Women Speak: Justice for All - BREAKING POINT

I hear your heart! Let's talk about it: 

BREAKING POINT - Fortifying Mental Wellness in the Black Community

Purpose of this Platform:

To engage in discussions regarding racial tension, violence against blacks, the U.S. and Global unrest, and the cry for justice and human dignity.

Goal of this Platform:

To bring various voices with differing opinions and experiences together to share earnestly, listen fully, and hopefully dispel myths, tear down barriers and begin the restorative and healing process for Black people, the nation, and the world.

Sadly, Black and Brown people have faced a disproportionate number of deaths in the age of the global pandemic. Historically, Black and Brown people have experienced police brutality, mass incarceration, and death at the hands of law enforcement at a significantly higher rate than other races.  We have now witnessed not only the death of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Dion Johnson, Humberto Martinez, and countless others, but also black bodies literally hanging from trees.  Many people of color have expressed feelings of utter mental exhaustion. As a collective, we have hit a wall--we have arrived at a breaking point which is manifesting itself into global protests. 

Click the Link to Register: Women Speak on Mental Wellness in the Black Community

Love Conquers All

Blessings,

Stacie J. Whitaker-Harris

2019 - Reflections of Grace

With the rapidly approaching and inevitable inauguration of 2020 among us, I sit reflecting on not only the end of 2019, but also over the conclusion of the last two decades.

Looking back, I remember the hysteria surrounding "Y2K" and the fear that blindly led the masses to prepare for the worse (black outs, computer failures, and even the possible misfiring or automatic launch of bombs, among other things).

Although I had not considered this as a possible "worse" outcome, the most devastating event leading into the 21st century involved my mother's sudden death. In fact, since my mother passed, me and my family (like many others) faced numerous tragedies, obstacles, hardships, and unplanned events. For instance, less than two years after my mother transitioned my aunt lost a short battle with cancer. Less than thirty days from my aunt's death one of my favorite cousins died unexpectedly. 

I could continue to list all the bad things that happened from the commencement of 2000 until this time, but that would not accurately show the outcome of my reflection or why I titled this post Reflections of Grace. 

Despite all the negatives that happened, God was present in and through it all. I know that some skeptic or person currently feeling the weight of life might read this and ask, "How do you know God was present?"

So, I will answer in this manner: I know that Psalm 46:1 tells us that God is "an ever-present help in trouble," but that is NOT why I stated that God was present. As I continue to reflect, I think about how God showed up through the small acts of kindness from others. 

• When I was sad, someone sacrificed their time to just sit with me while I cried.
• When I was depressed people showed up at my house to not only encourage me, but they cleaned my house, they tended to my children, and they showed up over and over again until my spirits were lifted.
• When I was homeless people took me and my children into their homes. 
• When I had a vision to start a business people gave gifts of their time, talent, and other resources to help me get started. 
• When I failed, people encouraged me to get back up and start again. 
• When I applied to law school (at the unction of the Holy Spirit, AND, after all deadlines had passed) more than 12 people wrote letters of recommendations (I only needed 3).
• When I moved to a new city, people took me in, fed me, provided job leads, treated me with dignity and respect and welcomed me as a member of their family.
• When I started my career after a traumatic brain injury, people wrapped around me with love and support. 

I could go on and on about all the ways God extended grace to me through the loving and selfless acts of others. Grace means favor in Hebrew. But, Grace is so much more than that. Grace, as a verb, bestows honor and dignity. Grace as a spiritual element strengthens during hard times. Grace encourages revival. Grace renews and inspires righteousness. 

God's grace has kept me through some of the most challenging seasons, and I endured because of that same grace!

As 2019 ends and 2020 begins, I encourage you to acknowledge and reflect on God's grace through the smallest of acts and/or gestures. And, if you happen to be full of joy, sitting happily on the top of the mountain instead of being in the valley with those struggling through life's challenges, please take a moment to BE God's vessel in the earth by extending GRACE! May the Lord bless and keep you on your journey, KNOWING that GOD is ever-present!

Happy New Year of Life!

Blessings of Love,

Stacie J. Whitaker-Harris

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Strengthening Your Walk, Stacie J. Whitaker-Harris, Contributing Author
2. Designed for Dignity, Richard L. Pratt Jr. 
3. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Peter Scazzero
4. Traveling Light, Max Lucado
5. The Cure: What if God isn't who you think He is and neither are you, Trueface, et al

Where God guides, He provides - Isaiah 58:11

I am the tree

Jeremiah 17:8 – For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, that spreadeth out its roots by the river, and shall not fear when heat cometh, but its leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall close from yielding fruit.

Psalm 1:3 reads it this way – And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that bringeth forth its fruit in its season.  Whose leaf also doth not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Have you ever taken a moment, I mean a real opportunity to stare at, to study, to mull over the design, structure, stature, shape and size, colors and strength of tress.  If you studied them you will notice no matter the season they are always in the same upright position.  I believe we could stand to learn a lesson from the trees today and always.

No matter how hard the winds blow, some trees bend but they keep their branches (I like to call them arms), they keep their branches in one of the most vulnerable positions – raised, giving honor and reverence to the Creator of all.  They always provide the example of how we ought stand – in submission, humbled before God.  Jeremiah says the trees stand, unafraid of heat when it comes — the trees remain upright and resolute with no care for the season of drought.  And Psalms says it brings forth fruit in ITS season, its leaves do NOT wither and all that the tree does prospers. 

Here is how I see us as trees and I pray that every eye that reads this post also visualizes and sees themselves as trees:

No matter the season, winter, spring, summer or fall, the tree is fixed and unyielding.  The tree remains humble, faithful and submitted always giving God His just do—Reverence.  The wind blows, torrential rains pour, ice, sleet snow, the branches may even grow heavy and weak but it is assured that the season will change.  The tree is assured the sun will shine again.  Leaves blow off at one time of year but still the tree remains unmovable – it is grounded and does not fear its loss because of certainty that it will again prosper and grow.  Again it bends but it does not break and always stands again honoring God.

So I say to you today, be the tree.  Stay grounded and rooted in God, with the spirit of God, in the word of God with your arms raised in submission giving reverence to the Lord of the Heavens and earth remembering that in YOUR SEASON you shall prosper – you shall bear fruit.  You will shed and lose something’s but there is much to gain in being like the tree:

-         Grounded & Rooted

-         Raised arms Worshipping

-         Prosperous bearing fruit

Notice this; it’s rare to see a tree uprooted right?  When it is unearthed, that happens as a result of the roots getting weak – NOT being grounded/stable.  But for the trees that are rooted and are not afraid to bend (be flexible) with each change in seasons, they always rise again more vibrant than before, unwavering.

So again I say stay rooted in your faith.  Remain steadfast in your trust and hope in the miraculous wonders of God.  Stand your ground.  Don’t be afraid when the enemy comes knocking.  God always shields and protects His trees so yield to the move of God.  Be flexible, humble and submitted knowing that in YOUR season you will bear fruit again.  Say, “I am the tree”.