Children will always need their Father’s helping hands!
On this the day we have chosen to celebrate the Fathers and those that have stepped up to be Fathers, may God bless you and keep you in His love and compassion. It is a big charge to step into Fatherhood and it is a gift that when you receive this position or stand up to take on this position, that you begin to understand that you are blessed. It is a responsibility that will present you with experiences that will touch your heart and soul. It will pose challenges to your intellect and also give you lessons in patience and unconditional love. The connection is eternal and is a life time commitment, but the rewards that it can offer out weighs the investment. Your strength of character, your values and morals will impact your children’s lives, so take care that you always think of them first.
What does a child look for you in?
Do they see you as a giant that can conquer the world for them?
Do they see you as the one they can trust with all that’s in their heart?
Do they see you as the helping hand that will catch them if they fall?
Do they see you as the wisest man that knows right from wrong?
Do they see you as the man that can whisper “I love you my child”?
Do they see you in a state of joy when they are being their authentic selves, knowing that you love them for who they are?
Do they realize that you belong to them no matter what befall, cause you are their “Daddy”, and they have captured the strings of your heart and the essence of your soul?
May all the Father’s that have taken this charge from this world to the world beyond, know that your children love you and will honor you as their “Father” -and see imprints of you that will last into the forever-truth be told.
Just Pure Joy Wrapped in Unconditional Love! What a gift We Have in Children!
Who Am I In the Lives of Children?
The answer to this question was placed in my heart and soul as a child. It seems that I always knew that I would be a heart space, a voice, and a nurturer of and for children. I started out as an Early Childhood teacher, which eventually evolved into teaching college and training teachers to teach children. While doing this work as my main focus for over 30 years, that work has evolved to what I have been called to do at this point in my life. My intention for this work is to be an advocate for children and parents.
My work as a parent educator is to provide a space and support system that will enable parents to realize that they hold in their hands the most wonderful gift that can be part of the human experience when they become a parent. In my book, “Embracing the Gift of Parenthood”, my focus is to provide the tools and opportunity to reflect on what is to be a parent and to guide them through that experience. Parenting must come from the heart and you never realize your full capacity to love until you have a child that touches the strings of your heart. My consultation services are referred to as, “Parenting from the Heart”. I call it- “Heart to Soul Parenting”.
My work as a child advocate is to reach out to the world and be a voice to re-imagine who we think children are and what they need in order to be happy, healthy, whole human beings. The book I am working on now emerged from a document I created to push for the “Bill of Rights for Children”. My initial intention was to utilize the elements as a platform for a mission for activism, but then it became obvious that I needed to write a book that could hold the urgency and longevity of the “Call”, to a larger more global audience to move the “work” forward. Thus I am writing the book entitled, “ The Global Covenant to Protect the Sacred Lives of Children”. This is now the work that I have set my intentions for -advocating for children into a better world where our global collective realize that children must be every nations priority. When we hold them in our consciousness as our priority, everything we engage in and endeavor to accomplish is done in context to – How will this impact humanity and ultimately “our children”.
Go Back to Africa Conversation: Today, June 17th, 2021 One Hundred and fifty six years after the slaves in Texas were given their freedom, Congress passed a bill and President Biden signed into law the bill establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday. The slaves in this country were actually freed 3 years prior but the news was not shared until a Union Army general arrived in Galveston, Texas and informed the then enslaved African Americans that the war had ended and they were free.
When those that are still living in their pain bodies of racism and suggest we (Black people) go back to Africa- cause they think that is punishment my response is as follows:
We will take what we have earned and invested in with us should we decide to go home to humanity’s Motherland! The world does not begin and end with US. We are now global citizens and the world is our home! Just look at the countries and people who have awaken to the disease of racism that has engulfed this country! It has imploded! It was founded by the rejected and un be-knowing to them because their intentions were for the haves and have nots, the rejected once enslaved people (black, yellow, red and white) will be the cornerstones God used to fulfill His promises of love, justice, peace, equality and compassion. Everyone that was suppose to awaken from their slumber of ignorance, indifference, shackles of being enslaved into darkness, fear, disbelief has been awakened! Transformation that is leading to reconstruction and reconciliation is in play! The train has left the station! The planes have taken flight and the ships are prepared for the total waves because God is at the helm of the divine right order that is erupting in the souls of humanity!
Today I believe America Has embarked in a new direction to resolve the inequity and injustice of racism. The world is watching every step we take to bring resolve and reparations for what has been done to people of color in this country. As African Americans, we have always stepped into the fire to be acknowledged for what injustice has been done to us and against us. When we stand up, speak up and show up to fight the curse of racism, we are standing for all of those that have been marginalized and abused by institutional racism.
Fill My Soul with Love- For In Reality, That’s All There Really Is!
We have to do better! We have to be better!
Children deserve a better world than what we are providing them! Why is hate so deeply embedded in our souls? We were not created this way! I remember my sister Lark telling us as she transitioned, that all there really is – is love! She was seeing both sides of the veil! She saw who and what we have the potential of expressing when we decide to “ be our highest selves”! What a magnificent world we could create that would sustain our lives as individuals, as a collective and as a planet! I believe that if we set and practice an intention globally to change the vibration at which are planet is vibrating by we can move the energy of love and peace to circulate and evolve as a species to where we were intended to be! It can happen if each of us reach out to others and pass this challenge on to pray or meditate daily.
It says in the Bible to “Pray without ceasing”! If in fact being a loving soul encompasses all the ingredients to overcome hatred, lack of compassion, lust for power and greed, racism, lack of self worth based on lack of self love and loving others, then perhaps our prayer should be as simple as, “ Let love fill my soul”!
Nothing that resides in the soul can be destroyed! You can try to wipe the slate of the mind clean and clear of what we know our souls carry, but the imprint on the soul was ordained in heaven and only God himself designs and navigates that expression. So if they thought they could destroy the souls memories- they failed! I can’t begin to express what I feel as I watch Celio dance the heart beat of his ancestors whose indigenous cultures, from the many people he represents, flows through his veins. Our children will continue to carry the stories of our lineage, even if we fail to teach them from whence they come. God is still in charge!
I feel that it is important for us as educators and parents to insure that what we are teaching our students and exposing our children to, is ultimately relevant to their life experience. If what we prepare for them in terms of the content of the curriculum and how it can be connected to their daily lives, it serves a purpose and hopefully inspires their thirst for more knowledge and supports their development academically, social-emotionally, and spiritually! This election has unleashed more fear, hatred, racism, and anxiety then I have seen since the 60’s. Educational institutions have historically been the breeding grounds for discourse, conceptual exploration, and solutions to societal problems.
Educational institutions should serve as a means to reflecting and dreaming about the possibilities of who our students have the potential of evolving into that will safeguard the integrity, honesty, justice, and principles of tolerance and compassion. This is that is needed to have a functional inclusive society. We as educators have a responsibility to entice and support the imagination, creativity, proficiency, and genius that resides in the heart and soul of each of our students, just waiting to be discovered. We must offer our students an opportunity for self-discovery. We must provide them with a sacred space to voice their thoughts and in that process we will also discover new aspects of our own growth not only as an educator, but as someone who has found their “work”! PS. Forgive my writing, but I am slightly emotionally drained as I get the “Breaking News”, that Betsy DeVos is selected to be the head of the Department of Education! This is a devastating blow for the educational system that serves our children in this country! We have now stepped formally into the status of being a 3rd world nation. She has absolutely no business heading this department other than to dismantle the education of children who have only public school options for literacy, socialization development, and life skills! This is part of the plan to disassemble the path to middle class status and re-establish the have and have not society. This “shock event” tactic the political gang is using is working! They are keeping us distracted with horrific acts of political terrorism while they sneak in their dirty works that will have a more ruthless affect on the American culture, economic, politics, environment, health and safety, spiritual and emotional well being! Stay awake! Stay alert!
I am learning so many valuable lessons that are helping me have a daily rebirth of my soul!
I use to hesitate when asked to speak or sing, because I struggled with always wanting to be humble of spirit and character. I realize now that I was hiding the gifts that God had endowed me with and that these were gifts He intended for me to use for His purpose that He embedded in my soul expression. Little by little I am learning that when I am asked to speak up, stand up, and show up, it is God that is asking for obedience to fulfill His purpose in the healing of our planet and our humanity.
Each of us have a divine purpose that is not attached or dependent on any element of our being except our “souls”! We don’t stop or retract from our purpose until it is fulfilled. There is not an age limit to doing “our work”! As long as we can find ways to express our divine purpose, we are called into action!
That became crystal clear to me yesterday when I was asked to share my work with a group of seniors. Now the word “seniors” does not resonate with me at all! Culturally it is inappropriate and carries an energy that is stayed and stagnate! So for me I saw it as an honor to come into the circle with the “elders”! To be asked to share the wisdom and truths of my life experiences in context to my “ life’s work”! It struck me so strongly as I looked out at the sea of faces, that there before me were decades of life experiences filled with struggles, success, failures, tenacity, times of grief and pain, as well as joy and excitement! It was a village of elders holding a space of hope and peace for future generations. There was a knowing amongst themselves that each of them held pearls of wisdom and courage that needed to be shared!
Why is it in this culture we are so dismissive of gifts of the young and the wisdom of the “elders”! I realized after it was over and my team reflected on the “talk and share”, that the purpose that day was to remind the “elders”, that they are needed to secure the future of our children-They understood the role they must play to move our society in a positive direction. They understood that we, all of us adults are the past, present and future of our children! We in turn must ask to sit in the circle at their feet, so that we can learn from their life experiences!
It’s beautiful to acknowledge that there is always more truth and knowledge to discover! Life is good!
On this Palm Sunday which coincides with the beginning of Passover, I can’t but think how significant this time is in terms of our human condition. In a world where we see political divides, racial divides, and religious divides, is there anything we can say or do to redesign our human fabric that will bring us into alignment with one another? I was reflecting on the contributions that African Americans have made historically in the context of the American culture, when it made me realize how inner connected we are to each other. America is made of people that represents the ethnicity and cultures of the world and each of us has in some way hosted a thread of the American fabric.
Whatever negative and or racist comments are being targeted towards anyone or anything people are fearful of or threatened by such as Black-Hispanic-Asian-Natives-LBGTQIA+, different religions as well, it becomes a distraction from truth and righteousness. I am an African American that is deliciously flavored with a multitude of other ethnicities that go into making me who I am and gifts me with the lens I have to view the world.
I believe this is the time to lift up and take ownership of the cultural beauty and historical contributions of each of our rich and ancient cultures. Our children have a right to know from whence they come. The more exposure we have and opportunities we have to respect, honor and appreciate each other’s culture, history and contributions to humanity, the more possibilities for us to realize acknowledge and stand in support of each other as one race- the human race. I thank God not only for my parents, but for who they were and what they stood for as individuals and as a “parent team”. I want to thank them for showing me how to honor and respect my divers heritage which has enriched my life and my perspective of what it means to be a citizen of the world. We are all divine emanations of ” Great Spirit”! The corruption of that divinity in us comes when we succumb to the dark shadows and step out of His sacred light! But there is always compassion, grace and forgiveness! It has to be our choosing. I choose unconditional love as my staff and my rod by which to live my life. What do you choose?
There is nothing more powerful than the love of a mother and her children.
Is There Really a Reason for This Madness and Chaos that is Impacting Children and Mothers?
Well, here we go again trying to unravel and make sense of the acts of criminal behavior that is being perpetrated on those seeking asylum in our country. First we put the children in cages and then we spray them with tear gas. Where are we living? What is happening in this country? We are acting like one of the barbaric countries in other parts of the world that have no conscious, no compassion, and no humanity. I am not saying that we allow people to just flood through the borders of we seem to think is our land alone, but there is a process for allowing people to seek freedom and justice in this country and if we can land on the planet Mars, there should be a way for us to peacefully and orderly to help those who need our country to maintain the the sanctity and quality of their lives in the face of terror and death. We should have enough influence and resources to rally countries around the world to stand up for the rights of others in the name of “birth rights to human existence”.
I just don’t feel that we are moving in the right direction. We are creating a legacy that will be the foundation to the demise of this country and ultimately the world that depend on us to be a beacon light, a sacred place that represents intelligence, wisdom, ethics, justice and liberty for all. We are suppose to be the most powerful nation in the world not just in reference to our military strength, but in terms of what was to be our destiny call as a role model for the world in terms of grace and mercy. We have a responsibility to be more than we are being.
The Global Covenant to Protect the Sacred Lives of Children-
Many hands make light the work. We can co-create a better world for our children if we rise to the occasion- which is NOW!
Stand Up! Speak Up! Show Up! Time is running out!
The Global Covenant to Protect the Sacred Lives of Children
The Covenant
Children have a right to be born in a world that provides the resources that will enable them to be cared for spiritually, medically, economically, educationally, and in terms of their social emotional well being. We must provide a social consciousness that honors and values the existence of children as the greatest element that sustains and enhances society. Therefore, we as members of the worldwide global community are being called upon to establish this covenant to protect the rights of all our children.
Children have the right to be cared for and raised by loving, gentle, intelligent, adults that are capable of making wise decisions. The well being of each child is the responsibility of the global society regardless of country or government.
Children have the right to have parents, extended family, teachers, and community resources that will provide only the best of what life has to offer. Each of us must be held accountable for the welfare of all children.
Children have the right to say no in the face of danger that will cause them mental, emotional or physical abuse or endangerment and to be supported and defended by their parents and the law.
Children have the right to be in safe and nurturing environments at home, at school and in their community.
Children have the right to be loved unconditionally and respected.
Children have the right to express their inner most thoughts and needs and guided on how to do so with respect for themselves and others.
Children have the right to be happy and lighthearted.
Children have the right to be accepted as unique individuals with special gifts to contribute to society.
Children have the right to be heard and listened to attentively and respectfully.
Children have the right to be children and not be seen or treated as miniature adults.
Children have the right to be valued and accepted for who they are.
Children have the right to spiritual exposure and development that enables them to develop their divine character.
Children have the right to be guided into positive acceptable behavior that will support them in being their higher self.
Children have the right to be given the tools to develop good self-esteem and even more important, self-respect.
Children have the right to be given the time, space, and opportunities to develop self-discipline and motivation to realize their own dreams and aspirations.
Children have the right to develop age appropriate autonomy and independence.
Children have the right to learn how to make age appropriate choices and decisions.
Children have the right to be acknowledged for their ideas and accomplishments.
Children have the right to be given everything they need and some of what they want. All life’s basic necessities must be provided which includes being cared for by their parents, medical, shelter, food, clothing, safety at home, school and community.
Children have the right to experiment, interact, and explore their environment that should enrich their lives.
Children have the right to participate in artistic expressions that foster the essence of culture and our humanity.
Children have the right to play and for us to value their play as the means by which they absorb knowledge.
Children have the right to a meaningful and purposeful education that will prepare them, for not only further academic mastery, but also will prepare them to be whole, healthy, self-confident, responsible, contributing adults in society.
