Kiss your kids...if you have them. Hug your friends....tell 'em you love them. Embrace the people that you hold close to your heart. Love the folk who mean more to you than you will ever imagine....if GOD called them home tomorrow.
I have been super excited all week about a possible career move and experienced the highlight of that week yesterday with a series of conversations with the stakeholders of that organization. Conversations that began at 7:30am with the CEO and ended at nearly 4pm with a peer group and the 2nd set of Board Members. None of that is bigger that what GOD has for you. None of it is bigger than family. Our days are predestined and we want to think we are in control...as I often do.
All of that changed this morning. Still riding the high from the possibility of making a career advancement, making the morning trip down 311 to drop my girls off at school, I recieved a call from a life long friend.
My man on the other end of my bluetooth...was in tears and telling me that my God Daughter, HIS DAUGHTER had been called home to be with GOD! She was to be 19 months old on the 9th. How is this fair? My biological daughters in the backseat were quick to ask, "What's wrong Daddy? Why are you crying?" Well, how do you explain to a 4 and 23month old that their sister Ayriel has gone to be with GOD? I wasn't prepared.
After dropping them off at daycare, I had to exit my car and return to their rooms for one more hug and another "I love you." Headed to Charlotte to be with my friends, and say goodbye to my GOD child Ayriel Elaine. How does this make things fair?
To see my friends deal with the loss of a child. The loss of their baby girl. As parents we want (need/expect) our children to bury us, not us to bury our babies. My heart pours out to my friends. I pray that GOD gives them the strength, wisdom, and all the tools to trust in his plan and continue their lives while holding the precious memories of Baby Ayriel with them everyday.
To that, I say GO to GOD. Go to GOD with all that you have. We can't begin to make sense of life. We can't begin to "control" our destiny. We CAN go to the Father and bring him into our hearts and minds. HE is willing and ready to forgive and comfort all of us who trust in HIM. We all need that.
To our Baby Ayriel, I know that she is laughing and smiling that beautiful smile, while experiencing the place that we all wish to go. We will all miss her here on earth in the physical form, but she will never leave our lives. She's forever our Angel, our Ayriel! I Love YOU!
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Live and Give
This is the first entry on my blog site. The title, Live and Give is derived directly on how I live my life. My Grandmother, Sarah Margaret Gabriel instilled this way of life in me at an early age. It simply means to enjoy life to its fullest and give to those who need you.
I plan to use this blog spot to share my personal growth, life experiences, instances of "paying it forward" that we may miss everyday. I hope that people will visit here and share their personal insight on life. As we are all on our personal journeys to fulfill our purpose in life, that road is made easier when you have people who genuinely care, share the road with you. So with that it my hope for this blog to touch someone's life in a way that, absent of this space they wouldn't have received that spirit.
I have been on a quest for self-actualization. Last year (2006) I lost 2 very important people in my life. My Grandmother, Sarah passed away in October and my very close friend John Bullard was murdered in November. At 29 years old, this was an experience with death so close to home. At John's funeral the pastor posed the question, "What will people say about you when GOD calls you home?" That has stuck with me since that day. My friend, John Bullard has left an impression/influence on my life that will last until GOD is ready for me to join them. His legacy with all who knew him is one that is very memorable. People have a lot to say about the way John lived his life. He lived life to the fullest, he loved with all of his heart, and he gave more than any of us can ever imagine. My friend, my brother is missed everyday.
My Grandmother lived her life in a way that I strive to and pray that my children will embrace. She was not a "church goer", she had a strong belief in GOD and always carried a blessing aura with her. She liked to laugh and have fun. She enjoyed life! However, she always had time for those that needed her. That included family, friends, neighbors and sometimes total strangers. She was "Live and Give". She taught me that giving is not always monetary. Time, energy, an ear or shoulder are all great ways to give. She showed me that we must give to those that we can, with regard for ourselves and our families. That is not always an easy thing to determine and requires you be be in tune to the needs of your family.
When I say family, I'm personally speaking about my wife Keisha and daughters Saniya(4) and Aaryn (20mos). I have uncles, aunts, cousins that I'm very close with as well. My family also includes my mother, father, sister, brother, neice, Grandparents. I don't have any "in-laws"...when Keish and I were married, they became a part of my family. The name "in-law" never really set will for me.
I find myself "shouldering the load" for a lot of these people in my life. I have fought this notion for a couple of years, but I'm beginning to see that GOD has placed me here to not "shoulder the load" but rather help to steer the ship in our lives. I know many young folk are thrust in this situation without preparation and would love to hear from them.
As a party of this journey, I am learning that giving also includes steering....steering them in the right direction. Providing insight that will point them and not trying to "fix" everything. That is stress...a killer!
I love life! I love living life with my family and people that I keep close. Again, I hope this blog spot can be a place that all who visit can join in discussion of personal growth, insight on life experiences, and receive something as a part of visiting "Live and Give." I plan to post a few times per week but will visit everyday. See you all soon. Peace
I plan to use this blog spot to share my personal growth, life experiences, instances of "paying it forward" that we may miss everyday. I hope that people will visit here and share their personal insight on life. As we are all on our personal journeys to fulfill our purpose in life, that road is made easier when you have people who genuinely care, share the road with you. So with that it my hope for this blog to touch someone's life in a way that, absent of this space they wouldn't have received that spirit.
I have been on a quest for self-actualization. Last year (2006) I lost 2 very important people in my life. My Grandmother, Sarah passed away in October and my very close friend John Bullard was murdered in November. At 29 years old, this was an experience with death so close to home. At John's funeral the pastor posed the question, "What will people say about you when GOD calls you home?" That has stuck with me since that day. My friend, John Bullard has left an impression/influence on my life that will last until GOD is ready for me to join them. His legacy with all who knew him is one that is very memorable. People have a lot to say about the way John lived his life. He lived life to the fullest, he loved with all of his heart, and he gave more than any of us can ever imagine. My friend, my brother is missed everyday.
My Grandmother lived her life in a way that I strive to and pray that my children will embrace. She was not a "church goer", she had a strong belief in GOD and always carried a blessing aura with her. She liked to laugh and have fun. She enjoyed life! However, she always had time for those that needed her. That included family, friends, neighbors and sometimes total strangers. She was "Live and Give". She taught me that giving is not always monetary. Time, energy, an ear or shoulder are all great ways to give. She showed me that we must give to those that we can, with regard for ourselves and our families. That is not always an easy thing to determine and requires you be be in tune to the needs of your family.
When I say family, I'm personally speaking about my wife Keisha and daughters Saniya(4) and Aaryn (20mos). I have uncles, aunts, cousins that I'm very close with as well. My family also includes my mother, father, sister, brother, neice, Grandparents. I don't have any "in-laws"...when Keish and I were married, they became a part of my family. The name "in-law" never really set will for me.
I find myself "shouldering the load" for a lot of these people in my life. I have fought this notion for a couple of years, but I'm beginning to see that GOD has placed me here to not "shoulder the load" but rather help to steer the ship in our lives. I know many young folk are thrust in this situation without preparation and would love to hear from them.
As a party of this journey, I am learning that giving also includes steering....steering them in the right direction. Providing insight that will point them and not trying to "fix" everything. That is stress...a killer!
I love life! I love living life with my family and people that I keep close. Again, I hope this blog spot can be a place that all who visit can join in discussion of personal growth, insight on life experiences, and receive something as a part of visiting "Live and Give." I plan to post a few times per week but will visit everyday. See you all soon. Peace
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