February sidebar...

34 years ago today we said our final farewell to my mother.  It will soon be 15 years that we said farewell to my brother.  Indeed my heart aches for them both. I'm so thankful for my husband whom I love dearly and my children who mean more to me than words can ever express.

The moral of this brief message is simple:  don't allow your life to be consumed with the pain and suffering that is so prevalent every day.  Life is too precious, too short for all this dumb stuff. We must; however, change what we are able to change.  We must be the change we want to see.  Hold fast to your faith, facing each day with determination, commitment, and hope for the future.  May seem unrealistic, but try.

Love the one you're with.

Hug your kids.

Don't let another day go by without doing something good.

When it's all said and done, you will have left a legacy that those remembering you will be proud to speak of.

SharB~TTSD
#TakeTheScaffoldingDown

The Importance of February

February is Black History Month, an opportunity to recognize and honor the many accomplishments and achievements of Black people. On this day I honor my mother, Braddella Galloway Brown, born in Greenwich, Connecticut, the daughter of a Methodist preacher with roots in the Mohawk and Shinnecock Tribes she loved to remind us of our family history.  She is one of our mighty trailblazers being one of the first black women hired at National City Bank in the early 1970s. A strong, God-fearing woman, my mother instilled those same strong Christian values in her three children.  While leading a full, productive life, her heart became weak.  Cardiovascular disease ended her life at the age of 51.  My mother left a void that certainly cannot be filled. She did; however, teach me the importance of a healthy, spiritual heart and even when the heart condition she had endured since birth weakened her physical heart, she continued to demonstrate strength and faith in all she said and did.

February is Women's Heart Health Awareness Month.  According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is the leading killer in the U.S. (killing approximately one woman every 60 seconds). The good news is that 80 percent of cardiac events may be prevented with education and lifestyle changes.  If you had heart disease, would you recognize the symptoms? Many of us are familiar with the scene of a man clutching his chest and falling to the ground, but there is so much more we all need to know.

According to Go Red for Women, there are many similarities in the symptoms of heart disease in men and women, there are even more differences – differences that could save, or end your life if you don’t know them. Heart disease and stroke disproportionately affects African-Americans.  African-American women are less likely than Caucasian women to be aware that heart disease is the leading cause of death.  Additionally, African-American women have almost two times the risk than Caucasian and are more likely to die at an early age compared to women of other ethnicities.  So, learn the symptoms and don’t ignore them as I did.  You see, on November 8, 2016 I experienced a significant cardiac event and the cardiologist looked right at me after I failed the stress test and said, “You don’t have a week, you don’t have a day.  You’re going straight to the hospital.  If you don’t go now, you might not have another chance.”  Receiving this news, the diagnosis of coronary artery disease, set a new course for my life.

There have been great strides in the research and treatment of cardiovascular disease since losing my mother in 1983.  I am encouraged with my prognosis and for those facing heart disease and stroke today.  Education, lifestyle changes, diet, and exercise are key areas you can control in your life.   I encourage you to visit the American Heart Association's and the Go Red for Women websites to further your education and understanding of heart disease. The more a woman knows about heart disease, the better chance she has of beating it.

Realizing more than ever how crucial it is to guard your heart; physically emotionally, and spiritually, I share this with you and hope that you are encouraged to be heart healthy for you, for your family, for those that love you.

SharB~TTSD 
#TakeTheScaffoldingDown

Enough

Show us direction to walk into the Healing, show us Direction to run on for Justice.  Through the turmoil through the wars, and rumors of wars, through the killings, through the bullying, through the mercilessness of neglect, through the venomous words that come from people’s mouths, oh God help us to still stand Erect and hold our heads high because according to the word of God the end is near and we must now more than ever be in a state of preparedness.

The devil in his many disguises is roaming every street corner, every school, every home, every church, every court house, and more attempting to devour another someone, another anyone.  Be prepared, be alert, and pray for the strength to survive.

Stand firm,

Stand erect,

Stand for what you believe in,

Kneel if you must to pay your respects, to symbolize your belief, to symbolize your cause and when you get up from kneeling, STAND UP like you never stood before…and MARCH ON!

SharB

#Take the Scaffolding Down



Silence

Many of us have a memory of September 11, 2001 that will forever be engrained in our mind and heart.  One memory that resonates for me is the profound silence that followed. I recall standing outside later that fateful day in September and even several days after and it was silent. The skies were blue and clear, the sun was shining bright and it was silent.  Air traffic had been brought to a halt.  As I moved throughout those next days, I observed and was the recipient of many spontaneous acts of kindness, courtesy, and consideration.  For a period of time it seemed we shared one another’s pain.

Slowly and regrettably very surely, the noise returned.  Indeed there are many people who maintain a lifestyle of extending a hand, of being kind.  To you I say thank you and please continue on.  We must be cautious and stop allowing the busyness of life and the noise of the people, places, and things around us to distract us.

Take a moment for silence and reflect.  The pain is still very real for so many today.  We still must share the pain.  We still must empathize with one another.  We still must stand together with the resolve and resilience so often spoken of.

Pause with me for a moment of silence…

SharB~TTSD
#TakeTheScaffoldingDown

Birthday Birthday Birthday

Happy Birthday to me!

I woke up and I’m 53!

I placed my feet on the floor, stood up, looked around

Raised my hands in the air and without making a sound (since hubby is asleep)

Shouted HALLELUJAH LORD, YOU GAVE ME YET ANOTHER BIRTHDAY!

I’m blessed, I’ve found favor, I see neither blue nor gray

But what I see is the miraculously bold beautiful red

Of the life giving blood that Jesus shed

His sacrifice for me, for my life, for this day was so marvelous

50 I embraced and it was fabulous

51 I peaked at with a measure of anxiety

52 I cried out, "Lord why couldn’t Mommy have seen 52?"

53 I welcome you already with a list long with what I must do

I’m grabbing 53 by faith certainly not by sight

And whatever God has for me I’ll do with all my might.

This isn’t the typical “Big Birthday” as defined

But it’s my "Big Birthday" as by life’s design.

I woke up and I’m 53!

Happy Birthday to me!

SharB~TTSD
#TakeTheScaffoldingDown

A mother's open letter to her children

Why do open letter?  Because some things you just need to shout from the rooftop! Also, just as you go through life, you never know who is watching you, you never know who might read this and be blessed by it.

Why now?  A chapter has closed; a new chapter has begun.

Hindsight is 20/20.  People often say when looking back that they can see more clearly what was evident all along.  As I look back at your formative years, I am so thankful that we provided you both with a solid foundation.  It makes my heart rejoice to see the scripture (Proverbs 22:6) come to life, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” I have watched you both grow into strong adults and I count myself along with my husband, your father by my side, tremendously blessed to have birthed, raised, and watched you both grow.

Of course it hasn’t always been sunshine and lollipops but it was through those special times that we each had an opportunity to grow and think about our decisions and actions.  There were definite times of struggle but as I look back on our struggles and challenges, I believe every step of struggle was a stepping stone leading us up towards higher heights.

We laughed together, we cried together, we played together, we prayed together and above all, even though we are separated by distance we remain a family together.  As your grandfather always taught me, and I reiterate to you my children, “never forget the bloodline.”

1. Keep God first and everything else will be added to you.
2. Be good stewards over all that God has blessed you with.  Work your budget; don’t let your budget work you.  Utilize your resources.
3. Daughter, continue to love your husband, honor him, cherish him, appreciate him. Son, as you seek for a wife, allow God to continue to equip you to be the man that will honor and love his wife as Christ loves the church.
4. Remain steadfast and unmovable, stand firm and strong in your beliefs.
5. Don’t forget that it’s ok to color outside of the lines, it’s ok to step outside of the box, it’s ok to step out from the crowd and allow your brains and your hearts to work out their creative destiny.
6. Help somebody.
7. Enjoy life, have fun, love, laugh.
8. No one can ever take your knowledge or education. Keep studying, keep reading.
9. No one takes your heart; guard your heart because everything you do flows from your heart.
10. Hold fast to the lessons taught to you by your mother and father.

As you both continue on this journey called life through new doors, into new seasons, remain vigilant, always aware of your surroundings.  Stay away from the naysayers, they will try to discourage you and rob you of your dreams.  God has blessed you with magnificent gifts; continue to nurture and grow each gift as you achieve your goals and fulfill your purpose.

With all my love from the bottom of my heart…

Mommy

I share one of my favorite Langston Hughes poems…

A Dream Deferred

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up

Like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore

And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over—

like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

SharB~TTSD

#TakeTheScaffoldingDown

May 5, 2016 National Day of Prayer...won't you pray with me?

A (adoration)  Most kind, most gracious God our heavenly father.  We come on this National Day of Prayer with grateful hearts, with thankful hearts, with praise on our lips.  You are the King of Kings, the Lords, the Everlasting Father, the Mighty God, the Rose of Sharon, the Holy One, our shield, our buckler, Jehovah Shalom – God of peace, Jehovah Rophe – God our healer, Jehovah Jireh – God our provider, Jehovah Shammah – God you are there!  What a mighty God, our ever-present help in the time of need.

“…Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory. (Isaiah 6:3)

“Praise him for his mighty acts, praise him for his excellent greatness.” (Psalm 150: 2)

C (confession)  God search our hearts and our minds and cleanse us, purify us dear Lord.  We examine ourselves individually and confess our sins to you and ask your forgiveness thanking you for being a faithful and just God to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  As a nation we collectively ask your forgiveness for the sins of the land.  We ask you to cleanse the hearts and minds of this nation and tear down every stronghold that stands against the name and power of God.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

T (thanksgiving) For each new day, for every mountain, for every blessing Lord we say thank you.  Thank you for life, health, and strength.  Thank you for another day to rise and see the sunshine. Thank you for being an Omnipresent God sweeping throughout the nation hearing the prayers of your people.  Thank you for another day of National Prayer where we as believers in this nation can come together in spirit and lift up the needs of the nation and thank you for being our God.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6

S (supplication)  Lord we need you today as never before.  We lift up our nation’s leaders on all levels that they will see God’s face, uphold righteousness and be examples of godly men and women as they serve in all capacities.  We pray for healing of our land’s social justice system, we pray for healing of our prison system, of our justice system.  Dear God lead, guide, and direct legislative change, social change, peace.  Raise up leaders who have a heart for all people within our churches, communities, and throughout our nation.

“…praying always with all prayer and supplication for all the saints.” Ephesians 6: 18

“Give us this day our daily bread.” Matthew 6: 11.

 “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

  SharB~TTSD

#TakeTheScaffoldingDown