One week ago today, I took my little girl to college. I had so many mix emotions on how I would respond. For two weeks she and I had not seen eye to eye on anything. Everything I did was wrong and everything she did upset me. Getting her off to college was no easy task. We left home late, my sister's breaks on her car locked up and it took three hours to get us back on our way. As we sat on I-16 head towards Savannah, I keep trying not to cry, trying to stay focused on the goal. Yet, every time I looked at Courtney some memory of a little girl kept rushing through my brain. We started on our way and my mind became preoccupied with getting to Savannah State University. As we finally arrived on the campus, we could very well tell that orientation for the day was over. We were pleased to find out that she did not miss much and could continue participating. We went to her dorm got her room assignment, unpack and went off to eat. It is amazing that she is not the little girl that I imagine, not the little girl who at six and seven years old, would lay down beside me and sleep for hours. Not even the little girl who would ride along beside me looking up in the sun roof of the car saying,"Mommie, look at the clouds, look at the clouds." She has actually became an independent young lady who was eager to test the water that life is now serving her. I sometimes don't want to let go, and each time that I do she always reminds me that, she is not a little girl. I always have to remind her that she is and always will be, I am willing to give her the space she needs to grow, but I will never completely let go. Courtney is my one and only daughter and I pride myself on knowing what this young lady will do with the life that God has so gracious lent to her. I am here sweet heart and I pray for you daily, no matter what I have ever said to you, YOU BRING ME JOY.

Free

I peeled away the masks that I have hidden behind for years
The mask of guilt,
The mask of shame,
The mask of fear
The mask of pain
I need you to see me for who I really am
My dreams
My goals
The inner part of me
My soul so desperately seeks
Peace and tranquility
I peel away all the things that I have never desired to be
I take a deep breath …I realize I am free
I am free.

TO MY BABY GIRL WITH LOVE II

It seems like yesterday I laid in the hospital bed for two weeks anticipating the birth of my child. I had gone into premature labor and the doctor decided that my baby needed more time to develop.One thing is for sure when my baby decided that she was ready to make her entrance into the world, she came with flying colors.I'll always remember how eager her daddy was as he laid next to me in the hospital bed holding my stomach. I remember me elbowing him to wake up because my water had broken and he needed to get the nurse. It was so chaotic that morning. He was more nervous than I was. As they took me into labor and delivery, he walked right beside the bed holding my hand. Every time I experienced one of those labor cramps I held onto his hand for dear life. My labor was not long at all, I was blessed with a beautiful little girl. Today I recollect that day because my little baby is no longer a little baby, she is a young lady. She graduate from high school on Saturday, her birthday is on June 1, she will be going off to college soon and God knows I will miss my baby girl.
How do you tell your child to go and not to look back, you want her to see life through her own eyes and you want her to always remember the bridges that brought her over.
I want her to go and never look back because as I look back over my life I have so many regrets, yet I am whole. I want her to know that there is more to life than staying in her hometown, that she is the person to make the final decision about the choices that will arise, and most of all that she will never find love in someone else until she loves herself completely. I love her so, her smile, her personality, her heart; there is so much to love about her that to name it all. I look back at some of the times that I could have done things differently and I desire to see her reach for every little thing that inspires her heart.

If my baby girl is able to see things through her own eyes, when she does take the time to look back over her life, she will not regret the choices that she makes because she will have made the decisions on her own.
Graduation has brought on so many thoughts and so many plans, I know that God will guide my princess to her destination with dignity. I look forward to seeing the woman that you will become to Courtney Simone Rhynes with love.

I know that has to be some sisters and some brothers who have given everything they have inside of them to better a relationship, only to find that the love has diminished, the trust has whither and there is not enough love left inside of you to even try to make it right. I mean face it, after you given up everything to please someone else, when reality sets in there is absolutely nothing left to give. So what do you do when the love that you thought would last a life time turn into the nightmare you wished you had never found. Do you turn and walk away? Do you continue to think in your mind that things are going to get better? Do you sit and talk hoping that something in the same words you have spoken over and over again will make a difference. Is it that hard to give up what you know is not good for you? I would not be the person to give that advice to my best friend, but I will say this never stay where you are not 100% free to be yourself, never allow anyone to rip your soul from you. You are a child of god and he gives you the sense to know when the time has come to release your problems, people and situations back to him. Remember no matter how much we won't to love someone to death, don't allow that love to be the death of you.

Standing in the Need of Prayer

I always thought once we close a chapter in our lives that chapter would have an end. Recently, I have been faced with the challenge of going back to a chapter in my life that has long been over. For me, it has been challenging because it was a chapter that I did not want to close, yet, when I closed it I knew in my heart that it had to be that way. I always felt that when the time was right, I would be able to face this part of my life. Now for the first time in over seventeen years the reality of this situation is starring me in the face. I don't know whether to run away from it or to run directly towards it. Yet, what I do know is that this thing must be dealt with, otherwise, I will never know the truth about whether the roads that I have travel are my choices are or they in fact the path that God would have for me. For me this is hard because I have never been in a position to make choices that would directly affect the lives of others. Therefore, I want to be absolutely sure that if I make the right or wrong choice I will be ready and willing to deal with what comes next. I ask for your prayers for this a New Year, last year was trying and tested my faith. I am in need of guidance from God. I trust in Him and know that God has a will for my life, I also know that there have been times in my life when I choose my own path. I have grown and matured away from wanting what I want. As I travel on this journey and face situations in my life that I thought were apart of my past, I am asking those who truly know and have faith in God to pray with me for direction and most of all pray with me as I make choices in my life that will not only affect me, but will be life changing for everyone that I love. I claim the victory and I know that God's will will reveal itself. I live to please God and I know that "No weapon formed against me shall prosper." Be Blessed and have a wonderful New Year!

Good Morning sunshine, I am so glad to see your smile. You crept into my window and gave me another view. I am so thankful that I saw your guiding light, it blessed today and will lead me through the night. Although my heart is aching the sunlight gives me hope, knowing one day like the sun the light will break through, it will give me the power I need to make it through. Be Blessed today and always

Art is the most beautiful way to tell a story. I was going to post a message about my son, but I will post that on tomorrow. Today I reminded of days spent in the country at my great grandma's house and the stories she told us about the history of our ancestors. I use to take those stories for granted, but now I know how important those stories where to my soul.

Let Your Light Shine

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
-Marianne Williamson

The first time I really heard this quote was on "Akeelah and the Bee." Lawerence Fishburne spoke so eloquently as he uttered the words that were now embedded in my soul. These words are words of inspiration that I would like to pass on to my children and my children's children. I am but three days away from take a first step in the rest of my son's life. The baby that I birth on April 2, 1990 will leave me for the first time to go off to college. As I wash his clothes and pack each bag, there are memories of our struggles, our successes, our disagreements, and the life that we have shared over the past 19 years. I would not trade one day with him, if God were to ask me, if I would do it again, I would say yes. As he prepare to leave home, the prayer that I have from his is this:
My Dear Son:
I ask God to watch over you, protect you, carry you through, I ask that he gives you the wisdom and knowledge to be an example for other young men. I ask God to give you strength and endurance. On the days when you want to come home give you the strength to endure. I speak blessing into your life, your were not only created in your father and I images, but you are created in the image of God. Therefore, although things may not always go smoothly in your life, you have a birth right and that is the right to shine, the right to be talented, the right to live the life that God has planned for you. Do not ever look back and have regrets, know in your heart that God has a plan for you, even when the plan looks dim, God is shining his light and you will receive it. I ask God to guide my son, if he should want to come home, I ask that God will help him to see that his future is more important than his present situation. Most of all God, I pray that you will strengthen my heart to let go and let God. As tears stream down my face, I want you to know that I trust God more than anyone on this Earth and I claim the victory in your Life. Remember that "through Christ you can do All Things." I love you and I know that God is not through with you yet. Most all know that when God says yes, ten thousand can be against you, but you will prevail. Amen.

Thank you for giving me this son!

Invest in Others

From time to time I watch Joel Osteen. Each and everyday I receive his daily word in my email. Tonight before going to bed, I turned the channel to channel 35 and Joel Osteen was on. Joel Osteen gave a message that not only should I live by, but we must teach our children to live by. Joel pointed out how important it is to invest in others. I have been guilty of wanting to reach that point in my life where I can invest in others, thinking of "when I become this, I can do that." What I have ignored is the precious gifts that God has given to me. I am a computer wiz, my children are also. I never thought about this until today. I come from a generation of people who were given gifts, talents and wisdom, but not many took the time to pass it on.I do not know if it was because they were working so hard to provide that the idea of passing on a legacy was not important. Sometimes I think about my grandmothers, one of them was a seamstress and the other a baker.I often wonder, "if I had spent more time with my grandmother and not became so frustrated with threading a needle on a sewing machine, would I have gained a skill that I could have passed on, if I had stopped playing long enough to learn to make my great grandma's Keylime cake and homemade biscuits, my son would not always want biscuits from Popeye's.Not to say I can not cook, but the old fashion things that my grandma use to do have actually skipped a generation. If only I would have is a hard phrase to swallow. Yet, I never took the time to ask the question how? Now that I am older I want to make sure that the legacy that I leave my children will not only be wisdom, knowledge, the power of prayer, computer skills, writing etc., but I want my children to understand that all the talent in the world is nothing if it is not shared. I want them to know that they must give back, reach out and help others in order for their legacy to be known. It is by investing in others that our legacy is able to live on. Now I might not have learned to cook the biscuits or the keylime pie, but I learned how to make the best banana pudding in the world, fry chicken and even make a dress, but if I had the knowledge back then that I have now, I would have taken the investments of my grandparents in order for their legacy to live on.
Joel Osteen told the story of how as a little boy a little old lady, who was not rich and no relation to him at all, but she had the power of prayer in her life and decided to invest in him. This lady would always single him out and pray from him. She would pray favor on his life, and would ask God to give him wisdom and knowledge. Joel gives credit to this lady for teaching him how to pray. He stated, "Even though he often times said, "Not again," this lady invested in him." We never know the imprints that we are placing in another person's life. It can be the simple act of kindness. If we would only give not so much of our money, but our knowledge and our time. Or just reach back and pull someone else up, we can pass it on!
It is my prayer today that we search within to discover what we have to offer someone else, we realize that the gift of love, time, and passing on your knowledge is just one stepping stone into our life's legacy, yet it is worth the effort of passing it on. Like Pattie said, "When you've been blessed pass it on!
Be Blessed!

DARE TO DREAM

IMAGE FOUND ON:
http://4hisglorycreations.com/latest.html

A year ago I set out to follow my own dream and to start a network that I thought would be an asset to the Alumni graduates from high school. The network was started with the most simplest and purest intentions. Yet, I ended up going through a test of my own. Some people on the network did not agree with some choices and decisions that I made. It left me questioning my own intentions and I withdrew, not because there was any truth or trouble in what had happened. I just did not understand how to deal with people who where so judgemental, so I decide to take a step out side of the situation and to view it for a few moments from another perspective. This allowed me to determine what my next move would be. I then again continue to proceed with things the way that I wanted them to be, and again I was challenged . After meeting the second challenge, I decided that I did not need nor wanted to be tried in this way. I understood that the vision that I had was given to me by God and I begin to pray for guidance and directions. After praying I continued to wait on God for an answer and I realized that God had already given me an answer. The answer was simple, God gave me a vision, and that vision was put into motion. I may not have been as transparent as a should or could have been, but I knew that God had designed this plan. What I did was allowed others to project their ideas about what should or should not be on to me; that was my mistake, I put my dream on hold because of others. Although I thought that I had grown from this type of decisionmaking years ago, I still allowed others to determine my own destination with a project that God had given to me. Today I thank God for those individual attempting to block my blessing, because it has added to my wisdom and shown me that everyone may not be for you and regardless of what is going on in some one else's mind, never allow others to lead the road where you are given leadership. I also know now more than ever what my mother mean when she says "If God be for you, the world can be against you, but you shall prevail" I pray more, I fast and I know that God's grace and mercy will forever be my guiding light. I made one mistake, when I was given this vision, I never once prayed about the direction to take my idea. I will never make this mistake again. I have always depended on God for direction and I will continue too. I will not allow the enemy to keep me from a destination, a blessing and more importantly from blessing others. This is the will of God concerning me!

Today I will ask God to guide and show me the way. For He is the author and the finisher of my life and I must depend on ONLY God to determine my daily action.

Be BLESSED!

Forgiveness

I often wonder how do we forgive those who knowingly hurt us and say things that are against us. I was riding in my car today and I pulled up beside a couple. This couple was cursing and fussing, calling each other every name,but a child of God. I nicely rolled up my window and began to wonder. If someone said those things to you what would you do? Could you love someone who literally say you are a worthless person? How do the children in that relationship feel? I then proceed to go on to my husband's uncle funeral. As I listen to the preacher, I realized that forgiveness is a must, we must learn to love those who purposely misuse us. Because the human part of me is constantly saying, there is no way, I would put up with this or that. There is a part of me that is saying, in order to be like Christ, I must learn to look past other faults. It is my belief that we do not have to live in an environment like this, but we must learn to forgive the person and move on. I don't know what happened after I left the red light, but I prayed for the couple and asked that God would give them the strength to endure and to forgive them for the words that they used that cut not only their spirit, but my spirit. I was also reminded of the times when my husband and I are not in agreement and I asked God to make me worthy, by keeping my tongue free of words that would not edify my husband. Today I learned from someone else's mistake and I pray that it will be a lesson I will always remember.

Today

When I woke up this morning I was renewed and refreshed. Yesterday was such a long day.My sons and I traveled to Alabama to visit the school that my oldest son will attend this fall. The drive for me was a little overwhelming, I don't drive over two hours. Yet, as I drove, I was praying and asking God to carry us back home safely. We ran into several rainstorms. As I drove, I continued to pray every mile of the way, my two youngest sons kept saying, "Mama why are you praying, haven't you prayed already." I responded with, "Pray without ceasing." Then my oldest son added, "Do you trust God." Although he had a point when he asked me if I trusted God. I had to let him know that it was not that I don't trust God, I just need to have this conversation to calm my spirit." I was tired, exhausted and ready to get home. Yet, I knew we had to go to Miles College. I knew that his future depended on it. When I finally arrived home, I retreated into my room, I gave God the praise for bringing us safely on our journey. I retired to my bed and woke up this morning with even more thanks and giving praise. You see, I have learned that in order to receive the blessing of God, we must praise him. I will serve the Lord with Gladness and no matter where I am and who I am with his praises will continue to be in my mouth.

I have been waiting for this day for two months now. My son has had a few issues passing a state mandated test, he has missed the test by a few points. This test actually will determine if he is able to go off to college to play football or if his life will be temporary placed on hold. In all my life of living, I have never felt so desperate for God to hear my prayers. I stayed up late last night to pray over my son,because I knew that I needed to be an intercessor for my son. It is so painful that his test is the only crossroad for him right now, yet in spite of the pain, I am reminded of two scriptures from the Bible. The first is "Through Christ I can do all things" and "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Because God is just to forgive us of our sins, he gives us the grace and mercy to cover us and to prepare us with a future in spite of. I do not have the answers, I do not know how this will turn out, but what I know from my own experiences in life is, if God be for you then you are able to withstand the test of time. It is my prayer than God's will be done! Be Blessed!

Slow Down

One of the hardest lesson I have had to learn in my life is that you can not and will not ever please everyone. Today as my two youngest sons and I traveled down I-75 south, I turned off the radio and had a long conversation with my boys. I expressed to them how easy it is to sometimes put your dreams and goals on hold to help everyone around you reach their dreams and goals. I went on to tell them that my expectations for them is to be so much better than me, I told them to take time to love themselves and to always have a relationship with God. I basically said,"If you give God your life and let him lead he will take care of you." As I approached the exit, I turned around and both my boys were asleep, I realize that it had gotten quiet some miles earlier. I also realize that the conversation that I was having with two boys ages 9 and 6 had nothing to do with them at all. God allowed peace to enter into my car and gave the time I needed to hear the message that was meant for me. God used this time to reinforce in me one thing, the problems of this world, the when will I's, the how am I's, are all his burdens to bare. He wants me to reaffirm my relationship with him each day and not be consumed by the cares of the world. You see, I sometimes get caught up in my daily life and some problems in my life or issues in my life I will pray about and then let go and unknowingly take them back from God. As I spoke to my boys for giving them all of this information. God was dealing me all along. I am so thankful that God is my Father and He is with my every step of the way. "Please be patient with me, God is not through with me Yet." Be blessed!

Recently I came across an artist who expresses himself so well. I was intrigued by the stories behind his art. In fact, I came across this artist on Facebook. I could find a story in every piece of his art. The stories say so much about the history of
African-Americans.They tell the stories of our past, present and future.
One of my goals in my life is to teach my children how to value art and to see a deeper meaning in what the artist is saying. Ten years ago my oldest two children participate in a camp at the Tubman Museum. This past week my smaller children were fortunate enough to participate in the same Heritage Camp at the Tubman Museum. Each day they learned something different about their history and the artist behind the paintings in the gallery. They became little Gordan Parks and Garret Morgan. The children read about African Americans who made a difference in history and presented their reports to parents. Each day was a day waiting to unfold new knowledge.
On the last day of the camp the campers attended a heritage tour in Atlanta. They visited the Curd Market, The King Center, The High Museum, and the
Clark University Art Gallery. They where excited to play a game of kick ball at the King Recreation Center. This day was a day that not only the children will remember forever, but one that I will never forget, it gives me hope that a future generation will not forget where they came from. As long as we teach our children the facts through history, art, artist, music and poetry, they will always have a brighter future. I encourage you to take a look at the work of Leroy Campbell and see if you can find your story within the work of this artist.




My son stops and looks up at the picture of Dr. King outside of the King Center.

Do not Put Off for Tomorrow,What You Can Do Today

The other day I was invited as a guest on a local talk show. As I sat waiting for the camera guy to adjust the cameras, I listen to a conversation that would change my perspective about life and relationships, especially my relationships. The conversation started with the host looking down at his feet and saying, "I have on one brown sock and one blue." He stated, "I miss my wife." It was noticeable that he was trying to keep it together. He expressed how lonely it gets without her. He brought up the fact that his wife had been dead for 7 months and 23 days. He even talked about his children, the fact that he still have their children,but they have their own lives. He mentioned that after 40 years together, there was no relationship like coming home and telling her (his wife) what his day was like. He talked about how much his life has changed. He brought up memories of times that they've spent together. One particular part of his conversation made me realize how important it is to tell the person you love how appreciative you are of them. The gentlemen continued to talk and he stated,"I remember over hearing my wife on the telephone telling a friend how much she admired me for giving her a life where she did not have to worry about anything." He said, "If they need something, he always found a way to be the provider." He made it clear that if he had heard her say how low down he was and how much he was like every other man, it might would cause him to do less. He did not know that he would have been so diligent to be the provider that he was. I found myself understanding myself a little more, I complain sometimes about simple things and sometimes over look the little things. I am so thankful for being able to listen to how others feel. This conversation alone has given me another poem, and even better, it has encouraged me to show my husband that I appreciate his efforts. Tell your wife or husband how much you love them! Be Blessed !

Poetry is a unique way expressing what actually is going on inside. Sometimes individuals are not able to express themselves openly, but give a poet a entry into your thoughts and more specially their own and he or she is able to create images and through words...

If you could tell her story, How would you word it? Painful? Dreaming? Hopeful...
A picture can paint a thousand words.
My words for her story would be:

art by Debbie Dewitt

And This is Who I am, Poetry from the Soul

Rhonda Singletary has published her first volume of Poetry entitled, “And This is Who I am, “Poetry from the Soul.”

Rhonda‘s poetry is a reflection of the changes that people go through. She takes a look at not only her own life experiences, but she looks at the lives of the people who have crossed paths with her on this journey. Rhonda is able to utilize the negative issues that people are faced with everyday and put those issues into positive energy. Please support Rhonda by purchasing a book; you can purchase a book on the social network http://poetryfromthesoul.ning.com/

Helping Others

It is wonderful to know that God has a plan for our lives and no matter how much we resist his plan, God will find a way to prevail. I am proud that God continues to use my life in a way that I can be a blessing to others. At one point in my life, I thought that giving someone was a necessity to be able to help others, now I feel that some gifts don't have to cost a thing. I can give of my time, talents and love and will have served a purpose that is pure, just and honest. Make your day a day where you have touched the life of at least one person in some way, shape, form or fashion if you know that your cause and purpose are in the will of God be blessed!