LIVING THROUGH GRIEF!

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Friends, Kindly Visit My

Inspirational Column in Urban Views Weekly

for :

June 17, 2009
Living Through Grief
Pg. 4

http://urbanviewsweekly.va.newsmemory.com/eebrowser/frame/3_0kp/init/def_frames.php?pSetup=urbanviewsweekly&acctpg=1

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5

Sharing in Faith,

Linda Mose Meadows, Author

The Blessedness of Believing

A Devotional Journey of Life's Lessons and God's Promises

http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/

COME AND LET US DANCE, SHOUT AND SING TO THE KING OF KINGS

Awesome Photo by Matt McClure

Friends are the precious gems that God gives us!

They should be treasured!
Linda Mose Meadows

I am feeling slightly better. Several days ago my blood pressure was very elevated, and then a peristant pain in my neck developed! It had been unbearable! I thought I was experiencing a stroke. After being out of work for 2 days and several emergency room visits, I thank God I wasn’t having a stroke but severe muscle strain. I am following up with my physican. But something is happening that I am not really addressing, that's the loss of my friend. I am grieving! She's gone and it's hard to accept. So I too am wondering about my demise and how fragile and speedily life moves. But more importantly I am publically acknowledging that friends are the precious gems that God gives us. Yes, they should be treasured.

My husband who's my spiritual physician shared this Youtube video of praise & worship just a few moments ago-I followed his advice and did get up and dance. That was excellent medicine. I believe he hit the nail on head when he said that I was feeling very down because of my friend Brenda. She recently died in her sleep. My heart is truly broken and I constantly think of her life, moments we've shared and her sons growing up with Mike and what values and work ethic she and Lance instilled in them. Ricky reminded me that I must do something to honor her (as I’d recently referenced in my Grief article). "Honey take your own medicine!" These were the words of wisdom-some sound advice.

Friends, I am the queen of encouraging others. His advice was priceless. I must let God speak to my grieving heart and honor Benda's life. I will do something special. She loved teaching, was an avid reader and an innovative super mother and good friend. Today, right now in this moment, I’ll worship the Lord and ask Him for guidance on how I should pay honor to my dear sister friend, Brenda McKenzie! Thank you Lord for her life and love shown! Celebration is in order!

Psalm 95: 1-7

(New International Reader's Version)

Come, let us sing with joy to the Lord.

Let us give a loud shout to the Rock who saves us.

Let us come to him and give him thanks.

Let us praise him with music and song.

The Lord is the great God.

He is the greatest King.

He rules over all of the gods.

He owns the deepest parts of the earth.

The mountain peaks belong to him.

The ocean is his, because he made it.

He formed the dry land with his hands.

Come, let us bow down and worship him.

Let us fall on our knees in front of the Lord our Maker.

He is our God.

We are the sheep belonging to his flock.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2095



Come & Let Us Sing
Israel & New Breed with Jonathan Butler

Marveling at God's Goodness,
Linda Mose Meadows, Author
The Blessedness of Believing
A Devotional Journey of Life's Lessons and God's Promises
http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/

A CREME DE LA CREME BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!

"The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers,

but for the wide world's joy."

Henry Ward Beecher: Inspirational and Motivational Quotes on Joy

RADIO GOLF's

All star and truly stellar performers:

Walter Coppage, Erik Kilpatrick ,Deidra LaWan Starnes,

Frederick Strother and Kim Sullivan.

This was the Crème De La Crème Birthday celebration!! The verdict is in, the judges have ruled and Richard D. Meadows, Jr. receives 10’s across the electronic board! He made my heart glad and I am so pleased that he placed so much loving care and consideration in providing me with an unforgettably splendid birthday celebration with a trip to Washington, D.C. to spend a star-studded wonderful day in our Nation's Capitol.

Oh friends, I am still reminiscing about the occasion. The first stop was a matinee at the Studio Theatre to see Radio Golf written by my favorite playwright August Wilson. Outstanding! Outstanding! See it or any of August Wilson’s premier plays when they’re at a theatre near you! Sounds like a commercial right? As our friend, Craig says, “Who knew!” I love that–it makes me chuckle.

Each performer brought their A Game. There was so much to contemplate: spiritually, socially and politically? So many questions that begged to be addressed! How are we impacting our world? August Wilson challenges your frame of reference. I left with a greater appreciation for family, our heritage, the wisdom (and antics) of our elders and leaving this universe with our integrity and name in tact! Kudos to the fine actors which were the breathe, the life blood of the production. They were all stellar performers: Walter Coppage, Erik Kilpatrick, Deidra LaWan Starnes, Frederick Strother and Kim Sullivan. It felt as though I'd met new family! At the conclusion of the brilliant performances the cast provided reflections and chatted with the theatre goers. That was such a blessing and a real treat! I thought I was back at Howard University again! I shared that it was a birthday present from Ricky being at the theatre and before long we were taking photos , laughing , chatting and obtaining the cast member’s autographs. The actors were genuinely warm and engaging.

We learned from Deidra that a diner existed aptly entitled: Oohh’s & Aahh’s Soul Food Restaurant owned by Chef Oji Abbott located at 1005 U Street NW. When you're visiting Washington, DC do stop by.

Chef Abbott and his crew have the love of cooking and hospitality down packed! His establishment serves sumptuous home cooking! The meals are prepared with the essence of Grand Mama’s love. No kidding, this is three days later and I have enjoyed my doggie bag for several work lunches. Each morsel is mouthwatering.

We then traveled down U Street and absorbed the sights and jazz sounds of Duke Ellington’s Historic U Street.

Our walking tour included the famous Ben’s Chili Bowl with the painted Panda which greets customers. I understand that business was already super, but since our President Obama has visited, it’s even better!

We wrapped up our tour with a stop at Cake Love, what’s a birthday without desert? It was time to get back on the road, as we walked back to our car, I noticed a poster with picture of the Civil War Memorial, I wanted to learn more about this monument. We found our way to the U St/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metro station and to my delight there it stood perfectly carved! There are more names than we could imagine (I'll be doing my research). What a fitting salute to our Nation's "Colored" Civil War Veterans. The African American Civil War Memorial , it's handsomely sculpted with the words: The Spirit of Freedom, by Ed Hamilton. This tribute gave me great pride.

We sailed home back to the Virginia Tidewater Area with the top down, (until the thunder and lightning didn’t permit it) with smiles on our faces and dancing hearts. What a super day! Love is truly grand! Thank you Lord for such a precious and wonderful husband!

But as it is written,

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,

neither have entered into the heart of man,

the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

1 Corinthians 2:9 (King James Version)

Marveling at God's Goodness,

Linda Mose Meadows, Author

The Blessedness of Believing

A Devotional Journey of Life's Lessons and God's Promises

http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/