Many times, I would come home bewildered and what hurt even more was when I saw my mom and dad who both had black hair, and but they did not have “freckles.” That was very puzzling to me, but I would sit in my little room surrounded by my dolls and stuff toys and wonder if may be I was adopted. I never questioned my parents about this, until my third year in school after I came home crying from the many fights that I had been in. Fighting had become a part of my school life, which I hated with a passion. I later learned to understand the reason why I did not like school. It was because of instead of concentrating on my school work, I spent my time looking for excuses and attacking everyone who verbal attacked me or called me a name.

This went on for sometimes until, I started to fake the “stomach ache or head ache, which I know would keep me from going to school.

My mother is a very wise woman who soon discovered that as soon as the school bus would go by my stomach ache or the head ache would disappear. She finally sat me down one day and asked me why I did not want to go school. I admitted to her that I hated school and that the children were very cruel to me and that they were constantly calling me names and picking on me. It was then that I asked her If I had been adopted and she smiled and said “that I had inherited the freckles and the red hair from my great grandmother and my aunt Ruby. Even though, I felt a little better after she talked to me, it was still hard in school until I reached the seventh grade. There I met a teacher by the name of Mrs. Irene Carr who taught me more than just the typical reading, writing and arithmetic, but how to believe in myself even when the odds seemed against me.

Mrs. Carr, would not allow me to use words like: “I can’t, I won’t I don’t, but rather.. I can do it. I will do it and I am able to do it. If my home work was not completed, Mrs. Carr encouraged me to keep doing it until I go it right and then she would reward us when we needed to be rewarded. She was the best teacher I ever had in the elementary grades and I think that maybe one of reasons that I became a teacher. Mrs. Carr refused let us call each other names and she made all the children in her class feel very special and successful in their school work.

During my seventh grade year in school, my grades improved tremendously and I began to think about college and what I wanted to do in life.

Even though there were still some times during my high school and even college years that I would feel a little inferior or lack self esteem, I would quickly remember Mrs. Carr’s words; “You are somebody and you can do anything if you put your mind to it.” My mother was also there encouraging me and praying for me and with me.

My dad is a very quiet man who loved me very much for he thought that I could also be the boy that he wanted. Therefore, I was a tomboy for many years, I drove the tractor, worked in the tobacco field and I was a constant companion to dad on the farm.

Even though, we did not have a lot of value things, I felt my mom’s and dad’s love in everything that we did together. I remember the wonderful trips to the beach and Washington, DC and other places. They usually took me with them where ever they went.

My dad taught me to drive around the age of 12 and I enjoyed hanging out with him every chance I got.

During my freshman year in high school, we built a house and moved from north of Rose Hill to south of Rose Hill. I was thrilled and so very excited when we moved into our house.

That was the year that I first fell in love with the boy who I just knew would one day be my husband. Even though, I thought he was the one, God had other plans for me. I really enjoyed my high school years. I made many friends and received many awards and achievements. I was ready for college and I worked hard to make sure that my grades would not hinder me from realizing my dream. Then road blocks came my way, I found out that my dad and mom could not afford to send me to college because with house payments, electric bills, car payments and others, college did not seem possible. When I visited my guidance counselor, she informed of the”Student Loan Program”. That was truly a blessing to me. We had to have my tuition until the loan monies became available, but with friends and family’s help I was able to go the college.

It was during my freshman year in college that I fully understood that God has a purpose for every believer and that If we allow Him, He will help us in our time of need.

I also understand that God has angels and He will give them charge to watch over you..Psalm 91. For it when I was at one of lowest time in college that an angel came to my rescue.

Many wonderful things have happened in my life and as others I have had my share of ups and downs, but I can truly say that I understand more clearly now why God gave me my freckles. For every freckle that I have on my face, it just another blessing. Each time I look in the mirror and I see the many freckles, I am reminded that each freckle represents a blessing. Just as I can not count the freckles on my face, I can not count the blessings that God has given to me in my life.

Every day I thank God for my family, my friends, my health and my wealth, but most of all I thank God for my freckles for they are a constant reminder, that my God loves me and He made me wonderfully and marvelously above the rest.

Freckles..as blessings, are too many to count!!!

The people of Haiti who suffered this great devastation (1/10 of the population destroyed or injured) are now tested to see if they can follow that directive: to get up from this knockdown; put one foot in front of the other, go forward, plod onward and get past this tragedy.

The example of this young girl and the strong will of the young man that was pulled from the rubble on the 11th day after the quake; these are stories of human will and the desire to live; the desire to do that great will of God. There is a sadness when thinking of the plight of people who went through something of this type, but it is done and there is no way to bring those people back. It is a hard thing to do but our brothers and sisters down in Haiti must go on and above all they must take control of their destiny, rebuild in a better way, and live forward. After all, the country of Haiti itself was founded when men (formerly slaves) desired to live free and then showed the strength, faith and will power to go into the unknown world to build their own destiny. That act of faith by the founders of Haiti deserves respect and honor. I want your success and your rebuilding. Stand up on your feet, and show the independence that your founders believed you have. Then move forward in faith.

Christian viewpoint:  The rebuilding and redeeming of man to the favor of God is central to the ministry of Christ. Haiti is now to rebuild and become better for it. The mistakes made before are not to be repeated. God will guide them in this task.

disclaimer: This article is an opinion.

Check out her website at http://expage.com/page/poetofpurpose

Lord, Lord,
Why did You make me Black?
Why did You make me someone
The world wants to hold back?

Black is the color of dirty clothes;
The color of grimy hands and feet.
Black is the color of darkness;
The color of tire-beaten streets.

Why did you give me thick lips,
A broad nose and kinky hair?
Why did You make me someone
Who receives the hatred stare?

Black is the color of a bruised eye
When somebody gets hurt.
Black is the color of darkness.
Black is the color of dirt.
How come my bone structure’s so thick;
my hips and cheeks are high?
How come my eyes are brown
and not the color of the daylight sky?

Why do people think I’m useless?
How come I feel so used?
Why do some people see my skin and think I should be abused?

Lord, I just don’t understand;
What is it about my skin?
Why do some people want to hate me
And not know the person within?

Black is what people are “listed”,
When others want to keep them away.
Black is the color of shadows cast.
Black is the end of the day.

Lord, You know, my own people mistreat me;
And I know this just isn’t right.
They don’t like my hair or the way I look
They say I’m too dark or too light.

Lord, Don’t You think it’s time
For You to make a change?
Why don’t You re-do creation
And make everyone the same?

(God answered:)

Why did I make you black?
Why did I make you black?

Get off your knees and look around.
Tell Me, what do you see?
I didn’t make you in the image of darkness.
I made you in the Likeness of ME!

I made you the color of coal
From which beautiful diamonds are formed.
I made you the color of oil,
The black-gold that keeps people warm.

I made you from the rich, dark earth
That can grow the food you need.
Your color’s the same as the panther’s
Known for (HER) beauty and speed.

Your color’s the same as the Black stallion,
A majestic animal is he.
I didn’t make you in the Image of darkness
I made you in the Likeness of Me!

All the colors of a Heavenly Rainbow
Can be found throughout every nation;
And when all those colors were blended well,
YOU BECAME MY GREATEST CREATION.

Your hair is the texture of lamb’s wool
Such a humble, little creature is he.
I am the Shepherd who watches them.
I am the One who will watch over thee.

You are the color of midnight-sky,
I put the stars’ glitter in your eyes.
There’s a smile hidden behind your pain
That’s the reason your cheeks are high.

You are the color of dark clouds formed
when I send My strongest weather.
I made your lips full so when you kiss
the one you love they will remember.

Your stature is strong; your bone structure, thick
to withstand the burdens of time.
The reflection you see in the mirror…
The Image looking back at you is MINE!

- RuNett Nia Ebo

Inspired by the book of Genesis 1:26a and 27a&c

“And God said, Let us make man in Our image, after Our Likeness…So God created man in His own image…male and female created He them.”

Symbols of Love

This is from an introduction that was given at the Christmas program on December, 2008. It is the introduction of the Youth Play based around the Christmas Wreath.

background: Holy Communion was given at church on Friday night the 19th and the christmas play is held on the 20th. 

Last Night many of us came out to celebrate communion. Communion is the celebration of Christ’s Death and Resurrection. The bible records that Christ said “As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” He was talking about the communion and the end of His ministry here on earth.

Tonight we are out here to celebrate the beginning of His life, the birth of the Savior. Christ was promised so many years before in prophecy. God would give the perfect and pure sacrifice to us and cleanse the sin which was commited by our father Adam. He sent his perfect and unblemished son to the earth to be sacrificed and therefore to remove that sin.

Jesus came to us as an innocent child with simple and ordinary parents. They were not rich in the way of the world but were rich in the way of God. That little child came to this world and lived an ordinary life showing Love and an example to us all.

Tonight we celebrate the birthday of Our Savior Jesus Christ. One who came to earth and conquered death. One who came to earth to remove the blemish that the original man ‘Adam’ had left upon us his children.

The youth have tonight prepared a play based around one of the symbols of love: the christmas wreath. They want to to illustrate the great love that Christ showed for us and to educate us on one of the symbols of infinit love. [the wedding ring and the figure 8 are others]. This love lives forever just as the green color of the wreath represents. It is tied together through the red holly branches and droplets just as the blood of Christ redeems all to God. And, this love has no beginning and no end like the perfect round circle. Just as God has no beginning “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was God…” and as God has no end “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end…” The wreath has no beginning and no end and it represents the love of God