These words made famous in song by Louisa M.R. Stead have been a blessing to my soul these past few weeks. Last week, I didn’t know what it meant to sweetly trust in Jesus. Certainly, as a woman of God I trust in Jesus, I have faith that He will accomplish all He said He would, and I believe in His Word. But to get to the place where it is “…so sweet…” to trust in Jesus is a different place altogether. In fact, if you’d ask me last week I would have said it seems hard to trust in Jesus at times! But as I went about my day singing this song it struck me: “Do I find it sweet to trust in Jesus? Do I find it sweet to take Him at His Word? Do I rest (and not fret) upon His Promise?" Umm...not quite?!?!?
Before I started elementary school, my mother will tell you that I knew I was going to be an attorney. I knew God called me to be an attorney, as part of my ministry here on earth, even before I was fully committed to Him. I thought I knew what that meant and how it would manifest itself. But God, in His infinite wisdom knows so much better. I didn’t go to law school right after college and it’s a good thing I didn’t. Because if I had, I’m quite certain I would have been so focused on my career that I would have missed my first and most important ministry- THAT OF A WIFE AND MOTHER! I knew exactly where my focus and attention needed to be the second Virgil, II was born and I looked into his eyes. When Victoria came along just one year later, I thought, “What lessons do I want to teach her? What legacy do I want for her to pass on to her daughters?
You see, growing up I never thought about being a stay at home mom. The girls in my generation were taught to ‘go after your career, and don’t let a man stand in your way; equal rights for women; you CAN have it ALL- career, family, etc.’ I only knew that I was going to be a lawyer. But as you grow in Christ, God can do amazing things with your life. God never released me from my calling to be a lawyer; not after re-committing my life to Him; not even after I got married to a wonderful husband who’s in the ministry; not even after I had children- because it is in His plan. In fact, time and time again, He has confirmed His calling to me, over and over again. Right before we got married over 10 years ago, Virgil, Sr. began preaching and we knew his calling was to the Pastorate. So did I miss God on my calling? I mean how many pastor’s wives do you know who are also lawyers? But God continued to confirm His Word; even after I spent countless times 'not so sweetly trusting in God.
When He called me from being a stay at home to a law student, I thought, Lord, surely you jest! But He was serious. And again He confirmed His Word and again, He provided and made the way. You would think I would be sweetly trusting now but…
So law school is behind me now and other than teaching a few college courses at night, I’m at home, even though the kids are in school. God's promise made to a 5 year old little girl is close enough to being fulfilled but not quite. The past few weeks I’ve been fretting over it all. Like Mary, when she was visited by the angel, I asked God, “How can this be?” I don’t know how God will work everything out, but for right now, I only know that I’m going to trust God! And find it sweet to do so!
God bless you as sweetly trust the Lord for your Promises.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
BUT SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE ... **insert racial ethnicity here**
This statement is often used by many as an explanation as to why their remarks do not make them ignorant, or prejudice, or racist. After all, people ought to be able to question others and make stupid comments without being judged. *insert sarcasm here*
First, I must disclaim that I originally intended for this blog to update family members with the latest news about the Moore family. It was never intended (and will not become) a political blog. Lately, however, I have been so disheartened by the presidential campaign that I have to address it to anyone who cares to listen (and I will not be offended if you care not to listen).
Second, I have no problem revealing that I am registered as a Republican and have typically voted Republican. I am unashamedly a follower of Christ and my desire and purpose in life has always been to follow Him. I have found that I, and many of the Republican candidates I have voted for, tend to agree on issues I find important. I do not, however, care to engage in a lot of label-making- left, right, conservative, liberal…blah…blah…blah. Because I care to follow Christ and seek Him for every decision I make, including this presidential election, I could care less about the labels people use. While I’m at it, let me go ahead and make a shameless plug for the book my husband and I will soon be writing, “God is not a Republican…And He’s not a Democrat Either.” It will hit stands as soon as we have the time to put all our little sticky notes of ideas and statements together, get a publisher, etc. Unfortunately, the Republicans, especially the Christian Republicans, think they have God solely in their corner. I hate to disappoint you, but God is not concerned with whether you identify yourself as a Republican or Democrat; especially those who blindly follow the Republican party. Some people do not even look at the issues but instead look to see how other Republicans feel about it. They do not care about whether or not it makes sense or if it’s important to God, they care only about what the Republican party has to say about it. In the infamous words of mothers across the land, “If the Republican party jumped of the Empire State building would you?” Sadly, we would find many at the bottom on 34th Street.
I have spent time praying and interceding over this presidential election as it has stirred me like no other. On one hand, you have the Republican presidential and vice-presidential candidates who to me, are just okay, just so-so. I'm a Republian and I haven't been energized by Sara Palin. On the other hand, you have a Democratic candidate who has many accolades to his name but does not quite take the stand I would like to see on some key issues. What is a Christian Black woman to do? Let’s just be real, the Republican party is not known to be one that embraces the plight of the African-American. After all, when they had the opportunity to address minorities in a debate just last year, none of the GOP front runners bothered to show up, including John McCain. I guess issues that are important to African-Americans are not as important to McCain.
Perhaps I’m in more of a ‘Sister Souljah’ mood because of my experiences lately. I can truthfully say that I’ve experienced more prejudice and racism here in Lynchburg, VA than I ever did in living in Raleigh, NC. I’ve experienced more prejudice at Liberty University (a distinctively Christian university) than I did at NC State. Don’t get me wrong, I loved being able to attend school with fellow Christians (at least many of them claim to be) and overall, my experience at LU law school was positive. In fact, when I take and pass the bar in February I’m going to send LU a few dollars. But I had more than my fair share of days when I left the campus wondering how anyone who claims to follow Christ can talk about Black people (or anyone who doesn’t look, talk, dress or act like they do) in such a manner. While it was enjoyable being able to openly share my faith in class or in meetings, it was a bitter pill to swallow when the student sitting behind me could make ignorant statements like: ‘Black people just indulge in self-pity and whine all the time about their situations while being lazy and not doing something to change their situations.’ Or, one that I heard at least a couple of times was: ‘Black people just expect handouts all the time and why should I be made to sacrifice {a job, or spot in college} when I personally was not the one who discriminated against you.’ And I dare not ever mention slavery in class, because that was soooooooo long ago that it has to be irrelevant today and certainly none of the effects of slavery or Jim Crown are felt in today’s society. But today, in 2008, you have a black man, who was not lazy and was able to accomplish what many white people can’t say they accomplished and who did do something to change not just his situation but the situation of many others in the inner city, but that’s not admirable, it just makes him out of touch with the real American people. Meanwhile, these same people in class making these comments are not the ones having to later go home and console their 5 year old son and boost his self-esteem after a white classmate tells him if they continue to play together the police will come and arrest him (my son) because black people and white people shouldn’t be playing together, and if they do play together, the white people will have to call the police on the black person, this according to the little girls father. But racism is a thing of the past, isn’t it? Just today, my son Virgil, II bought home a book about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In it, it tells of how Dr. King played football with 2 white boys when he was younger but after a while, the white boys told him they couldn’t play with him anymore because he was black. This occurred when Dr. King was just a little boy, in the 1940’s. My son being told that he would get arrested if he played with white children just happened last school year, in 2007, at Bedford Hills Elementary. I wasn’t prepared to explain to my 5 year old kindergartener about race and racism but I was forced to, because he didn’t want to be arrested for playing with his white friends. But I must not stay on that topic too long or I’ll be considered to be indulging in self-pity.
It is often said that we are never more segregated in this country than we are on Sunday mornings. We can go to school together (not as friends, but as forced classmates), we can shop at the same stores and go to the same eating establishments. But worshipping together has been a difficult challenge for some. I am grateful to attend a church that is racially balanced because I’d hate for my first experience worshipping alongside someone of a different race to be in heaven. I say that to say that if Black Christians and White Christians are truly serving the only God there is…if we both believe in the one same God, why do we see things so differently? Black Christians and White Christians will probably agree with the 2 key issues that Republicans live and die by: homosexual marriage and abortion. Christians everywhere, regardless of their race will typically agree that homosexuality is wrong and that abortion is not God’s plan. Outside of those 2 issues there is a divergence. For some Republicans, there are no more issues outside of abortion and homosexuality. For some Democrats, those are issues, but they just aren’t as important as other issues like healthcare and the economy. But regardless of what your party affiliate is, if it matters to God, shouldn’t it matter to all Christians?
The biggest problem I have with our party right now is that they are extremely double-minded. The bible is clear about a double minded man- HE IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS! (James 1:8). So, to those of you die hard Republicans who act as if you are so concerned with the issues, be real. Please do not act like you are so concerned about Obama’s associations but then become mute and turn a deaf ear as if you didn’t know that McCain has his own problematic associations. Don’t act as if you’re so concerned about Obama’s character but then act as if McCain’s own character should not be judged (The Keating 5 Scandal, the adulterous affair, etc.) Don’t act as if you’re so concerned about Obama being President because his middle name is Hussein (which must mean that he’s unpatriotic) but name your children Willow, Trig, and Track and you’re a maverick. Address that for a change! Please answer me why it’s okay for Palin to currently be under investigation for her recent actions as Governor (aka Troopergate) but its troublesome for Obama to have some loose association with Ayers when those incidents took place when he was only 8 years old? Why is it okay for Christians to rally behind a man who cheated on his wife and then divorced her for the heiress of a beer manufacturer with whom he had an affair while married? But the Obama’s have faithfully been married only to each other for 19 years but that doesn’t reflect your traditional view of marriage. Meanwhile, Todd Palin, aka “First Dude” is surely patriotic, after all, he only has 1 DWI and it only took him until the age of 25 to register to vote and that little club or association he was in (since associations are so important these days) just wanted Alaska to secede from the US, no big deal, that’s not radical at all. Why is Obama inexperienced when he spent 3 years as a community organizer, became the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, created a voter registration drive that registered 150,000 new voters, spent 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spent 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate’s Health and Human Services committee, and spent 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people. But Sarah Palin’s resume consists of : local weather girl, runner up in the Ms. Alaska pageant, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people but she’s ‘ready on day one’ to become the country’s second highest ranking executive. Why is this okay, better yet, why do Republicans not feel the need to address the MANY skeletons in the closet of the 2 Republican candidates? You’ll tear down Obama on issues that absolutely affect (and reflect) John McCain as well but you choose to look the other way as if McCain is your messiah and can do no wrong. Or, as if Palin has so ‘energized the base’ that she’s beyond scrutiny. I’m left with only one answer, you don’t really care about the issues as you say you because if you did, you’d take issue with both McCain and Obama, but you only take issue with Barack Hussein Obama because he is a black candidate. Are you happy now, I said it.
If you could just be honest with yourself for one moment, you’d have to admit that if the tables were turned, you’d be jumping over Obama for some of the same issues that plague the McCain and Palin camps right now. If Obama were married and then divorced his wife after she became disfigured and after he had already cheated on her you would have a problem with that and you would make it an issue in this campaign. But the Republican party has largely been silent on that issue. Instead, we tear down a man who has been married to the same woman for over 19 years. If Obama’s teenage daughter were pregnant and getting ready to enter a shotgun wedding you’d certainly question his ability to raise his own family as proof that he can’t run the country. But because its Sarah Palin, it’s a private family matter and is off limits. Obama just has 2 beautiful daughters by his one and only wife but that’s irrelevant and doesn’t reflect our traditional view of marriage. If Michelle Obama were heir to a beer dynasty Christians would have a field day, but since its Cindy McCain, it’s not talked about. Michelle Obama is just a Harvard law graduate who gave up a job with a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to focus more on her family, but apparently her family’s values don’t represent America’s. If Obama had graduated close to dead last in college he would certainly be unfit to run the country but because its John McCain, he gets a pass. Obama just graduated close to the top of his class, becoming the first black to be President of the Harvard law review but that apparently doesn’t amount to much. If it took Obama 5 different colleges over so many years to finish his college education we’d question his ability to follow through with anything of importance, but since it’s Sarah Palin, she shows real grit. If Obama never talked about his own faith but always the faith of someone else, Christians would question his commitment to the Christian faith (…well, they do that now anyway). But since its McCain, he has to be a true Christian.
So far, our party, the Republican party, has not done a good job at answering these troubling and apparently obvious questions, and it is making the party look bad. It is leaving a bad taste in the mouths of undecided voters. But, desperate times call for desperate measures and it is obvious now more than ever that Republicans are desperate; so I don’t expect for the attacks to stop or for the questions about McCains associations and judgments to be answered by the party. I’ve sat back and waited for the party that I am registered with to become more substantive but so far, I’ve not seen it.
If we, as true Christians, are so concerned about who is elected to this office, then we will be praying for the office and for whoever God, in His sovereignty, allows to fill it instead of praying against Barack Obama. The bible tells us to pray for those who have authority over us. That would include John McCain and Sarah Palin if they are fortunate enough to be elected to the White House. If they are, it won’t be a time to celebrate and stop praying, but a time to continue praying. The children of Israel prayed for a king to rule over them and because of their stubbornness, God gave them Saul. McCain (or yes, even Obama) could very well be our Saul if we focus more on party politics and not prayer. It will take Christians praying God’s will and not praying party politics that ensures that Christians will be able to live a peaceable life as the Bible says.
Now, having said all that, I will get back to the business of posting about my family. The children took pictures with their cousins in Winston-Salem and they should be posted soon. You may just fall out laughing at Victoria’s extensions (which by the way she just had to have because a white girl at school told her that she didn’t like Victoria when she wore her hair in braids because it looked as if she had spiders in her hair and because only girls with long silky hair could come to her party)…still dealing with racial issues in 2008, but don’t call me a racist because after all, some of my best friends are white.
First, I must disclaim that I originally intended for this blog to update family members with the latest news about the Moore family. It was never intended (and will not become) a political blog. Lately, however, I have been so disheartened by the presidential campaign that I have to address it to anyone who cares to listen (and I will not be offended if you care not to listen).
Second, I have no problem revealing that I am registered as a Republican and have typically voted Republican. I am unashamedly a follower of Christ and my desire and purpose in life has always been to follow Him. I have found that I, and many of the Republican candidates I have voted for, tend to agree on issues I find important. I do not, however, care to engage in a lot of label-making- left, right, conservative, liberal…blah…blah…blah. Because I care to follow Christ and seek Him for every decision I make, including this presidential election, I could care less about the labels people use. While I’m at it, let me go ahead and make a shameless plug for the book my husband and I will soon be writing, “God is not a Republican…And He’s not a Democrat Either.” It will hit stands as soon as we have the time to put all our little sticky notes of ideas and statements together, get a publisher, etc. Unfortunately, the Republicans, especially the Christian Republicans, think they have God solely in their corner. I hate to disappoint you, but God is not concerned with whether you identify yourself as a Republican or Democrat; especially those who blindly follow the Republican party. Some people do not even look at the issues but instead look to see how other Republicans feel about it. They do not care about whether or not it makes sense or if it’s important to God, they care only about what the Republican party has to say about it. In the infamous words of mothers across the land, “If the Republican party jumped of the Empire State building would you?” Sadly, we would find many at the bottom on 34th Street.
I have spent time praying and interceding over this presidential election as it has stirred me like no other. On one hand, you have the Republican presidential and vice-presidential candidates who to me, are just okay, just so-so. I'm a Republian and I haven't been energized by Sara Palin. On the other hand, you have a Democratic candidate who has many accolades to his name but does not quite take the stand I would like to see on some key issues. What is a Christian Black woman to do? Let’s just be real, the Republican party is not known to be one that embraces the plight of the African-American. After all, when they had the opportunity to address minorities in a debate just last year, none of the GOP front runners bothered to show up, including John McCain. I guess issues that are important to African-Americans are not as important to McCain.
Perhaps I’m in more of a ‘Sister Souljah’ mood because of my experiences lately. I can truthfully say that I’ve experienced more prejudice and racism here in Lynchburg, VA than I ever did in living in Raleigh, NC. I’ve experienced more prejudice at Liberty University (a distinctively Christian university) than I did at NC State. Don’t get me wrong, I loved being able to attend school with fellow Christians (at least many of them claim to be) and overall, my experience at LU law school was positive. In fact, when I take and pass the bar in February I’m going to send LU a few dollars. But I had more than my fair share of days when I left the campus wondering how anyone who claims to follow Christ can talk about Black people (or anyone who doesn’t look, talk, dress or act like they do) in such a manner. While it was enjoyable being able to openly share my faith in class or in meetings, it was a bitter pill to swallow when the student sitting behind me could make ignorant statements like: ‘Black people just indulge in self-pity and whine all the time about their situations while being lazy and not doing something to change their situations.’ Or, one that I heard at least a couple of times was: ‘Black people just expect handouts all the time and why should I be made to sacrifice {a job, or spot in college} when I personally was not the one who discriminated against you.’ And I dare not ever mention slavery in class, because that was soooooooo long ago that it has to be irrelevant today and certainly none of the effects of slavery or Jim Crown are felt in today’s society. But today, in 2008, you have a black man, who was not lazy and was able to accomplish what many white people can’t say they accomplished and who did do something to change not just his situation but the situation of many others in the inner city, but that’s not admirable, it just makes him out of touch with the real American people. Meanwhile, these same people in class making these comments are not the ones having to later go home and console their 5 year old son and boost his self-esteem after a white classmate tells him if they continue to play together the police will come and arrest him (my son) because black people and white people shouldn’t be playing together, and if they do play together, the white people will have to call the police on the black person, this according to the little girls father. But racism is a thing of the past, isn’t it? Just today, my son Virgil, II bought home a book about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In it, it tells of how Dr. King played football with 2 white boys when he was younger but after a while, the white boys told him they couldn’t play with him anymore because he was black. This occurred when Dr. King was just a little boy, in the 1940’s. My son being told that he would get arrested if he played with white children just happened last school year, in 2007, at Bedford Hills Elementary. I wasn’t prepared to explain to my 5 year old kindergartener about race and racism but I was forced to, because he didn’t want to be arrested for playing with his white friends. But I must not stay on that topic too long or I’ll be considered to be indulging in self-pity.
It is often said that we are never more segregated in this country than we are on Sunday mornings. We can go to school together (not as friends, but as forced classmates), we can shop at the same stores and go to the same eating establishments. But worshipping together has been a difficult challenge for some. I am grateful to attend a church that is racially balanced because I’d hate for my first experience worshipping alongside someone of a different race to be in heaven. I say that to say that if Black Christians and White Christians are truly serving the only God there is…if we both believe in the one same God, why do we see things so differently? Black Christians and White Christians will probably agree with the 2 key issues that Republicans live and die by: homosexual marriage and abortion. Christians everywhere, regardless of their race will typically agree that homosexuality is wrong and that abortion is not God’s plan. Outside of those 2 issues there is a divergence. For some Republicans, there are no more issues outside of abortion and homosexuality. For some Democrats, those are issues, but they just aren’t as important as other issues like healthcare and the economy. But regardless of what your party affiliate is, if it matters to God, shouldn’t it matter to all Christians?
The biggest problem I have with our party right now is that they are extremely double-minded. The bible is clear about a double minded man- HE IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS! (James 1:8). So, to those of you die hard Republicans who act as if you are so concerned with the issues, be real. Please do not act like you are so concerned about Obama’s associations but then become mute and turn a deaf ear as if you didn’t know that McCain has his own problematic associations. Don’t act as if you’re so concerned about Obama’s character but then act as if McCain’s own character should not be judged (The Keating 5 Scandal, the adulterous affair, etc.) Don’t act as if you’re so concerned about Obama being President because his middle name is Hussein (which must mean that he’s unpatriotic) but name your children Willow, Trig, and Track and you’re a maverick. Address that for a change! Please answer me why it’s okay for Palin to currently be under investigation for her recent actions as Governor (aka Troopergate) but its troublesome for Obama to have some loose association with Ayers when those incidents took place when he was only 8 years old? Why is it okay for Christians to rally behind a man who cheated on his wife and then divorced her for the heiress of a beer manufacturer with whom he had an affair while married? But the Obama’s have faithfully been married only to each other for 19 years but that doesn’t reflect your traditional view of marriage. Meanwhile, Todd Palin, aka “First Dude” is surely patriotic, after all, he only has 1 DWI and it only took him until the age of 25 to register to vote and that little club or association he was in (since associations are so important these days) just wanted Alaska to secede from the US, no big deal, that’s not radical at all. Why is Obama inexperienced when he spent 3 years as a community organizer, became the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, created a voter registration drive that registered 150,000 new voters, spent 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spent 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate’s Health and Human Services committee, and spent 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people. But Sarah Palin’s resume consists of : local weather girl, runner up in the Ms. Alaska pageant, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people but she’s ‘ready on day one’ to become the country’s second highest ranking executive. Why is this okay, better yet, why do Republicans not feel the need to address the MANY skeletons in the closet of the 2 Republican candidates? You’ll tear down Obama on issues that absolutely affect (and reflect) John McCain as well but you choose to look the other way as if McCain is your messiah and can do no wrong. Or, as if Palin has so ‘energized the base’ that she’s beyond scrutiny. I’m left with only one answer, you don’t really care about the issues as you say you because if you did, you’d take issue with both McCain and Obama, but you only take issue with Barack Hussein Obama because he is a black candidate. Are you happy now, I said it.
If you could just be honest with yourself for one moment, you’d have to admit that if the tables were turned, you’d be jumping over Obama for some of the same issues that plague the McCain and Palin camps right now. If Obama were married and then divorced his wife after she became disfigured and after he had already cheated on her you would have a problem with that and you would make it an issue in this campaign. But the Republican party has largely been silent on that issue. Instead, we tear down a man who has been married to the same woman for over 19 years. If Obama’s teenage daughter were pregnant and getting ready to enter a shotgun wedding you’d certainly question his ability to raise his own family as proof that he can’t run the country. But because its Sarah Palin, it’s a private family matter and is off limits. Obama just has 2 beautiful daughters by his one and only wife but that’s irrelevant and doesn’t reflect our traditional view of marriage. If Michelle Obama were heir to a beer dynasty Christians would have a field day, but since its Cindy McCain, it’s not talked about. Michelle Obama is just a Harvard law graduate who gave up a job with a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to focus more on her family, but apparently her family’s values don’t represent America’s. If Obama had graduated close to dead last in college he would certainly be unfit to run the country but because its John McCain, he gets a pass. Obama just graduated close to the top of his class, becoming the first black to be President of the Harvard law review but that apparently doesn’t amount to much. If it took Obama 5 different colleges over so many years to finish his college education we’d question his ability to follow through with anything of importance, but since it’s Sarah Palin, she shows real grit. If Obama never talked about his own faith but always the faith of someone else, Christians would question his commitment to the Christian faith (…well, they do that now anyway). But since its McCain, he has to be a true Christian.
So far, our party, the Republican party, has not done a good job at answering these troubling and apparently obvious questions, and it is making the party look bad. It is leaving a bad taste in the mouths of undecided voters. But, desperate times call for desperate measures and it is obvious now more than ever that Republicans are desperate; so I don’t expect for the attacks to stop or for the questions about McCains associations and judgments to be answered by the party. I’ve sat back and waited for the party that I am registered with to become more substantive but so far, I’ve not seen it.
If we, as true Christians, are so concerned about who is elected to this office, then we will be praying for the office and for whoever God, in His sovereignty, allows to fill it instead of praying against Barack Obama. The bible tells us to pray for those who have authority over us. That would include John McCain and Sarah Palin if they are fortunate enough to be elected to the White House. If they are, it won’t be a time to celebrate and stop praying, but a time to continue praying. The children of Israel prayed for a king to rule over them and because of their stubbornness, God gave them Saul. McCain (or yes, even Obama) could very well be our Saul if we focus more on party politics and not prayer. It will take Christians praying God’s will and not praying party politics that ensures that Christians will be able to live a peaceable life as the Bible says.
Now, having said all that, I will get back to the business of posting about my family. The children took pictures with their cousins in Winston-Salem and they should be posted soon. You may just fall out laughing at Victoria’s extensions (which by the way she just had to have because a white girl at school told her that she didn’t like Victoria when she wore her hair in braids because it looked as if she had spiders in her hair and because only girls with long silky hair could come to her party)…still dealing with racial issues in 2008, but don’t call me a racist because after all, some of my best friends are white.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
My Mini-Me
The day my son was born I was so proud. I had a son. No sooner than 1 year and 1 month later my daughter was born, almost to the date. Then I was filled with absolute joy. What no one told me is that my daughter would be so much like me. Unfortunately, having a daughter jsut like you makes you take a hard look at yourself. Don't get me wrong, neither Victoria, nor I, have serious issues, we are just too determined and stubborn for our own good.
Take this week for example. I take pride in being one of those mothers who'll show up to the school at any time, so my children have no choice but to be on their best behavior. I volunteer at the school all the time and sometimes don't even tell them when I'm coming (it's good to keep them guessing). Well this Monday I went to the Volunteer Coffee and when I stopped by Gabby's class her teacher just had to to tell me this funny story. About 2 weeks prior her teacher sent home a permission slip about a field trip. I told Victoria she was going and that I would send in the money before the deadline. Apparently I wasn't moving fast enough for her. So she goes in her piggy bank and get a handful of nickels and pennies and puts them in a ziplock bag to give to her teacher as her 'field trip money.' When her teacher asked where she got this money from she quickly replied from me. Knowing that she was not telling the truth, the teacher said she would have call to me to make sure. Before Ms. Campbell could put her hand on the phone Victoria reached out and stopped her and confessed that I hadn't in fact given her the bag of coins. She just really wanted to make sure that she could go on the field trip. I thought to myself, 'when she gets home..."
On my way out, I stopped at the cafeteria to make sure they had enough money on their lunch accounts. They only buy lunch 1 day a week -I don't trust school cafeteria food :(. School has only been in session for 1 month but Victoria only had $1.70 left on her account- $1.70. Virgil had over $6. When she pulled up little Missy's transactions, it revealed that somedays, Victoria was buying lunch when I had already packed her a lucnh. Obviously the carrots and salad we made weren't as good as the cafeteria's chicken patty's and canned fruit. At least 3-4 times a week, she was buying milk and not drinking the bottled water in her lunch bag. When I told Virgil, Sr. we both said we had half a mind to let her account get to $0 to so she can be shamed as she gets the free peanut butter crackers they give to students who didn't bring their lunch or have no money on their accounts. Then she'll learn.
But God instantly reminded me of some of the things I did as a child, trying to make what I want come to pass and determined to do it MY WAY. Even as adults, we try to make our way instead of resting in the words of our heavenly father. We are assured that when God tells us something, His word will come to pass. It will not return to Him void, but will accomplish what it set out to do . I guess like mother like daughter.
Monday, July 28, 2008
There's nothing like family...
We just got back from Kinston, NC and the Jones/Sutton family reunion (my mother-in-laws side). We had such a great time. I saw uncles 'dropping it like it was hot,' I saw aunties 'shaking what their mothers gave them,' I saw church folks almost go off over a game of softball, and I've had more than my fair share of vinegar-based barbeque and hushpuppies (this is why pictures of us at the beach will not be posted).
We stayed with Virgil's grandmother, who celebrated her 94th b-day! God is so amazing! This 94 year old woman still works every day and gets down on her knees to pray. She cooked a buffet for us on Saturday that included things I didn't even know belonged at breakfast, like fried potatoes, rice and gravy, and chicken wings?!?!?!? But what I will take most from her is her wisdom, there is much that we all can gain from a woman of her wisdom.
I also got to see my nieces, one of whom I've never seen before. I also got to see first hand my brother-in-law and how much he's grown into a young man. The once playful and always teasing boy who was 11 years old when I first began dating Virgil, Sr. is now a married, ex-marine, and father of two beautiful children. It was warming to see him interact so lovingly with his two daughters.
As we traveled back to Virginia on Sunday, I couldn’t help feeling a renewed sense of just how important family really is to each other. God deems the family so important that often in the bible it is used as the building block of the spiritual family of God. This was the first of a tri-annual family reunion and people are already anxiously awaiting the next one.
Now that we've been to Kinston, Winston-Salem is calling...
We stayed with Virgil's grandmother, who celebrated her 94th b-day! God is so amazing! This 94 year old woman still works every day and gets down on her knees to pray. She cooked a buffet for us on Saturday that included things I didn't even know belonged at breakfast, like fried potatoes, rice and gravy, and chicken wings?!?!?!? But what I will take most from her is her wisdom, there is much that we all can gain from a woman of her wisdom.
I also got to see my nieces, one of whom I've never seen before. I also got to see first hand my brother-in-law and how much he's grown into a young man. The once playful and always teasing boy who was 11 years old when I first began dating Virgil, Sr. is now a married, ex-marine, and father of two beautiful children. It was warming to see him interact so lovingly with his two daughters.
As we traveled back to Virginia on Sunday, I couldn’t help feeling a renewed sense of just how important family really is to each other. God deems the family so important that often in the bible it is used as the building block of the spiritual family of God. This was the first of a tri-annual family reunion and people are already anxiously awaiting the next one.
Now that we've been to Kinston, Winston-Salem is calling...
Sunday, July 20, 2008
273 miles...the distance between prayer and an answer
God never ceases to amazes me. I've been a born again believer for over 15 years and yet, there are still times when I feel so awed by my heavenly father. Our family was going through some things that just really shook me for a moment. I never doubted that God was sovereign and in control, but it was hard to walk through those things. As always, God showed up to answer prayer and just in the nick of time. But while He had answered that immediate need, we were still in the 'furnace', so-to-speak. So I began taking out taking tapes of old prophecies just looking for a word from God to stand on. I began looking through my old journals, looking for promises from God to hold on to. Then I just began praying, "Lord, I need a word from you to stand on." At first I felt bad for even asking such a thing. I'm too old spiritually to ask for such things. I should just know that you're going to deliver and then move on. But I really needed to hear specifically from God. And even though it may be easy to hear a word for someone else and encourage them with it, every once in a while it gets difficult to do the same for you. But I prayed that God would me send me a word, and I said, even if our circumstances don't change immediately, I just need a word to stand on now. Within a few days, my mother-in-law (whom I love dearly) called to say that her pastor, who knew nothing of what we were going through, said, "Virgil and Detria need a word from the Lord, just a word to stand on..." and then began prophesying into our lives. God used a pastor 273 miles away to answer my prayers here in VA. How awesome is our God!
Be encouraged saints, God is concerned with everything that concerns you. He loves you so much he'll use a man of God 273 miles away to encourage you with His words.
Be encouraged saints, God is concerned with everything that concerns you. He loves you so much he'll use a man of God 273 miles away to encourage you with His words.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Come quickly, Lord!
Okay...so I've been feeling conflicted lately. Our youngest daughter, Victoria, turns 5 on Monday and starts Kindergarten in August. Virgil,II, our oldest, is 6 and is going to the 1st grade. We've always wanted more children but we seem to be at a cross roads... make that I seem to be at a crossroads. Virgil, Sr. is all ready to have more children. I'm still on the fence. Let's face it, Virgil,II and Victoria are exactly 13 months apart (yes...13 months, not quite sure how that happened). If we have one more child now we'll have to have another soon after (or else it'd be like they were an only child). Having children at this particular stage in our lives feels like we'll be starting all over again. I feel so removed from bottles, diapers, and late night feedings. Yet, when I see a newborn, I can't help but want another baby.
Then there's the whole career thing. Before going to law school I was a stay-at-home mom and loved it! I haven't had a full time job outside my home since 2003. Now that I can practice law full time I want more children and want to be at home with them. Lord, I'm going to need help to sort through these feelings. Come quickly, Lord!
Then there's the whole career thing. Before going to law school I was a stay-at-home mom and loved it! I haven't had a full time job outside my home since 2003. Now that I can practice law full time I want more children and want to be at home with them. Lord, I'm going to need help to sort through these feelings. Come quickly, Lord!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
GOD IS AWESOME!
It is often said (and I believe) that there are some words that should be reserved only for God. Awesome is one of those words.
I can think back to the year 2000 when my husband and I were excitedly expecting our first child. Then, out of nowhere, came unexpected pre-term contractions that could not be stopped and resulted in the passing of daughter, Kaitlyn. But God sent a word to the mothers of our church, Fulfilled Promise Tabernacle- "There shall be none barren among you." So Virgil and I believed God for our next miracle. Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity we were pregnant again, and God remained true to His Word. And on tomorrow, our little boy, Virgil Moore, II turns six years old. God is awesome! I can think back to a time when I thought I would never be a mother, but God has now blessed us with two beautiful children. Victoria will turn five in July. God is awesome! And now, after ten years of marriage, two children, two houses, law school and LIFE in general, I have to look back and confess that GOD IS AWESOME!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
