Let It Grow

Let It Grow

The things we take for granted

Like breathing fresh air

The lessons we are afforded

To make us more aware

Experiencing the first light of day

The night’s first seen star

Are often clouded by judgments

Taking away from where we are

The sound of a newborn baby

An unexpected smile

Signs of God all around

Making life worthwhile

Fresh morning breezes

Cool mountain air

The touch of his hand

The smell of her hair

The things we overlook

When seeking reasons to hate

The blessings we step on

The hearts we do break

The boundaries we enforce

Creating reasons to step away

Rationalizing the thoughts

Finding reasons not to pray

Never seeking forgiveness

Making it harder to give

Building false expectations

Getting harder to live

When will we realize that we

Are being given another attempt

But are accountable for our actions

We are not love exempt

If you cannot find it in your heart

To reach out to a soul in need

What will happen to the children

Oh, the hate we do breed

We teach them indifference

How to worship material wealth

Forgetting about humility

What a hard hand they are dealt

For we are all given

Tools to pass along

So we will all be in tune

Singing the same song

Count your blessings I beg you

Be thankful for each one

Before they are stricken from you

And your time on earth is done

For when it all is said

Finished and then

You will think about could have’s

What might have been

Be proactive in your life

Grateful in your tones

Watch your demeanor

Stop casting verbal stones

For the cost of hate is large

More than you can afford

It can cost you salvation

Promised by our Lord

In closing I must tell you

So you will always know

Inside you have God’s love

It’s time to let it grow

Her Only Crutch

Her Only Crutch

A bruise it can heal

A scar doesn’t begin to touch

A broken-hearted angel

Who once loved so much

We may claim its not so bad

Saying she got what she’s worth

But she is priceless

Value increasing since birth

For the sins of man make him low

The cost of sin is high

We have time to do what’s right

But even that’s passing by

She is no possession

No material gain

and your ill intentions…

You should be ashamed

She isn’t your possession

She isn’t owned or bought

But a loved child of God

Not a bird you have caught

Now don’t forget loves

Anything you do treat as pray

Will not find reasons to love you

But methods to run away

You may try to shame her

With your crude behavior and tone

But her survival plan is God

The only one she needs to own

For nothing is greater than

Our father in all His Glory

And He is watching you

He knows the REAL story

REAL men don’t have to hit

To get attention from a lady

They carry God’s empowering light

Don’t have to be shady

Real men don’t need to raise their hands

They are busy lifting their hearts

And that might not be everything

But it’s a very good start

So bruise her you may

But you are the one who is weak

Her salvation is her weapon

It is yours whose is bleak

So when you look at yourself

As an idol and such

She looks like a warrior

When God’s her only crutch

 **We must put an end to DOMESTIC VIOLENCE…Please speak out**

The Walls Came Tumbling Down

The Walls came Tumbling Down

In the heat of the moment

In the still of the night

So many things go wrong

The blink of an eye

I’m sure in after thought

You would have complied stat

Are you following him?

We don’t need you to do that

A moment of thought

Could have made this just a debate

Now it’s up to the courts

To decide your life’s fate

A sad turn of events

A trip to the store

A child’s life

Will live no more

Oh we have the memories

Those precious moments in time

When he was laughing and loving

Remembering how he did shine

Anger will not change

What happened that night

But he was just a child

Keep that in your sight

No matter what we hold onto

When we think of his time

Was he a trouble maker

Or an angel of our mind

He was a child of God

He was created by Him

His life was ended

Due to a human’s whim

Why don’t we ask questions

Before acting it out

Oh the tragic results

When this comes about

Trayvon had a message

Even with his death

Even if it was only found

Upon taking his last breath

The message is clear

I hope we all one day can see

We are all important

Even someone like me

Someone who is loved by their parents

Someone who had a beautiful smile

Someone who, yes, was human

And got in trouble once in a while

Someone who had a future

Could have fallen in love

Was someone you could count on

When push came to shove

My race didn’t make me better

But God knows didn’t make me worse

But a decision made in haste showed

You acted before thinking first

I hope you one day understand

What really came about

Because there are parents now

Who are living without

I pray God will show us

The way to heal hearts broken

Before more angry actions are taken

While less words are spoken

For one thing is definite

Death cannot be undone

And grief is a morbid battle

Never can be won

So, Lord if you’re listening

As I write this down

Show us your grace before

The walls come tumbling down

 **IN conjunction with Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Awareness…we are happy to donate a portion of the proceeds from our book “The Light of Our Path” to the Atlanta Children’s Shelter

I Do Pray

I Do Pray

I watched your eyes today

Closely on the screen

I saw a child that we lost

I understand what that means

I wonder if we needed

To see your innocent look

So we could justify the anger

Over a life someone took

Did we need you to be a choir boy

Instead of a kid running the streets

Oh the implications we make

Of people we never meet

If you were in a gang war

Would your loss seem easier to us

Did we need to see your innocence

In order to justify the fuss

Did we need to make him look

Evil…a perpetrator as it were

So we could see him as vile

We could all seem more sure

But alas, we may never know

Who either were at that time

Only that a life was taken

It definitely was a crime

A crime against humanity

A crime against the truth

An altercation once again

Has stolen another youth

As for my part in this

I will sing the very same song

We have created nothing

And killing is always wrong

We can not justify the reasons

Or clarify the cause

If only we had taken a moment

To take a breath…to briefly pause

The world might not have swallowed

Another child this way

A funeral…a memorial

Lets bow our heads to pray

Father please forgive us for thinking

Any reason would be okay

To take a child’s last breath

Leaving a country in dismay

We have stopped looking for our Savior

No matter what the case

We have made it about hatred

We have made it about race

We failed to listen to your lessons

Love your fellow man

Be forgiving of your neighbors

As often as you can

And as a final result of this

Another young man makes no sound

Only the sobbing of a mother

Putting him in the ground

Forgive us Heavenly Father

We know not what we do

We were so busy playing God

We failed to look to you

Help us heal past the heartache

Show us the err of our way

So we can do better tomorrow

On my knees I do pray

**There are far too many children that end up this way…the victims of  violence. We must take a stand**

In doing our part, we are donating a portion of the proceeds of the sale of our book “The Light of Our Path” to the Atlanta Children’s Shelter, Inc

God Will Speak Through You

God Will Speak Through You

When we seek peace

It’s not just of the mind

It’s all that is around us

…every proof of life we find

It’s the unimagined truth

Which balances us all

It’s the force which holds us steady

Or we will surely fall

Peace is not found in silence

…our biting of our tongue

Its found in lovers debating

…in the cries of the very young

It’s clearing the air so to speak

…in a time of despair

It’s showing love in all ways

…it’s how we know we care

It can be found in disagreement

…as well as in our smiles

For silence can still breed unrest

Which spans across the miles

Controversy can be peaceful

It can begin to clear the air

It can help us mend bridges

When we treat other beings fair

It isn’t about falsely agreeing

Nodding as if we do agree

But about loving enough to listen

Wanting each other to see

For God fully expects

The trials we will obtain

Knowing if we follow His love

We will live to argue again

Search for peace always I say

It’s important to our destination

But never discount the love of God

In spite of our aggravation

Let God live through your words

Let your actions be always true

And peace will thrive again

As God will speak through you

You

You

Once there was anguish

More pain than anyone knew

And God again proved His love

Because then came you

Rough around the edges

But so beautiful to the core

A warrior when needed

But there was so much more

So much more I needed to tell you

Much more that you needed to know

And oh how you were loved

I was amazed as I watched love grow

I had never visually imagined

Someone as unique as you

Could create so much balance

I’m glad that God knew

He knew I needed you

So He created a place

So in my hectic life

For you He made a space

One that I thought would last forever

I never imagined saying goodbye

And doing so caused so much pain

I thought I would surely die

But dying was not God’s plan for me yet

There was more I needed to do

So I hold my memories close

Thankful that there was you

Your voice kept me going

Long after the flesh had gone to pass

Reminding me to stop…slow down

That I didn’t want to move to fast

Take time to smell the flowers

Because they too have a short time

To leave footprints on your heart

Right along side of mine

Slow down in your speech

Use thoughtful words and phrase

Show your love through expression

We all need that these days

Remember its okay to cry about loss

But in your heartfelt pain

Recreate the laughter we shared

And learn to enjoy that again

Her voice would sometimes whisper

The pain will one day subside

It’s what you choose to with it

But only you can decide

Decide to move on with life

Decide to hold me forever in your heart

And know that in my bodies passing

Even death can’t keep us apart

Death is not a punishment

Or judgment God is placing

Just that my role in life was over

You have not been forsaken

Understand who you are

And the love you helped create

Know that your heart may feel pain

But God won’t allow it to break

So as my sister’s voice fades she says

There’s something I need you to do

Remember when I needed hope

Was when God gave me you

The Face of God

The Face of God

The thing about God’s light

It can show up in an unexpected place

A flower growing out of a sidewalk

Or in the innocence of a child’s face

It can show up out of nowhere

Like in the breaking dawn

You hear it in the chirp of birds

Or the first steps of a fawn

You can hear Our Creators light

In the laughter of a child

It’s His way of reminding us

That life is certainly worthwhile

I have heard God’s light

In my sorrow…yes even in my grief

It steals away my sadness

Like a most welcome thief

It’s His way of showing us

That we are never alone

By giving us the proof of life

And how it does go on

What love a father shows

When He wipes aside a tear

And warms us without a single touch

But the knowledge he is near

He shows the balance of His love

Because even in the heart break of death

He reminds us life goes on

As we watch a newborn take the first breath

It’s hard to remain bitter

When the most beautiful sounds

Can be experienced flying over head

Or walking all around

Have you ever sat on a park bench

And just listened to children play

Not worrying what tomorrow brings

Living only for today

I believe this is the true message

That only love of God can bring

He who has the gentleness of a lamb

The royalty of Our King

So when the day gets heavy

As we all know that it can

Smile at the adversity

Relying on the word of no man

I tell you love each other often

I say smiling with a nod

Because when you love one another

You are loving the face of God

Look At The Bright Side

Look At The Bright Side

 

Today is National “Look on the Bright Side Day”. Where some people might find that to be a ridiculous event, I must say that I can understand the sentiment behind it…especially this time of year. This time of year is the largest season for suicides and murder…so I think it is extremely appropriate to celebrate the reasons to hold on to life and all the gifts that we receive in living it.

  Life can sometimes spiral out of control. We can feel as if we are lost or even as if we nay not want to be found. We may feel alone or isolated…wondering who would even notice if we just dropped off the face if the earth. These sentiments are what make this event pertinent. We are all important, our lives are essential in some plan that God has for us. Just like when we speak of the importance of animals and the chain or circle of life…we, too, are critical parts of the grander scheme of things. Something as minor as a smile to a stranger…may change the course or energy of a day. A kind word or gesture could turn war time into a moment of peace.

  What is the bright side of a life which appears to have no particu7lar meaning? Well, we woke up today. We lifted our heads…and because we were willed to do so…the work God has lain out for us has begun. The bright side is the fact that today…unlike some…you received the gift of another moment…another opportunity to do the work of our Creator. Today we can hold our heads up and move forward. We get to choose whether we live or simply exist; while keeping in mind that we are the example that others are turning to. People don’t want us to tell them what to do…but they are open to observing those thoughts in action. We are responsible for all of our deeds…large and small…good and bad. We can impress or depress people…we have the luxury of choosing the path we walk.

  Look on the bright side…today is a new day…and the way we view it may help or hinder someone else. Things happen in life, some of these things may seem like they have broken us…left us in pieces. I think we have all felt this way…one time or another. But the actual truth is…we were not broken, shattered, crushed, or defeated. We were simply temporarily impaired…stunned…surprised…startled and dismayed. And here we are…not only present and accounted for but looking on the bright side of life. We have simply evolved into another part of who we were intended to be. We may feel sad at times due to a change or loss in our lives; and while I am not trying to take away from that very real feeling…I am going to tell you that hope always exists.

  You get to decide the energy that you will emit on others…just as I do. And yes, we will sometimes falter. It is okay to stumble on the building blocks of life…as long as we understand that they are just blocks…and not giant walls with no means of escape. You have to remember to pick yourself up and press on…eyes are watching you. If you have hope…someone else will be able to feed off of it…and they will be able to give hope to others, as well. Use the foundation that we were created with…love…peace….understanding and kindness; these are the elements of success and hope.

  Life is a gift. It regenerates, rejuvenates and revitalizes our souls. It is okay to have rough days…but understand that…better days will follow. No one expects perfection, but we do expect, desire, and need your word that you will constantly strive for more.

  Our lives contribute to the ever populating circle of love…and the bright side of that concept is that love always comes back ten fold. Love is more like the boomerang of God…no matter where you toss it…God will make sure it finds you again. Contribute to the lives of others…remember they too are looking for a bright side…be that for them. Other people have the same insecurities, anxieties, and hesitations that you may have…lend them your shoulder and in doing so…open your heart.

  The possibilities of life are endless…unless we stop trying. Do not be your own road block…expect the impossible…because with the divine love of our Creator…all things are attainable. There is no goal or idea which is too much for our Creator…we simply need to ask and be prepared to receive it. Look at the bright side…no matter how dire a situation seems…this too shall pass…and the lesson in the struggle may feed the hopes and aspirations of others.

A Single Drop of Water

A Single Drop of Water

 

  During this time of year, there will be people who will be singing and celebrating; laughing and crying; shopping and worshipping; remembering and mourning. It is the season of many emotions and experiences, for most. Not unlike any other time of year, I have spent time reminding us to be kind and loving with one another.

  I realized long ago that we all are different, in one fashion or another. No matter how similar we appear to be, if we search deep enough…we will find our distinctive characteristics. By the same token, if we search deep within those that we find to be our polar opposites…we will find the very likeness of us.

  What is the point of this? It’s a point in which, I take great pride in shining light on. We were all created from the same source and created with the same foundation. Our Creator, our point of origin…the maker of all things great and small…started our lives with a single drop of water. And throughout time we can visit and re-visit how water restores, replenishes, revitalizes and revives all living things. That single drop of water, brushed with the love of our Creator…is where we all started and where we should remain focused.

  For all of our differences and unique qualities…one thing tangible keeps us connected…like it or not. Our Creator, no matter what you refer to Him/her as…built us with love. We know this is true because no matter where we look, in music, lyrics, movies, art, even in our most divine books…we are told to love each other. At this point, we should have realized that loving our fellow living beings is important…because we are constantly being reminded to do so.

  The one constant we will have in this life is that as much as we are dissimilar…we are exactly the same. Our foundation cares nothing about how we look differently, speak differently, behave differently, or even worship differently. In the eyes of the Creator, we are the same.

  When the time comes and we are asked how we made use of our time here on earth…I pray that we have something more to offer than we spent time separating people because we have convinced ourselves of the superiority myth. None of us, not one single human being…is better than, above, greater than or superior to …ANYTHING. Your hair color or texture, the pigment of your skin, the accent of your voice, the size or shape of your body, the location of your earthly home, nor the religion, faith, or the life philosophy that you adhere to…does not put you above anyone or anything else. And as long as we have that delusion in our minds…we are not doing the work of God/Allah.

  Our time here is brief…to prove that fact you only have to ask anyone who has ever loved someone who passed away. So knowing this information…why do we waste so much time on hate and indifference? We are supposed to build our fellow man and woman up…we are supposed to help and guide one another. But in order to do that we must stop trying to isolate one another.

  I hope that during this season of love and hope…that we water the seed which God/Allah planted within us. Love is instilled within our being, but we must cultivate it, water it, and share it with the world. Touch everyone you can…through your fingertips… your speech or your deeds…God’s message can be delivered through us; just as electricity travels through water.

  I implore you to stop wasting time on the negativity that darkness can breed. Remember that just like mold needs darkness to thrive…so does negativity and hate. The Creator’s light is all around us…we need only to seek it. We can see it in compassion, empathy, joy, kindness, thoughtfulness…and when you aren’t watching…you can feel, smell, touch and absorb it through the laughter of children.

  Love is a gift that we are supposed to give to others; and because we were born with it we are supposed to do it all the time. We can hardly hold love hostage, by attaching stipulations to it. The statement “I will love you if…” is a statement of darkness. So here is my message to you: I will love you because God loves me. I will stand by you and defend you against any being that is of the belief that you are not good enough. I answer to our Creator, He holds me accountable for my actions, thoughts and the intentions of my heart.

  Today I would ask you to stand up…become accountable…spread love and joy…for only then can peace prosper.

Resolving My Resolution

Resolving My Resolution

 

  Every year around this time people talk about resolutions, I guess that makes sense…wanting to start off the year with a clean slate. There will be millions of promises of cutting calories, avoiding alcohol, cutting back on spending, and various other habits that we may want to change. All of which is good, I know that I am always aware that there are things that I could do to improve upon myself.

  But, even in knowing this information, I don’t really do resolutions. I feel like I am setting myself up for failure that way. I never say this year, this month, or even this week…I will give up…anything. Why? Well, because for me, life is a moment at a time. If I can make it through today, being a little stronger…a little kinder…for myself and those around me…then I am a success. I will mess up. And since I am human, I allow myself that reality. But the real beauty is found in the fact that even though I may not be perfect…tomorrow I will again attempt to do better.

  I will speak more softly and less rapidly. I will try and listen more intently. I will try and avoid those tempting conversations that I know will grow to become a war of wills. I will attempt to show people how very much I love them, with all that I say and do. I will continue talking to God and pray that the intentions of my heart remain as pure as they were when I was a child.

  And just as certainly as I have written this…I will fall short. I know this may sound like I am giving myself a “free pass” to fail…but it is really just a matter of saving myself from my most destructive critic…me. I learned long ago that the bar I set for myself is, more times than not, unrealistic. I tend to hold myself accountable for the actions of others…thinking that if I had just done a little more, maybe I could have made a difference. But the sad reality for me is that we all are responsible for ourselves. We all have the knowledge that everyday is a new day; a new beginning. We can learn from our shortcomings, or those of others. We can add to the light of others or we can splash water on their flame…it’s a new day.

  I don’t really need a resolution to remind me that I should push myself away from the table a little sooner, or that I didn’t really NEED that new dress. But these are lofty goals, and I can accept them as such. The definition for resolution is to make a firm decision to do something; the process of resolving something such as a problem or dispute. So, for myself, I would find the resolution for world peace to be a good resolution…although perhaps one that we should work at everyday, and not just on New Years Eve. I would resolve to end hunger, in the Horn of Africa and every where in the world, I would resolve to end senseless killing on the global front, as well as in our own back yard. I would pray that we would stop rationalizing the killing of people by the state. I would resolve that we stop creating barriers as a means to avoid our own inner conflict.

  These are real problems or issues…so perhaps if we all resolved to work at these…all the other changes that we want to make would come a bit easier.

  I would resolve that everyone would read about something or someone that they know very little about…for with education our bounty is limitless. I would resolve that we become more compassionate about our fellow man and woman. We may learn from the very people we are careful not to touch with our hearts. I pray we stop sitting in judgment of others, lest we be judged. I hope we rally around the fact that together we are united…and as history has proven…divided we will fall.

  I wish one day that we could all sit at one giant table, and have a conversation about our day and our plans for tomorrow without fear of letting our hearts be touched by those we have been led to believe are less than us. I trust that if we open our hearts…love will lead us back to the Creator.

  Living in despair out of fear that has been bred in us causes us to lose hope. We often are walking in the blind…never quite realizing that we are making life more difficult than it has to be. I understand hesitancy. I understand it because I have been hurt before. I have reached out to someone just to have my hand burned by their flame. But had I hesitated, as a reflex from that experience…I would have not had the pleasures of my life. Instead I walked on, my head held high…knowing that the gifts of Allah/God are worth the risk of the pain.

  So in the New Year…I wish you hope…love…peace…compassion and the ability to see past what you think you know. Find a beautiful place, within your heart, mind or soul and focus on it with this thought: if you have it within you someone else also has it within themselves. Focus on your higher purpose…give back and lift up…not only for a New Year, but for a new life. Give our children a reason to smile…become the example that we all search for. Give thanks, for with God…the possibilities are endless.