Because I Love You

God’s blessings come too fast for many of us to fully comprehend, and if you’re like me, you want to catch them, pause, and hold them in your hands for a detailed analysis.    I wonder if God’s blessings are like fire and light, that cannot be held and studied. Perhaps that’s for later when you reflect upon their experience. Maybe God’s blessings are like sweet air you inhale or a delicious drink you intake. The best we can do is pray for the blessing and accept it when it comes.   I received a disruptive blessing this week. My latest film produced with RIT Diversity Theater, DEAR ELEANOR, was nominated for Best Score and Best Editing at the Diversity in Cannes Film Showcase. When I received the news, I was shocked, elated! But I never dreamed I would attend the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in France where the Showcase was to take place. But then I received other messages from the Showcase with event information and requesting attendee confirmations. I began to imagin...

  Thank you God, for EVERYTHING! Everything, Everywhere, When Needed! Me under the clouds, summer 2001 in the Carolinas.  Maybe they’re not glass balls, The tasks we strive to juggle and keep in the air.  Maybe they’re more like clouds,   Clouds that move left to right or East to West,  And not up and down, Never to crash to the ground or fall apart,  If we don’t catch them.    Trying to “keep up.” Our tasks, responsibilities, to do’s, are more like clouds, that do not require us to hold up. Like clouds, they move left to right or East to West. They don’t fall to the ground and crash. Our lives are more precious than the clouds, and the things that are most important in our lives are supported with or without our constant care if we ask God to provide.    Your blessings are like boomerangs, they will come back to you; perhaps different, but they are your blessings nonetheless. So don’t waste time worrying and trying to become a bett...

P eace   I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid! I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But be of good cheer; I have overcome this world! -         Who has the audacity to say that? The audacity to believe they can overcome the World and believe they have already done so?  -         Who has the boldness to love others so much, to die for them AND give them peace; their peace?  -         Who says that? Who believes that? Who can do that? – JESUS THE CHRIST! The audacity of LOVE in a hateful World The audacity of PEACE in a troubled World The audacity of HOPE in you,  that you will believe and ask for whatever you want, whatever you need. Jesus said, “Ask in my name, and you will receive it, and your JOY will be complete.” Who wants JOY this holid...

As my husband José and I toasted the new year at a party with old and new friends, the thought of recent news dampened my optimism for a prosperous new year. Last year ended with a somber realization the new year was going to be grim due to receiving some bad financial news. As Krik Franklin’s song “Intercession” says, “ Jesus please mention my name, see I got some bad news today…, its got me questioning my faith.” Like Kirk, I was questioning my faith too. W hen someone at the party exclaimed, “And a prosperous new decade,” I let go of my dashed hopes and embraced the optimism for the coming new decade. Maybe 2020 would be awful, but 2021, 2022... could be   good again. But that didn’t remove my grim outlook. Then the following events happened, and I was reminded that my circumstances were not defined by my financial or physical abilities; it was going to be a year of abundance anyway!   1) My girlfriend’s son and his wife had a healthy baby girl on New Year’s Day, born about...

“Gone were the weak knees and legs getting ready to crumble, restored were my strong runner legs, dancer body, doing what I do best: rejoice, dance, run, hop, skip and jump. It was hallelujah time! It was praising God time! Between 7-8am EST Tuesday May 19, 2020, I texted Reggie asking how the day had gone, knowing it was about 8-9pm in Japan. His reply, “Mom and baby are stable and doing fine. I’m fine too,” was a normal reply regarding updates on his wife’s condition, our daughter Ana. On Sunday, Reggie told us Ana was in the US Naval Hospital in Okinawa Japan due to early dilation (3cm), our prayers were for her to go full term; she was in her sixth month. When I spoke with Ana Monday night EST/Tuesday morning JPN, she expected to be discharged that day or the next but all was well; but the next information I read in Reggie’s text took my breath away: Hensley Courtland Thomas born Tuesday May 19 Time: 1613 or 4:13PM JPN, 3:13AM EST Length: 13.8 inches Weight: 2lbs 5ozs Gestation: 26...

Submitted to D&C Opinion section as an Essay for online submission 11/18/21. A young woman was jogging early in the morning through a sleepy neighborhood, and a strange man began to chase her. Fearing for her life, she tried to run away but he caught her. She fought him, and she fought gallantly, scratching and punching him. The man underestimated the young woman’s strength, thinking she was an easy target, but he was wrong. The man became afraid and pulled out a gun. Fighting for her life, she tried to take his gun. He shot and killed her.  The man walked away from his planned attack with minor bruises and scratches. He showed his wounds to the authorities and explained how he feared for his life and had to shoot her. When asked, wasn’t that his plan all along, the man replied, “No, I only wanted to scare her.”  Didn't the woman have the right to defend herself, to fight for her life? What if the man wasn’t alone, what if there were three men chasing her? The young woman ...