Give up the fight

"It's okay to not be tough.
It's okay to let your guard down and open your heart.
Life teaches us to be callus and argumentative, combative and dismayed."

I was starting this as a poem, like most of my other posts, but a journal entry is much more suitable following today's sermon. I also have not done a journal entry in my personal journal, so I'll go ahead and publicize this one.

"Be a Barnabas" was the title of the sermon. You must first understand the nature of Barnabas and who he was. He was a son of encouragement and a genuine encourager. He was full of love, sympathy and faith. How did he get like this? Barnabas grew up with encouraging parents who spoke life into him, who loved on him and showed him affection. As an educator I see the effects of parenting up close and personal. I can connect all behavior, academic achievement and personality traits back to a child's home life and know what's going on in that house without actually being there. No, I am not a psychologist (though I thought about child psychology in undergrad), merely observant of my surroundings and within my profession. And perhaps I am a bit sensitive to people's energy.

What I have come to know about people is they put out what they take in. Love begets love, hate begets hate and so on. So, in the above line "Life teaches us to be callus and argumentative, combative and dismayed," this is only true sometimes. In fact, it was purely a personal testimony. In the saddest of situations a mother does not hug her daughter ever and she chastises her son without giving him the balance of uplifting words. A father does not show his son affection or he never spends time with his daughter. Domestic abuse, drugs and alcohol plague our communities and fill our homes with depression. And this is the legacy we pass on, the generational curses of nothingness because there is a lack of love, sympathy and faith.

As cognizant adults we have choices. We can choose to be different, we can choose to be happy, and we can choose to stop fighting. God always gives us a door, a buoy, a way out of the chaos. Where there was peace and kindness missing in the home, he sends a Barnabas. A friend who believes in you, a significant who loves you, a mentor who gives you hope. Your Barnabas may come in many forms. Be ready to receive your encourager! Take in all the good energy, because as I said before, love begets love, peace begets peace, kindness begets kindness and so on. We put out what we take in. Choose what you take in. Change your friendship circles, your workplace, your hangouts, etc. Be careful what you allow in your life because you will become it.

Most importantly, be a lover! We have to learn how to love and let people love us. If you don't know how then start here:
-practice smiling and sharing hugs
-accept yourself for who you are
-learn how to forgive
-think positive thoughts about yourself and your life (I think, therefore I am)
-get in touch with your spirituality

This all begins with giving up the fight. Stop being hurt and depressed. Do not suppress old feelings, talk about them, it helps with healing. I don't have this to an exact science, as I am working on it daily, but I do have a Barnabus or two in my life to encourage me through it. They are my friends, Sorors, family members and acquaintances near and far. My circle blesses me and I am able to be a blessing, and "be a Barnabas."

Language

She told a story with no words.
Vast swaying motions fluttered about her face.
She spoke volumes without a sound.

She created a world with silent vibrations.
Emotions lived through actions.
She synchronized hearts with melodic motions.

She drew eminence with her hands.
Profound statements made without a voice.
She made language visual.