Black History: Words & Imagery Matters

​My Black History Month Reflection: Why Words and Images Matter

Whether faith guides you or not, human dignity is not up for debate.

For the unaware, for centuries, Black people were portrayed as apes to justify slavery, segregation, and violence. That history was intentional. It was dehumanizing. It caused real harm!

So when imagery compares Black leaders to animals, even if someone calls it “just a Lion King reference” from The Lion King, context still matters. History does not disappear because something is labeled satire (humor).

Leadership is not just about what you can post. It’s about what you should post. Wisdom asks: How will this land? Who might this harm?

So when any public figure, especially someone occupying the highest office in the land, shares or allows the sharing of imagery that echoes a painful history, it cannot simply be dismissed.

Silence or refusal to correct such actions matters. Leadership requires accountability. Scripture reminds us:

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up.” Ephesians 4:29

“To whom much is given, much will be required.” Luke 12:48

We cannot claim ignorance of history and expect to move forward in unity. 

“Clearly, the education system doesn’t do enough to educate us about the science or history of man. Because if it did, we would see the disappearance of the ape insult.” (Bradley,2013)

This further affirms that when we do not know history, we risk repeating it. When we excuse it, we normalize it!!!

The fact that this particular incident from the President occurred during Black History Month only underscores why remembering history matters.

Influence is power. And it carries responsibility.

#KnowYourHistory #IAmBecoming2019 #MichelleObama #Elegance&Class #VoterRegistration

https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/news/3043-the-ape-insult--a-short-history-of-a-racist-idea

Photos: Me attending the I Am Becoming Tour 2019

Letting Go to Protect Your Peace

Sometimes, life can feel like a journey through a crowded room. Some people in that room are there to cheer you on, encourage you, and support you. However, others might not have your best interests at heart. We often think that the enemy’s attacks come from obvious sources. But the hardest hits often come from unexpected places—those we love and trust. These betrayals are especially painful because they come from people we’ve let into our inner circle. It's why we have to be mindful and prayerful about who we allow into our lives and trust God to give us discernment. 

It’s natural to think that friends and loved ones would always have our backs, but sometimes, even they can be used as vessels to bring us down. The enemy often knows he’ll have the most impact if he comes at us through familiar faces. This doesn’t mean that the people in your life are “bad”; sometimes, people act out of insecurity, jealousy, or simply a lack of understanding. It’s painful, but we can guard our hearts by setting boundaries and leaning on God for protection and guidance.

Proverbs 4:23 warns us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” This verse is a reminder to be intentional about what and who we let into our lives. Are the people around you building you up? Do they encourage you to grow in faith, pursue your goals, and be your best self? Or do they tear you down, sow seeds of doubt, or lead you down paths that don’t align with God’s purpose for your life?

Choosing the right friends doesn’t mean cutting off everyone who makes a mistake. None of us are perfect. But it does mean being wise and surrounding yourself with people who genuinely have your best interests at heart, even if that circle becomes smaller.

Unfortunately, there comes a time that you must acknowledge when it’s time to let certain people go. The Bible offers us wisdom about choosing our circle wisely, and Genesis 31:49 says, “May the Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.”  While this verse is often used to bless relationships, it was originally spoken in a moment of parting, where trust was limited, and both sides needed God’s protection in the separation. This can be a powerful reminder that cutting ties isn’t about bitterness or resentment but about trusting God to watch over both parties as you go your separate ways. 

If someone in your life is consistently pulling you away from peace, pushing you to compromise on your values, or bringing harm instead of growth, it may be time to lovingly release them and let God watch between you. This means relying on God’s protection, knowing that sometimes the healthiest step is creating space, even for those you once held close.

Choosing to step back can be hard, but with God’s strength, you can part with love, grace, and the confidence that He’s watching over both of you, even from a distance. 

One of the hardest lessons to learn is that it’s okay to love people from a distance. You can care for someone deeply while recognizing that they’re not meant to walk every part of your journey with you. Boundaries are not about pushing people away; they’re about protecting the space where God is growing you. When we let go of relationships that pull us away from God’s peace and purpose, we make room for healthier, God-centered relationships to take root.

Mindful Moment of Reflection:

Are there people in your life that you’ve been holding onto, even though they don’t bring you closer to God? How can you start trusting God more to help you find people who align with His purpose for you?

Prayer

Lord, help me to be wise about who I let into my life. Surround me with people who encourage me, who love me, and who help me walk closer with You. When I face pain from those I trust, remind me that You are my true source of peace and strength. Give me discernment, courage, and grace as I set boundaries and build a circle that aligns with Your purpose. 

Amen.

Is it Worth Your Worry?

Is It Worth Your Worry?

By Gloria Calhoun, M.Ed.

Worrying is feeling uneasy or overly concerned about a situation or problem. With excessive worrying, your mind and body go into overdrive as you constantly focus on what might happen. It is one of the biggest things that can drain the life and energy out of you.

When I think back on the things that had me in shambles fifteen years ago, I can’t help but laugh because now they are irrelevant. I can’t believe I spent so much time and energy on nothing. Looking ahead ten years from now, I know that many of the things that seem urgent today will no longer matter. In fact, they may even be things I laugh about later.

Scripture reminds us not to be anxious:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV)

If God tells us to cast our cares on Him, and He promises to keep us in perfect peace when our mind is fixed on Him, then why worry? Jesus said:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” — Matthew 6:25 (NIV)

Worry is not harmless. It robs us of sleep, affects our health, drains our energy, and damages relationships. Some turn to harmful habits in an attempt to cope—overeating, smoking, or drinking—yet worry never solves the problem. At best, it leaves us stuck. At worst, it makes us sick.

But Jesus never told us not to have concern for real responsibilities. If your car breaks down in traffic, of course you should be alert and careful. Instead, what Jesus forbids is the constant, consuming anxiety that pulls us away from trusting God.

Our only biblical response to life’s difficulties is to place them in the hands of our Heavenly Father. Run to Christ in prayer. Don’t let worry rob you of peace. When you cast your burdens on Him, He will never fail you.

Everyone faces storms, but Jesus is our anchor. He is our Rock, our Provider, our Deliverer. If His eye is on the sparrow, surely His eye is on you. If you feel like you’re sinking, remember—His hand is always reaching out to lift you up.

Scripture for Meditation

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

Mindful Moment

Take a deep breath.

Name the one thing that has been weighing most heavily on your heart.

Now, picture yourself placing it into God’s hands.

Repeat slowly: “God cares for me. I trust Him with this.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for reminding me that I do not have to carry the weight of my worries. Teach me to release every burden into Your hands and trust that You are working all things together for my good. Replace my anxious thoughts with Your peace, my fears with Your promises, and my doubts with faith. Help me to live with a heart fixed on You, confident that You care for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Is It About The Bunny or The Risen Savior?

"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay." – Matthew 28:6 (NIV)

While walking through the store the other day, a kind lady smiled at my son and asked, “Is the Easter Bunny coming to your house? Is he bringing you lots of candy?”

He looked at her, puzzled—just as I did.

His confusion came from innocence—he’s only three and we’ve never taught him about a bunny that delivers candy. Mine came from realization. That was the second time in just a few days that someone asked me about a bunny hiding eggs rather than about the Savior who rose from the grave.

Now don’t get me wrong—yes, we’ve participated in egg hunts, and yes, my children will receive a little basket after church on Sunday. Growing up, that was part of our tradition: getting dressed up in our best for Easter Sunday, reciting our speeches in front of the congregation, enjoying a family meal (with ham, of course), and then collecting our baskets and finding hidden eggs. Honestly, many of us as children memorized our speeches just for the treats at the end!

But as I’ve grown in my faith, I’ve become more aware of how easily Easter gets diluted. In our culture today, Easter is widely celebrated—but rarely for what it actually means. Public references almost never mention Jesus. Instead, we see commercials for chocolate bunnies, colorful eggs, and pastel-colored candy. The sacred has been commercialized. The cross replaced by cuteness.

Yet, in our home, while we might dye a few eggs and take part in community events, our children know the truth.

They know Jesus went to Calvary.

They know He was crucified, that He hung, bled, and died—for us.

They know no bunny ever bore the weight of the world’s sin.

They know that early one Sunday morning, He rose again, just as He said.

That’s the story we cling to.

That’s the story we teach.

That’s the story that saves.

Easter—better yet, Resurrection Sunday—is not just a tradition. It’s a declaration:

That Jesus is alive.

That death has no sting.

That sin has no hold.

That grace has won.

In the Old Testament, atonement required the blood of a spotless lamb. But Jesus became the final sacrifice—the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He bore our guilt, though He was blameless. He died once and for all, so we could live eternally.

God’s love was poured out on a cross, not in a candy wrapper.

So as we celebrate this Resurrection Sunday, let us ask ourselves:

Is our focus on the bunny… or the Blood?

Are we more excited for the basket… or the empty tomb?

Let us never forget—Jesus is the reason, not just for the season, but for our salvation.

Original Written and published April 13, 2013

You’ll Still Arrive

“We can make our plans but the Lord determines our steps” Proverbs 16:9.

A few weeks ago, I was supposed to be on a cruise. Not just a vacation—but a reset. A deeply needed pause after pushing through wave after wave of trauma, grief, and responsibility.

I had been holding it all:

• The weight of work drama

• The heaviness of home

• The heartbreak of my son moving away

• The exhaustion of caring for and then burying my father

• The quiet ache of carrying everyone else stuff leaving me to feel as if I were emotionally neglected.

I kept saying to myself, “Just make it to the cruise.”

Not because of the ocean. Not because of the ship. But because it represented the one thing I had allowed myself to hope for, the mental space that helped me get through.

And then…just like that, it was canceled.

At first, I felt nothing. Just numb.

But then came the frustration. The deep disappointment. The question of why?

Not because I needed a luxury escape, but because I needed an emotional exhale.

But God.

Just a few weeks later, something unexpected happened.

I ended up taking a short trip with my husband. We laughed. We reconnected.

Then we flew to Orlando with our youngest son. I walked through the same airport I would’ve flown into for my cruise. Went through the same process of renting a car that I had planned the week before. I went to downtown Disney (Disney Springs), which had been on our cruise itinerary.

I even passed Port Canaveral—the very port I was supposed to depart from. Somehow, in the middle of all that movement, I still got to see my mother-in-love too.

God didn’t give me what I planned, but He led me to what I needed. While it didn’t look like my cruise itinerary, it became my soul’s itinerary.

Because sometimes…

You’ll still fly.

You’ll still smile.

You’ll still arrive.

Just not the way you expected.

You may not arrive the way you planned, but you’ll arrive exactly where you’re meant to be. Even when plans shift, purpose never misses its destination.

Mindful Moment of Reflection

1. What have you been pushing through that no one else sees?

2. What’s something you’ve tried to control that God might be asking you to surrender?

3. Where in your life have you arrived—just not the way you planned?

Prayer:

Lord,

I confess—I’ve been trying to carry it all, plan it all, hold it all together. But You see the tears behind my strength. You see the hope I tuck behind my hustle. Help me release the weight I was never meant to carry alone. Even when my plans fall through, remind me that You never do. You order my steps. You see my heart. And somehow, You’ll still bring me to the place I was always meant to be. Even if the path looks different than I imagined. I trust You!

Amen.

The Power of Advocacy: How We Can Push Back Against Harmful Policies

In times of uncertainty, when our communities face policies that threaten our well-being, advocacy becomes our most powerful tool. Advocacy is not just for politicians, activists, or lawyers—it’s for everyone. It’s how we make our voices heard, hold leaders accountable, and fight for a future that protects and uplifts us all.

What is Advocacy?

Advocacy is the act of influencing decisions that affect our lives and communities. It can take many forms, from educating others and engaging with elected officials to organizing protests and mobilizing voters. Advocacy ensures that those in power hear the voices of the people they serve.

Why Do We Need Advocacy Now?

Recent government actions threaten to cut funding for essential programs like healthcare, housing, education, and food assistance. These cuts disproportionately impact low-income communities and people of color, exacerbating existing inequalities. Additionally, concerns over unethical government appointments and potential voter suppression make it clear: we must take action to protect our rights and resources.

How Can You Advocate for Change?

1. Contact Your Elected Officials

1. Call, email, or visit your local, state, and federal representatives.
2. Demand that they oppose harmful budget cuts and fight for economic and racial justice.
3. Request public statements or policy proposals that support your community’s needs.

2. Stay Informed & Spread Awareness

1. Follow credible news sources and advocacy organizations.
2. Educate family, friends, and neighbors about the impact of policy changes.
3. Share information through social media to reach a broader audience.

3. Organize & Mobilize

1. Attend town halls, city council meetings, and legislative hearings.
2. Join or start a community group focused on protecting social programs and democracy.
3. Participate in petitions, letter-writing campaigns, and grassroots activism.

4. Hold Leaders Accountable

1. If elected officials do not support the needs of the community, advocate for their removal through elections or public pressure.
2. Support candidates who prioritize working families, equity, and justice.
3. Demand transparency in government spending and decision-making.

5. Protect Voting Rights & Civic Engagement

1. Make sure you and your community are registered to vote and aware of election deadlines.
2. Help combat voter suppression by educating others about their rights.
3. Encourage voter turnout in all elections—local, state, and federal.

Take Action Today

✅ Find out who your representatives are at www.usa.gov/elected-officials.

✅ Call or email their offices and demand action.

✅ Attend the next city council or community meeting to voice concerns.

✅ Join a local advocacy group or start one.

✅ Stay engaged—change takes time, but persistence is key!

The fight for justice and equity doesn’t belong to just one group—it belongs to all of us. By using our voices, staying informed, and organizing our communities, we can push back against harmful policies and create a better future. Advocacy is power. There's Power In The Pen! Use It!

Tis The Season: Navigating The Holiday Blues

The holidays are a time of joy, celebration, and reflection, but as life evolves, so do our experiences of the season. Loved ones pass on, children grow up, and the familiar traditions that once brought us comfort may shift or fade away. Even as believers who know that Jesus is the reason for the season, the human side of us can still feel the sting of change and loss. While gratitude remains in our hearts, it doesn’t always erase the pain we feel.

The good news is that God understands. Psalm 34:18 reminds us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” It’s okay to grieve what has changed, but it’s also important to lean into His presence and the new things He is doing, even when they feel uncertain or unfamiliar.

Three Solutions for Finding Peace in Changing Seasons

1. Acknowledge Your Feelings in God’s Presence

Instead of pushing your emotions aside, bring them to God in prayer. He cares deeply about your sadness, your longing, and your uncertainties. Journaling or speaking aloud your feelings in prayer can help release the heaviness and make room for His comfort.

2. Create New Traditions

While you may miss old routines, consider starting new traditions that honor the past but embrace the present. Whether it’s volunteering, gathering with a different group of friends, or taking time for quiet reflection, new practices can bring meaning to the holidays in unexpected ways.

3. Focus on Eternity and His Promises

The holidays point us to the eternal hope we have in Christ. Shift your focus from earthly losses to the everlasting joy promised in Him. Revelations 21:4 says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Let this promise sustain you.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for being Emmanuel, God with us, especially in seasons of change. I trust Your word and Your promises, but my human heart feels the loss and transition deeply. Please comfort me and remind me of Your presence in every moment. Help me to find joy in what remains and courage to embrace the new. Lord, let Your peace fill my heart as I navigate the holidays, and help me to see Your hand at work in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.