IT'S EASIER TO BUILD STRONG CHILDREN THAN REPAIR BROKEN MEN

By Vernalee

With so many parents working from home, they now have another arduous task added to their already high pile of responsibilities - providing educational instructions to their kids. It has helped many to deeply appreciate the work that teachers do everyday! Kudos to our teachers!

One thing that we know is that we have to work hard to show our children the way! It's an all inclusive process.

Proverbs 22:6 tells us -

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

The benefits will clearly pay off. If we don’t train them, they’ll pick up their education somewhere; sometimes in the wrong places. No doubt about it, Frederick Douglass was right. “It’s easier to build stronger children than repair broken men.”

When they become older, they are “set in their ways,” making turning the corner and correcting their paths definitely more difficult than it seems. Children with little or no home training become adults that are hard to temper.

Truly, that is a fact and not fiction ... which should undoubtedly become our impetus to provide our children with a solid foundation on the front end ... and pray for the best!

Photo credit: www.boredteachers.com

A WOMAN IS LIKE A TEA BAG

"A woman is like a tea bag -

you never know how strong she is

until she gets into hot water."

Eleanor Roosevelt, former First Lady

"Why is a woman like a tea bag, you may ask. It's quite simple. We don't know the strength of a tea bag until we put the tea bag into hot water.

A woman's true strength comes to the surface when she gets into hot water and then you'll see her real strength come out.

You'll see a women stand out under pressure and at that very moment you will see her determination and resolve carry the day. 

Never underestimate the strength of a woman."

Many of us first saw this incredible strength in our Mothers. A woman’s strength and ability to conquer adversity are ever so present. But I know that I’m talking to people who have witnessed this strength first hand. I am certain that I don‘t have to make you a believer out of you! Now then ... let’s have a cup of hot tea!

Photo credit: pininterest.com; Source: Lou Ludwig

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

By Vernalee

Most of us have hobbies of some sort. Without question, my photo collection is mine. Even if I may brag, it is quite impressive! Over the years, I have assembled photos that tell a story. They depict my family’s history … in the making. I recently added a vintage piece of my great-grandmother Minnie that my Mother “handed down” to me. I was thrilled at the thought of placing such a prized possession on my walls. It’s a family heirloom. I had heard so many stories about her. I am told that photographs were an expensive undertaking and a rare commodity for many poor Black folks in the Mississippi delta in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. As such, photographs were rare which makes this vintage photo of my great grandmother a rare find. Many guests stay on the landing of the stairway for an extensive period of time viewing my photographic collection. I have portraits, photos, and collages of the majority of my family. Assembly of the photographs is a labor intensive and meticulous process. Much thought goes into their placement and arrangement. Recently, my six year old great niece was photo gazing and said, “Auntie loves us because she has all of our pictures on her wall!” That endearing comment was priceless. It paid for the frames and my efforts! Photo credit: www.onekinddesign.com