Note: It breaks my heart to see so many hearts afraid to be. Life is short. It’s okay. Be. You’ll be grateful you did. You will give others permission to also be. YOU are more than enough. Present YOU to the world. YOU are the only gift/tribute we need. Be blessed. Be encouraged. BE!
I wanted to present you with a home, to call your own.
I wanted so very much to be able to pay your every debt.
Mom, I so desperately wanted to meet your every need.
You gave your all, mom.
You gave from your last. You fed the homeless. You gave knowing you had not returned.
You taught me, mom, how to be a giver.
You taught me, mom, how to be a lover.
Your love language, was of deed. You did not know, mom, how to express your love, in words.
Maybe, mom, it is partly why words means so much to me: to be given freely, liberally, relentlessly, endlessly, lovingly, devotedly.
In return, I wanted to buy you a house, a home, a safe space to call your own.
You taught me, mom, that wealth was not in things. You taught me wealth could be endlessly given in love, in laughter, in deeds.
Mom, you loved me through every moment spent, in the kitchen, watching you prepare meals for us, for the community, for those in need.
I’m sorry, mom. I wanted to be able to reward you by buying you a home.
*As Cassandra looked upon the hopelessly meager treasure she had stored, during her life, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning, Cassandra gazed upon her mother who had a beautiful crown. Next to her, stood King Jesus who bent over and whispered these words to her*:
“Beloved, EVERY time you gave, you placed a diamond in your mom’s crown. EVERY time you shed tears, for another, you placed gold, in your mom’s crown. EVERY time you encouraged a soul, you placed rubies, in your mom’s crown. As you do, for the least of these, you have done unto Me.
And, as your mom taught you the way you should go, her mansion was being fashioned by My Hands. Thank you, beloved, for helping me to build your mom her home. Well done.”
Mom died, with next to nothing, so far as the world would say. Yet, she gave me priceless gifts of wisdom and tenacity. She taught me how to be loyal. She taught me how to fight. She taught me how to love with what you have.
Yet, mom only gave me ONE genuine hug that was initiated by her. And, she had only said “I love you, Jeanette” on the very last conversation we had(another story for another time).
Still, she gave me a mansion, through her love language of service. She built me a home, of love with every meal cooked and served.
I guess we are even, mom. Thank you, for being my home. Thanks for teaching me that house, can be a home, without being one of brick and mortar.
I love you, mom. I shall endeavor to build you a scepter next…lol.
Your daughter,
Cassandra
#YourLifeMattersToMe
Note: You are building crowns, beloved, each and every time you give your heart and love to others. Don’t discount your efforts. You may never know how many lives you have touched. Keep being you. It matters. As do you.
I have an unlimited supply of love, hope and joy, which I freely give to you.
It’s all that I have. I hope it’s enough, for you.
I don’t have much.
Much in the way of looks they say, apparently.
I have an unlimited supply of support, encouragement and care, which I give without strings, without conditions.
It’s all I have. I hope it’s enough for you.
I don’t have much.
Much in the way of stature, of prestige, or so the world seems to think.
I have an unlimited supply of gratitude, of thanksgiving and charity, which I give to you with open arms.
It’s all I have. I hope it’s enough for you.
I don’t have much.
Much in the way of usefulness, being a loud person of color, to hear quite a few members of society, or so they say.
I have an unlimited supply of sisterhood, watching your backness and friendship, which I give with an open heart to all my brothers and sisters of EVERY race, creed, and gender.
It’s all I have. I hope it’s enough for you.
I don’t have much, America. Yet, all that I have, I give to you.
I love you, America. Even as many of you refuse to love me back.
I am here for you, America. I pray for you. I pray that you will heal. I pray that, one day, America, you will embrace me as much as I embrace you.
Be encouraged, America. We got this. We CAN, we WILL, one day, ALL of us, come together in love, solidarity and unity.
Life is short, America. We, all of us, are running out of time. Best we use that time to FINALLY become The UNITED States of America.
His servant and your friend/sister,
Cassandra
Note: It has been truly disappointing and disheartening to see so many Americans who have been gunned down for no reason other than being of a different race/creed/religion. It’s time for folk to lay down iron arms and open their arms/hearts/ears in fellowship and understanding. I will never stop praying and being hopeful we shall come together: United.
Old habits: Why don’t you order a pizza? Life has been kicking your tail. Yea, life being soooo unfair to you, right now.
New habits: Load the dishwasher, Cassandra.
Discouragement: Why do you keep going? Don’t you know insanity is doing the same thing while expecting different results? Why don’t you order a pizza?
Yikes!: Yikes, Cassandra! You have come so far. Keep going. You got this. New habits is right. Keep it moving and go load the dishwasher.
Anxiety: Yea, you know these bills piling up and your God all silent about meeting your needs. How ARE you going to make it when your money not stretching? Why don’t you order a pizza?
Egads!: Egads, Cassandra! God has your back. Keep going. Why don’t you keep it moving and go load the dishwasher?
Doubt: Why on earth do you keep wasting time shouting into the void this way? NOBODY cares. NOBODY is listening? Who do you think YOU are? Why don’t you order a pizza?
Doubts, anxiety, discouragement, old habits, new habits, Yikes! and Egads! proceeded to get into a knock down drag out to convince Cassandra to either order a pizza or load the dishwasher.
*Cassandra, The Father, hard, Life, and contentment watching, with amusement to see who would come out on top. Turning from the loaded dishwasher, Cassandra proceeded to take out the trash and kept it moving.*
hopeful still,
Cassandra
Note: Keep going, beloveds. Even when it hurts. Even when it’s hard. Even when there seems to be no evidence of things working out.
These are glorious times! They keep your faith muscles, working. They keep your try, trying. They keep your focus, focused. Hard is your friend. Hard, shows you how much you care. Hard, shines a light on how much you love. Hard, continually, offers you the opportunity to stand, love, grow, fight and win. You got this!
*Cassandra turns from the mirror, with a smile, and reaches for her tea set*
When can you pack up your toys and go home when no one will come out to play with you?
Never.
When will you give up on you?
Never.
*Cassandra wipes tears from her eyes, turns her back on the mirror, and keeps on keeping on*
Cassandra
#YourLifeMattersToMe
P.S. I told sis, a while ago, I was tired of shouting into the void. I told sis I was tired of feeling like a little girl who keeps taking her tea set outside to play and…
*Cassandra takes out her tea set in case there is someone in need of a spot of tea*
Keep going. Even if it feels you go alone, beloveds. You don’t. Neither do I. Some days feel tougher than others.
As my mama used to tell me “everything will be alright”.
You are at the precipice of your breakthrough.
You are one step away from your miracle.
You are seconds away from…
You must keep going to find out, okay?
Okay.
*Cassandra turns from the mirror and waits at the precipice*
waiting,
Cassandra
#YourLifeMattersToMe
Note: Keep going, beloveds. Don’t focus on the rock in your shoe. Pay no mind to the heat beating down on you as you move forward. Keep going. I got your back in prayer. Have mine.
Why Can't I Be Loud?! 