LoveWorksStill

Oftentimes, I wonder how people process information.  Personally, I overthink everything most of the time.  In order to free my mind from things, I have to force myself to not think about them.  For others, they may be the total opposite.  I do believe, however, that there are some people who are so unconcerned about how others will feel concerning their “thoughts” or opinion that they tend to create a fire that spreads beyond control.

A few years ago, I was working for a school in which it was necessary to get outside daily due to being surrounded by 10 to 12 children who were eighteen months to three years old.  They needed that gross motor movement, and I needed some fresh air and space!  One day, the fresh air turned smoky all of a sudden.  The next day, it was even worse.  For about two weeks straight, the air quality was so bad that we had to stay inside with these children who desperately needed to move!  Their restlessness turned into frustration, and their pent-up energy was something that we had to be creative to cater to.  They were unable to express their real need to move.  What was meant to keep them safe was felt something like torture to everyone.

The smoke came from a fire that was started in a forest or wooded area. The fire was so challenging to put out that many fire stations traveled to help support the local teams. The fight with this fire took weeks to really get under control. It not only destroyed that area, the effects caused issues for all of the surrounding areas in which we were effected. Even when I went home which was 45 minutes further away, the smoke traveled there too.

Over the last few years, there have been conversations, or should I say killings, suicides, physical and verbal fights, and political wars that have taken place.  I first thought about last year, but my memory continued to go to the year before that and the year before that.  This has been a problem because the way that we communicate has not been done with love.  Hate resides over so many of the situations that stand out in my mind. 

I normally post my blog on the first of every month, but this time I waited because something happened that I wanted to overthink about first.  My goal is to communicate this in love.  In all of our many differences and our specific “why” to our desires, sometimes we often forget to think our thoughts all the way through before speaking on them.  We miss looking from someone else’s perspective.  

Need an example? I will give you a few.  I am an African American woman!  I know MY personal black culture.  However, when I leave my home, it is important to know that what I believe is not the golden rule.  It is not mandatory, and it’s not a “one size fits all ” way of living.  Everyone doesn’t like homemade cornbread like I do!  

Some people think bullying others in order to climb the corporate ladder is the only way to reach success in this world.  They want the glory, but sometimes forget that the way to the top is by reaching back to help those who are on their own team.  Respect and integrity builds a name even on the lowest level and that’s something no one can take away from another without tampering with their own character.

My last example is sign language.  I observed a confrontation about non or partial deaf interpreters being cyber bullied by some of the deaf community.  No need to imagine something happening because it feels just as painful as racial tension.  I created this song that I plan to release within the next month as I share that we need to heal communication barriers.  Our words have damaged so many lives!  It has even damaged our own selves.  There are people in this world who are working hard to support others who may not be like them, but they see a need to bring awareness!  Let’s start the real conversation.  What are we saying? 

Are we saying that how things are right now is fine and change doesn’t need to happen?  Or are we seeking to bring some understanding on how to clean up our way of supporting so that we are not offending?   Are we coming in love to correct or are we coming to make a mockery of another?  Learning happens for people differently.  How can we truly learn if we don’t tap into our gifts to reach as many people as we can even while we are learning?  I would much rather have someone on my team who is not lethargic about learning more about me rather than someone assuming and putting me down wrongly. 

Did you know that the colors or patterns you wear when signing are important for the deaf community?  Did you know that one word can be signed multiple ways and all have different means just like the English, Spanish, French, and EVERY OTHER LANGUAGE?  Learning to sign is challenging.  I, myself, am not keen on the language but still embrace learning it.  But I choose to learn in hopes that one day all of my preparation will help save a deaf person’s life!  

Everything we do or don’t do matters!  Who can you count on if you push those people who are willing to help away?  What are we really saying?  Are saying it in love to build up or are we saying it in hate to tear down?  What is the ultimate goal?  In my life, if what I have to offer offends others, I know that I have to 1) check myself to make sure my motives are pure, 2) ask for clarity on why someone is offended, and 3) dust the dirt off my feet and keep preparing for the person I am called to reach!  

What matters to me is that in my time of need, someone showed up for me.  They may not have looked like me, acted like me, lived the lifestyle I lived, but they shaped my future for the better.  Not only am I improving, but so are they!  We can build each other up with our challenges if we are truly doing it out of love.  It won’t always feel good, but it won’t be done to break someone!  And that is the difference.  

Make today a momentous day by celebrating someone who has invested in your life. You never know how your word of encouragement could change the tempo of their day. We all have a nuque that our head sits on. Let’s take more time lifting someone ‘s spirits rather than trying to bring them down.

So again, I ask, what are we saying?

Until next time, #loveworkswhenourwordsdont! 💚

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