And it Begins: Psst...Has anyone seen my cell phone? (subtitled-N...

And it Begins: Psst...Has anyone seen my cell phone? (subtitled-N...: Psst..Has anyone seen my cell phone? (subtitled – No I’m not having a senior moment!) Psalm 19 :2 1 The heavens declare the...

And it Begins: He said he was sorry ... Let's Move on!!

And it Begins: He said he was sorry ... Let's Move on!!: He said he was sorry…Let’s move on!!  (F rom the mouth of the 75 year old 5 year old)   Colossians 3:12-14 ESV Put on then, as God'...

He said he was sorry ... Let's Move on!!

He said he was sorry…Let’s move on!!  (From the mouth of the 75 year old 5 year old) 

Colossians 3:12-14 ESV Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

 

I am so very in love and it is amazing thing because it is fresh and new ever changing and ever growing.  I met my love in December.  Although finger sucking was never something I would consider attractive.  I looked at my beautiful perfect 10 toe having finger sucking daughter and my heart melted.  Three days later after she melted my heart, she put my nerves on edge.  Actually she didn’t but the system did.  I was in awe that the hospital was letting me leave with this bundle of joy.  They didn’t ask about my mothering skills, nobody required finger prints or references.  Sure I had just given birth to her, but clearly there was going to be a lot more to this party then that. 

My love affair and her finger sucking continues.  Now the kid talks walks whistles (which she is ever so proud of by the way) and she is my comic relief.  I expect and look forward to getting calls from her teachers in the future talking about my class clown. 

The weird thing is this child who is the perfect image of her father and I is also quite wise.  I’ve heard people say that each generation gets smarter and weaker (I don’t know about the weak part (although I could clean a chicken and scale fish by the time I was six-I’m just saying – and these jokers can’t make a grill cheese sandwich), but she spits out wisdom on a regular basis.  One time we were at dinner with a friend and I stepped away and came back.  My friend was almost in tears because my then four year old daughter had told her “You just have to believe in yourself.” I said “Oh” and said she’s right about that and kept on eating. 

Well one of her funny wise moments began innocently enough.  She was in the bath tub and she was complaining about her leg.  I asked what happened and she explained that one of the kids at her daycare had knocked her down and she hurt her knee.  WHAT WHAT Growled me!  wHO PUSHED YOU DOWN – WHY DIDN’T THE TEACHER TELL ME AND THIS DON’T MAKE NO SINCE (I was in straight momma black bear attack mode)

My oh so WISE EVER SO FUNNY CHIILD. 
CALMLY LOOKED AT ME AND SAID – MOM IT’S OK HE SAID HE WAS SORRY LETS MOVE ON!

What are you kidding me did my child just tell me to calm down, and did she just use the soothing voice that I use on her.  Although I have never told her to “let’s move on.” ( got to give her dap for that.)

I didn’t laugh – heck I was too shocked to laugh.  I said fine then what can I do for you.  She said she just needed an American Band-Aid (I’ve taught her that the ones that don’t have any characters on it are great because they are American Band-aides).  So I gave Miss. Thing her Band-Aid and let her put it on herself and I left the room.

Her wisdom in let’s move on has been applied to many aspects of my life now.  It’s the perfect innocent wise forgiveness of a kid.  They play they fight they love they forgive and they play again.

Psst...Has anyone seen my cell phone? (subtitled-NO I'm not having a senior moment)

Psst..Has anyone seen my cell phone?

(subtitled – No I’m not having a senior moment!)

Psalm 19^:21 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
² Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

 

Seriously has anyone seen my keys, my cell phone, my eye glasses, my house phone (oh yeah that’s in my purse!

At the age of 12 my life plan was simple.  Get married at around 20, become a  model and a lawyer and a writer (I got one sort of right!).  Have six kids five boys and one girl.  The girl would be the youngest.  Have a penthouse in New York City and a second home in the country (I was diverse even back then.)  This memory cracks me up, because I clearly remember sitting down with my friend Tiffany and telling her my plans. 

I can’t remember what her plans were but, if I had to bet one was to be a nurse, which I am quite proud to say (As well as those she serves) came through. 

But in the blink of an eye 29 years passed by.  The years that I thought moved so slow in retrospect now seem to be moving at the speed of sand through an hour glass (Day’s of our lives was on to something in that verse).  My life clearly wasn’t as hectic as a soap opera but I’ve had my share of roller coaster rides.  And in this speeding waterfall of sand, I’ve noticed that my mind has begun to move faster than my hands instead of their normal unified front!

What you talking 'bout Willis?! (I hope somebody reading this got that) Well let me give you a fine example of my lightning mind and my slow hands.  It was the end of the work day I was happy because I was exhausted.  I logged off like they tell you to do.  I looked at my cell phone, mentally noted oh we can’t forget that grabbed my purse and hopped on the elevator (I know Onesha I’m supposed to be taking the stairs.)  Because God loves fools and He knows gas is high, a simple thought  popped in my head as I sat in the parking lot “Text Tiffany.”(Yes I’m also proud to say the same Tiffany from so many years ago and I are still great friends)  I reached around before I pulled from my space dug in my deep purse and no phone.  That’s odd I clearly remember looking at the phone saying that I can’t forget that grabbing my purse and leaving.  Well back inside I went.  Back on the elevator (hey if I’m not going to walk down the steps – I’m sure enough not walking up the steps)  Back to my desk and there it was where I had last looked  right where I had told myself not to forget it, my cell phone. 

If you’ve read my blog before I’m sure you can recall the whole leaving the key in the ignition battery draining incident. (If not here yah go! http://hun-nee.blogspot.com/2013/03/whats-up-you-alright-pronounced-aaw-ite.html)

As I ease and dance and cry and creak and dye and  praise towards my birthday, I look back on how time speeds by in big moments and in small ones and that I’ve been moving so fast through it that not only am I losing my keys racing in the house to cook dinner or leaving my glasses in odd places, because I’m racing towards my contacts, so that I can race to get ready, or losing the notes to remind me of what to do.  Nope it’s not a senior moment, it’s a reminder to breathe deep, think and then act.

Here’s your cliché for the day – Stop and smell the roses.

Here’s the Senetra-ism, because the roses will grow, they will bloom, and they will die and you will have missed out on a beautiful thing all because you didn’t slow down.  So Senetra (I talk and write to myself, don’t judge me)slow down breathe deep, unify your mind with your actions.  Remember although it might not seem like it there were only 24 hours in a day when you were 12 too! 

P.S. LOL I never did remember what I was going to text Tiffany (Now that's a senior moment)

Did you ever know that you're my hero...? Hey Buck

Did you ever know that you’re my hero…?  (subtitled – Hey Buck I’m talking bout you)

John 1:5  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

I have a little brother.  Most of you don’t know this because some of you I know some of you I don’t know and well some of yall know me and just don’t know this.  All and all don’t worry about the who, the what, the when and the where. Just know that I have a little brother and he is my Hero.

Totaled combined if I had to sit down and do the calculations he and I have probably spent about a week together combined over both our lives.  We don’t talk much, we text every now and again, so I’ve got to admit it may come to a shock to even him that he’s my hero, although every now and again I call him Superman.

I remember the first time my dad introduced us it was on the playground near my Grandma Esther’s (yep the cake baker).  I can’t remember how old I was, but I fell in love from the moment I saw him.  He had a big head and cornrows and was chubby.   I lugged him around bragging about this cute ball of handsome was my little brother.  I didn’t see him again until my father’s funeral, about 18 years later.  Then once at my older brother’s house for Thanksgiving five years later.  We didn’t talk much at either meeting, just hugged said we loved each other and that we would keep in touch.  (I didn’t)

Twelve years passed before we would lay eyes on each other again.  My oldest brother called me almost around this time last year and said our little brother had been shot.  I was headed back to Charlotte at the time.  Several thoughts went through my head, I didn’t know this man my brother what in the world had happened was he in a gang, was he involved in something horrible.  And even if he was who and the hell would DARE hurt my BABY BROTHER.

I later learned that it was a 53 year old man who was robbing the store that my brother managed.  If my brother hadn’t turned as the gun was being discharged he would likely be dead!  But he turned! 

My brother was flown to Atlanta, Georgia and his family came together in an amazing way to support help and love all over him.  I drove to Atlanta to see him and this meeting is where I placed the superman cape on his shoulders and knew that I had met a hero. 

It was reported that he would not walk again.  He had received nerve damage from the bullet.  I knew he had gotten shot towards his back on the side.  He said the bullet hitting his back hurt, but it was the fire in his legs that was horrible to him.  My hero sat before me not bitter not angry simply reflective of what had occurred to him only weeks before.  With no anger in his eyes he talked about walking again and his plans for the future.  We talked about our dad and he talked to me as if we had talked every day.  He brought back memories of our father and we laughed and sat in silence at times.  It’s so hard to explain but I knew I was in the room with greatness.  His calm, wise , intelligent, strong  forgiving spirit.  was mind blowing to me.  The proud lion’s glow he had when he spoke of his children and how he loved seeing his family come together the way they had for him.  And he called me sister simply because that’s who I am to him.  No anger about why I wasn’t more involved, where I had been why I never called.  He loves me like a sister simple and plain, because he chooses too.

So why is this man my hero.  He is my hero because of his character.  His character when he could have shown the worse of himself and who would have blamed him.  He continues to act in love kindness and amazing strength and  I even dare say forgiveness.  There are many angry people in the world that less things have been done to.  But my little brother chooses to be a good man, a kind man, a strong man, a loving man, a role model to his children and to me. 

My brother can’t fly (I bet he could if he tried), he doesn’t sling spider webs, or have any cool gadgets.  There are many people in the world who go through the day to day ups and downs, but it’s the ones that go against the norm, that smile when they want to cry, fight when they want to quit, stand strong when they want to run, love when they could choose to hate, give when they ain’t got nothing left.  These people, my brother they are the true super heroes.

Excuse me could you repeat that aka You know I'm black...

Excuse me could you repeat that! (Subtitled) You know I’m black right?!

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

 The story that popped into my mind was about an interesting conversation that I had with a little girl named Missy (Not her real name to protect the innocent – you will see why later).

I’ve worked since I was about 16 years old.  But for a brief time one summer my freshman year in college I was back at home and jobless.  I won’t lie to you (ain’t got no reason too) I was enjoying not working, but there was one small thing messing up my peace.  My little neighbor Missy (bless her heart).  This kid would knock on my door everyday to see if I wanted to play.  I’m a big kid at heart not much has changed about that and Missy my little blond blue eyed five or six year old neighbor would often come by and I would hang outside with her.  A little hopscotch, a little jump rope, whatever.  Fortunately though in the past I worked or I was in school during the week, so the interruption was only during the weekends. 

Now everyday Missy was knocking on my door (Lord, please let me find a job I prayed).  Well one day Missy and I were outside picking butter cups checking our chins to see if we liked butter, when Missy said to me “I don’t like black people!”

There are many defining moments in your life big and small and how you handle them, may not change your life, but trust me somebody’s life is about to be changed!

Excuse me I said (And no my hands weren’t on my hips and I didn’t even cock my head to the side and give her the eye) what did you just say sweetie.  Without a thought to the wind and as quick as ever Missy said I hate black people. 

Several words went through my head several colorful not for a six year old’s innocent ears to hear words danced through my head.  Then something hit me.  Now how do I respond to this blatant racist (all be it innocent) comment.  Hmm I could put my hands on my hips and tell her to tell her mother (because the home is where I assumed she had learned her hatred)  that I said she better “Bleep bleep, before I bleep bleep bleep”   Or I could tell her to go and tell the little group of kids right over there what she just told me and watch them whip her tail.  Fine! Fine all unacceptable I know, but come on man!  Fortunately wisdom kicked in and I instead said, hey Missy did you know I’m black?

I wish I could have taken a picture of how big those blue eyes were.  She was shocked!  Let me clear something up for you.  If you’re reading this and you didn’t know yet well  I’m black and not just a little bit.  I describe myself to the horror of some as fried chicken brown.  My skin is golden and bright and in my opinion the color of chicken fried hard.  (Don’t get all weird on me either I’ve seen just as many Whites, Asians ,and Latinos eat chicken as I have African Americans) .

I then asked Missy if she liked me.  With all her wonderful six year old passion.  She said well I love you Nene.  I said ok, so let’s not say we don’t like black people, ok?  (One so that these kids around here don’t kick your butt and two, just maybe I helped somebody who was on the path of racism see the world a little different).

The point to this very true very funny very sad story – is teach the young ones just to love that’s all just love!

Suicide!!!! You will be missed.

 

Psalms 3:13 Look at me! Answer me, O LORD my God! Revive me, or else I will die!

******   I know an odd title for an inspirational blog but hang in there with me.******

 

My Great Aunt Jametta who is still alive and kicking at 80 plus years  is one of the friendships that I cherish so much as an adult.  One great thing for me about getting older is that my relationships with my relatives changed from being my baby sitter when I was a kid, a chaperone/driver when I was a teen, to now  as a an adult with a child of my own, into a deep wonderful friendship .  The first time my aunt  cursed on the phone while we were talking tripped me out, I almost dropped the phone.  One she’s not one to curse (unless you take her parking space or get in her way on one of her many senior trip adventures) and second (clutching my pearls) my sweet bread pudding making aunt  just swore!

Of course cursing is not  the defining moment in a  deeper relationship, but my  point is she looked at me not as her little niece but as a friend and a confidant as she expressed herself.  And when I say friendship,  Aunt Jametta and I talk at least once a week, if not more.   She and I laugh about tv shows, funny things that happened at the senior living center she lives at (and let me tell you they should have their own reality show), sometimes we even talk about men.      One day she sort of caught me off guard though.  My Aunt , my sister girl, my ace was telling me about making sure her will was in order and that she had paid off  her plot at the cemetery.  Let me clear up any confusion right now Aunt Jametta wasn’t thinking about committing suicide or anything like that.  She is beautiful and in great health, but as she reminded me - "Child I am old I won’t live forever."  You will i have anything to do with it I wanted to scream.  But all and all I made a joke about her final resting place being across the road from her already passed husband and she said, "He can look but he bet not cross that road." 

My heart did sink a little that day though.  This beautiful woman filled every memory I have in my life.  The world without her will be so different.  My Aunt Jametta is our Oprah when it comes to gift giving.  But instead of diamonds and high dollar items she blesses us with some of the most unique gifts you would ever expect to pull out of your Aunt Jametta Christmas bag.  There may be the old reliable gift of new socks (usually the ones with the individual toe spaces), but guaranteed there is going to be a cabbage in there, a pencil shaped like a duck, a am/fm walkman radio shaped like a bear.    My bag always has something a little more unique then the other bags she hands out to her children, grandchilrdren, nieces and nephews (but I’m her favorite, at least in my mind).  I even chuckled at the time she got about 50 lbs of Jelly beans  donated to her (she use to take care of children) She froze them (she is the freeze master!)and we ate Jelly beans for over a year it was crazy.

I don’t know why thinking of her made me think on folks who are ready to depart this world, but here we are.  The thought  of all the memories with her drifted into thoughts of those who want to commit suicide.  The people who in one way or another feel that they are not needed on this planet any longer.  Trust me there is someone out there who will think back and reflect on on a memory of you and the empty place that you have now left.  The place that only you could fill. 

v  Maybe you are the friend who always gives it to them straight

v  Maybe you are the neighbor who always smiles

v  Maybe you’re the person who let me get in front of you on a busy traffic day

v  Maybe you’re one of the people who read my blog, symbolized just by a number, but your number moved my soul when my views went from two to three!

  The point you might not (sadly) mean something to the people you feel you should mean something too, but you mean something to someone You are important You are so important.  I don’t know anything about how you can find your purpose LOL (laugh out Loud) I read the “Purpose Driven Life,” and I will confess – I didn’t get it.  I wanted that last page to say “Senetra your purpose is…”  And I wish I could stop whatever pain or depression you are in.  I can ask you to pray and I will pray too.  But I demand that you know you are necessary you are important  there is no smile like yours there is no gift like yours – Hope this helps you hold on!  You are loved and you will be missed!