DISCLAIMER: I am not the original author of this story, but I'd like to share my take on it... So here it goes...

One evening as a mother sat combing her daughter's hair, she began to tell her daughter about the battle between the two tigresses that live in every woman. She said...

Daughter, there is a battle between two tigresses that live inside every woman. One tigress is evil... She spews anger, envy, jealously, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego...

The other tigress is Good... She spreads joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.

As the little girl listened, she thought about it for a few seconds and then she asked her mother, "Mommy, which tigress wins?"

The wise mother simply replied, the one you feed daughter."

....OUR DAUGHTERS ARE WATCHING US... 🌹🌹🌹   #62milliongirls. #reachhigher. Shout out to our First Lady Michelle Obama for her commitment and dedication to GIRL POWER!

I opened my eyes to a pink bundle of joy so many years ago. I first looked at you and you first looked at me. It was as if you were wondering... Where am I? And I remember wondering... What should I do??? As a new mom, all I knew was that I'd be a better mom than my mom. Yes! That's right! I said it!! Daughters are the harshest critics of their mother. I mean, don't get it twisted, I think the sun raised and set on my mom. However, I always had a knack for picking apart her flaws.   As I began my odyssey of motherhood, I would learn and experience each fiber of my own mother's quilt. I would experience the joys of praise and the difficulties of discipline. I would learn that this little person in my arms, in her own way, would make me a better person. She would be my motivation to reach my life's goals, in order to provide a better life for her. In other words, SHE would teach ME.

In return, I would give it my all. I would give her a sense of security that can only be found in a mother's arms. I would give her a sense of self confidence higher than anyone's. I would give her a mirror so that each day she would see her beauty; and I would place a piece of gold around her neck so that when she touched it, she'd always remember her value. I would pour into her heart a sense of pride that would always keep her head up.   And, lastly, I would add to her heart God's Peace. I would tell her stories of the great things that my God has done for me. And in the end... When I leave her... she will have my God to comfort her and keep her on her journey...

These things I have done for you Daughter - as my Mother has done for me...

Alleluia!

A few months ago I asked God for a breakthrough. I felt I needed God's help more than ever before. I felt as though I ran into what I can only describe as a solid brick wall. I ran into a solid brick wall. Yep, I had to hear myself say it twice. I was so very wrong. You can't ask for God's help when you THINK you can't handle a trial or tribulation without him. You ask for God's help because there is NOTHING you can do without him.

Not only was I embraced by my God, but in his grace I was delivered. Delivered from the burden of uncertainty. Uncertainty is certainly not God's way. He lifted my head and held my hand, as he opened my eyes, showing me my past and my future! To God be the Glory! My future is no longer uncertain. My future IS my present. Filled with love, honor and support. I am so blessed and so grateful. The brick wall turned out to be for my very own protection!

Grandma told me his name is Jehovah Jireh.

Shabach Jehovah Jireh! I love you Lord! I thank you Lord.

Alleluia!

Men! What's up with men? They are our fathers, grandfathers, brothers, cousins, nephews, sons and grandsons, In one second they will protect us with their very life. Yet they possess the power to break our hearts in two. A man can also be your very best friend, your confidant, the one you can trust all of your secrets to. I have always seen men in a puzzling light. Growing up with brothers, I knew early on that theirs was a different breed. They didn't seem to break as easy as we did. They appear to have a much higher tolerance for pain and in my opinion were not half as needy as we females. What I found most amazing, is that I've never seen a man cry. Men seem to be wired to automatically shutdown. I ask myself what are these strange creatures of God? How could a person so tough, so rugged, so strong...hold a women's delicate heart in their hands? I submit to you that with all that I've said, I have come to realize that a man's heart is as tender as any and we must love them unconditionally.

I see your pain...

I am still here.

I feel your pain...

I am still here.

I carry your pain...

I am still standing.

You are my pain...

I still love you.

When you can lay in bed at 10:30 at night with a glass of red wine, texting back and forth with your adult daughter, as you are both crying from laughter, I have to stop and say wait a minute! Today was a day that the Lord had made!

Not only laugh but good ole belly laugh! The kind of silly, tummy aching laugh that only a mother and daughter can share, I have to thank my God! For I am in his grace. I am graced with blessings that flow abundantly.

But what they don't know is when she go home and get behind closed doors man she hits the floor and what they can't see is she's on her knees...

Yaaas! No one knows how much I pray. No one knows how much I gave...

I'm just gonna Mary Mary myself to sleep tonight cause I'm grateful! Plus I know that my God lovin' man will come in when the game is over and take out my earplugs! 💁🏽

Thank you Lord...

When IT is meant to be,

You don't have to beg for it;

You don't have to plead with it;

You don't have to chase it;

You don't have to fight for it.

When IT is meant to be,

It will fight for you;

It will standby you;

It will protect you;

It will appreciate you;

IT will be yours because GOD allowed IT!

As I drove to work this morning, the word "Loyalty" kept popping up in my mind. I have a 45 minute commute and that word stayed on my mind. I tried listening to smooth jazz, thinking it would soothe me as it usually does. But the word "Loyalty" remained in my head.

To me, loyalty was synonymous with love. It wasn't until I got older in life that I realized the difference between the two. As a mother of two beautiful daughters, I would gently encourage them to choose loyalty over love. Why they would ask? I replied, because love comes and goes but loyalty remains. Understand this, if you do not choose wisely, you will have nothing to pass on to future generations but selfishness and lack of loyalty. Furthermore, selfishness and lack of loyalty does not, and cannot, support a cohesive family.

Your family is the root of your existence. Your family will be there for you when no one else will. I once attended a family funeral and the only attendees were the family! Of course the deceased had friends, but it seemed the person expired at an inconvenient time!

My position is not based on loving family, because for most of us that is not always easy to do. However, my position is based on the loyalty it takes to usher in each generation into a supportive environment. As each daughter chose their respective mate, our family grew. Now many years later, as I proudly watch and listen as my grandchildren bless our table, I see the affect my message has had on my own family and the fruit that it as brought forth.

Loyalty... It never fails us...

Wake up my sisters! Wake up and join hands. Stand strong and protect each other. Love one another with sister pride. It doesn't matter the color of your skin. It doesn't matter the texture of your hair. It doesn't matter how old or how young. Sexism is as prevalent as racism. Sexism is practiced in churches, boardrooms, schools and countries everywhere.

What can we do? How can we as women help ourselves? Women and only women can turn this around by looking at ourselves. Take a good look at yourself. Ask yourself these questions:

Do I look down on women from different cultures? Socio-economic conditions? Skin color? Weight? Level of education? Et cetera...

If you answered yes to even one question, then look inside yourself and ask why. Why do we berate and disrespect one another yet expect our men to treat us as queens when we can't even treat each other as queens?

Think about this... A man would never be able to "cheat" again if only we respected each other as Queens!

A man would never be able to mentally or physically abuse a woman again if that woman knew that she had a support system stronger than the beat of her heart!

And... We must raise our sons as Kings! Kings that search kingdoms for their Queens! And a king will know his queen when he sees her for her crown will be a halo!

My sisters God chose to make each one of us different, unique in our own way. Think of it this way... Two little girls sitting next to each other and one says... When I grow up I want to be the best female ball thrower ever! I will stike out every batter that comes my way! Her friend looks at her with sheer joy and says... Me too! I want to be the best female ball thrower ever too! I want to throw hugh balls! And all the ladies will wear the most beautiful gowns.

The next time you see a sister all decked out on her way to the mailbox, don't ask her... Where do you think you're going like that?! Just tell her how pretty she looks.

I was taught to forgive benefits you, the individual. Pretty selfish perspective when you think about it. Nonetheless, forgiveness in one's heart releases toxins. Toxins that are associated with the onset of certain fatal illnesses. Based on this fact alone, I've always been the first to apologize. I mean, I am really sorry, but at the same time, I do want to be free of the vehemen that anger spews. So if I ever find myself in a quandary as to whether or not I should apologize, the benefits to my health is always the deciding factor.

As I matured, I realized it's even deeper than that! Forgiveness sets the stage for your legacy! It lays the foundation for generations to come. The benefits of forgiveness manifests itself in your children and grandchildren. While you may not see the immediate benefit of forgiveness, trust and believe it is written in the "Book of Life."

There is always room in your heart to forgive...

Luke 7:47

"Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, for she loved much..."

I gotta a DIAMOND! You gotta a BAT! Let's play ball!

Does it matter?

I was born with my diamond... You were born with your bat ... Let's play ball!

Does it matter?

Can mental strength match physical strength?

Does it matter?

My strength allows me to birth a nation.

Does it matter?

Your strength allows you to run a nation.

But, does it matter?

I see your hustle wit' my hustle...

Does it matter?

My stilettos are now orthopedic!

Does it matter?

My dark hair is now frosted with gray.

Does it matter?

I love you!

Does it matter?