Celebrating my latest “25th” birthday back in my beloved New York City!
As I awake on this God-given day to celebrate another #birthday (my 25th again, of course), I can’t help but sing:
Morning by morning new mercies I see,
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided,
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
Since childhood, the aforementioned hymn has been a favorite of mine. But it wasn’t until my recent near-death situation that I fully experienced and comprehended its message.
To be here today, standing strong, I can indeed testify to God’s faithfulness.
Sometimes it’s the most awful thing that happens to us, the thing we think we can’t survive that empowers us to grow into our best self.
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, I emerge renewed, rebirthed, stronger and, day by day, better than I used to be.
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with 10, 000 beside
Great is Thy faithfulness,
Great is Thy faithfulness
Join me in celebrating this most auspicious occasion!
Many others wouldn’t care; they may feign concern, but they’re merely curious.
This was evident when certain people for whom I would have shown up — no excuses — abandoned me at the time I most needed them.
That hurt to the core — and further exacerbated my pain.
But God is faithful, and by His grace, I’m still standing.
John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Over the past few months, God placed in my path some unexpected “angels” who showed up in the most unimaginable ways to help lift me up and carry me along.
They include people who were dealing with challenges of their own — cancer, divorce, (also like me) the loss of a loved one and trauma, unemployment, and dire financial issues.
Yet they were unwavering in their support for me. They made the sacrifice to put aside their own personal matters and show up for me 100 percent.
I also want to extend special thanks for the support I got on the job, particularly from my National Desk team managers Ammad Omar and Denice Rios; Stuart Harding in legal; Pat O’Donnell from our SAG-AFTRA union; and Karen G Bates from our Peer-to-Peer Support Group.
Thanks as well to those who reached out during this tempestuous season with genuine empathy, to say I was in their thoughts and prayers.
Indeed, it takes a village.
I’m still “going through,” but day by day, I’m growing stronger in every sphere of my life, and I trust God to bring me through this valley and to the mountaintop.
Above all, on this day we focus on “thanksgiving,” I give all thanks and glory to Jesus Christ, my savio(u)r for this precious, precious gift called life.
Gratitude is a must.
Happy Thanksgiving Day, bless up and one love to y’all.
Celebrating my birthday (another 25th) in my new city, Los Angeles, Calif.
Shortly after my birthday last year, I suffered a major medical emergency, which led to a necessary $22K (out-of-pocket) surgery.
The procedure was a life saver and I’m greatly indebted to all who supported it and me during that time and my post-surgery recovery.
Birthdays in recent years have been bittersweet for me. On the one hand, I’m grateful for this gift called life and the joy of feeling sunshine on my shoulders. On the other hand, there’s a sense of sadness at the realization that youth is quickly slipping further into the shadows and I have a myriad of dreams unfulfilled.
But as I reflect on those who’ve walked with me through this journey, so many of them now watching over me, I can’t help but be inspired to embrace my now fine old, er, young age.
To honor their memories, to cherish those who, like me, are still standing, and to make it my duty to live every moment the best I can. I mean, really live it. #Godisgood. I am #thankful.
Morning by morning new mercies I see,
Island Soul City Dreams 