#Family
#Family
Photo in the picture above- commissioned print by JCPenney Portrait
As the year comes to an end, I ponder the meaning of #family. My Bible states that anyone who does the will of God is your family, Mark 3:33-35. How often do the individuals around you do the will of God?
What do you mean? How do you know if someone is acting in God's will? I can not answer that for you. However, this has been on my mind for a while lately. Like most people, I have several different families. I have shared this topic before, but it is important enough to revisit it.
Natural Born family. Married into the family. Church family. Work family. Community family. Neighborhood family. School family. Organizational family. Adopted family. Political family. And so on...
What family do you spend most of your time with?
I spend most of my time at my job, the Community College of Baltimore County, on the Catonsville campus. In the program coordinator role with Upward Bound Catonsville, staying in God's will can be complex. Sometimes, what policy and procedure states can conflict with God's will. I have found that if I remember God's will in my role and am uncomfortable with the direction I must take, I pray to God. When my God answers, I do what He instructs me to do. Sometimes I do not like it. Sometimes I do.
#Family!
It is funny how dealing with family can be difficult, no matter what family it is. And when families cross over into each other's world, watch out.
As one of the program coordinators, I work with 56 high school students, so I have many sons and daughters. Sometimes, I must pinch myself and tighten my mouth because I forget they are not my natural-born children. I have one beautiful daughter, Mrs. Deyara T. Morris Burns, a son-in-law, Mr. Darius Burns, and two grand-dogs: Elijah and Zoe. Like with my daughter and son-in-law, I have to remind myself of my role in their lives.
Our roles within our family circles can change with age, time, relationship duration, and position. We must stay within our comfort zone and do what Christ Jesus says. Remember earlier when I stated that I could not tell you how to know if someone acted in God's will. There is one way: the outcome. But who wants to risk that? You need to seek God for instruction and direction!
That means you need to always go to God for yourself. You never know if someone is acting out of self-interest or not. You will eventually find out the motive behind what they do or say. It will always come to light. Believe me. I may ask others to pray with me, but I must always stay in God's will and seek His face.
During this year-end celebration (s), remember your different family circles. Stay true to yourself. Do your best not to isolate yourself. Get around people who sincerely love you agape. Spend some quality time with those individuals. I am working on doing just that.
Our work family is different. You must go to work if you want to be paid. Learn how to departmentalize work from home. Sometimes work is better than home. Keeping a balanced approach will help you with your mental health and help you to maintain healthier relationships.
Staying out of toxic situations can be challenging, and individuals may not understand. Be creative with this approach so that you do not isolate yourself. Isolation is not always healthy, either. I have found that when I am overly isolated, self-doubt steps in. I like to read my bible to get out of my head. Read a good book. Write. Walk. Get around, loved ones. See my grand-dogs and daughter. Believe it or not, go to work. Even nap.
I pray you will have a healthy, peaceful, safe, and fun rest of this year. The New Year is right around the corner. Below are a few photos I have taken with different families this year. Enjoy looking at them.
Happy Celebrations!
Photo Above (CEO, Sole Owner & Founder of Triumphant Athletic Agency, Ms. Tabu Winslow Morris, MBA)
If you are lonely today and need someone to speak to, please contact the National Alliance of Mental Health, dial 988, or the Black Mental Health Alliance. Please only seek help if you need it. God loves you! Love yourself, too!
Let's play ball and Win!
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If you are lonely today and need someone to speak to, please contact the National Alliance of Mental Health, dial 988, or the Black Mental Health Alliance. Please only seek help if you need it. God loves you! Love yourself, too!
Let's play ball and Win!
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