THERE WILL BE CRYING
There will be crying, but it will be alright.
Have you ever had to face something that you knew would be painful? A breakup, a task, a conversation, a procedure, a confrontation, a move….
After 5 years, my granddaughters and their parents were moving out of our house. My son and his wife purchased a small house in a community to the south of the city we lived in. Not a long distance away, but an unacceptable distance as far as Zakiya was concerned.
“I’m not going.” She would announce mustering as much 4 year old defiance as she could. Christina was packing up the girl’s playroom. Her mother and I tried to make the transition as smooth and exciting for her as we could. We told her about having her own room, making new friends, more space for toys. We reminded her that she would have a larger playroom and be able to bring out many more dolls and books and games than she could at my house. Zakiya looked from her mother to me and back to her mother again. She stretched out her arms in a “pick me up” gesture and stepped closer to her Mom. Christina picked Zakiya up and in demulcent tones told Zakiya, “We are going to have great fun in our new home”. Zakiya brought her face to her Momma’s and cheek to cheek whispered “You know, there will be crying, but it will be alright”. With that said, she wriggled out of her mother’s arms and left us – conversation over.
Zakiya did cry. She cried and said that she did not want to go. She cried and said that she would go if Nana and Papa would go with her. She cried and said good-bye. She cried and just left. She stopped crying…eventually.
All of us will experience some type of change or transition during the course of our lives. Sometimes it will be hard…hard to tears. But if we would just go, whether we want to or not, if we would just continue on whether someone goes with us or not, if we would keep it moving, maybe we could let go of the pains and hurts and discomfort and fears and apprehensions of change, and well, overcome. Try to remember:
Be fearful for nothing, little flock, for it pleases the Father to give you the
Kingdom. – Luke 12:32
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear, what can man do unto me – Psalm 118:6
Jesus Said, I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33
For we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience; hope. Romans 5:3-4
For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. – 1 John 5:4
Be encouraged as I was encouraged watching patience have it’s perfect work* in Zakiya, because you know, there will be crying, but it will be alright!
Peace and Love,
Renita
*James 1:3 and 4 KJV
Writer, Renita F. Shadwick, is Community Builder @ United Way of Buffalo, New York. Thisveteran actress of Paul Robeson Theatre is also an anointed licensed Children's Pastor of Elim Christian Church of Buffalo, NY. She is currently working on series of children’s books-teaching children how to walk out the word of God in sneakers. She is married to her soul mate of 25 years, Jerome Shadwick, Sr. and is the proud mother of four sons, three grandsons and four grand daughters which are the inspiration of these writings.
You are invited to leave comments about Baby Love Notes-have a great day!!!
COME HOME
The best part of my day, everyday is climbing the stairs to the entrance of our home, turning the doorknob and pushing the door open. Zakiya, Zeruiah and Zeneta all shout "Nana"! They come running from wherever they are, and throw themselves at me. It does not matter what I may be carrying, it does not matter what mood I am in, It does not matter what physical state I am in, they fling themselves at me and hold on to me giggling. They usually ask to carry my purse or briefcase, (the baby dragging a plastic bag of my shoes behind her) as they accompany me to my bedroom. "Let me take your coat, Nana". "Sit down, Nana, I can pull your boots off". "Here, Nana, here is your bottle of water" "Nana, let me give you a kiss"..... These little darlings and I are excited to see each other.
Coming home brings me to them. I open a door and walk into love. And they bring me comfort. They attend to me with joy. And all I did was come home. Come home...Come. Jesus bids us "Come" many times in the New Testament. He says come and He will make us fishers of men, He says let the children come for of such is the Kingdom of God, He said if any man thirst, come.
Finally for all of us that labour and are heavy laden, Jesus says to come, and he will give us rest.
My friend Larniece shared this:
C - Christ
O - Offers
M - Me
E - Everything
I pray that at the end of your day you will come home to HIM for I am sure you will find an excited love, that carries your burdens, comforts and refreshes.
Peace and Love,
Renita Shadwick
Writer, Renita F. Shadwick, is Community Builder @ United Way of Buffalo, New York. Thisveteran actress of Paul Robeson Theatre is also an anointed licensed Children's Pastor of Elim Christian Church of Buffalo, NY. She is currently working on series of children’s books-teaching children how to walk out the word of God in sneakers. She is married to her soul mate of 25 years, Jerome Shadwick, Sr. and is the proud mother of four sons, three grandsons and four grand daughters which are the inspiration of these writings.
You are invited to leave comments about Baby Love Notes-have a great day!!!
PAPA
by Renita F. Shadwick
...You have set your gloryabove the heavens.2 From the lips of children and infantsyou have ordained praise [fn2]because of your enemies,to silence the foe and the avenger.
Psalm 8:1, 2
"Papa" By the time Zakiya was 9 months old, she had a full fledged love affair going on with her paternal grandfather. She would say "Papa" over and over and over. Zakiya would climb up onto his lap and holding his bearded face in her pudgy little hands, she would stroke his whiskers until they both broke out in peals of laughter.When he would repose in his big chair, she would squeeze herself behind him and simply rub his head, sometimes to his distraction. She could often be found on the floor, either between his legs, where she would try to walk, holding on to each limb like a railing, or sitting at his feet, rubbing his toes, or sitting on his feat, resting herself against his legs. She would pat his back. She would rub his chest. She would plant big wet baby kisses all over his face and hands. She would follow him everywhere in the house, reaching up to gain purchase of hand or shirt tail or trouser leg. She would bust into our bedroom in the morning with a big snaggle tooth grin and climb onto Papa.
In the evening, her parents would usually find her curled up in Papa's arms, and from his arms they would put her to bed. With great amusement I watched this baby behave like this with my husband.
Jerome's heart would swell with joy everytime that little tyke came his way. He said "I'll never be able to deny her anything, she loves me so sweetly."
A few days after Jerome made this statement, Zakiya taught me about loving without condition. My daughter-in-law was sitting on the couch in our living room holding an almost asleep Zakiya, who was noisily sucking on a her bottle. The front door of our home announced Jerome's return from work. Zakiya sat up. As his footsteps introduced his entry into the hallway, Zakiya squealed "Papa", and dropping her bottle, squirmed out of her mother's arms and went straightway to meet him. As he entered the room, Zakiya flung herself at his legs.
"Hold on now baby", Jerome said, "Let Papa sit his case down"."Papa!""Can I take off my shoes, little girl?""Papa!""Just let me go to the bathroom, my baby.""Papa!"
Zakiya would not stop calling him or following him until he stopped and gave all of his attention to her. Just her. Him and her. In that moment, love would abound.I pray that you develop such a desire for God, for the things of God, for the smell of God, for the Word of God, for the person of God, for the presence of God, that you would move with all abandon to get to Him.I pray that when you have your meeting with God, that you would fill the time just loving Him. Holding His beard, kissing His face, sitting at His feet.
I pray that just like Zakiya, you would chase him, calling on that Great Name, making your desire for him so personal, so intimate, so desperate, regardless of who may be holding you, regardless of what you may be consuming, in spite of what ever level of comfort you may have,I pray that you would chase Him hard. Until He would turn to you - in the middle of holding this world together, turn to you - as he processes the prayers of the Saints, turn to you, set aside time for you, catch you up in His arms, just you.
You and Him.... Papa!
LOVE SCRIPTURE:
1 O Lord, our Lord,how majestic is your name in all the earth!You have set your gloryabove the heavens.2 From the lips of children and infantsyou have ordained praise [fn2]because of your enemies,to silence the foe and the avenger.3 When I consider your heavens,the work of your fingers,the moon and the stars,which you have set in place,4 what is man that you are mindful of him,the son of man that you care for him?5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings [fn3]and crowned him with glory and honor.6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;you put everything under his feet:7 all flocks and herds,and the beasts of the field,8 the birds of the air,and the fish of the sea,all that swim the paths of the seas.9 O Lord, our Lord,how majestic is your name in all the earth!Psalm 8 (NIV)Writer, Renita F. Shadwick, is Community Builder @ United Way of Buffalo, New York. Thisveteran actress of Paul Robeson Theatre is also an anointed licensed Children's Pastor of Elim Christian Church of Buffalo, NY. She is currently working on series of children’s books-teaching children how to walk out the word of God in sneakers. She is married to her soul mate of 25 years, Jerome Shadwick, Sr. and is the proud mother of four sons, three grandsons and four grand daughters which are the inspiration of these writings.
You are invited to leave comments about Baby Love Notes-have a great day!!!
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