An Open Letter To A Special Friend!

Will Downing said it best when he sang “I Can’t Make You Love Me.”  He wants to hold on one last time but so does she! No one can make another person love him/her but he/she can certainly try.  That’s providing if it’s worth the effort.  Not much is as disappointing as being in love with someone who isn’t in love with you.  Yes, it hurts, but one way love relationships are fairly common.  Loving someone is a lot different than being in love!  It’s not being needy or unloved, I don’t know the circumstances what might cause the unbalanced relationships.  There can be a lot of reasons, abused love, rejected love, betrayed love, phony love, etc.  If you have a family, kids, grandkids and others, you don’t need love from an outside source or anyone else, especially if they aren’t a part of your life.  So you celebrate staying single because it’s convenient, less exposing, fun, and unassuming.  Walls can be left up and attachments can be denied.  The bad thing is that a good man or woman could be standing in front of you and is prepared to love you for you, not for the looks, not for the financial security, but for the beautiful spirit that lives inside of you.  Still, some of these attributes do help.  If you don’t want to hear the I-love-you or want the hugs or touching, say so.  Don’t say, I’d-rather-be-your-friend.  Most people know that that phrase is a subtle way of saying deeper levels of this relationship will not happen.  The other condescending line is, You're-not-my-type.  I don't know which line is worse, it depends on when its given.  I will agree that being friends should come first.  There is wisdom in being patient instead of rushing.  Patience can help in learning each other strengths and weaknesses building the friendship.  I know about broken hearts, we still feel them from time to time, but time doesn’t feel, time continues.  Every man wants a strong, faithful woman beside him.  He wants to feel secure that the woman he is giving his heart to will be the woman that will be by his side during the hard times as well as the good.  But a woman also wants a man that she can trust, a faithful provider and protector, a mate for life with common views of she wants and expects to escort her through her various phases of this journey we call life.  We all want what is best for us but do we want what is best for each other?  Why settle? Sacrifices are not made for selfishness but for selflessness.  We must be honest and truthful but we don’t have to be fools.  Celebrate the New Year with gratitude and peace. 

New Year's Eve!

Another year is upon us!  Wow, did this year go fast!  I guess as we get older, time goes by even faster.  So many have left us this past year and we don't know who will be with us this next year.  They are sincerely missed!  I wish you all peace, love and prosperity!  But most of all, for those that do believe in God, like I do, I wish for all of us to develop and even deeper relationship with God and gain more patience and tolerance with each other.  For those that don't believe in God, I will continue to pray for your enlightenment at the due time.  Enjoy your traditions but try not to hang on to the superstitions!  Happy New Year!

Congratulations, Lieutenant!

The Captain,  Lieutenant, Sisters, Unidentifiable Friend

We are wishing you the best, LT!  You have our prayers and our pride!  Keep God in front of you and He will direct your paths!

Merry Christmas!

My brothers and sisters in Christ, Merry Christmas!  Yes, I said Christ and Merry Christmas.  You don't have to read this and I don't have to be politically correct.  I believe in Jesus Christ and the Holy Trinity and the real meaning of Christmas.  Christmas is not just the sharing of presents but why God, the Father, gave His Son to mankind to sacrifice Him for man's sins.  We should meditate on this reason, love each other and be tolerant.  We must be patient with each other and above all, stay in continuous prayer and gratitude for the many blessings we are receiving.  I wish everyone a blessed and safe Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Recognize Selfish Behaviors

Some people only care what you can do for them,

They are not interested in what is best for them.

Wash your hands, dust the dirt off your shoes and move on,

They have finally exposed their true selves.

                                                                                                      A Part of Things - Ejothian S. Litman

Rest In Peace, Tim Adger!

Vernon Timothy Adger, 69, passed away on December 14, 2010. Tim was a good friend of the family.  My mother would give him rides to church on Sunday mornings.  He could make a great pot of chitluns.  Rest in peace, my brother!

Miss Me – But Let Me Go

Miss Me – But Let Me Go

When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me,

I want no rites in a gloom filled room,

why cry for a soul set free.

Miss me a little – but not too long,

And not with your head bowed low.

Remember the love that we once shared,

Miss me – but let me go.

For this is a journey that we all must take,

And each must go alone.

It’s all part of the Master’s plan,

A step on the road home.

When you are lonely and sick at heart,

Go to the friends we know,

And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds.

Miss me – but let me go.

Anon.

Rest In Peace, Uncle Robert!

Another member of my family has moved on to their eternal rest.  He passed away due to a heart attack on December 8, 2010.  Uncle Rob was the youngest of the four siblings.  My father was the oldest.  My Aunt Dot is now the matriarch of the family and she, too, getting up in age.  My uncle was a good Christian man, understanding, compassionate, and patient father, grandfather and great grandfather.  He lost his wife 2 years ago about two weeks when my mom went to her heavenly rest.  Sometimes it’s hard to believe that they are gone.  I think back to childhood days and now regretted saying I’ll be glad when I grow up and get out on my own.  Life isn’t easy.  Maybe, there should have been classes on what to expect when you grow up, like how to handle finances, birth, marriage, divorce, relationships, and death.  Because the older you get, if you’re blessed, the more death and pain you’ll see and feel.  It’s hard to let go and if you don’t have a real friend that you can open up with about your feelings, it’s harder to keep your head straight.  We love you, Uncle Rob!

Our prayers are also with Elizabeth Edwards and her family.  She also passed December 8th after a long bout with cancer.  Keep your prayers going for the unknows because they mean something to somebody.  Not everyone is famous but they are to the ones that love them.

I'm Still Here by The William Brothers

Thank You, Ladies!

Last week was Thanksgiving and some of us spent it alone without the people we care about.  Life takes us on rollercoaster rides all of the time and some of those times we want to get off.  But, most of the time we stay on to see where we end up.  It’s up to us how we hold on.  We must focus on the positive and seek encouragement and give encouragement to each other.  I want to give a big blessing request to Ms. Corine Bennett & Ms. Miriam Anthony, two of the sweetest, wisest, and dearest ladies, you’d be blessed to know.  Ms. B. invited me over last Sunday for dinner for just the two of us.  She left me a phone message and told me be at her home for dinner.  It wasn’t an order but still a subtle command as a godmother who expects her godson to show up without any questions.  And without any questions, I went.   I sincerely enjoyed our Thanksgiving together.  Ms. A., a wonderful practicing Catholic and lady, baked me my favorite rum cake.  She sent it via her daughter but I really expected a slice.  I would have never guessed that it was a whole cake.  There have been many blessings that I have received from God and many of them were unexpected.  Nevertheless, I am sincerely grateful for all of them.  I still ride the rollercoaster as we all will do, but when I feel like I might be losing control, I just reach out as Peter to touch the hand of Jesus.