Bell, Bail, Bale

Bell, Bail, Bale: English is hard. Understanding context makes all the difference when it comes to communication. Before thinking you understand what someone is saying, ask questions for clarity. Restate what you think you heard using different words to make sure you heard things correctly.

Sunday’s Blessing – 05/12/2024 – Mother’s Day

Most of the time, it is easy to bless your mother

I realize there are those who had a bad experience 

Being raised by a mother with struggles; mental, financial, emotional, physical

Some never knew their mother: died giving birth, died early from disease or accident, adoption

Regardless, the Bible is clear that we are to honor her; she doesn’t have to be honorable

We are to love her; she doesn’t have to be lovely

We are to obey her; this is actually given as a benefit to us, so we will have a long life

We are to learn from her; she doesn’t have to smart

This day, even if you have to do it in faith, rise up and call her blessed

If your mother is still living, find a way, through recorded or written words, a purchased item like a poem or picture or some other form of art, or an actual conversation

To tell her how much you appreciate her giving birth to you, for nurturing you to maturity, for sacrificing much so you could live

If she is no longer living, do one of the above things for yourself as a tribute to your mother

Motherhood is certainly one of the most difficult aspects of humanity

Giving up your body for nine months, enduring birth, seemingly unending responsibility

Especially when the father is either absent or not engaged in the parenting process

It is a sacrifice many have made, and with very little thanks given for all they gave

Here is a Sunday’s Blessing for moms:

May you know the peace which comes from loving your children

That you may enjoy the precious gift from the Lord each one represents

That you realize you are a great blessing in each child’s life, even if they do not know it

That you find your strength in the Spirit’s presence in those desperate moments

May you hear the Lord’s voice in each cry

See the Lord’s majesty in each smile

Recognize the gifts each child is given by God

And direct each arrow into their destiny as you launch them toward their purpose

Sunday’s Blessing – 05/05/2025

May you experience God’s promise from Ps 91:16:

“With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.”

And that life would be the abundant life provided through Christ

Full of grace and truth about our Creator

May each day be met with wonder and zeal for your purpose

To be a reflection of Christ to your world

To take each step as you follow the Spirit’s leading

To display the Kingdom of God to those you meet

May end each day with confidence found in trusting Christ

To lie down and rest in the assurance of God’s love

To dream about things yet to be experienced

To be refreshed by the Comforter

May 4, 1969 - A Day of Infamy

May 4, 1969 – A day which will live in infamy. As long as I have a mind to think with, a mouth to speak, and breath in my lungs, I will declare the praises of my father, Azell Leroy Harris. He literally gave his all. Not just that day when he gave the ultimate sacrifice in performance of his duty as a Birmingham Police office. He gave his all every day: loving and caring for his family, serving the widows in the community by performing minor repairs and such, mentoring young boys through the Cub Scout program, mentoring young men through Boy Scouts, serving his congregation as a deacon in the Baptist church, serving his country through the army reserves, and probably a few more that I never even knew about.

Fifty-five years ago. I was only nine at the time. I have a few memories of my father, but I have learned so much about him through others I’ve had the opportunity to speak with as I got older. Every person describes him using almost the same words. Kind, gentle, loving, giving. Even though he was not a man of letters, I read for the first time a letter he wrote to his mother while he was serving in the army. Seeing those words on the page was very surreal. It made me wish even more that he had been given to writing or journaling. I would have cherished every word.

Having made it to 64, I have beaten the odds of my family heritage. Only one generation of Harrises out of the past five made it beyond 52. I never met any of my father’s lineage. I’m very grateful to have all of my siblings still living. We have made a commitment to gather more frequently. I hope we can.

I encourage you to take time today to call your parents if they are still living. Better yet, go see them. If they are no longer living, then consider writing them letters to express your feelings for them. Even though they will never see it, you will. And your family if you have any left. Even if the relationship was strained, or even hostile, write something anyway. Find a way to see the good. You may not know all they were dealing with, or what their history looked like. Maybe through your words, you can begin a new trajectory for your family to live from going forward. It’s said that words are cheap, but after you are gone, only the words you chose to record will be heard.

To, Too, Two, Tutu

To, too, two, tutu: English is hard. However, it takes the same amount of breath to bless as it does to curse. Most of my writing these days has been finding ways to speak blessings. It totally changes your state of mind when you think of ways to speak positively about someone instead of finding ways to tear them down.

For many, the curses come much more freely than blessings because very little though is spent spewing negativity. It's really not surprising. It's all around us. We are constantly bombarded with it at every turn: human interaction in public spaces, the news media, social media, etc. Before giving the knee-jerk response of negativity, take a minute and find something pleasant to say. I don't mean you have to "lie" about the subject at hand which you may loathe. Simply speak on another matter which you can share something uplifting. (A bit of commentary. FB dictionary doesn't even contain the word "uplifting".) That should tell you something.

The idea of blessing is not just for conversations. Take time to write down specific things you would like to share with others; possibly a mate, a friend, a child, a coworker, etc., and then give it to them in print. That way you can be certain you communicate it as clearly as possible, and it can also become a keepsake for them. Try it once or twice. I think you may like it.

Sunday’s Blessing – 04/28/2024

May you be renewed by the presence of the Lord

As though being born anew

Like a newborn with every bit of life ahead of them

You have not missed anything

May today be the beginning of days for you

Just as God said to Israel after they left Egypt

Four hundred years were simply wiped from the slate

Because a new life had begun for each of them

May you find joy and peace for your new journey

As you are greeted with new mercies every day

And forgiveness as you walk with the Lord

And hope as the Father sings over you His songs of deliverance

Sunday’s Blessing – 04/21/2024

May you be drenched by the rain from Heaven

As God showers you daily with new mercies

As you bask in the grace of the Lord

As you are led, step by step, by the Spirit

May the living water flow freely from you

To keep you cleansed

To provide hope and healing to your world

To water others who may be parched

May the rivers of living water overwhelm you

To provide deep waters to swim in

To carry you in your purpose

To make deserts blossom