What It Really Means to Love...

"Love, the nights that I cried you loved me,
When I should have died you love me,
I'll never know why you love me,
It's a mystery to me now I'm glad I see Jesus,
When all hope was gone you love me,
You gave me a song that you loved me,
Now I can go on cause you love me,
It's a mystery to me now I'm glad I see Jesus."

-Kirk Franklin




This blog is totally dedicated, totally written for and to, and expressed with unfathomable love, for my wife....

"Beautiful...

There are times in our lives, where words cannot truly express the deepest and most intimate thoughts of our heart. I find that this is one of those times, but I have this overwhelming feeling and need to tell you...

...I love you. More than any box of chocolate, card, diamond bracelet or ring, could ever convey. In you I have seen so many examples of what the definition of a wife truly is. And despite my own shortcomings, faults, and falls, you have kept me encouraged, you have set me straight, you have prayed me through, and you have continued to persevere and love on me in a way that many women would and could not ever imagine...

...while those that don't know you will say that you are weak, you have demonstrated time and time and TIME again your God-given ability to speak to the storms and defeat the giants. You have proven countless times your loyalty and allegiance, not to me, but the God in me, even when I haven't had the same level of loyalty and allegiance to you.  Being the strong Latina that you are, the strong woman of God that you are, you changed not. For that, I'm glad that you showed me the mystery...Jesus....

...you've given me three children that may look like me, but have your gentleness, your compassion, and our love. They are loyal and trusting of their dad, just like their mother - you - are trusting of me. In spite and despite it all, you have continuously fed them the vision of our family even when it seemed like I jumped ship. For that, I am eternally grateful...

...there's a saying that "love makes you do the craziest things". I believe that only when you don't know The Father's Love. You have shown that you know that The Father cares for not only you, but for our family...

...you are the love of my life. On this earthly plane, you, mi amor, complete me. You, mi amor, truly have my heart. You have proven time and time again that your love for me is unwavering and unconditional and real. Others may have said the same, but your actions have been louder and more loving than their words...

...the power of media is a beautiful thing. I'd shout from every single website and social media platform how much I love you...


...so on this Valentine's Day, I commit to a new beginning of honoring you everyday of my life. Your love - His Love through you - has and is continually, shaping me into the man that I am destined to be...


...te amo, mi amor...con todo lo que soy y todo lo que soy para convertirse en...

Categories: beautiful , belief , Christian , love , relationships , Valentines Day

N**** WHAT?!

Yeah, I knew the title would get you...

...while I wouldn't normally make an issue of this, but I think it's high time I gave my take on the matter in light of a recent discussion I had with a friend of mine the other day.  Let me share a story with you. (Note: Names were changed to protect the guilty...)

"When I was in junior high school, 7th grade, there was this girl name Jasmine Morales who I really had a major crush on. She was really pretty, but very bossy.  She knew I liked her and took advantage of the fact often.  I was young and naive and let her too.  One day we were in Math class and we were all in different groups working on a project. The group Jasmine was in was right next to mine and I had heard them laughing and carrying on. Because she was in the group, I wanted to be part, so I got nosy and heard what they were laughing about and I made a comment.  She then said to me, "Why are you even saying anything you stupid nigger?"

...the rest was a blur. I got up and smacked the girl so hard her head flew back. Now, please understand that I don't condone ANY violence toward women ON OR IN any level or way.  I was young and this was the first time ever in my life I had been addressed as such.  

The whole class stopped.
She looked at me and started screaming and swinging.
I didn't hit her back because I wasn't about to fight a girl, so I just blocked the few hits she got in before my teacher grabbed her.
The dean gave me "pre-suspension". That was pretty much "probation"."

I tell you that story because for a while, I've been seeing this whole use of the word nigger like it's a sign of affection when quite honestly, it's like a sign of regression.  The word isn't a nice one. It isn't one that paints a beautiful picture in your mind. In fact, Google it and see what images come up. You'll be surprised.

We use the word in our music for what? Are we really empowering the word with love when the word actually means "dumb, lazy, ignorant"?  How can I really call you, "My nigga!" and expect you to produce anything?  That's like people who eat from the garbage saying that it's food and you and I both sitting there saying it's garbage and the person saying to us, "Well, it's food because I eat it."

HUH?! 

Okay, while I know this blog won't change the world, perhaps it will get one or two of you to start thinking. At the end of the day, that's all that matters...

Categories: life , nigga , racism , relationships

Everything That You Touch

Have you ever wondered how you many people you come and contact, talk with, and essentially bond with? I was thinking of the many people that I've come in contact with throughout the years and one of the things that I haven't really realized is that there is an exchange that happens.

In my quiet moments with my grandmother, she use to tell me that everything you touch is effected by your touch.  I will go so far as to say that now, as I'm older, that everyone that I've touched and come in contact with, has effected me and vice versa. It's amazing what interaction with people can do.

If you ever touched a pane of glass, that thing that is always left behind is your fingerprint.  People's lives are panes of glass that we leave on our fingerprints on.  Everything that we touch displays a reminder that we were there.  Now what is most important is whether or not your fingerprint becomes a blemish or part of a beautiful piece of the artwork that we call our lives.

Categories: beginning , fingerprints , relationships