A Quick Note about Love

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I know it’s been a minute since I’ve written a blog, but today I’m feeling inspired and motivated to say something so here we go.

For the past three months my perspective on somethings have changed and are still changing. I read one day someone’s Facebook status about Jesus’ ministry on earth and how he always demonstrated love. I began to take inventory of this in my life. We often sing the song and say “I want to be like Jesus” we even wore bracelets and t-shirts that proclaimed What Would Jesus Do? Suddenly, it was just a fad of people wearing it and not knowing anything about it. In order to know “What would Jesus Do” you first have to understand what he did. 

Today I want to put the spotlight on Love. Everything Jesus did, he did in Love. I often question myself while handling situations. Is this love? Is cutting folks off, and not forgiving your brother and sister Love? We pray and ask God to forgive us all the time but and then when someone wrong us or call us out of our name, our entire day is messed up and were cutting them off. I am truly guilty of this and am a work in progress. 

All I’m saying is… watch how you treat people and in everything make sure that you are expressing and showing love. Make love an action word and do it by giving someone your time, your hear, your hands to finish a job, and if you feel the need to help someone monetary then do that too. 

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:34-35 

GAME OVER… START OVER

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So today I started back running outside. (YAY) Last year I wanted to do some competitions like 5k and 10k and make my way up to half marathon, and possibly Marathon. I mean I may even do the Boston marathon but I let my laziness get in my way and I ended up quitting. I also wanted to find a running buddy or group but couldn’t but as I was running today I heard the words, “Game Over, Start Over”. As if this was my second time to try and get it right.I started to relate this to my life and begin to almost tear up. There’s been so many things that I have tried but gave up and at the end of the game, instead of starting over I just didn’t do it. I’m sure you can relate there’s somethings we’ve tried once and because it didn’t work, we didn’t even give it another try. I can remember playing video games as a child. There I would be stuck at this one level and would try and try again but each time I tried I would use a different approach to see if I could beat it. (You see where I’m going?)

The goal is to never give up. Yes, so you lost that one but one thing you did gain was the experience and for the next time you try, now you know what not to do. Those experiences and trials in our life help us grow stronger. Sometimes we do need to start over. Now that you know what the challenge is like, you know what to expect. So now you can start off stronger and even smarter. Sometimes the answer might just be right in our faces, but because were vexed on one approach of getting the job done, we blow it and (Game Over).

I want to encourage my brothers and sisters who will read this. Just because you lost this time doesn’t mean it’s over. Yes, this trial and segment of the game might read “Game Over” but I dare your “Start Over” and get back in the game!

My Piano Teacher

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Welcome back and thank you so much for taking the time out to read my blog. I hope you be inspired by the small nuggets I write and declare. Stay tuned and remember always come back and check out my blog for Blog Wednesdays.

Some of you may know that I went to a performing arts high school. The school range from grades 6-12. So,  at about 9 years old I started fumbling around with a toy keyboard that I had gotten for Christmas. I would spend hours playing and carrying it around the house and pretty soon I was able to play back what I heard from the radio and TV. I was able to pluck out the melody. My parents caught on to this, and said “maybe there’s something here”. So next Christmas I got a 61 Keyboard and was able to play some of the songs the keyboard came with. After seeing my interest in piano, my parents decided to have me audition for the Emerson School Performing Arts school in Gary, IN as a piano major. I remember the audition like it was yesterday. I came to the school highly prepared with my boombox, because I was going to play along with the track.

I walked in, set down and the piano teacher begin asking me a few questions and then I sat at a baby grand piano for the first time in my life. She asked what I was going to play and I replied ” Donnie McClurkin’s We Fall Down”. So I pressed play on my boombox and begin to play it. At that time I thought I was doing some big stuff, but I only played the melody using both hands!!!! I didn’t know what the word melody was or octave or anything. After a few weeks I received a letter in the mail, saying congratulations I had been accepted and at that moment my musical journey began.
I want to introduce to some my piano teacher and friend Judith Neville. She was indeed the piano teacher at the audition who seen the gift inside me and took a chance on letting me into the school. I didn’t know how to read music, or understand any terminology going in, but I owe it to her for being an amazing Teacher. You always hear the term, teachers don’t make enough. I always took the saying literal because most teachers I seen had nice cars but it wasn’t about the money. Teachers are mothers, fathers, counselors, therapist, and so much more to the students that they teach.

I’ve said enough about me but I want to dedicate this blog to my teacher Mrs. Neville. She’s now moved into one of her dreams and now has her own piano studio in Valparaiso, IN.

I want you all to visit her site and if you are in the area and are looking to take lessons, this is the place to do them!

Clicking below will take you to her website.