This is dedicated to sweet DW. While her little eyes have no business reading this, I hold out hope that it will be completely unnecessary when she is actually able to appropriate the message.
OK, so this blog post is a response to a "minor" verbal atrocity I became aware of this morning. I classify it as minor because no life or limb was taken, but read this for yourselves and then you decide exactly how small this event was.
A friend of mine has a little girl in preschool. She's a beautiful 4-year-old and is only a couple of days apart from Catie-Beth. She comes from a loving family and her father is an American Indian, which makes her 1/2 AI. Those of you who know me well, know that my grandfather was a full-blooded Lumbee from Pembroke, NC. and that makes me 1/4 AI. I am actually an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe and very proud of my heritage...all sides of it! Although I don't live in Pembroke, and have not experienced many of the prejudices that most of the elders and others in the community have lived through, I know enough to realize that the blinded eye of racism continues to give its fruitless glare to American Indians everywhere.
Now back to the story. Anyone who has a child or knows a child readily recognizes the fact that they'll occasionally have an off day and do things they probably shouldn't do. Sometimes parents get to hear about the events if they are particularly out of character for a child, and this is what the director of a school actually said to my friend about her daughter, "Your child's Indian temper and aggression are coming out lately." WHAT?! EXCUSE ME?!
Heifer better back that bus up! I am a southern-fried, pale-faced Native girl with an inner soul-child named Monifah, do you hear me? With a hand on my hip, finger in ya' face, head to the side and earrings coming off, I'm ready to rip her head off and I've never laid on the beast! I do know she needs to eat those words with a furious quickness though. How the director of a child's learning center could reasonably assign negative characteristics to the heritage of any student literally sets my teeth on edge. Jesus and all the saints, I would verbally lay somebody out for that in less than 2 seconds, and they'd be lucky if that's all I did! I only wish that I lived closer so that I could protest her facility and let all the other parents know how she really feels. I'm a put up or shut up kind of girl, and since she had the misguided guts to say such things, then she ought to have the guts to pay for them. I've had just about enough of these bullying-type incidents running rampant through this nation. This ignorant moron is perpetuating the seeds of racism and bullying in a freakin' preschool. I know that this might seem like a little thing to some of you, but it's the little things that take root and fester. This potato eatin' basket weaver won't stand for it though, and I sure as crap hope this story will serve as an eye-opener to how often American Indians get the short end of the stick. And for the love of everything holy, did she really have to do this at Thanksgiving? Putting a pitchfork in it, 'cause I'm done!
Discuss, respond, share. Thanks!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
For Sorrowful Times
As some of you know, the month of July has not ended on a joyful note for my family. While we began on a peak with celebrations for the birth of our nation and musings about the birth of another child, we have suddenly found ourselves wondering a dark valley of questions and sadness. While we trust the Lord implicitly and know that His foreknowledge surpasses our understanding completely, there are times when the truth of the Word seems to offer little comfort.
However, the Lord is good and His mercy without fail, endures forever. And because He loves me, it is renewed every morning. As I am wading through waves of sorrow, I have been reminded of King David on a continual basis. When he and Bathsheba lost the child born to them out of iniquity, it grieved his heart deeply, but he continued on and praised the name of the Lord regardless. His attitude and position of heart made room for their beloved child, Solomon, which followed them directly afterward. While gross sin and error may have nothing to do with my situation or your’s, the principle remains the same.
There is a decision to be made in places of pain, and a solace of precious communion made available to those who will choose it. The worship that can be released from our sufferings is amongst the purest we will ever be capable of before we reach heaven’s shores, and if we will allow it to come forth and refuse all bitterness, then miracles begin to line up on our behalf.
Consider God’s choicest servant, Job. He lost his entire family, save his moaning wife. He lost all his livestock, his servants, his home, and finally his health. His “friends” extended him the courtesy of fellowship laden with accusations, and his wife encouraged him to curse God and die for the destruction he was lying in. Throughout the time of testing, he held his tongue and continued to bless the name of the Lord. God does not mind if you question Him, or even remind Him of your faithfulness, but keep your peace and lift your praise!
Sometimes all we can do is extend our hands toward heaven and simply acknowledge the fact that He alone is God, and thank Him for His faithfulness to us. If you’re reading this and find yourself in a place of pain, don’t reject it, but begin to thank God for the grace to go forward, and for the opportunity to praise.
With Love and Compassion,
Jen
However, the Lord is good and His mercy without fail, endures forever. And because He loves me, it is renewed every morning. As I am wading through waves of sorrow, I have been reminded of King David on a continual basis. When he and Bathsheba lost the child born to them out of iniquity, it grieved his heart deeply, but he continued on and praised the name of the Lord regardless. His attitude and position of heart made room for their beloved child, Solomon, which followed them directly afterward. While gross sin and error may have nothing to do with my situation or your’s, the principle remains the same.
There is a decision to be made in places of pain, and a solace of precious communion made available to those who will choose it. The worship that can be released from our sufferings is amongst the purest we will ever be capable of before we reach heaven’s shores, and if we will allow it to come forth and refuse all bitterness, then miracles begin to line up on our behalf.
Consider God’s choicest servant, Job. He lost his entire family, save his moaning wife. He lost all his livestock, his servants, his home, and finally his health. His “friends” extended him the courtesy of fellowship laden with accusations, and his wife encouraged him to curse God and die for the destruction he was lying in. Throughout the time of testing, he held his tongue and continued to bless the name of the Lord. God does not mind if you question Him, or even remind Him of your faithfulness, but keep your peace and lift your praise!
Sometimes all we can do is extend our hands toward heaven and simply acknowledge the fact that He alone is God, and thank Him for His faithfulness to us. If you’re reading this and find yourself in a place of pain, don’t reject it, but begin to thank God for the grace to go forward, and for the opportunity to praise.
With Love and Compassion,
Jen
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Nashville
Today is May 4, 2010. The city of Nashville and the surrounding counties are reeling from the hellacious sucker punch of a storm that walloped them mercilessly throughout May 1 & 2. As a result, city functions are literally dead in the water, thousands of people have been displaced, and a few poor souls have become the ultimate victims of circumstance. The waters have consumed homes, cars, businesses, malls, studios, hospitals, arenas, and anything else that dared to stand in its way. The torrents had no respect for our rich musical history as it ravaged The Country Music Hall of Fame and The Opry House. The Opryland Hotel was dealt a fierce blow, probably the worst of all the notable establishments. In the cruelest twists of fate, flooding sparked multiple electrical fires that burned homes down as they stood 5 ft. deep in irony.
While the water is beginning to recede in some areas, it looks as if satan himself raked his claws down the roads and left his hoof prints in everyone's front yards.The countryside has 2 bulging black eyes, and certain communities are lying in a coma. My heart is heavy and I am greatly saddened. Our tragedy is going unnoticed and an entire region of people are receiving little to no attention. I feel like a beloved family member is in the ICU, and there's nothing I can do to make them better. In a real situation like that, all you could do is hold someone's hand and speak gentle words of comfort.
So to you, my city fair, I offer my hand. I'm praying for your speedy recovery and singing words of comfort to you. You are in the center of my fondest memories and have provided the soundtrack to my life. You are not forgotten, and the spirit of the music will carry you through. Ada Blenkhorn penned this anthem in 1899 and The Carter Family immortalized it in 1928...80 years have passed since then, but let's raise it up one more time. Keep on the sunny side, Nashville. Mother Maybelle would want it that way.
Written by Ada Blenkhorn in 1899.
While the water is beginning to recede in some areas, it looks as if satan himself raked his claws down the roads and left his hoof prints in everyone's front yards.The countryside has 2 bulging black eyes, and certain communities are lying in a coma. My heart is heavy and I am greatly saddened. Our tragedy is going unnoticed and an entire region of people are receiving little to no attention. I feel like a beloved family member is in the ICU, and there's nothing I can do to make them better. In a real situation like that, all you could do is hold someone's hand and speak gentle words of comfort.
So to you, my city fair, I offer my hand. I'm praying for your speedy recovery and singing words of comfort to you. You are in the center of my fondest memories and have provided the soundtrack to my life. You are not forgotten, and the spirit of the music will carry you through. Ada Blenkhorn penned this anthem in 1899 and The Carter Family immortalized it in 1928...80 years have passed since then, but let's raise it up one more time. Keep on the sunny side, Nashville. Mother Maybelle would want it that way.
Keep On The Sunny Side of Life
Written by Ada Blenkhorn in 1899.
Music by J. Howard Entwisle.
There's a dark and a troubled side of life
There's a bright and a sunny side, too
Tho' we meet with the darkness and strife
The sunny side we also may view
[chorus]
Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,
Keep on the sunny side of life
It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way
If we'll keep on the sunny side of life
Tho' the storm in its fury broke today,
Crushing hopes that we cherished so dear;
Storm and cloud will in time pass away
The sun again will shine bright and clear.
Let us greet with a song of hope each day
Tho' the moments be cloudy or fair
Let us trust in our Saviour alway
Who keepeth everyone in His care
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Run, it's the dreaded coccinella septempunctata!
Picture it: my 4-year-old is getting dried off from the shower and I'm helping her with the tangles in her hair. All of the sudden she starts this dance accompanied by shrieks of horror. Mind you I say "dance", but really mean a wild attempt to bolt for the door while I'm still securely attached to the comb in her hair. It is not a successful attempt, and she becomes even more frantic. Clearly, I'm taken aback because we went from happy child to howling maniac girl in 15 seconds flat. In fact, I'm pretty sure it was a world record of sorts.
Anyhoo, I digress. I immediately look at the rug thinking that maybe she just peed in the floor and was outrageously upset about it. Strike one. I ask her if she's hurt herself. Strike two. I tell her to tell me what's wrong, and we hit the mother lode. She points to the ceiling and shows me 2 ladybugs that were circling the light fixtures. All the slasher movie theatrics for damnable ladybugs!
I tried to extol the virtues of these fair creatures and convince her to calm down enough to finish with her hair, but to no avail! It made no difference that they were our friends, would not hurt us, or that they were a fetching shade of red with black polka-dots. It made no difference that they protect certain varieties of edible vegetation that she particularly enjoys on a regular basis. (potatoes and corn) I was going down like the Titanic and Molly Brown was laughing at me as she rowed toward safety...
As I neared the last tangle, I suggested that it would be best for her use the facilities before putting on her jammies. But no!! That would be the chosen time for the insidious coccinella septempuncata duo to make their attack! How could I be so blind not to see this? Any fool knows they charge in pairs while you're sitting on the toilet. It is obvious now how fortunate I've been to have escaped the bathroom with my life time and time again. I will have to offer a prayer of thanks tonight now that I realize my blessings.
In closing, I regale this tale to serve as a warning to you. Watch out for the ladybugs; they're diabolical fiends with murderous intent. Deal with them swiftly!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
You asked for it, not me...
Well kids,
For some wild and crazy reason, it would seem that a few of you are actually interested in my ever "special" musings. In light of this, I will make an earnest attempt to keep the subject matter light. I can promise you nothing though, because an increasing number of citizens occupying this planet continue to amuse, infuriate, and befuddle me. I assume the same is true for you, otherwise you would not leave me comments to encourage my wordy antics. All this in mind, realize that nothing is sacred! At any given moment, I could tackle your most ire-inspiring topic to point out what I view as WRONG, so consider yourself warned. On the flip side, I would prefer to keep you on your toes with ideas that raise awareness, yet entertain you. Having said that, know that I may or may not post things on a daily/weekly basis. First and foremost, I have a life. Secondly, I have a 4-year-old daughter. Finally, I'm in school and have a house to maintain...just sayin'.
Here's to a potentially interesting endeavor!
For some wild and crazy reason, it would seem that a few of you are actually interested in my ever "special" musings. In light of this, I will make an earnest attempt to keep the subject matter light. I can promise you nothing though, because an increasing number of citizens occupying this planet continue to amuse, infuriate, and befuddle me. I assume the same is true for you, otherwise you would not leave me comments to encourage my wordy antics. All this in mind, realize that nothing is sacred! At any given moment, I could tackle your most ire-inspiring topic to point out what I view as WRONG, so consider yourself warned. On the flip side, I would prefer to keep you on your toes with ideas that raise awareness, yet entertain you. Having said that, know that I may or may not post things on a daily/weekly basis. First and foremost, I have a life. Secondly, I have a 4-year-old daughter. Finally, I'm in school and have a house to maintain...just sayin'.
Here's to a potentially interesting endeavor!
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