolutely no warning or forecast of rain.   


Photo credit: Katie Moum for Unsplash


Monday, April 15, 2024

I'M SCREAMING!

 





Inside my head I’m SCREAMING!


Shouting


Crying


Remembering the past


Expecting the worst


Anticipating the future


Moaning in pain


Imagining my breakthrough


Needing a healing


God, can You hear me? 


Photo credit: Simran Sood for Unsplash



Sunday, April 14, 2024

I AM A WEED

 


I am a weed. I look like a flower, but I am a weed.


I survive in the harshest conditions without water or seed.


Others would rather be flowers growing hoping I’m not seen.


Flowers have their merit, value, and are held in high esteem.


I am a weed; judged like a book cover and always wrong.


Necessary not a nuisance. I have purpose and I belong.


There are others just like me who accept the deception.


Masquerading as flowers living the norm and not the exception.


I am a weed and though I look like a flower I am still a weed.


Holding my head up because I am proud to be a weed!


But because GOD is so good, He can make this weed a flower!


Because He loves me, I have an assigned purpose and power!


For God wanted some weeds to feed the soil and protect from pests.


In Him will I trust and have no fear! I am a weed and on that I will rest!

 


Saturday, April 13, 2024

ON MY KNEES- WHISPERS FROM A BROWN GIRL






Dear God,

I’m setting aside my pride to come before You, 

on my knees to say, I need You; every moment of every day!


Photo credit: Gideon Hezekiah for Unsplash





Thursday, April 4, 2024

WHISPERS FROM A BROWN GIRL

 




Lord today I will not focus on the hurt nor give space and power to those responsible for that hurt. 

Today, Lord I will be thankful for the deliverance and healing from that hurt. 

The only name that will be allowed residence in my spirit today will be Yours! 

Thank You, Lord!

Amen. 

Photo credit: Natali Hordilik for Unsplash