from him to Elohim

He said "time for yourself?" with incredulity in his breath as if she wasn't worthy of herself. Unfazed, she continued, "Yes, and I need you to listen. What was between us is finished. I have to be about my Father's business." "Your father's business?" He repeated the words with irony as if God would deny paternity. She looked him eyes, confirmed her royalty, and right there, in that moment, shifted her loyalty... from him to Elohim. She said "I am a daughter of God" and did not wait for him to respond. -LeKechia Lyshell

Idioms & Idiots

You are the other side's grass,
appearing healthy and green.
You are the rude awakening,
accusatory, harsh, and mean.
You are the ugly truth,
unbearable, entrenched in mire.
You are the third degree burn,
evidence of my play with fire.
You are the pride that
went before destruction.
You are the weight
burdening my conscience.
You are the glitter
that promised to be gold.
You are the bill of sale,
proof I once sold my soul.

Shades of Intimacy

I will see you the way everything precious
should be viewed...with gentleness, admiration, respect, honor, and love. I will take you in with my eyes and tend to you with my heart. You will make this woman marvel at God made art for you are a masterpiece. You will captivate masterfully; I will be arrested by the way you think; enlightened by your speech; and stimulated by your soul. I will be rooted so deeply in love that love-laced poetry will flow. We will be bare in each other's presence, but the transparency will be another shade of our intimacy, reciprocal and beautiful and worthy of patience. We'll praise God for our journey of preparation and waiting.

Right

"Just do right. Right may not be expedient; it may not be profitable, but it will satisfy your soul. It brings you the kind of protection that bodyguards can’t give you. So try to live your life in a way that you will not regret years of useless virtue and inertia and timidity." -Maya Angelou

Divine Intervention

I heard the door closing with every word spoken.  This would be the last time; the finality was audible. It took me by surprise; I had to recover from marvel. My prayer was answered in a most decisive way, and clarity strong-armed confusion away. There was static in the phone, but my direction was distinct. Nothing we said could have changed a thing. -LeKechia Lyshell

"Don't ever try to come for my joy again."

Regrettably, I did not go to church today. I stayed in bed, inhaled news, and toggled between anger and sadness all morning. It's not healthy or productive. Then I watched a video shared by @amandaseales. She continues to articulate the sentiments I need to hear. She said outrage cannot not be a perpetual state, and you have to go from rage to focus to strategy. (I'm paraphrasing.) Let's all get a firm "Don't ever try to come for my joy again" and maintain our joy,  be productive, and show kindness this Sunday.

I woke up thinking about this. The hypocrisy is glaring. In the words of @ananavarrofl "Damn it, Donald Trump, call a spade a spade."

Charlottesville

People grow tired of hearing this, but the truth of the matter is what we're seeing from #charlottesville is the blot of slavery. White supremacy and all of its displays are the impact of generations of teaching one people they were superior to other people for the sole purpose of justifying genocide, subjugation, avarice, and inhumane treatment. Let's be clear. Our country has the racial problems that we have because its foundation was laid on beautiful principles and horrific practices...
After reading the news, seeing images and footage, this thought articulated by @amandaseales came to mind. People of color, in the face of white supremacy, racism, prejudiced, discrimination, and inequality, continue  being resilent and excellent and graceful and proud. This is how we dispel the myth of supremacy. White people who condemn displays of ignorance, violence, and hatred, who put themselves in harm's way for the sake of right, who stand with POC to combat this false thinking, thank you for your courage.

08-12-2017 Post from Instagram

I don't enjoy taking selfies. I'm actually the self proclaimed Queen of Failed Selfies. (I'll share more about this later.) I just don't consider myself photogenic. My beauty is not conveyed well through pictures. (It's basically like obscenity; you'll know it when you see it...in person. 😂😂😂) In any case, I had to take a picture to commemorate the small victory I had over fear and remind everyone who needs reminding to stay in the race. Endurance is the key...Also, the joy of the Lord is our strength. Don't let the obstacles in your life and/or clownish activity in the world steal your joy or peace. Stay smiling! Happy Saturday!
P.S.
God did not give us a spirit of timidity, cowardice, or fear. He gifted us with a spirit of power, love , sound judgment and personal discipline, and abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control.

"Chanting 'White lives matter!' 'You will not replace us!' and 'Jews will not replace us!' several hundred white nationalists and white supremacists carrying torches marched in a parade through the University of Virginia campus Friday night." -@washingtonpost
This small bunch in Charlottesville, Virginia openly expressing their beliefs [at night in true KKK form] doesn't bother me nearly as much as the many around America who quietly feel the exact same way and occupy positions of power and influence, make laws, educate children, enforce laws, provide healthcare, etcetera. I prefer the former.

"Food, finances, or attitude?

"Food, finances, or attitude?" 😩😂 She knows me so well. ❤ I was so upset when I initiated that vent, and she had to say something funny.
From my mom to me to you:
If the solution to the problem is available to you, grab it, apply it, and have a better day. If you're hungry with a frig full of food and money to dine out, eat. If you have a bad attitude, check yourself. If you have self-created money problems, make wiser spending decisions. Just don't let food, finances, or attitude ruin your day.

Growth

I'm brave enough to admit I love you and smart enough to know it's not the only factor that matters. I'm humble enough to realize I'm not over you and honest enough to recognize I need to do better. I'm courageous enough to forgive you and wise enough to understand I cannot reopen that door. I'm human enough to desire you and woman enough to say no more...

...Growth is feeling the same feelings AND making different, better choices.
-LeKechia Lyshell

I Miss You

Typed a full message
Read and reread it
Contemplated send
Backspaced, typed again...
You make everything complex
especially "I miss you" texts.

It's That Serious

"Give me your number."

"Put your number in my phone."

Those are not questions. They are statements, and they are rude, demanding, and aggressive. It may seem harmless, but a man's approach can make a woman feel uncomfortable and pressured. If she politely declines, firmly declines, or rudely declines, she has no idea how the individual will respond.

No woman should feel the slightest bit of discomfort about saying no thank you to a request for her contact information, but all too often, we do. Women don't give out fake numbers to be jerks. The statistics prove that girls and women have to be vigilant.

"61% of female stalking victims are stalked by someone they know."
-National Center for Victims of Crimes

"1 in 6 women have been stalked during their lifetime" -CDC

"1 in 5 women will be raped at some point in their lives." -National Sexual Violence Resource Center

"3 out of 4 rapes are committed by someone known to the victim" -RAINN

"1 in 4 women have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner" -CDC

"Nearly half of female victims are killed by a current or former male intimate partner" -CDC

It's that serious. The violence perpetrated against women by men makes it serious and frankly scary. Be respectful. Be considerate. Most of all be gentlemen who respect a woman's right to say no about anything from giving out her number to engaging in sex.

Over–the–Counter

I hurt so I reached for you. You did all temporary relief could do, so inevitably, I hurt again. You treat; you can't mend. I certainly don't blame you. I made you a human capsule, but you weren't prescribed or recommended. You were available and convenient. I was selfish and out-of-control. Now I see that I was wrong. People should never be treated like Aleve or abused like drugs, prescription or OTC. -LeKechia Lyshell

My Tresses and My Parents

My dad and I used to have an agreement. He paid for my trips to the stylist of my choice, and I would not cut my hair. At the time, it was a great deal. Then I went natural.

My first Big Chop caused a stir. My dad took offense, and my mom all but guaranteed it would look a mess. Two short years later, as my afro flourished, they had a change of heart.  My dad admired my natural hair and my mom admonished relaxing it.

I've cut my hair a few times since the initial BC, so I expected composed reactions to my newest cut. They were restrained alright. 😩 My dad said "You look like me." My mom said "It's really short." I considered swiping end call. 😂😂😂 (Of course, I didn't.)

Where were the compliments!?

I sulked. Somehow they both forgot to mention how much they loved my hair. I twirled a baby curl around my finger and began questioning my hair decision. I stood in front of a mirror, attempting sultry faces. I stopped, realizing I looked silly, and carried on with my day. Even when the style I choose is not the style they prefer, I'm always the daughter they love. With that thought all was forgiven.

Rather compliments are bountiful or scarce, you should not waiver on a decision you feel good about. Our partners, parents, family, and friends have a right not to like our choices. Our loved ones support is not negated by the absence of admiration.

P.S.
These photos show the hair they want, the hair they got, and the daughter they love. They perfectly capture us. 🖤

Little Things

"Give me some good food. Give me cute shoes. Give me some peace of mind. Bring me some sunshine. Bring me some blue sky...It's the little things and the joy they bring." -@indiaarie

63 Cents

A seat at your table is not enough to make us gratefully accept crumbs, sit down, and shut up. Inequality homogenized into diversity is a piss-poor offering to any oppressed citizenry. Don't repackage stagnant to sell it as change. We are woke; we know things are the same. It doesn't matter that there are brown and black faces in the room or representation for women and LGBTQ; it doesn't matter if everyone worships different gods; diversity doesn't matter if not by Equality's side.

Jay Z's Moonlight

I've watched this a thousand times since yesterday. Jay Z is giving me what I require from rap: creativity, depth, and a message. This Moonlight video is everything and so is the cast. I thoroughly enjoy the talents of @issarae and Jerrod Carmichael and their respective works, @insecurehbo and @thecarmichaelshow, so my senses are overwhelmed by the genius of this.

Happy Saturday!

"Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise. I rise. I rise..." Walk, talk, behave, and believe like you know you bring gifts. I'm not talking arrogance. I'm talking about the "self-assurance that comes from self-knowledge." I'm talking about a powerful, beautiful self love that when projected on your neighbors as you love them like yourself, sparks a fire of empowerment. I'm talking about a type of liberation from self-loathing that causes your presence to "automatically liberates others." Walk in that and have a Happy Saturday Folks! 🖤

Happy Friday! (Late Post)

Good morning! Let's close this week with the attitude of people who are persuaded they are loved by Love. Happy Friday! ❤ "My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love..." 1 John 4:7‭-‬8

De Facto King

You feed her a mouthful of lies, sandwiched between  "real talk" and "that's 100." She fights to ignore the churning of her stomach, her intuition's adverse reaction to unpalatable nonsense. You walk away from the conversation, give yourself a mental round of applause, much too self-obsessed to even entertain the thought that her digestion had nothing to do with you. It wasn't the eloquence of your speech that led that woman to accept poorly disguised feces. It wasn't the solidity of your game that caused her to take you back after you called her degrading names. It wasn't the quality of your sex that contributed to her endurance of your fists. Sheltered by ego and self-deceit, you don't see what your presence in her life really means.

Hey Queen,

Stop it!
Don't allow the voices in your head
to derail your progress.
You've made strides in confidence;
don't go back to negative.
You have the power to change
the inner conversation.
Be kind to yourself;
think about what you're thinking.
Those thoughts do not build you up.
Internal disparagement is not self-love.
Self-hatred, silent or spoken aloud,
is detrimental to your crown.

Reconciliation

You say hello. I say goodbye.
We're not on the same page.
Remind me why we try.
I say it's a start. You say it's the end.
We're unrecognizable partners,
intitmate strangers, strained friends.
You say I'm in. I say I quit.
We laugh to keep from crying,
both over the other's quips.
I say I love you. You say I love you.
Looking at each other, softened,
we table the conflict & sit in our truth.

Embrace Every Feature

I have independent Skin.
I pick fights; it always win.
And, I bear the scars.
It won't be controlled at all.
I have stubborn Lips.
Indifferent to applications,
shunning faux hydration,
they demand water in sips.
I have revolutionary Hair.
It ain't going nowhere.
Resistant, here to stay,
it always has its way.
I have my father's Nose.
Too proud to be hidden,
it's big and bold
and loving center stage,
the prima donna of my Face.
I'm learning to let them be;
they're not for pestering.
Love them as they are,
give them nurture and care,
and embrace every feature
from my nose to my hair.

P.S.
That's the look of resignation. 😩😂
I surrendered to self love, mustache, pimples, scars, and dry lips included, and that was a beautiful decision. ❤

Conscientious Expression

"...People will have to account for every careless word they speak." -Matthew 12:36 CSB