Prayers

it's been a while since i've posted a prayer. maybe because i haven't felt like the people needed one, or maybe because somewhere along the way it became too much to keep up with.
but neither should have happened.

so here i am. because the world definitely needs a prayer tonight.
the rain in DC proves it.
maybe it rains when so many people need to cry but can't.
it's raining.

one of my brothers lost his mom.
one of my friends may lose his.
and a good friend is losing his will to hang on for whatever may come next.

so this prayer is to them - and to those who feel it:

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dear god:

darkness isn't so unfamiliar anymore. and when it's over, as you've shown me over and over, there is sunshine & song & birds.
birds that delight in the sunshine when the rain ends. shouldn't we be able to smile just as bright & sing just as loud, delighting in whatever sunshine it is we have?

so god, i'm praying for sunshine - however you're giving it. however bright or dim. just a piece of light through a cloud will do.
so i listen to the rain, smile, and hang on - because SOMETHING is coming next.

amen.
-----

prayer requests:
@melo_the_great
@ladyneuro
@mamadiamond2
@Vwayne
@thebrownbarbie
@echi_bon
@pnoty
@mystercarter
dennis karl brown, jr.
@sunyblack
@mswoods03
@ipenhitz
@cga1982
@thekaptainkirk
@roroatl
@msline85
@ms_ladyc
@rev_denique
kanessa
@soon2bmrsaustin
my cousin
@kim0br0wn
@jefro5
@sirandrewk

"i asked my mother why she cry. she said 'your bother. he just died.'"
the first words of what's probably my favorite wyclef jean song: gunpowder.

and i listen over and over again for those i've lost.
and i listen over and over again for the children tugging their mom's shirt asking why she cries. and the people waiting by the phone for a phone call from haiti just to hear 'everything is okay. we're fine.'

i want this to not be forgotten.
so i listen and hope the world does too.

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dear God:

this is not one of those prayers that i speak in vain or for gain.
this is a prayer that i really need answered.

i pray serenity on everything - whether the phone rings or not.
whether the tears never stop or not.
please grant me that serenity.

amen.
-----

prayer requests:
haiti
@melo_the_great
@ladyneuro
@mamadiamond2
@Vwayne
@thebrownbarbie
@echi_bon
@pnoty
@mystercarter
dennis karl brown, jr.
@sunyblack
@mswoods03
@ipenhitz
@cga1982
@thekaptainkirk
@roroatl
@msline85
@ms_ladyc
@rev_denique
kanessa
@soon2bmrsaustin
my cousin
@kim0br0wn
@jefro5
@druumonster

not too long ago my mom called me.
we haven't spoken in a few days and she wanted to find out why i haven't called.
so we exchange the small talk about the crazy family members, my next move, and how her grandson is.

and then:
"[our cousin] found out she has cancer."

silence. wow. sigh.

and we said our last few words on her next moves and hung up.
the day can't go on as it was before that phone call.
and you'd think it'd be easier because it isn't me.

see...somewhere between the media and an over abundance of craziness in our personal lives, we've become people who receive bad news, hang up, then move on.

let's stop moving on so quick.
let's get sensitive again.

we don't spend enough time thinking about the welfare of others - thinking about how we can help them.
sometimes a phone call isn't enough. sometimes a simple thought isn't enough.
and believe it or not: sometimes prayer just isn't enough.

let's not always hang up and move on.

so i pray:
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dear God:
keep me from the edge. keep me from going where no emotions can survive. i want to always feel.
and if it is in your will - keep the people happy tonight.

amen.
-----

prayer requests:
@mamadiamond2
@Vwayne
@thebrownbarbie
@echi_bon
@pnoty
@mystercarter
dennis karl brown, jr.
@sunyblack
@mswoods03
@ipenhitz
@cga1982
@thekaptainkirk
@roroatl
@msline85
@ms_ladyc
@rev_denique
kanessa
@soon2bmrsaustin
my cousin
@kim0br0wn
@jefro5
@druumonster

side note: let's pull out our ribbons (for all cures) & rock them like we used to. pink, red, green, black, all of them!

peace

erykah badu's grandmother & my grandmother had similar teachings.
they told us to pick our friends like we pick our fruit.
so i do.

every once in a while, though, we never get that good feel of a spoiled spot until we bit into them.
and that's fine.
we simply must learn to tell the difference between.
the difference between what is & what isn't.

and then there's a story i like to share:

the chick was running around the farm being chased by the cat - hoping not to get eaten.
the rooster saw what was going on & grabbed the chick and threw him into a pile of cow doo doo to hide him.
the cat ran around and around looking, but couldn't find him.

until...

he saw a feather sticking out of the doo doo.
the cat went over, pulled the chick out, and had his dinner.

moral of the story:
those who get you into shxt aren't always your enemies.
those who get you out of shxt aren't always your friends.

so today i pray:

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dear God:

please allow my circle to be strong. please allow my decisions to be a great as they can be. and please allow me to learn from whatever comes from it all.

amen.
-----

prayer request list:
@mamadiamond2
@Vwayne
@thebrownbarbie
@echi_bon
@pnoty
@mystercarter
dennis karl brown, jr.
@sunyblack
@mswoods03
@ipenhitz
@cga1982
@thekaptainkirk
@roroatl
@msline85
@ms_ladyc
@rev_denique
kanessa
@soon2bmrsaustin

peace