Obamacare Yes!

By now most of us have heard about the controversial Affordable Care Act introduced by President Obama that was passed in 2010.  The proponents of this Act guarantees that all Americans would have health care, but mandates that all Americans have health insurance.  We are familiar with this concept because we have to secure car insurance and proof of that insurance if we drive a car.                                                 

This past week the United States Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare."  What caught a lot of people by surprise in this decision was Chief Justice John Roberts, who's known to be quite conservative, served as the swing vote to make it 5 - 4.  Why is it that the parties have to be so divided on such a matter that is vital for all Americans?  Instead of focusing on repeal and replace can we figure out a way to come together as one and build a stronger health care for all under the current Administration.  

It was brought up and discussed this Act is just a disguise for another tax.  Well don't we have to pay taxes on just about everything in order to have the quality of life we all desire?  We've all heard that where much is given much is required.  We didn't get in this position over night and it won't go away over night.  Although this Act does not go into effect until 2014, we must start preparing now. 

Forgiving For Living, Inc., serves at risk and underserved women and girls that have experienced abuse and or abandonment.  Part of our mission is to help them in the areas of health and life skills.  What better way than for them to be provided a level of peace of mind through the guarantee of health care.

Healing Without Hate:  It's a choice. It's a lifestyle. Pass it on!

Visit www.WendyGladney.com &  www.forgivingforliving.org.   You can email her at wendy.gladney@gmail.com. Also follow her blog:  Wendygladney.blogspot.com. Wendy is featured on Radio Free 102.3 KJLH on Dominique DiPrima's Front Page Friday Mornings @ 5:00am.

Lest We Forget

Last week I had the opportunity to travel to Savannah and Charleston for  business and pleasure.  I'm glad I had a chance to not only plant seeds that hopefully will grow into a fruitful  business opportunity, but I was also  able to visit historical sites, take tours throughout the cities, and walk the grounds of Plantations with former slave quarters.  I must admit It was sobering and humbling all at the same time.

This trip was especially touching for me because I'm in the process of working on my family tree and roots (and believe me this takes patience and time).  Although my paternal side of the family is from the South, they are primarily from the state of Texas, however, I remember hearing my grandmother say we had some "Geechee" in our background.  As a child I wasn't  sure what that meant, but as I grew I came to understand that the "Geechee" people came from sections of Louisiana, the Carolinas and Georgia.   This trip allowed me to learn more about this part of my background.

As I walked through the small slave quarters (they were the actual quarters, not replicas, close to 200 years old), I could feel the memories, pain and hopes of our ancestors.  As I journeyed through some of the oldest African American churches in this country, I was able to see holes in the floor in the shape of diamonds that allowed air and sound to pass for those traveling through the underground railroad.  As I visited the Civil Rights Museum I could see the progress we've made as a people, but what I found sad is that with all the ground that's been covered, there's still so much to be done.  I also found a level of prejudice where I actually heard a white tour guide say the slaves  were happy on the Plantations. People on the tour would not speak up (except for me, I had to say something).  I couldn't believe it.  Of course there are a lot of good people in this world, but sometimes if we don't speak up a few bad apples can spoil the whole bunch.

If we're not careful anger and bitterness will build and resume in the hearts and minds of mankind.  Martin Luther King, Jr., once said, "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." It's up to us to forgive the past, but we must learn from it so we don't allow it to be repeated.  Forgiveness does not mean forgetting.  The Schomburg Center in New York created "Lest We Forget" which documents the triumph over slavery.  Teach our children the truth and let your voice be heard.

 

Healing Without Hate:  It's a choice. It's a lifestyle. Pass it on!

 

Visit www.WendyGladney.com &  www.forgivingforliving.org.   You can email her at wendy.gladney@gmail.com. Also follow her blog:  Wendygladney.blogspot.com. Wendy is featured on Radio Free 102.3 KJLH on Dominique DiPrima's Front Page Friday Mornings @ 5:00am.

The Train Is Moving Are You On Board?

Recently I had a conversation with a dear friend who shared a quote he received and it said, "If you're absent during my struggle, don't expect to be present during my success."

Overall I do understand what the author means by saying if you can't be with me in the rough times, why would I want to share the good times that come my way after I've put in all of the work.  There are definitely a lot of people that jump on a train only when it's running and moving forward, but as I thought about the whole message, I also feel that it takes some people a moment to even realize what's going on, let alone know to get on board!

Don't write off everyone just because they may have been a little slow with getting on board and understanding your program, dream or vision.  They may be the very caboose you need.  Caboose's were once used and thought of as a functional part of the train.  It is clear that a train can operate without a caboose, but it originally was meant to provide shelter at the rear of the train for those that had to work in the back (which historically we know who that meant). Conductors also often handled business from a table that was located in the caboose and sometimes it had to serve a their living quarters for long trips.  So cabooses serve(d) a purpose.

I recently had the opportunity to travel down South and I visited Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina.  While visiting I also learned a lot about the beginnings of the railroad system that was laid across the South and how slave labor and Freedman (free black men) that were incarcerated were used to build these systems.  They were slaves to the railroad.  Historically we've heard a lot about the Pullman Porters, the dining car cooks and waiters, but we've not heard much about the ones who had to do the back breaking work of the digging, construction, and laying track.  This work was not for the faint of heart, many died hard deaths from this work, including women and children.   (You can learn more about it by reading Railroads in the African American Experience by Theodore Kornweibel, Jr.).

I can't go into all that touched me regarding this subject, but more than ever, I want to encourage everyone to learn to forgive a little, the brother or sister who may have been a little slow,  may be the one that saves you down the road when you least expect it. The train is still moving!

Healing Without Hate:  It's a choice. It's a lifestyle. Pass it on!

 Visit www.WendyGladney.com &  www.forgivingforliving.org.   You can email her at wendy.gladney@gmail.com. Also follow her blog:  Wendygladney.blogspot.com. Wendy is featured on Radio Free 102.3 KJLH on Dominique DiPrima's Front Page Friday Mornings @ 5:00am.

Fahter's Day

According to Wikipedia, Father's Day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society.  What I find interesting is just a month ago (May),  we celebrated Mother's Day and the stores were packed, the restaurants were standing room only, and more flowers and candy were delivered than any other day of the year.  Whereas for Father's Day many stores  only have two rows of cards in the stationery sections.

There's so much attention given to mothers, and being a mother I appreciate it.  For many, including myself, we had disappointing relationships with our fathers or no relationship.  However, truth be told, we wouldn't exist or be here if we didn't have "fathers."  It takes a man and a woman to bring a child into this world.  For those of you (us) that have strained relationships with our fathers, I encourage you to be bold and make a leap of forgiveness, reconciliation and demonstrate love towards your father this year.  You may say, Wendy you don't know what I've been through, you are correct, I don't, but I know what I went through and how my relationship healed between me and my father after I experienced abuse, because I was willing to extend an olive branch,  so I know there's hope.

Sometimes when people disappoint their loved ones, or themselves for that matter, they don't know how to ask for forgiveness.  Sometimes they may even feel they are too deep to get out.  It all starts with two words, "I'm sorry."  I also want to say for the wonderful men out there that are great fathers, great surrogate fathers  who stand in the shoes where fathers are missing, we applaud you for doing what should be done.

A local "tradition" during Father's Day Weekend is attending the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl.  An icon associated with this weekend is "TV Dad", Bill Cosby.  So I will close with one of his quotes, "Every closed eye is not sleeping, and every open eye is not seeing."  So fathers be careful the example you show your children whether you think they are looking or not.  They just may be peeking at you right now!

Healing Without Hate:  It's a choice. It's a lifestyle. Pass it on!

Visit www.WendyGladney.com &  www.forgivingforliving.org.   You can email her at wendy.gladney@gmail.com. Also follow her blog:  Wendygladney.blogspot.com. Wendy is featured on Radio Free 102.3 KJLH on Dominique DiPrima's Front Page Friday Mornings @ 5:00am.

Forgiveness Is Not An Emotion, It is a Decision

Life is full of twists and turns and we never know what a day may bring.  This past week my daughter was robbed and my neighbor of 19 years passed away.  I felt so many emotions sweep through me in just 24 hours.  When life hits you with a blow, there's a difference between when it hits another family verses when it hits your own family.  I've also learned that when you stand for something you are constantly being tested!

After I received the call from my daughter and I knew she was okay, I told her to hang up and call the police and her apartment complex management company.  Then my son and I jumped in the car and drove out to be with her and to see exactly what was going on.  As a mother "bear", I had to make sure my "cub" was safe.  When we arrived the police were there doing their investigation and the property management company sent out a handyman to board up the window the intruders broke into and change the locks on her door.  While we were standing there, looking around the place assessing  the damage the intruders did, all I could say was "thank you Lord for protecting my child!"

As usual, my mind took me back to my philosophy on forgiveness.  Once I knew my daughter was okay, I began to tell her we have to be grateful  she was not harmed, broken things can be fixed and stolen things can be replaced, but I could never have another her!  Next, I told her we had to pray for the individual(s) that did this.  Hurt and desperate people do desperate things.  Although I DO NOT condone what this person did, I know that we have to learn to forgive.  Forgiveness DOES NOT mean a perpetrator should go free and not be held accountable. Justice helps with the process of forgiveness, but forgiveness is not based on an emotion, but rather a choice or decision.

A few  days after the incident, I was reading and I ran across a story from Holocaust Survivor, Corrie ten Boom.  Her family died in the concentration camps during the war and later when she survived, she began a ministry of forgiveness helping other survivors.  One day when she was speaking at an event, she came face to face with one of the guards from Ravensbruck, the concentration camp where she and her sister were held.  After she completed her speech, the guard came up to her and told her he was touched by her speech, then he extended his hand and asked her for forgiveness.  He did not remember her specifically, but he still wanted to seek her forgiveness.  Although it was hard for Corrie to take his hand, eventually she did.  Later she shared that forgiveness is an act of the will and that our emotions don't always align with our choices.  I'm grateful we are alive to be the ones that have the opportunity to forgive.

Healing Without Hate:  It's a choice. It's a lifestyle. Pass it on!

Visit www.WendyGladney.com &  www.forgivingforliving.org.   You can email her at wendy.gladney@gmail.com. Also follow her blog:  Wendygladney.blogspot.com. Wendy is featured on Radio Free 102.3 KJLH on Dominique DiPrima's Front Page Friday Mornings @ 5:00am.