women

I Still Love Christmas, But I Have Just Been Busy

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It is still my favorite time of the year. I love what it stands for and what it does for other people. I love the season where people shop for each other and try to come up with gifts that are better than the last ones. It is a season filled with music and lights and lots of parties.

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I am always reminded of the greatest gift given, Jesus. The current sermon series at my church reminds us of the awestruck power of this whole thing. A powerful God so in love with his creation, he came to save them.  He humbled himself and became like us. I don’t think we will ever understand the greatness of this gift.

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And one of the great things I heard the other day that has stuck to my heart: we are on the sunset of this ride so it is time we pour into the younger generation. I believe it is important for 2019 to take a good look at where you are and what you have to offer the younger generation.

God has given us great gifts. We need to share them and help the folks coming along behind us. In 2019 let’s resolve to make someone else’s life better because we poured into them.

I wish you the Merriest of Christmas’.

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Dear Ancestor

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20181120_133732I saw your image in one of the best museums in the world.  You didn’t look happy, but I was happy to see you.  I am sure your world had been turned upside down because you wouldn’t even look up in your pose.  It is as if you said I will do this job but I won’t be proud. I won’t show you how much this has hurt me.

He painted your image fully dressed standing behind a table surrounded by your work utensils, bowls and pitchers. Some title this image the Kitchen Scene, not even admitting that there is a person in it, while others call it the Kitchen Maid, or La Mulata, La Cocinera. They should call it, You Stole My Life Now You Want Me To Cook

It was 1618 and you had probably been ripped from your home and all you knew. You wondered if you would ever see your family or homeland again. You probably didn’t.

I am grateful that you existed and fought that end of the battle for me. I will tell your stories and remind our people of the sacrifice you made.

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And I thank God for you and that He had someone paint you to remind us of all you missed out on like having your family near. Like when you are having a bad day at work and there is no one to complain to. Like being able to quit your job and go work for someone who respects you. Like being able to do what you were created to do. The simple things we take for granted and consider them a right when they are really a gift from God.

When the man was painting your image, it was probably irritating, but it left a beacon of light for us 400 years later.  I am grateful.

 

A Precious Right We Take For Granted

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Oxygen is something we take for granted.  We assume that we will always have it to use any way we want. We believe it will always be there. We even believe we have a right to it.

Truth is, if we didn’t have it, we would not be able to live.

Because many of us have had access to it, we assume voting for our elected officials is something we will always be able to do.  We miss the fact that most of the people born in The United States did not have the right to vote for the people who made laws that govern them.

The people in power created laws like poll taxes and grandfather clauses to limit the number of people who could vote.  They understand the power in picking elected officials.  They used the lack of education and knowledge of the voting rules to keep undesirable people away from the polls. Today they create specialized rules like a prison record or immigration status to deny people the right to vote.  It keeps the few elites in power so that they can become richer and keep undesirables in their place.

You see it has only been a little over 50 years that African Americans had laws in place to protect their right to vote, followed closely by women who gained the right over 80 years ago. Even white men had to start a revolution to gain the right too chose who represented them in government more than 242 years ago.

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These folks had to put their feet to the ground and fight for the right to vote. These men and women who with the sweat of their brows gave up more than we can imagine fighting for something they never attained. They wanted the right to vote. They knew the power it held. But many never got to cast a ballot.

So go and cast your ballot for your ancestors who could not because there were laws in place to keep them from it. Cast your vote for women who marched and protested for 80 years before they had the right to vote.

You have the right. Make some time and do it.

When you give your freedom to someone else, you give up the right to live your life how you want to. You give up the right to be free.

I have spent these days encouraging people to vote because I believe in the right to a free government of the people, by the people, for the people.

 

 

 

 

Looking For Participants

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The legacies we pass on are the ones that shape our society.  We teach our daughters how to live in a society that does not value women. How are you doing that?  What steps are you taking to ensure that your daughters, granddaughters, nieces and cousins have the tools to be great in a world that does not value them?

I am making a documentary about you.

I am looking for women who are passing on the legacy of marching and protesting in the tradition that gained us the right to vote.

If you are that person or know someone like this contact me at uppcreative@yahoo.com

 

He is Still The God of the Oppressed

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This week I have spent wading through women who are experiencing outcries since the Kavanaugh hearing. For many, it was traumatic watching Dr. Christine Blasey Ford give testimony. It brought to mind abuses they had suffered in the past.

They spoke about it on Facebook. They spoke about it on Twitter. When I walked down the street, I heard women talking about it. When I sat on the subway, I heard women talking about it. When I stood in the elevator, I heard women talking about it talk.

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I saw the pain on their faces. I saw the hopelessness in their eyes. I saw a desperation that is slowly building up. The worst part of this is that there are people in power who give no consideration to the damage done or the damage still being done to millions of people.

Oppressed is defined as when someone is subject to harsh and authoritarian treatment.  Today feels like harsh and authoritarian.  But I know these people will have their day.

I have a word for those feeling oppressed.

He is still the God of the Oppressed even though it might not feel like it right now. I am sad that these women are being ignored, but I know that God will vindicate them.

His word will not return void. Trust Him in this desert.