Remembering Tanshelle aka Shannie aka MrsLivelove Laugh

 

Let me see where I can start.  I met this beautiful spirit through a mutual radio personality that we both followed, Michael Baisden.  I commented on a topic that he was discussing at the time, then a day or two later I received a message in my FB inbox with some kind words attached and a request to be friends.  So that's what we became...friends.  And let me add this: we have never met face to face; but I believe our friendship was orchestrated by God.

 

Tanshelle was a woman who I believed, was a Woman of Substance.  She was a mother, a grandmother,  a veteran and a lover of life.  How did I know these things even though we never me; she shared it with me through our many phone conversations and FB pictures.  See, FB isn't all bad, if used for the right purposes. 

 

Here is the reason why our friendship was orchestrated by the Master: prior to me becoming friends with Tanshelle, I shared with some of my friends in the healthcare field that I wanted to write about a character who had breast cancer - I worked in a Cancer Center for six years and am a big supporter of breast cancer awareness.  After much discussion, my co-workers came up with the diagnosis that they thought would be great.  Fast forward - Tanshelle tells me what her diagnosis was.  The same thing.  Again, God-orchestrated.

 

As a friend and as a supporter of breast cancer, I felt compelled to get her whatever information she needed, but more importantly, be there for my friend any way I could. 

 

The first thing I did was get my friends from FB to meet her through my postings about her.  They sent words of encouragement and prayers.  Savasti Musgrove, who also was a great friend, sent her a "love basket" of goodies.  We [Savasti, Jackie Seldon - another friend here] walked for her on the Cancer walk. Beth Borden-Goodman, shared her stories of faith and my friends in the Oncology Department always inquired about her well-being. I  laugh because I remember when she told us about painting our toes pink, Savasti and I ran out and got them done, Savasti hot pink because that's her personality and me, a more lighter shade.  I even put mine as my profile pic. 

 

Every part of this journey, we celebrated when she celebrated, and when she cried, we cried right along with her.  Her family, is incredible.  Her daughter Erycca, a true gem.  Erycca from time to time kept me informed of things going on with her mother.  Such a strong young woman - a vision of her mother.  On June 16th Shannie (that's what I called her) told me she had only a short time to live, I even accepted her silence after she spoke the words.  Then she said what I believe, jolted an awakening in my spirit:  "Cookie, I am at peace with it." The power of peace. Therefore, if she was at peace...so did I take on that same peace.  God makes no mistakes.

 

 Cancer is a word that none of us want to hear because we have lost so many of our loved ones to it.  But the one thing I learned about Tanshelle, if she was going to have it, she was going to give it a hell of a fight.  Being a soldier, you are trained for war.  Well let me say this...Tanshelle fought in that war for as long as she could.  We will miss you sis, but you are in a better place now.  I could go on and on, but this is where I will stop.

 

I close with this scripture:

 

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month:  and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.  And there shall be no more curse:  but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:  and they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.  And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth the light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.  Rev 22:1-5

 

Thank you sis for sharing your life and journey with us for the time that we knew you.  You have made a major difference to all us.  RIP....

 

 

 

The Root Cause

Happy Friday Beautiful Ones.  Today I was thinking of roots and vines.  Roots as you know can grow as deep as a tree is tall.  When vines grow they twist and wind or twine for lack of a better word.  I don't know why these two words jumped out at me, but this is what I thought about.

Sometimes the things that lie inside of us have ways of coming out no matter how much we try to hide them.  When certain buttons are pushed or certain situations happen; here they come, spilling out everywhere.  People all around you begin to look and point fingers and question; who are you, really.  Where is all of this coming from?  It's coming from within.

There are some things inside of us that are deep rooted - some positive and some negative.   But the roots of bitterness, hatred and malice, will show themselves every time.  These roots take hold of our souls and begin to sprout out in different areas of our lives.  These roots, like vines, if not removed, begin to spread and intertwine throughout our life and choke out any good thing that can happen to us or for us.  These roots are so strong and powerful that they can even stifle the positive root from growing.

So the question remains, "What can we do to get rid of those negative roots?"  Only one thing:  Uproot it.  Once this is done, find that positive root and begin to nourish it with all of the things that strengthen you and are good for you.  Your nourishment should be gentleness, kindness, love and compassion.  If you constantly nourish your roots with  these things, they will be healthy and strong.  Matter of fact, everything about you will be different - your smile, your conversation and your countenance.  You will be like a magnet: people will want to be around you instead of away from you.

Get to the root of the cause.

Peace and Love...

"Sometimes You Just Have To....."

Whenever your day, afternoon, evening, week or month is overwhelming....just...

 

 

 

....and before you know it, you will be on the other side...

 

 

 

Peace and Love.....

Get Your House In Order By Cleansing

Happy Saturday guys.  Growing up in church I used to always hear the preacher say, "Get your house in order."  (This statement came from the scripture, Isaiah 38:1, for those who want to look it up.)  But this evening, I'm talking about bringing order to the stuff that we harbor and keep on the inside of us. Things that will eventually cause a major effect for us, and the people that we come in contact with.

Early in the morning when I turn on the TV, I see countless infomercials of individuals promoting their products to help cleanse one's system - products that remove toxins and waste. Whether it comes in the form of a pill or a liquid we drink, these things are designed to help us to feel better so that we can live a more healthier and fulfilled life - give us some longevity.  Now while practicing these things do change our physical/outer frame, my question is, what product or system do we use to cleanse when our inner man is riddled with the deadliest toxins of them all; malice, jealousy, envy and unforgiveness. I wonder what kind of system is strong enough to rid our bodies of these things.  There has yet to be a pill or drink invented, that can .  Matter of fact, pills and drink are used to escalate these toxins, thus thrusting the individual battling these issues, in a deep, despair of self-destruction.

Now I started off talking about getting our house in order, and I still mean that, but if we are going to do it, there has to be a balance.  We can't only clean/cleanse one part of our bodies and leave the other part unattended.  In order for our house to look good on the outside and inside, we must have some form of order as to how we can keep it looking presentable.  There is nothing worse than seeing a beautiful house on the outside; flowers arranged beautifully, landscaping impeccable and then you get inside only to find chaos.

So before you start removing the toxins to make your outer frame look good, make sure you clean the part of the house that is the most important, your soul.

Peace and love....

Loving Yourself Leads To No Compromise

Happy Saturday guys.  Well, a New Year has come in - thank you Lord for allowing us to see it; and, Valentine's Day has passed.  But before I get into my thought for today, I want to know, what have you done different this year?  Have you come up with anything innovative for your life this year, or have you fell back into the same routine.  Just a quick reminder: "Your" dreams can only come to pass when "you" begin to work at them - the world is waiting for what you have.  So with that being said, "let's get it cracking."

Now that, that's out the way, how was every one's Valentine's?  Did you enjoy your day? Did you get everything that you wanted - flowers, cards, candy, dinner?  Well, good; I'm happy for you.  But I'm going to take a different approach about Valentine's Day. Yeah I know it's two days later, but that's how I wanted to do it.  Check it out.

All day Thursday, as I watched everyone receive their gifts, I wondered how many people compromised themselves for this one day. What do you mean, compromised?  Oh you know what I mean when I say it, because at some point, we (that means me too) all have done it.  Remember the song by the Spinners, "Everybody Plays the Fool", sometimes.  The question is, how many times will we continue to play it.

Ladies and gentlemen, there is nothing more sweeter than to receive a card and flowers sent to your place of employment for all to see, or to have openly acts of affection displayed in public; it's those kind of gestures that put us on Cloud 9; and now that we have social media, we are quick to share with the world, what he or she has done for us, further elevating our high.  Am I knocking this?  Heck no; you should feel this way, when it is genuine.  But what about the flip side of it all?  Sisters, when you receive the flowers for all to see, what happens the day after. Does he go back to treating you like crap again?  Is he still cheating on you, still making you cry. Unlike others, you know he sent you those flowers with a motive, and like so many of us, we fall into that trap. We compromise ourselves.  And brothers, I can't leave you out, because the same holds true for you, too.  You got this fine sister who you know ain't really feeling you like that, but you do it up for her: wine and dine, flowers, candy, the whole nine yards only to find out later, she's still seeing her ex; but because he didn't do anything for her on Valentine's day, and you did, she went out with you instead (you were her option - ouch).  Now you may have gotten that temporary thing, but you had to empty your pockets first, and on top of that, you still didn't get the girl that you know deserves so much better than the foolishness she's been dealing with.  And you know this why, because you are the guy to give it to her.  Compromised yourself.

What's the point in all of this?  It is this: Valentine's Day, when shared with the right person, can be a beautiful day. There's nothing greater than loving and being in love. But when that day is over, then what.  The excitement that you felt when you received your goodies for all to see, will you still feel the same about his or her actions; or will you go back to being played, or mistreated and disrespected.  Will you still continue to be his or hers sloppy seconds and will you still continue to "play the fool."

Final thoughts:  To me, Valentine's Day should be every day and no I'm not talking about receiving gifts, either.  What I'm talking about, is being treated the way you know you deserve to be treated on any given day. YOU shouldn't have to jump through hoops or compromise yourself by giving up your goodies (and you know what I'm talking about) sisters, or brothers break your pockets, in order to spend a day with someone who will go back to being themselves right after they get what they want from you. Compromising yourself.  We shouldn't have to put ourselves in traps that is set to keep us from realizing that the first love before any commercial day, should be ourselves.  That's why you have so many angry people of this day.  They were tricked into thinking that this day was a day when a person really shows them how much they love them, thus opening a door of compromising on their part only to be disappointed after the thrill was gone. Valentine's Day, if you have someone to share it with, should only be an "extra" extension of what you are receiving daily.

Therefore, if you fell into the trap this year because you wanted all to know that you are "special" too, prepare yourself better for next year.  Remember people, you are special with or without all of the things that some may believe is the epitome of love.  Listen, before and long after the flowers die, the candy melts and the balloons deflate, you will and forever will, always be special and you know why; because you understand that in order to feel special, you must first love yourself.  Loving yourself leads to no compromise, and no amount of Valentine's gifts or motive-driven actions, can ever replace that. 

Peace & Love.....

Happy New Year!!

DGWOS would like to wish you all a very prosperous and healthy New Year.  May you accomplish every dream and may you receive all that your heart desires in the upcoming year.

Peace & Love....

Holiday Love

DGWOS is wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!  Spread your "holiday love" to every one you come in contact with today.

Peace & Love.....