49 Years of Blessings!

49 Years of Blessings

Psalm 112:1-10 MSG- Hallelujah! Blessed man, blessed woman, who fear God ,  Who cherish and relish his commandments,  Their children robust on the earth,  And the homes of the upright—how blessed!  Their houses brim with wealth  And a generosity that never runs dry.  Sunrise breaks through the darkness for good people—  God's grace and mercy and justice!  The good person is generous and lends lavishly;  No shuffling or stumbling around for this one,  But a sterling and solid and lasting reputation.  Unfazed by rumor and gossip,  Heart ready, trusting in God ,  Spirit firm, unperturbed,  Ever blessed, relaxed among enemies,  They lavish gifts on the poor—  A generosity that goes on, and on, and on.  An honored life! A beautiful life!  Someone wicked takes one look and rages,  Blusters away but ends up speechless.  

There's nothing to the dreams of the wicked. Nothing.

I am humbled that God has given me another year. Some take it for granted, I don't. When I reflect on entering my 49th year all I can see are God's blessings and His goodness. It is what some call unmerited favor. Every year it is important to me to share and reflect what is on my heart.

First, let me explain, because I see God's blessings doesn't mean there has not been pain.  What pain I have experienced helped be to see God's goodness an His grace more clearly. Difficulty and disappointment can never obscure God's wonderful grace. So you see, I choose thank Him in all circumstances (I am still working on this).

Let me share what I see as the greatest blessings in the 49 Years of Blessings.

Salvation
I was lost. No, I wasn't strung out or struggling with a huge life issue, but I was and in need of a Savior. Since I committed my life to Jesus, I have not be perfect, or flawless but I have been focused. I thank God for Jesus and that He died for  all my sins, not just some of them. This is the greatest blessing in my life.

Family
Being born into two large and loving families is another one of the greatest gifts I have had in the last 49 years. My mother was the 2nd or 12 children and my father the 14th of 14. Not a perfect family but one that was loving. It started with the prayers of my great grandparents, grandmother and extended family preceding my birth. This set the tone for my life. Then there was my parents Arto and Patricia, grandmother Virgie Jones (both grandfathers died before I was born and grandmother Woodley shortly after my birth), Aunts Rosetta (Woodley) Connor and Willie Lou Bee (Woodley) Holloway and Uncle Eddie Woodley. They along with all my mother's brothers and sisters, father's other brothers, great uncles, great aunts and many cousins left an indelible mark in my life. I am a product of my family. I became a leader and formed my intellect and purpose in the context of these wonderful people. My brothers Rodney, Jamal and Robert, if I became a leader in the family they tested and developed that leadership. Each one of them is special to me in different ways. Without them I would not be me.

Then I was blessed to become a husband and father. I thank God for Yvette, Tre' and Armand. If I was shaped by my primary family's love I was perfected by being Yvette's husband and Tre' and Armand's father. I am deeply appreciative for Yvette's love and role as a mother. Without her me, Tre' or Armand would not be who we are. Tre' is a son with a great disposition and a brilliant intellect. Armand is wise, witty and a winner. Being their father and a husband has helped me grow tremendously.

Friends
There are many that our paths have crossed and I can't tell a story about them all but the first were

Michael, Raynard and Norman. We were middle school road dogs, high school classmates, college roommates and friends to this day almost 40 years later. Then part of the St. John's Six (the six black kids that graduated from St. John's Jesuit in 1983) Henry and Dave. At BGSU, Flynn, Tony, Andre, Gerald, the Warrensville Crew, Karla K., and my boy D. Moats. In adulthood, DB, Ron J, Bake, Monty, Arthur, Jeff, Derrick and so many others.

Mentors
It is amazing to me that when I needed to learn something new or grow there was always a person God prepared to share. People like Elder Cook, Carl W., Pat H., Joe M., CT, Dr. Olscamp, Barbara J., Dr. Hughes, Dr. Harris, Pastor Mitchell, Paul K. and Steve C. Having the ability to listen and learn from others who had already blazed the trail before me was critical to development and success.

Schools
Pickett Elementary School, Toledo, Ohio; St. Teresa's Catholic School, Toledo Ohio; St. John's Jesuit High School, Toledo Ohio; Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green Ohio and Widener University, Chester, Pennsylvania have all molded me. William Butler Yeats said, "Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire." The spark was ignited at home and each one of these

institutions has fanned the flame to make learning and teaching an all consuming fire. I am indeed blessed by the many teachers and administrators who have invested in me.

New Jerusalem COGIC and Revival Center Ministries
These two ministries helped me begin and continue my journey with The Lord. New Jerusalem led by Elder T.T. Thomas and then Elder Edward Cook gave me my foundation, helped me to learn my place the Word and how to begin to walk. Revival Center under the leadership of Pastor Mitchell taught me how to become a spiritual leader and become a better man. Without these two wonderful houses of faith I would not be who I am spiritually.

The Children of Frontline Outreach
It was the hundreds of preschool, after school, leadership students at Frontline from 1998-2014 that pushed me to give back all that was deposited into me. Being able to help them connect to God's purpose, attain high school diplomas, skilled trades and degrees has been one of the biggest sources

of thanksgiving for me. Serving those young people and their families was one of the highlights of my life as a leader.

I know I that I may have noted more than 49 individual blessings. Reflection is good for the soul. We should often remember God's work, and the kindness of people so that we see life with a heart of gratitude. I call it extravagant thanks. I am extravagantly thankful for my life and its journey. As I approach my 49th year, I look forward to being more thankful and having more to be thankful for in this life.