Tag: Love
Juneteenth Celebration
For this Juneteenth Celebration, I submitted content to Hope Inc Stories. Being that this weekend is also Fathers Day, I shared one of my collages series called Malcolm X and a poem called Black Man. I want to honor the Black men in my life and community who have paved the way for our generations to be excellent, be intentional, be authentic, be original, be innovative, and finally one thing my husband always said during our courtship, “ Be Courageous”.
Click on the hyper link below to access.
https://hopeinc.com/poem-black-man.
This was originally published on Hope Inc. Stories. To read more stories of hope and recovery, please visit www.hopeinc.com.
Juxtaposition
This word comes to mind as I contemplate marriage.
14 June 2012 Poem
Can I be your morning ritual of that first cup of coffee and cream—Can I be that spoonful of sugar to sweeten your day—Can I be that water concoction that quenches your thirst making you alert—-Ready let’s go!!!
Battlefield of the Mind
Melanin Popp’n
This past weekend was amazing. First I enjoyed a magnificent concert Friday night at the Moore Theatre with Soweto Gospel Choir. I’ve heard their previous albums and knew it was a must to hear them live and what a true blessing. I cried, I clapped, I sang, I listened, and my entire body was shaking with the positive vibration by way of South Africa released into the atmosphere. The drummers, the solos, eye contact, and the tribute they did to African Americans had me lit 🔥.
Next my family and I headed to matinee Sunday to see WAKANDA…..oh my my my…..again blown away with the beautiful explosion of culture, color, vibrations, and the great story line. The film was full of powerful messages. One is that we must be willing to sacrifice all to uplift and empower the next generation by all means. Create space for them to shine and watch them thrive. 🙏❤️
Black is beautiful indeed and my heart just overflowed with all the love and celebration of all that my people encompass 🙏
Personal proverb
The Honey bee can never be blamed for the sweetness it produces.
-Sabreehna S. Essien-
The View: Final Look
It has been an amazing journey to manifest The View. In my reflections today, I came to the aha moment to the final added components of the piece.
When this piece was first primed, l looked at the canvas and saw birds…very distinctly. However, I decided not to focus on the birds and kept painting without acknowledging the birds. The message of my Ancestor who took her final look at her homeland before being catapulted into the atrocities of the Atlantic Slave trade speaks volumes.
The bird totem speaks to the freedom and strength of mind of my oppressed Ancestors. The song that came to mind was the old Negro Spiritual “ I’ll Fly Away” which speaks to ascending away from the pain of body and soul to a Heavenly home where there would be no sorrow or separation from those you loved so dearly.
The final unique component of this piece is the tribal mark on her neck which denotes this woman, this ancestor of mines, she was from a noble people.
Love Yourself
It’s hard enough to love others let alone oneself; however, to neglect or deprive yourself of self love is to leave room open for whatever comes your way disguised as “love”.
What I have learned is the world is full of miserable people who hate themselves. This self hatred or self loathing exudes in their interactions with others. It is unfortunate the saying’, “Hurt people… hurt people”.
My value system is based in Protestant teachings which says, “ love your enemies”. Imagine the task of loving your enemies. Human nature doesn’t allow us to love in such circumstances or compel us to give water to someone who knowing hates us.
I have concluded to love is divine. The gift of choice has been given to us all. In my human nature I chose to surrender to love. In that moment love spills through my brokenness and heals me and all those around me. Hatred just like MLK said, “ is to great a burden to bear”.
Love yourself so others can be healed.
Women
Today I contemplated the magnificent power that is women. My view of myself during my single life was bittersweet. I spent most my entire life trying to prove my value. I volunteered thousands of hours in my community and even though my resume is excellent people doubt my value or language that describes my own self.
Why is it easy for some to assume fault in someone without personal knowledge of the person.
I have experienced rejection for so long that the need for outside validation is never a pillar for stability of mind. I have been maligned, crucified, publicly humiliated, and betrayed time and time again. My values compel me to forgive, let go, and strive ahead.
I started motherhood in my late thirties which is consider “old” or “high risk”. All the same I carried both my two pregnancies successfully and delivered two beautiful boys for my husband.
The mere process of pregnancy is amazing.
What a woman can do man cannot.
Read it again.
We truly are fearfully and wonderfully made. Just imagine the breast milk our bodies produces to empower our small babies growth and development.
Back to my original thought…there was a point I couldn’t see my value as a female child growing up. I thought it was a curse to be female due to abuse of authority from toxic masculinity. So I strived for perfection which is grasping for straws in sand.
My value as a woman can be quantified in what Christ is to his followers eat and drink. A woman is sustenance to her unborn child, after she gives birth her body remains a place of refuge and sustenance for her growing baby. A woman is also a refuge and sacred space for her husband, her life’s companion, she brings life.
A woman truly presents herself a living sacrifice daily for those she loves in mind, body, and soul. We do this 24/7….365….rain or shine….sickness or health. We give up ourselves and put those we love first always.
What a woman can do man cannot.
SABREEHNA S. ESSIEN 