Heartspeak 8/14/2020 - Words from a Mother

#Heartspeak - #WordsfromaMother #Wisdom #Friday - You've heard it before and you're about to hear it again. When a person shows you who they are, believe them! They don't always show you with words, but those ACTIONS!!! 👀👀👀

When you are generally kind and try to see the good in all people, it can be easy for you to be bamboozled. Ask me how I know? I remember Pastor Zach (RIP) preaching a message once and talking about people trying you and taking your kindness for weakness. He said, "You need you a Pee Wee! Pee Wee is a little crazy and they don't want to mess with Pee Wee! Pee Wee is unpredictable!" I thank God for MY Pee Wee! 🙌 They looked out for me when I was giving my all to those who didn't deserve it! God didn't call me to be a doormat. Thankful for those lessons that are not a blessing!

 

In these times, please use discernment. You need people around you that not only you can trust but you need people who WANT to support your vision. Visions are personal. God gave you yours. It's ok that others don't see it. You can't even share it with everybody. Some folks will not only try to destroy your dreams, but will even pray against it! Be wise with who you share with. If it doesn't add up, stop trying to buy new calculators to fix it. Numbers don't lie, but people sure do!

Envy and jealousy are sick diseases. Those driven by them are not happy, no matter what they say. When you are happy, you truly want to help others. When you focus on your own blessings, you learn to be content even in your pursuit of your dreams. You don't worry about competing with others because you know the person in the mirror is your true competition. You celebrate the success of others because you know it shows what's possible for YOU!

It's self check time! Do your personal assessment of your own life. Examine your heart. Examine your circle. Examine what you tolerate. Never settle for less than you deserve. People will treat you how you ALLOW them to treat you. When a person chooses to walk away from your life, let them. Have #faith, trust God and let HIM remove any obstacles. Get out of your own way! Peace & Love! - MzV

 

 

~HeartSpeak~ July 9, 2017 -Make Decisions You Can Live With

#Sunday Early #MondayMotivation #HeartSpeak#Grateful - Let me tell you this, babies! Hopefully many of you have figured out there is no way you can please EVERYBODY! Half the people smiling in your face don't really like you. They may like what they THINK you can do for THEM! If they think they don't need you, they will pay you dust. You don't know WHO you meet every day that can and will make an impact in the lives of others. #BeHumble
____
Every expert was once a beginner. The people who are now great were once good. No matter how high you go, better remain humble. You can be confident without being arrogant. Some of you will get that.
____
Some of the same people speaking empowerment are tearing down others. Reminds me that blessings and curses can flow from the same tongue. The source: what's really in your heart. Love IS what Love DOES! 💖
_____
You've got to set your goals and go for it. Never let the people , with their own imperfect past, hold you in YOUR past. Today, give yourself permission to hit the "ignore", "block" and whatever button you need to in life. What ever others say and think about you is not your concern. Shut out the noise and maybe it is time to shoot the messengers. My Grandma always said, "Any dog that brings a bone will take one back!" Granny was right! Wanna cut drama? Stop being a garage can. Put the lid on it!
____
Lastly, learn to love the decisions you make for your life. Think things through. Every action has a consequence. My rules- (1) Please God (2) If it pleases God, it pleases me. Bottom line, make decisions you can live with. If it doesn't work out, figure out what went wrong. No regrets because YOU decided. Life will go on! What matters most is how you see yourself! Have a great week, everyone! - MzVirtue

~HeartSpeak~ Be Kind

~HeartSpeak~

Today I would like to say a prayer for all the hurting people who choose to impose their hurt on others. I pray that God heals whatever pain you have and you are able to get to a place of peace and be able to show love, understanding and compassion to others.

If you are being mistreated and you KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt you haven't done anything to a person, please do not take it personal or let it deter you from being wonderful you. If your relationship is at a place with the person that you can have an open dialogue with them about it, let them know. If they aren't, you still have every right to call them out on it and let them know it is unacceptable. Sometimes, they do not even put enough thought into it to realize what they are doing. Do not accept it. Call them on it.

If you are angry or upset, take a minute to think about what you say and how you approach others before interacting with them. Although hurting people will hurt others, that does not make it alright.

When we learn better, we should do better. What if the last words you spoke or wrote a person was the last they heard from you or anyone on this earth. Would you wish you had handled it differently?

Just a little food for thought. Being kind doesn't cost a thing but the results and how it makes another person feel can be priceless. You never know what a person is dealing with and what if what you said or did pushed them past a breaking point. You just have no way of knowing.

Encourage. Uplift. Celebrate.

~MzV

~HeartSpeak~ What Energy Are You Releasing into the Atmosphere?

~HeartSpeak~

If  diminishing the other efforts of others and trying to tear them down is what is needed to make you feel better about your life situation and choices, you not only need to take a look in the mirror, you need to examine your heart. Otherwise, why would it matter to you?

The energy you put out will be the same that returns to you. Instead of worrying about others, it's time you start fixing what is wrong with YOU! Be transparent AT LEAST with yourself if you can't be with anyone else. God sees and knows all!

This scripture came to my heart:

1 John 4:18 (KJV) - "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."

God has truly been working and continues to work on me. I view the actions of others with new eyes and meaning. I no longer take it personal and realize in these times of spiritual warfare, there is something greater at work. When we learn better, we should truly do better. God is love. If we learned to abide in love, the world would truly be a better place. Too many of us simply not checking ourselves and doing and saying whatever we please. Every action has a consequence, be it good or bad.

Now, more than ever, it is important to not only plant/sow good seed but the WORDS we speak carry much power! Speak life and love if you want more in your life. Speaking hatred and carrying hatred in your heart is not going to harm the other person. It will only harm and consume you!

Just a little food for thought! Think about it! Take a moment to feel the space you are in within your heart before you release it into the atmosphere! Guaranteed what you put OUT will return to you!



#mirrorcheck #selfcheck #dobetter #heartofthematter #wateryourowngrass #stoplookingoverthefence


~MzV~

#LifeLessons- Take It Or Leave It

#LifeLessons- Take It Or Leave It

I don't care what issues I may go through with family (everyone does, no perfect family), but you will NEVER see a post about it on social media or in the streets with their names in it. If I can't talk about it with them personally, I will talk to God. I will come to you about it and if we can't resolve it, we can't resolve it. Unfortunately, not everyone, even family, feels that way. Too many don't understand what LOYALTY is. I don't care how many co-signors you get, it doesn't make it right! Some of those applauding are laughing behind your backs.

I have close friends that I know would hold me accountable and put me in check! LOL- that's just how WE roll!

Can't blame it all on the young people either. Don't let it take a tragedy to wake you up. So much going on in this world. I look at the situation with Lamar Odom for instance. The media has done nothing but bash him and try to tear him down. Now in the midst of tragedy, the tune has been changed a little bit. #PrayersforLamar

My God, the Bible is truly fulfilling and speaks of times like this.Open your eyes folks and realize what truly matters. Only what is built with God will last. Remember that!

Love IS what love DOES!

~MzVirtue~

Bringing Unity Back to the Community- #BlackLivesMatter

Bringing Unity Back to the Community- #BlackLivesMatter

I was listening to Roland Martin’s show on Periscope a couple days ago and was just floored at the mentality of some of the people in his chat. One lady called in and was asking questions about Black Lives Matter and about getting involved. As she continued speaking, she asked him about what celebrities were getting involved, implying they were not doing enough. Roland named off several but then went on to voice the very thing that was in my thoughts… why should it matter if celebrities get involved or not. What are YOU doing?

There was another commenter in the chat section saying he was just waiting to see if it would be effective to determine if he would do something or not. My reply to him was, if everyone sat around waiting, nothing would ever get accomplished because no one would ever get started! Once again, I was just floored at the things being said and felt had they really put thought into it, maybe they would feel the way I did too. This is a reason I think dialogue is important because sometimes people just don’t understand or have not been able to see it from a different prospective and it causes them to think. There is a difference however when you are trying to have a conversation with someone who clearly has no intention of trying to understand or be empathetic, there is no sense in wasting your time. Just move on. Those types of people are just looking for someone to fight with. Don’t fall for it.

For weeks I have thought about how few people want to take action in their own backyards and wondered when did we become people that waited on someone else to come along to do something?

I thought back to the civil rights era and in my eyes, it was about getting equal access and rights, not about leaving our own communities. We were successful business owners, educated and the “village” worked together. Even here in Florida where I live, I see the communities with Vietnamese, Hispanics, etc… and they have their own stores. Why did we lose our communities which in essence caused us to lose ourselves? Were we misguided? If we knew what the outcome would be, what could we have done differently and how can we get back what we lost?

Fast forward to today… our country has so many churches in our communities. Churches that have people in poverty and despair just outside their doors. When did the churches stop being involved in the communities and become pew warmers?

Where I come from, there wasn’t much respect for the NAACP chapter and it had  a reputation for “doing nothing”, not my words. I never personally used them, but that was the talk in the town from even when I was growing up. As a result of that, when I moved further south, I just assumed they were all like that. I was invited a banquet on the coast for their NAACP chapter and was blown away, not just by the caliber of people there, keynote was a former high ranking politician from PA, but the actions they were taking in the communities. They provided computers for the kids once they completed a program they had in place and also made sure they could go to college if they desired. I was so excited, I couldn’t want to go back to my area and join. I was disappointed when I was told it was inactive. This led me to believe that all chapters are not the same. It’s the PEOPLE in those chapter that made the difference. People who decided that more than a title, they wanted to make a difference in the lives of our young people. That was years ago but has made an impact in my life in a big way and showed me the possibilities and what determination and commitment to a cause can do.

I am thankful that as God continues to direct my path and order my steps, He also expands my mind while keeping my heart on doing what is right wherever life takes me. As individuals, I ask, what are you willing to do? Those of you in church, what is your church doing in your own community? Why are we still waiting for someone when that someone is you and me. One person can make such an impact. Just imagine what would happen if many people worked together.

Who is leading our children? What examples are you setting in your own home? I see too many parents being friends and not providing guidance. Maybe they didn’t learn themselves and need help too? If they wanted help, what resources are in the communities? Our churches need to get back to taking care of God’s people. No wonder attendance is on the decline. People need love, not to be looked down on. If they feel you don’t care, why should they come back? All of the things that are going on in this world are in alignment with God’s Word. I firmly believe hearts are being hardened to get the people turned back to God.

Many people down mega churches for whatever reason, but the ones I am connected with are at least doing something to make a difference in the community through food pantries, providing for the homeless, prison ministries, community outreach, education and evangelism… what are you and yours doing to make a difference?

I see a lot of people downing people like Rev Al Sharpton. Once again, instead of turning on leaders, support them, hold them accountable but don’t discredit them as you do nothing. He has done a lot for all of us. He is only one man. No one is perfect and we all make mistakes. What are you doing? I watched him and others here on the ground when we were marching to get justice for Trayvon. His mother died during that time. He went home to bury her and was right back on the front line. No matter what anyone says, he truly cares. If push comes to shove, many of the ones talking about him would be the first ones wanting him on the ground fighting for them.

Our people are so misguided and turning on the ones trying to help  shine light on the injustices of this country and world. Ever wonder why the people fighting against us always embrace the ones that are out of touch with what is really going on in our communities and speak the words they like to hear? They are the very people who some of us feel have sold out? They call the people that choose to speak up about the issues of this country affecting us race baiters to get us to shut up and to keep from having to face the ugliness they have perpetuated. If nothing is done, nothing will ever change.

Open your eyes. Open your hearts. Open your minds. If we are to take back our communities, there is nothing the government or anyone else can do better than those who live and work there. We have to love our young people and bring back a sense of hope to them. When we left them to fend for themselves, we left them to the streets to raise. It’s time to strengthen families and get back to God. We as a people have been tearing each other down instead of trying to build each other up. It’s time to break this cycle!

Where do you stand? I still have hope for a better tomorrow for my children and grandchildren and will continue to use my pen and voice to raise awareness and prayerfully open eyes.

The next step is up to you and you… as always, let me hear your thoughts. Are we holding ourselves accountable? Will you hold your church accountable?

Peace, blessings and love!

~MzV~

Why #BlackLivesMatter should matter to everyone

Why #BlackLivesMatter should matter to everyone

When a person is not able to open their minds enough to see life through another’s experiences, what shallow  lives they lead…

Refusing to acknowledge something exists does not keep it from being another’s reality. Just because you claim to not see something, doesn’t mean it’s not a problem. Too many people closing their eyes to reality and trying to keep it swept under a rug.

What we see happening in this nation right now is a result of sweeping things under a rug and not acknowledging there is a problem. Keep sweeping it under the rug and eventually you will create a trip hazard or something you can no longer go over.

I write a lot about examining our own hearts and being honest with ourselves. We should be in touch with our own emotions and keeping them in check. We truly know what we feel inside and if our actions are being led by hate or love. Not enough people coming from a place of love and having a respect for all humanity. Too many people thinking their way of thinking is the best and only way to think.

Trying to pretend this country doesn’t have a long history of racism is creating even more problems or issues. Why is it when attention is drawn to the differences in treatment to one group all of a sudden so many have a problem with it?

I see animals getting more passion than humans. Yes, we are to love all creatures but why does it fall short with black people?

How can we be one nation under God when we can’t even be one nation?   I am tired of the media and certain folks thinking that just because they find a misguided, out of touch person with the same color of skin as I do they represent me. I am tired of every time there is story of someone breaking the law, a person of color is dogged out worse and called worse, THEN used to classify an entire race. For every bad person that you try to spotlight, remember, there are many more doing good.

Those of you sitting back and remaining silent, you are just as much a part of the problem as well. You leave the negative voices to stand tall and make it seem they are the majority. I don’t even read news articles that spotlight a black person as the offender because I already know the tone of the comments. These are the same people that have been dogging the President since he has been in office. You listen to the do nothings in government who have done everything possible to block his progress while celebrating the very people that are keeping you down. With the successes he has STILL been able to accomplish, just imagine what could have been done had they worked together. They are rich while you sit complaining about the very environment they put you in. I am proud to have a President and First Lady who knows what it is to work hard for what you have. I feel the same way about VP Joe Biden and his wife.

Many times I sit and wonder what is wrong with people. Some of the things said are so idiotic it’s unbelievable. It can be scary because these same people are voting.

This morning something hit me as I once again pondered writing this. I was reminded in the Bible of when God hardened the heart of Pharaoh and each time Moses went to him and said let my people go, Pharaoh would not do it.

Hearts are hardened and it has finally caused people to wake up and start doing something. Black Lives Matters in no way shape or form says that all lives don’t matter. Black Lives Matters says BLACK LIVES should be included in the ALL LIVES part. It’s time people got the memo but we had to do it first. If all lives truly mattered, BLM would not exist. It wouldn’t need to exist, just common sense, which is why the opposition is mind boggling. Why now? Maybe it’s because with all the evidence coming forth in incidents that past few years, there should be no denying what is happening and has been happening for many years.

Certain people want to keep pretending there isn’t a problem because it makes them uncomfortable and they want want to hold themselves accountable for their own feelings and thoughts. Wrong is wrong.

If you are saying BLM is a hate movement or it upsets you, ask yourself why? Do you not think black lives matter too? That is all it is saying. Why speak negatively about it? Why not support it too? During the civil rights movement, it took everyone working together across all races to make the changes we did receive. Open your eyes. This is an opportunity for unity.

You think racism doesn’t exist? Let me share with you MY truth! I am a professional black woman who still deals with racism to this day after growing up surrounded with it. Those of you who have seen my posts understand how I carry myself. That still doesn’t matter to some people. We dealt with it throughout growing up in NW Florida in school and other places. We were not allowed to congregate like others. We did some of the same things others did, the police made us leave. I remember big trucks congregating and we would shake our heads and know it was different rules based on skin color. We were good kids and not getting in trouble. Why were we not allowed to hang out with our friends too? Wasn’t like we had a lot of places to go as teens.

I work with Doctors and their staff and have worked with them all over this country. I have had doctors refuse to come into the room with me because of my skin tone. I have worked in a state and been apologized to because of the way people stared at me since “they have never seen a live black person before” and in that same city been told I couldn’t use the same bathroom as their daughter at this B & B I was forced to stay while there. They hadn’t planned on anyone using the other bathroom because it was filthy with hair all over the hot tub and sink. When they saw me, their mouths fell open. So don’t tell me racism doesn’t still exist.

I want to challenge my friends of other races to take a moment and really let the words I am writing sink in. Will you stand with us and open your hearts to what is truly real? We are human beings with feelings and the same desires for our families as you have. We don’t all go to jail, rob, steal, etc… just like all of you don’t. Stop the labels.

I want to challenge my black brothers and sisters to wake up. It’s time to love ourselves and stop letting other people  tear us down. It’s time for us to stand together and stop fighting each other and letting things that don’t truly matter distract us. Stop trying to make other issues our people have an excuse to tear down BLM! We do have a long way to go and we have to start somewhere. I share more on these issues in my next post.

To this country and it’s people in position of power, we have watched other groups stand up for themselves and demand respect and even get it. It is our turn to stand up and fight for the rights we truly deserve as well. If we don’t do it you can guarantee no one else will. It has been shown the squeaky wheels with the money and voting power gets the attention. A unified people makes a lot of people nervous. It's past time for change.

It's time to face the fact that we have an issue with race. Ignoring it hasn’t made it go away and trying to discredit those who are bringing it to the forefront is not going to fix it either. It’s time to sit down and have some serious talks on how to resolve this. Start holding the lying media goons accountable for what they say and stop taking it as the gospel. You are nothing but puppets in their game of hatred and they want to keep everyone separate. If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you. If you are comfortable, now is the time to get uncomfortable and stand for what is right. Point blank and a period!

Black Lives Matters is a love movement. It is a love of self for my people and I am proud that they are raising their voices to be heard. Instead of hating it for no reason, perhaps it time for you to actually take the time to listen to what they are saying. Instead of trying to discredit BLM with lies, find what's real. Take a moment to see the world through our eyes and just maybe you will find the truth.

Hopefully what I have shared here, which are my own views, will get some people to just start thinking. Think… I would love to hear some of your thoughts on how to resolve these issues. It’s not about it existing  because you can’t convince me otherwise, it is now time to work towards fixing.

From the heart as always, wishing you all peace, blessings and love,

~MzV~