I know it has been a looong time since I posted anything. To be honest, I couldn't remember my password. I have dealt with many of life's peaks and valleys over the last year, and I am glad to say that I didn't succumb to the overwhelming adversity that I had to contend with. With the many life changing things that I had to face, the thing that wounded me the deepest was the betrayal of individuals that I had allowed into my inner circle. To get into my select few is a great fete to overcome, because I am a very private person and keep my friend list very short. I do that intentionally because I found that to be considered my friend you have to definitely be true blue. I don't do fair weather friends because I am not one. I will sacrifice all that I have for the sake of others'. That was one of the lessons learned during the last year to not give more to anyone than they are willing to give to me.
To be absolutely frank, I had never experienced anything so heart wrenching in all of my life. I consider my friends my extended family and to be betrayed by two of them felt like dying a death over and over again. I could honestly understand the dismay Julius Caesar felt to be killed by one that he held so close. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that the individuals that I trusted with something that I value dearly, my heart, would stick a knife into it until it felt as though it would no longer beat. To be at this stage in my life I shouldn't be surprised by the nature of man (woman), surprisingly so I am. I always believe the best of people until they prove to me otherwise. I was told that I should be the opposite to believe the worst until they prove the best.
I must say that I am a lot stronger now and definitely wiser. I shed a lot of tears, however I must admit that I became stronger with each tear. I used to think that when you make friends you will be friends forever. Not so. My pastor used to say that the individuals that you spend your life with are writing chapters in your story. Their part in your story may be for a season or for a lifetime. You don't really know. You just have to pray for the wisdom to know when someone is no longer any good for you and let them walk away or you walk away from them. I have resolved to do just that, walk away from them. I used to have a lot of unanswered questions like "Why would they do this to me?", or "How could I be so foolish not to see that these people weren't any good for me?", "How could they not see how good of a friend I am?". I sat down and came to the conclusion that it wasn't me that had the problem it was the individuals that I chose to befriend. One thing I am assured of is that they will definitely miss my presence in their lives. There is no way you could come in contact with me and not. I choose to walk in forgiveness and love, and I also choose to ex-communicate them out of my life. Just like the Phoenix I am rising from the ashes a renewed creature.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Sunday, November 29, 2009
When You Look In The Mirror, What Do You See?
As I sit pondering some recent things I have read and seen, it has caused my mind to really become contemplative as to what shapes a person's view of themselves. It is disheartening to say the least, how poorly people view themselves. I have heard some of the most beautiful people in the world pick themselves apart as though they were a scientific experiment gone wrong.
When I listen to the berating and degrading things that these people say about themselves, I have to raise the question "what kind of mirror are they looking in?" They must be looking in a mirror that distorts their view like a funhouse mirror. The real issue is that they aren't looking at themselves objectively, it's subjectively. At some time in their lives someone told them that they weren't handsome, or beautiful, or they were too fat, or too skinny or just not good enough period.
The bad part is they believed the lie. It probably was in their early childhood when your self esteem is at its most vulnerable that the foundation for the poor self image was laid. Words are powerful and they can build you up or tear you down depending on how they are used. At one point in my own life I had the same struggle of believing someone else's opinion of me instead of the truth. I had to break free of the shackles of low self esteem and low self worth. When I fell in love with me, all of me my life truly changed.
I have never been a part of the skinny girls club so being the one that was always in the spotlight or the one that boys would love to date wasn't my story. I was the brainiac, pleasing plump girl that all the boys wanted to cheat off of my papers but never date. Fast forward several years and I am still the brainiac voluptuous woman that men can't figure out and want terribly to be in my presence. The difference now is that I don't desire to be a part of the skinny girls club like I did for several years of my life in my youth. I am now a threat to the skinny girls because I have self esteem that is as massive as the galaxy. Self love permeates from my inside out.
I am not conceited, however I am convinced that I am fearfull and wonderfully made in the image of my creator. That I am truly accepted in the beloved and no person on earth can make be feel like I am less than what I know I am. My heart's desire is to pass the lesson of self acceptance on to others. Poor self image doesn't discriminate it affects the celebrity and the unknown alike. Someone that has truly grasped the lesson of accepting the image that she sees in the mirror is the actress Gabourey Siddibe that has a starring role in the movie "Precious." I haven't seen the movie yet, but I have had the opportunity to see her in several interviews. This full-figured young woman is truly a breath of fresh air.
She hasn't allowed what the world defines as beauty to define her. She is well aware of her rotund size, but nevertheless that hasn't caused her to hate or loathe herself. I recently had the opportunity to see her in an interview with Oprah Winfrey and when Ms. Winfrey posed the weight question to her the response she gave spoke volumes. Gabby as she is affectionately called, said she had struggled with her weight all of her life and that she had been dieting since as early as age 6 and at one point one day in her early twenties she just decided to be happy with herself. When you see her you see the reflection of positive enery radiating from her being. She keeps a smile on her face and youthfulness in her heart. I truly hope she keeps that part of her.
So my desire is that all that still have the scars of ridicule or verbal and mental abuse would find a place of wholeness and acceptance for themselves that would allow them to look in the mirror and see the truly beautiful person that they are.
When I listen to the berating and degrading things that these people say about themselves, I have to raise the question "what kind of mirror are they looking in?" They must be looking in a mirror that distorts their view like a funhouse mirror. The real issue is that they aren't looking at themselves objectively, it's subjectively. At some time in their lives someone told them that they weren't handsome, or beautiful, or they were too fat, or too skinny or just not good enough period.
The bad part is they believed the lie. It probably was in their early childhood when your self esteem is at its most vulnerable that the foundation for the poor self image was laid. Words are powerful and they can build you up or tear you down depending on how they are used. At one point in my own life I had the same struggle of believing someone else's opinion of me instead of the truth. I had to break free of the shackles of low self esteem and low self worth. When I fell in love with me, all of me my life truly changed.
I have never been a part of the skinny girls club so being the one that was always in the spotlight or the one that boys would love to date wasn't my story. I was the brainiac, pleasing plump girl that all the boys wanted to cheat off of my papers but never date. Fast forward several years and I am still the brainiac voluptuous woman that men can't figure out and want terribly to be in my presence. The difference now is that I don't desire to be a part of the skinny girls club like I did for several years of my life in my youth. I am now a threat to the skinny girls because I have self esteem that is as massive as the galaxy. Self love permeates from my inside out.
I am not conceited, however I am convinced that I am fearfull and wonderfully made in the image of my creator. That I am truly accepted in the beloved and no person on earth can make be feel like I am less than what I know I am. My heart's desire is to pass the lesson of self acceptance on to others. Poor self image doesn't discriminate it affects the celebrity and the unknown alike. Someone that has truly grasped the lesson of accepting the image that she sees in the mirror is the actress Gabourey Siddibe that has a starring role in the movie "Precious." I haven't seen the movie yet, but I have had the opportunity to see her in several interviews. This full-figured young woman is truly a breath of fresh air.
She hasn't allowed what the world defines as beauty to define her. She is well aware of her rotund size, but nevertheless that hasn't caused her to hate or loathe herself. I recently had the opportunity to see her in an interview with Oprah Winfrey and when Ms. Winfrey posed the weight question to her the response she gave spoke volumes. Gabby as she is affectionately called, said she had struggled with her weight all of her life and that she had been dieting since as early as age 6 and at one point one day in her early twenties she just decided to be happy with herself. When you see her you see the reflection of positive enery radiating from her being. She keeps a smile on her face and youthfulness in her heart. I truly hope she keeps that part of her.
So my desire is that all that still have the scars of ridicule or verbal and mental abuse would find a place of wholeness and acceptance for themselves that would allow them to look in the mirror and see the truly beautiful person that they are.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Groomed for Greatness
Our experiences in this life will ultimately lead to our successes or our failures. The person you are today is a culmination of all the things you have gone through in life whether good or bad. The wonderful thing about it is that you can use both sides of your coin to be the fuel for your achievements. My pastor always tells us, "It's not how you start, it's how you finish." I believe that.
Most successful people grew up in the most deplorable and depraved circumstances, but they found the wherewithal to tell themselves that they were going to be something someday. Even though they didn't have anyone to do it for them, they were internally grooming themselves for greatness. I find it fascinating when people can still have the tenacity to overcome their circumstances against all odds. Where do they find this drive? Surely what they see outside their window isn't reflective of an affluent lifestyle.
They found the drive in themselves. They were their own cheerleader. They were their own fan club. In a lot of us if we look back the thread of survival is in our forefathers. I personally had a grandfather that barely had an elementary school education. He was an elder brother and when his father died, he had to assume the role of provider along with his other siblings. He picked cotton, and whatever else he had to do to keep food on the table. Once he became old enough he went to work for the railroad as a Pullman porter and later to Western Electric. With each job he took he strove to get further in life than he was before.
He stressed the importance of education and hard work. Even with his limited education he was a shrewd business man. What he didn't possess in formal education, he possessed in wisdom. Wisdom is more important than all the college degrees in the world. One of the life lessons that I continually attempt to implement in my life is being a person of my word. My grandfather said at the end of the day even if you don't have any money you should have your word, and it should mean something. He grew up during the Great Depression, World War I & II, so he knew what lean times were like. Many times all you had to eat with was your word. Your word that you would pay your tab at the general store. He is no longer here, but little did he know he was weaving a thread of greatness in our family.
The thread was deeper than I thought. I come from a lineage of great men and women. My great great grandparents and great grandparents were grooming their children for greatness. Every night that the house servants snuck books to the field servants they were empowering themselves and our later generations for greatness. My family is a strong one. They held a lot of pride. I don't know many of them that weren't in business for themselves. I have an 89 year old great aunt that is still in business for her self. She still goes to work everyday. It is at her feet that I am learning the extent to which our family was groomed and the rich heritage I come from.
It makes sense to me now why my mother was the way that she was with me. She really didn't have a choice. She was born into the Hammond's lineage and she must govern herself accordingly to not tarnish the legacy and not have our ancestors turning over in their graves for the way we conduct ourselves. Even though every one's story isn't my own we as a people have to take time to groom our children for greatness. Expose them to things beyond their front door. The world isn't our neighborhoods. It is far more vast than that. Take your children to expensive restaurants so they will learn how to conduct themselves in that type of environment. Take yourself if you have never been to an upscale restaurant. Experience a symphony, an opera, a Japanese tea house, etc.
In order to be able to interact in certain social circles you have to be groomed for them. The world is an awesome place to behold. Broaden your mind and allow yourself to be groomed for greatness.
Most successful people grew up in the most deplorable and depraved circumstances, but they found the wherewithal to tell themselves that they were going to be something someday. Even though they didn't have anyone to do it for them, they were internally grooming themselves for greatness. I find it fascinating when people can still have the tenacity to overcome their circumstances against all odds. Where do they find this drive? Surely what they see outside their window isn't reflective of an affluent lifestyle.
They found the drive in themselves. They were their own cheerleader. They were their own fan club. In a lot of us if we look back the thread of survival is in our forefathers. I personally had a grandfather that barely had an elementary school education. He was an elder brother and when his father died, he had to assume the role of provider along with his other siblings. He picked cotton, and whatever else he had to do to keep food on the table. Once he became old enough he went to work for the railroad as a Pullman porter and later to Western Electric. With each job he took he strove to get further in life than he was before.
He stressed the importance of education and hard work. Even with his limited education he was a shrewd business man. What he didn't possess in formal education, he possessed in wisdom. Wisdom is more important than all the college degrees in the world. One of the life lessons that I continually attempt to implement in my life is being a person of my word. My grandfather said at the end of the day even if you don't have any money you should have your word, and it should mean something. He grew up during the Great Depression, World War I & II, so he knew what lean times were like. Many times all you had to eat with was your word. Your word that you would pay your tab at the general store. He is no longer here, but little did he know he was weaving a thread of greatness in our family.
The thread was deeper than I thought. I come from a lineage of great men and women. My great great grandparents and great grandparents were grooming their children for greatness. Every night that the house servants snuck books to the field servants they were empowering themselves and our later generations for greatness. My family is a strong one. They held a lot of pride. I don't know many of them that weren't in business for themselves. I have an 89 year old great aunt that is still in business for her self. She still goes to work everyday. It is at her feet that I am learning the extent to which our family was groomed and the rich heritage I come from.
It makes sense to me now why my mother was the way that she was with me. She really didn't have a choice. She was born into the Hammond's lineage and she must govern herself accordingly to not tarnish the legacy and not have our ancestors turning over in their graves for the way we conduct ourselves. Even though every one's story isn't my own we as a people have to take time to groom our children for greatness. Expose them to things beyond their front door. The world isn't our neighborhoods. It is far more vast than that. Take your children to expensive restaurants so they will learn how to conduct themselves in that type of environment. Take yourself if you have never been to an upscale restaurant. Experience a symphony, an opera, a Japanese tea house, etc.
In order to be able to interact in certain social circles you have to be groomed for them. The world is an awesome place to behold. Broaden your mind and allow yourself to be groomed for greatness.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Out of the Abundance of the Heart the Mouth Speaks
Well, as you can tell by now my blogs deal with emotions and interactions with other people. I am a firm believer that whatever is in your heart will eventually find it's way out of your mouth. In some regards, that could be a good thing. I think people need to learn to be more expressive. In an age of text messages, emails, and tweets I believe the art of conversation is slowly falling by the wayside.
Individuals would rather text or email as opposed to having a real conversation. I am sorry I don't think texting is a real conversation. How can you hear the emotion in some one's voice if you don't hear their voice? The deplorable truth is that some people carry on relationships this way. I don't know about anyone else, but I prefer to hear the baritone in my sweetheart's voice. It's calming. It's soothing. It is the music that tames the savage beast within me.
I know I am part of a dying breed. I still send thank you cards for gifts. I write notes and give special cards to the ones that I love. How did we as a people become so emotionally detached? When did this disease of emotional separatism creep in? I am personally going to continue to make time to have a real conversation. A real conversation for me is intoxicating. It is exhilarating. It does something to me to have a poignant conversation.
Moreover what I have resolved for myself this year is to mean what I say and say what I mean. However I may be feeling I am going to express it. I am not going to be offensive, however I will be intentional in what I say. How many times have we said to ourselves "I wish I would have told them...." whatever you neglected to say. I am attempting to live a life of no regrets and that means paying homage to those that it is due or scolding those that may be deserving of that as well. Whatever that case may be if it is in your heart it should come out. Don't hold on to it. You will feel ten thousand times lighter when you release something that you have been holding on to.
I feel so much better having released some emotional baggage that I carried around toward a family member and a friend. Now the burden is off my shoulder. Whatever they decide to do with the knowledge is now their responsibility. It is off my hands. My mind is clear and my heart is clean.
Individuals would rather text or email as opposed to having a real conversation. I am sorry I don't think texting is a real conversation. How can you hear the emotion in some one's voice if you don't hear their voice? The deplorable truth is that some people carry on relationships this way. I don't know about anyone else, but I prefer to hear the baritone in my sweetheart's voice. It's calming. It's soothing. It is the music that tames the savage beast within me.
I know I am part of a dying breed. I still send thank you cards for gifts. I write notes and give special cards to the ones that I love. How did we as a people become so emotionally detached? When did this disease of emotional separatism creep in? I am personally going to continue to make time to have a real conversation. A real conversation for me is intoxicating. It is exhilarating. It does something to me to have a poignant conversation.
Moreover what I have resolved for myself this year is to mean what I say and say what I mean. However I may be feeling I am going to express it. I am not going to be offensive, however I will be intentional in what I say. How many times have we said to ourselves "I wish I would have told them...." whatever you neglected to say. I am attempting to live a life of no regrets and that means paying homage to those that it is due or scolding those that may be deserving of that as well. Whatever that case may be if it is in your heart it should come out. Don't hold on to it. You will feel ten thousand times lighter when you release something that you have been holding on to.
I feel so much better having released some emotional baggage that I carried around toward a family member and a friend. Now the burden is off my shoulder. Whatever they decide to do with the knowledge is now their responsibility. It is off my hands. My mind is clear and my heart is clean.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
My Self Worth Is Not For Sale
As I sit at my computer, I am constantly thinking back over conversations I have had with women of various ages, and it infuriates me some of the things they have experienced while dealing with the men in their lives.
The resounding thread that binds all of my interactions is that the men don't value them or they feel that the men don't really understand their worth. The question I constantly asked all of these women is, "Do you know your worth?" You see you can't expect someone to treat you in a way that you don't believe you are deserving of yourself. They want to be treated like queens but don't set the standard for that type of treatment.
You can't behave like a commoner and expect royal treatment. What I mean by that statement is that you can't ever demean yourself or compromise for the sake of companionship and expect to still be held in a high regard. I have been told by some men that I think too highly of myself. I disagree, what I am hearing those men say is that they aren't willing to do what it takes to have me. You see I am as valuable as the rarest gem you could ever find, so you will not treat me like cheap or costume jewelry.
It is apalling to see how many women will allow men to demean and degrade them just to say they have a man. I would rather die alone before I would allow any man to mistreat me or not recognize the good thing that he has in his life. I don't believe it is being arrogant or conceited. I believe it is exuding a positive self image and knowing my worth. It is time out for women settling. They need to hold men accountable for how they interact with them. If they don't like the treatment, move on to the next guy.
Men would want women to believe there is a shortage on good men. I beg to differ. I believe that women need to broaden their mind and definition of what a good man is. I personally am not opposed to dating a man from another culture. I have tried my own. I have not been successful, so now it is time to possibly venture into unknown territory. Love knows no boundaries or limits. I am now open to truly living a limitless life.
The resounding thread that binds all of my interactions is that the men don't value them or they feel that the men don't really understand their worth. The question I constantly asked all of these women is, "Do you know your worth?" You see you can't expect someone to treat you in a way that you don't believe you are deserving of yourself. They want to be treated like queens but don't set the standard for that type of treatment.
You can't behave like a commoner and expect royal treatment. What I mean by that statement is that you can't ever demean yourself or compromise for the sake of companionship and expect to still be held in a high regard. I have been told by some men that I think too highly of myself. I disagree, what I am hearing those men say is that they aren't willing to do what it takes to have me. You see I am as valuable as the rarest gem you could ever find, so you will not treat me like cheap or costume jewelry.
It is apalling to see how many women will allow men to demean and degrade them just to say they have a man. I would rather die alone before I would allow any man to mistreat me or not recognize the good thing that he has in his life. I don't believe it is being arrogant or conceited. I believe it is exuding a positive self image and knowing my worth. It is time out for women settling. They need to hold men accountable for how they interact with them. If they don't like the treatment, move on to the next guy.
Men would want women to believe there is a shortage on good men. I beg to differ. I believe that women need to broaden their mind and definition of what a good man is. I personally am not opposed to dating a man from another culture. I have tried my own. I have not been successful, so now it is time to possibly venture into unknown territory. Love knows no boundaries or limits. I am now open to truly living a limitless life.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Love Isn't Love Until You Give It Away
Love: a passionate affection of one person for another. As I look around, it appears that people aren't as loving as they should be. What happened to the love for our fellow man? I believe I am a genuinely loving person. I don't think I have ever met a stranger. I had the pleasure of meeting a friend's family for the first time and their reception of me was surprising. They responded to me and interacted with me as though we had known each other all of our lives. Did they do this because they could feel the love in my heart or was it just me being me? I try to always be as open to new people as possible, but they don't always receive me the same.
I believe that love isn't truly love until it is given away. The funny thing about the word love is that it is both a noun and a verb. It is a thing and an action. It is something to possess as well as give away. You can be a loving person, but how will anyone know unless you demonstrate it. I heard in the news today that Eunice Kennedy Shriver had passed away and instantly I began to remember all the things that I had heard that she had done in her life.
She lived a life constantly demonstrating love. In one news article I read that she had worked for the Department of Defense for a dollar assisting veterans reiterate themselves into society after serving in combat and that she was the founder of the Special Olympics after seeing the mistreatment of disabled individuals. I never knew any of this. She did numerous other loving things in her life, but the few that I read showed how she made it a point to give her love away. At the end of the day money may dwindle, possessions may be destroyed but love never goes away.
When I look into the face of children I am constantly reminded of how unconditional love should be. They just love. No questions asked. They don't care about credentials or accomplishments they just love you. They don't care about skin color, religion, weight, or the other stipulations adults put on each other they just love you for who you are. I met the sweetest, friendliest little girl while visiting a friend the other day. When I stepped out of my car she immediately came up to me and started a conversation. She couldn't have been more than 3 or 4 years old, and had the sweetest personality you ever wanted to see. One thing that came to mind is that hate is taught. You see she was of a different race than myself, but she didn't care about that, she saw someone that she wanted to introduce herself to and she did just that.
What I realized from that little girl is to never stop giving my love away. No matter how mistreated I have been by some it hasn't been by all. Each person deserves their own opportunity to receive the wonderful gift of love that I can share. Love is a beautiful thing to have. It is invigorating. It is exhilarating. It puts a bounce in your stride. It makes your heart sing a new melody. It broadens your smile. One thing that I thank God for everyday is having people in my life that genuinely love me. If I don't have a dime in my pocket or they are overflowing. When I am a diva or look like I have been hit by a bus, they love me. They encourage me and stand by me.
It is a precious treasure to have someone love you. To love you with an unconditional love. No strings attached and no prerequisites.
I believe that love isn't truly love until it is given away. The funny thing about the word love is that it is both a noun and a verb. It is a thing and an action. It is something to possess as well as give away. You can be a loving person, but how will anyone know unless you demonstrate it. I heard in the news today that Eunice Kennedy Shriver had passed away and instantly I began to remember all the things that I had heard that she had done in her life.
She lived a life constantly demonstrating love. In one news article I read that she had worked for the Department of Defense for a dollar assisting veterans reiterate themselves into society after serving in combat and that she was the founder of the Special Olympics after seeing the mistreatment of disabled individuals. I never knew any of this. She did numerous other loving things in her life, but the few that I read showed how she made it a point to give her love away. At the end of the day money may dwindle, possessions may be destroyed but love never goes away.
When I look into the face of children I am constantly reminded of how unconditional love should be. They just love. No questions asked. They don't care about credentials or accomplishments they just love you. They don't care about skin color, religion, weight, or the other stipulations adults put on each other they just love you for who you are. I met the sweetest, friendliest little girl while visiting a friend the other day. When I stepped out of my car she immediately came up to me and started a conversation. She couldn't have been more than 3 or 4 years old, and had the sweetest personality you ever wanted to see. One thing that came to mind is that hate is taught. You see she was of a different race than myself, but she didn't care about that, she saw someone that she wanted to introduce herself to and she did just that.
What I realized from that little girl is to never stop giving my love away. No matter how mistreated I have been by some it hasn't been by all. Each person deserves their own opportunity to receive the wonderful gift of love that I can share. Love is a beautiful thing to have. It is invigorating. It is exhilarating. It puts a bounce in your stride. It makes your heart sing a new melody. It broadens your smile. One thing that I thank God for everyday is having people in my life that genuinely love me. If I don't have a dime in my pocket or they are overflowing. When I am a diva or look like I have been hit by a bus, they love me. They encourage me and stand by me.
It is a precious treasure to have someone love you. To love you with an unconditional love. No strings attached and no prerequisites.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
When You Die What Will Men Say About You
As of late I have really been contemplating what my legacy will be once I crossover to my heavenly state. I am not planning on dying anytime soon, but creating a worthy legacy is still on my mind. What really propelled my thoughts to the future was a song by Kirk Franklin on his "Hero" CD. The title of the song is "The Appeal". The strongest verse in the song says: "When I die what men will say about me. Will the work that I've done be enough to help someone? When I die, will I draw men's hearts to you? At the setting of the sun will I hear you say well done when I die?
That is prolific to me. What I am hearing it say is what affect will you have had on your fellow man? Will you have truly lived or just existed? At the celebration of your life will men have to lie about who you were, or will their hearts overflow with the good that you have sown? Was your heart and hands always open to give from what you were blessed with or were you selfish instead of selfless? Will your life be a living epistle openly read of all men? Is what they are reading leading them closer to Christ or away from him? Will Christ be pleased with what you did with your life when you stand before him in judgment?
Wow, that is heavy. I don't know about anyone else but I try to always live a life pleasing to him. One that shows my gratitude for him dying and rising for me. For him loving me when I didn't love myself nor him. A life that is reciprocal of our friendship, our relationship, our marriage. Christ is married to the church. I am proudly a part of that church. My goal in life is to lead others to be a part as well. I believe if I were to die and go to glory that I have left an impact for good. I have fed the hungry. Clothed the naked. Ministered to the broken hearted. Shared the love of Christ that is shed abroad in my heart.
I haven't finished my course because I am still running my race, however I feel that I am well on my way to hearing "Well done my good and faithful servant".
That is prolific to me. What I am hearing it say is what affect will you have had on your fellow man? Will you have truly lived or just existed? At the celebration of your life will men have to lie about who you were, or will their hearts overflow with the good that you have sown? Was your heart and hands always open to give from what you were blessed with or were you selfish instead of selfless? Will your life be a living epistle openly read of all men? Is what they are reading leading them closer to Christ or away from him? Will Christ be pleased with what you did with your life when you stand before him in judgment?
Wow, that is heavy. I don't know about anyone else but I try to always live a life pleasing to him. One that shows my gratitude for him dying and rising for me. For him loving me when I didn't love myself nor him. A life that is reciprocal of our friendship, our relationship, our marriage. Christ is married to the church. I am proudly a part of that church. My goal in life is to lead others to be a part as well. I believe if I were to die and go to glory that I have left an impact for good. I have fed the hungry. Clothed the naked. Ministered to the broken hearted. Shared the love of Christ that is shed abroad in my heart.
I haven't finished my course because I am still running my race, however I feel that I am well on my way to hearing "Well done my good and faithful servant".
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