Redefining Prosperity

It’s Thanksgiving week!  This week some of us will reflect on all for which we are thankful and most of us (whether we celebrate the holiday or not) will get together with family and/or friends to eat, drink, and be merry.  As you gather with your loved ones, I challenge you to rethink your definition of prosperity.  The cultural (not dictionary) definition of prosperity in the United States generally means lots of money, a big house, a fancy car, and a high-level job.  Truthfully, not many of us live like this.  It wasn’t until my very life and my family was challenged that I understood true prosperity.  Even in our struggles, we are incredibly blessed. As one lady states in my women’s group, I love when you smile and cry at the same time.

This holiday, I hope that you will live your life surrounded by an abundance of love.  It is my prayer to the Creator that your heart will be full of joy and that you learn to love others (even the people that you do not like).  It is also my prayer that you have a roof over your head, heat, food on your table, clothes on your back, and people to share your love with.  And if you happen to be alone (because it happens), please know that you are loved.  Don’t focus on the things that you see or don’t have, focus on love.  Use this holiday to appreciate life simply. Instead of a full Thanksgiving meal, order your favorite dish from your favorite restaurant the night before and eat it on Thanksgiving with your favorite movies. If you are not a home body, go out and participate in some of the many public Thanksgiving traditions. The point is to find your joy within and to love others for this is true prosperity!

Happy Turkey Day Everyone!

Forgotten

With an anguished heart, I sit and think about the many missing girls and women around the world. I started thinking about the kidnapped Nigerian girls and my thoughts spiraled to sex trafficking. I wonder if we, the human race are not responsible fundamentally. Have we been attentive enough? Have we allowed these females to disappear? Where is the respect for basic Human life?

I think it can only be allowed if someone – a wife, mother, sibling, friend, stranger turns a blind eye to the offenders! Maybe we are too afraid. We assume someone else will do it. We don’t know where to turn. Maybe we ignore it because we actually benefit from someone else’s pain. Heaven help us if this last statement is true! I do know this -EVERYTHING done in the dark will eventually come to light!

This is a call to a greater humanity; a call to live with our hearts. If you see someone with your heart, you cannot ignore them because the reality is…you are looking at yourself.