Everyone in my house is sick and has been for more than a week, but I still am cold free. Though everyone is in good spirits, coughing and blowing noses have been a bit of a bother. I thank God that they just have colds; they could have the flu, but we are ready to prevent that with Vitamin D.
Every drug store and doctor’s office seem to be pushing us to get flu shots though I have heard from more than one source that the shot only “works” on people who already have a high level of Vitamin D in their system. Actually, the Vitamin D works to prevent the flu by boosting the immune system. The problem for many is that the main source for getting Vitamin D is the sun (which helps our bones create it), which we get very little of in flu season. Other natural sources with a substantive amount of Vitamin D include fish and wild mushrooms. I take a Vitamin D supplement regularly. In addition to my supplement, I take elderberry and astragalus (in tincture and tea forms) as preventative therapy.
I look forward to another flu-free season. I hope you take the time to investigate these flu fighters so you too can be flu free.
With my mom being admitted to the hospital, me having an emergency root canal, Joshua breaking a bathroom sink off the wall and my book deal contract negotiations coming to an abrupt end, Monday had enough challenges for an entire year. Have you had a day like that? Well, challenging as it was and has been since, I praise God for His word and my brothers and sisters in Christ who have rallied by my side. These friends have called, texted, visited and babysat, checking on my mom and allowing me to see about my mom. They have put in the forefront of my mind another example of the “special obligations” that we as Christians have to our faith.
I use the term special obligations because this phrase stood out to me in a recent article about the Christian presence at the “Occupy” protests. The Christians interviewed said they had “special obligations” as Christians but didn’t feel a need to mention Jesus or evangelize as they participated in the movement. This got me thinking: What are our special obligations as Christians, particularly those of us who are seeking to shed our strong black woman ways and have chosen to privilege Christianity over personal strength, blackness and womanhood and any other worldly moniker that we have held dear? Please read the article and make sure to tell me what you think.
Every day without fail when he can’t see me Nathaniel is going to ask “Mama, where are you?” Though our house isn’t that big and he may have seen me five minutes ago, he makes it his business to keep constant tabs on me. I just couldn’t wrap my mind on how this three year old could think that I could just disappear. Once, I didn’t answer Nate when I was trying to put one-year-old Justus to sleep. After calling for me throughout the house, Nate finally asked Joshua where I was. “She’s in Justus’ room.” “No she isn’t. I looked,” said Nate, who didn’t come all the way in the room to see me holding Justus in the corner chair. Joshua, my oldest, then told Nate something that we all need to know about those we should be able to count on: “Mama is here. She wouldn’t leave us.”
This is what children everywhere should know about fathers and mothers, what spouses should know about the other, and what true friends should count on in each other. But parents, spouses and friends leave—they walk away; they die—and leave us wondering who we can count on. I don’t know if I had separation anxiety like Nathaniel has, but after a big fight between my parents and my daddy leaving for the night I knew parent separation could be my reality. So what do we do, tell our children too, that will give us the everlasting security we need?
You know the answer is Jesus who will never leave or forget about us (Hebrews 13:5). This I tell my children while I am sane, so they don’t look to me to be their everything when I can give them nothing. I want them to know that Jesus’ words are true, that He heals, protects, guides, comforts, and provides for me too. Jesus uses me to give to them my time, talent, treasure—my full soul, my full self. No matter how many times I try to carry my strong black woman mantle, I know I can do nothing without Jesus. I can do anything with Him. I am secure and need no one else to make me sure about anything. Stability with Jesus is what I am thankful for. Even though I can’t see Him, I know He is here because He would never leave me.
Listen to how singer-songwriter Aaron Shust puts it:
I have assurance of salvation (1 John 2:21-25). I know Jesus saves me from hell on earth and saves me from hell after I leave this earth (John 3:16-21). I will spend an eternity with Him. This He promises. He is not a man that He would lie (Numbers 23:19). What He says will come to pass, whether I have seen it or not. Whether you believe it or not, it’s true. Seek Him for salvation all who have not put their trust in Him (Romans 10:9-10). Now is the appointed hour. Tomorrow may be too late. Don’t wait. Seek him now.
My One Thousand Gifts List
#311-320
Justus sleeping through the night, giving me two full nights of sleep in a row
Quiet time with God
A decent outfit for Joshua to wear to church
Joshua getting up in time to go to Sunday school and his doing so for the last month
A husband who prioritizes family above all else (except God)
Justus’ gurgling milk giggle
Joshua and Nathaniel having a conversation after Nate asked “What is it?” when he saw Joshua expressing surprise about something
Nathaniel rallying Joshua and me to dance with him
Being able to cook dinner after a busy Sunday
Being able to help Flynn edit a eulogy
We are in the midst of cold and flu season and need to equip ourselves BEFORE we get hit with a virus. Last week I gave you some immune-boosting foods that I eat that have kept me from getting colds. Though several vitamins and minerals work to keep our immune system strong, Vitamin C is one of the main nutrients that work to prevent and rid us of colds. Today I share with you those Vitamin C-rich foods—in addition to the citrus fruits we all know about— that are in my diet and a few that I have yet to incorporate:
My regular complements:
1. Cucumbers
2. Berries
3. Grapes
4. Melons
5. Mango
6. Pears
7. Broccoli
8. Spinach
9. Kale
10. Collards
11. Cabbage (and lookalikes, such as Brussels sprouts)
12. White and sweet potatoes
13. Tomatoes
14. Bell peppers (green, yellow and red)
Of course each of these foods has other beneficial properties. That’s just how deep our God is. He created one food that offers us several things that we need. For this reason, it’s best to get our vitamins and minerals from foods. Eating a variety of foods ensures we get our daily requirements that otherwise only a micro-pharmacy in our cabinet could provide. I know most of us don’t have the time, money or space to shelve dozens of supplements. I’m not saying supplements are bad. I take some myself, but they should be SUPPLEMENTS, not SUBSTITUTES to good nutrition.
I’m 42. I’ve been saved 16 years, sold out for Jesus for 14, married for 13, and a mother for nine, and even with such experience I welcome advice, even that which is unsolicited. I know I don’t know everything and there are plenty of people older than I am who have been walking with Jesus, married and mothers longer and I know they simply know some things that perhaps I don’t. But let me tell you, I have had a hard time lately wanting to be gracious (though I have) to the people who balk at my husband’s and my decision to home educate our oldest son. These people have never home educated their children and have offered why homeschooling is bad for my child, including poor socialization, asked when I was going to put him in school and suggested I enroll him in good schools that they know of. Their unsolicited advice suggests the following that appall me:
1. World socialization is better than biblical socialization
2. My son would be happier at school than at home
3. That the ultimate goal of home education is institutional education
4. That any school outside of a home school is a better choice for my family
5. That any school outside of a home school will help my son reach his goals, no matter what they are
6. That they know my son better than my husband and I do
7. That they know what’s best for our family structure
8. That my husband and I were whimsical with our decision to home educate
9. That my husband and I didn’t hear from God
10. That, even with us not being in a crisis and them not having asked any questions for clarification, other humans know better for us than we do for ourselves; that humans know better than God
These implications, and many more, appall me because, quite frankly, I feel attacked. I recently read the tweet “There has to be a safe place for girls” in a brutal world that devalues their bodies and men do with them what they want. I say there has to be a safe place for all of us to be safe AND for those of us who are counterculture but not living in sin. There should be a safe place for us to make the Spirit-led decisions we need for the health and growth of our families. But, according to Scripture, this will not be the case. We will be persecuted for righteousness sake (Matthew 5:10; John 15:20). That’s it. I should expect nothing less. There is no ongoing Kumbaya experience for the Christian choosing to live a biblical Christian life, whether you home educate or not. You will be persecuted for whatever you do for righteousness’ sake. The question is “Are we going to reclaim our strong black woman ways to challenge those who challenge us or are we going to accept the attack and respond to educate not to annihilate?” Tell me your thoughts. What do you do when people attack you and your Spirit-led decisions?
