The Great Debate...

A few of my favorite relaxed ladies have announced they are going natural.  Their reasons for transitioning was not to jump on the “team natural” wagon because “relaxers are sooooooooo bad for their hair.”  But simple because they thought that is what’s best for them.  The one thing that stood out to me was the fact they are not knocking other ladies for relaxing their tresses. 

Lately, when I see ladies without relaxers i.e. naturals, I have been in love with the curls and the styles. As a result, I’ve been having a mental battle as to whether or not I want to allow my relaxer to grow off. Some days I’m all for it and other days I’m like “nope I love my relaxed strands.”  I think the reason I lean more toward the nope part is because of the manageability of relaxed strands and the ease of me creating various styles.  The thought of me not looking groomed when I leave the house startles me.  I, we, are God’s billboard.  Therefore, we must represent our Daddy well.  And to think there could be times when my hair is one big mess is discouraging me from letting the relaxer grow off.  I tried once to transition and quickly gave up because I looked a hot mess, literally!  I think I was damaging my hair more than growing it so I went back to relaxing. 

I talk to God and my husband about it.  I believe God is giving me the green light when I’m comfortable with the decision/process.  And my husband is ok with whatever I want to do with the exception of cutting it all off.  He’s loves my long hair. J Since I have not fully committed to transition (big chopping is not an option), I’ve decided to allow my niece to install box braids.  Hopefully, this will give me the opportunity to decide while having the luxury of not dealing with my hair. 

My last relaxer was April 15, which makes me 6 weeks post.  I typically stretch for about 14-16 weeks.  I feel like 16 weeks is my “breaking point”.  I feel like my hair no longer pays attention to my direction/instructions and begins to do its own thing.   Oftentimes this causes frustration and a sense of hopelessness L  I found one thing that has truly helped me…reminding myself to take it one day at a time.  It’s a journey, whether natural or relaxed.  Along the journey I will encounter various obstacles, emotions, victories, and defeats.  And with each of the experiences, I have to take something from them.  Otherwise, it was pointless to go through the journey.

     

I am so excited about this new hair journey!  My plan is to document/capture my progress along the way.  This will definitely help me remain focus. 

So until the next post…Do something For His Glory!

Same book, new Chapter…

I haven’t wrote in a while so I’m not sure where to begin. But here I go… The book of my life is about a journey designed and ordained by God.  I consider the many experiences, happenings, victories, and obstacles, etc. as chapters.  All of the chapters vary in length. There are times when I want to change the duration, whether shorter or longer.  Since I’m unable to determine or dictate the length of time spent in one particular chapter, I’ve decided the best thing to do is to embrace chapter and make the most of it.  It is my desire that even if the chapter is not so pleasant, I find some good in it and hone in on that.  It’s easy to be negative during a negative situation and positive during a positive situation.  But it takes work to be positive when encountering a negative situation.  However, I am willing to put in the necessary work to put out positivity.  Being positive is a characteristic of my Heavenly Father.  What better way to draw people to Him than by displaying one of His characteristics. 

This chapter brings about change in all areas of my life.  The change that is happening in my life is physical, mental, and spiritual.  Oftentimes change is scary because of the uncertainty that occupies it.  Although there are things I don’t know, I do know Jesus Christ!  With that being said, I know He already has my life planned out according to Jeremiah 29:11.  Therefore, it gives me the opportunity to TRUST Him and for my faith to increase.  It definitely won’t be an easy task because there is an enemy that has desired to sift us (me) according to Luke 22:31.  However, if you read the entire scripture it tells us (me) that God has prayed that our (my) faith doesn’t fail.  With faith one is able to confront, fight, and conqueror all adversities! 

I am excited and looking forward to this new chapter in my life.  Some experiences will be captured by words, pictures, or just memories.  Regardless of how they are captured, my plan is to embrace and joy them!  And I pray that whatever chapter you’re in, you will do the same!

So until the next post…Do something For His Glory!

Do you really....

Trust God????  When adverse situations arise, do you really trust God?  When it seems like there’s no way out, do you really trust God?  When things don’t happen according to your plan, do you really trust God?  When your way of doing things don’t work out, do you really trust God?  

Speaking from experience, I know sometimes it’s easier to say you trust rather than putting the action behind the word.  I’ve found myself worrying how a certain situation will turn out or trying to “fix” things, only to realize that it was during those times I showed a sign of distrust.  We have to know that God wants us to trust him with everything, even those things that seem so minute. How can you put action behind saying you trust??? 

Let go ALL that concerns you, giving it to God and allow Him to handle it. God has promised to take care of His children.  We must do our part & grab hold of His unchanging hand & trust in Him with all our hearts (Proverbs 3:5).  Although we have reliable family/friends that will & are willing to help us in our situations, their help is NOTHING like God's!  They can only guess/offer what they think we need BUT GOD knows exactly what is needed every second. 

Today, I have been blessed with another opportunity to show God that I trust Him.  I trust Him to NEVER leave me.  I trust that He has already handled ALL that concerns me.  I trust that He has already provided WHATEVER I need before I know I need it.  

I trust Him...I trust Him....I....trust....HIM!  I challenge you to do the same...Trust GOD!  So until the next post.....

Do something For His Glory!

  

Amazing Grace

As I was going throughout my day, I began to reflect on this journey called life.  We can easily get caught in what’s not going right & where we would like to be, we forget where we came from.  When I began to think about where I use to be compared to where I am now, the words “Amazing Grace” were painted so vividly in my mind.  Then I started to sing the hymn many of us know…..“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!  I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see!....”  After singing, I was in totally “different” place mentally & spiritually.  I began to dig deeper into what God was showing/speaking to me through that song.  Here’s what I got….

“Baby girl, Grace when experienced is sweet!  I saved you when you didn’t know you needed saving!  You were lost in yours/others world, doing your own thing.  BUT because you have experienced My grace, you are no longer wandering around but you now know where you are & who’s you are.  You can “see” the goodness of God even in the midst of what appears(ed) to be a terrible situation.  You can now testify that My Grace, freely given because I love you, is truly AMAZING!” 

With lips of Praise, a heart full of Thanksgiving, & until the next post…..

Do something For His Glory!