Life

I celebrated my 20th birthday yesterday. I'm so thankful that God has given me the gift of life and has kept me covered under His blood. God's been so good, I couldn't tell it if I tried.

I found out Friday that one of my closest friends died in her sleep Thursday evening at age 21. I was so shocked by the news because it was so unexpected. Many thoughts overtook my mind.
One thought however, stood out like a sore thumb. that thought was... "What could we have done differently?"

Last year in June, my friend that died and I had a big fight. I asked someone a question regarding her and they took what I said and manipulated it to be whatever they told her and she became angry with me. When I got the phone call from her, she let me have it. I didn't get a chance to say anything because when I started to defend myself she kept cutting me off. She then gave the phone to one of our other friends because like her, he HEARD that I said something about him too. He let me have it as well and the entire time I cried silently to myself because I knew someone rearranged my words and started something major - disturbing our friendship. He then declared our friendship of ten years, over. What could I do? They didn't want to talk to me and at that moment, I was angry because first, they didn't give me a chance to speak and second, because it simply wasn't true so..I didn't want to talk either.

Well, time passed and we didn't talk for at least a month. I thank God for my mom. She made me call and apologize even when I KNEW I wasn't wrong. I rebelled and kept saying I wasn't calling. Eventually I broke down and called her and apologized. I apologized for the way it got back to her but that wasn't what I said. I'm thinking to myself.... "Dang. I've known her since we were 12. Why would I THINK about saying something like that? We've been thru too much." After I apologized she said okay and thank you. I had no idea that those words would be the very last ones I would hear her say.

Life Has a Funny Way of Living......

Again, I'm so so so thankful that God spoke to my mom and led her to tell me to apologize. I'm sure if I didn't, my guilt somehow would be eating me alive. Thank God for Mama's Instinct.

I shared all of that for two reasons. First off, appreciate every moment of life given to you. Celebrate everyday as your birthday because like my friend, you could lay down and not get back up. God has given you the GIFT of today that's why it's called the PRESENT. Secondly, love your friends. Love your friends how Christ described in the book of John 15:13 - "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." As you read above, life is way too short to let some "He-Say, She-Say" mess dictate your friendship. Keep it 100% with each other and everything will be good. I lost a very good friend over words. Words that meant nothing. Words that were played with and meant everything. Be careful what you say but more importantly, HOW you say it. Words are Power. There is Life and Death in the Power of the tongue. Think before you speak.

I pray that as you read this, you came to a point where you thank God for life and not take any moment for granted. Always remember to love your friends thru every situation. If there's a problem or issue, whenever there is beef, just take it, grill it up, and eat it. Until Next Time, I'm


Dreaming In Him,
Rashaad