Category Archives: MUSINGS

Friday Feature: Eat Organic

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Growing up I had little chance of developing a habit of eating fresh fruit. My dad would buy an equal amount of apples and oranges and cheese twists, cookies, pop and fruit punch. We children always had a choice of what we wanted, and we always chose the junk food. You know we had a lot of rotten fruit and taste buds spoiled for good nutrition. Over the years I made myself eat fruit; I did love vegetables, though. It took a major health challenge nearly 20 years ago that forced me to enter for the first time a natural health food store and another health issue about 10 years ago that put me on the path to eating organic foods. This is where I plan to stay.

Organic means that “the produce and other ingredients are grown without the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing radiation. Animals that produce meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products do not take antibiotics or growth hormones” (Organic.org). As a result, you get food closer to the way God intended for it to be. My husband, who is frugal and has historically eaten whatever is given to him, was ready to return to conventionally-grown produce once I completed my nutritional healing plan that included organic produce. When he did, we both noticed that the produce didn’t taste as good as the organic.

Now most of our produce and many products we buy are organic. People wonder if organic foods are more nutritious and otherwise healthier for you than non-organic products. The general consensus among traditional healthcare providers is still out, though some scientists are discovering organic to be better. Researchers at the University of California, Davis, found organic oranges had more Vitamin C and phytochemicals (plant chemicals with protective and disease-preventive properties) than non-organic ones, and those elsewhere found organic produce to be higher in antioxidants. Studies aside, my husband and I reasoned that we’d rather spend the extra money that organic products sometimes cost than to spend it later on healthcare for illnesses we may get from modified foods that were never intended for human consumption.

Eating organic has helped me in two major ways: 1) I desire healthy food. My taste buds now dance instead of dismiss fresh fruit. I now eat better without forcing myself to do so. 2) I detox more fully. When I fast, my body not only dispels old fecal matter but flushes out old toxins without digesting new ones. Click here for other reasons to eat organic.

When I started my journey to organic eating, I didn’t know where to begin. Now there is a ton of information available to help you get started. Be sure to read next week’s Friday Feature where I give you tips on how to select and save money on organic products. In the meantime, check out these websites (Organic.org and Living Maxwell) and let me know what you find. And those of you who have been eating organically, I would love to hear about the benefits you have experienced.

Copyright 2011 by Rhonda J. Smith

Living in the Pink-A Book Review

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What Do You Think? Wednesday

  • She’s pretty, single and perhaps saved with a perhaps saved boyfriend but they aren’t saving the sex for marriage. She’s conflicted and he’s confused; he thought their arrangement was working out swell until…
  • This is the last time she would bail him out or at least that’s what she wanted. But what’s a strong black mama to do when her baby’s in trouble?
  • She went to college, owns a business and runs with the movers and shakers. Though she grew up in the church she was now far from God. How does she maintain this lifestyle without giving praise to God?

You probably know one of these women. Maybe you are one of these women. These are three of the main characters in Living in the Pink, a new novel by Sharon Tubbs. And though Living in the Pink is a novel, as you can see from the character sketches, you experience real life when reading this collection of short stories. These women with strong black women characteristics are all “living in the pink,” but Laura Pinkston, aka Sister Pinky, challenges them to abandon their self-willed lives and embrace “the glory of living white as snow.”

People living in the pink have had their red like scarlet sins washed as white as snow but dabble with some of their sins, thus tinting their lives. Sister Pinky explains: In-the-pink people “say they believe in God, but only enough to call themselves ‘spiritual’ without having to make significant changes in their lives. Don’t be fooled…they might go to church and say eloquent prayers or sport a Jesus bumper sticker—all the while nursing sins that they’re unwilling or afraid to let go. They want to believe in God, just not too much.”

Author Tubbs says Sister Pinky, the all-seeing church mother, is based on a mixture of women she knows, including her mother, and the Titus 2 woman. She crafted this novel, complete with discussion questions at the end of each story, so women will examine themselves, whether based on responses to the questions or from the correction of a Sister Pinky that they know.

“Everybody is living in the pink in some aspect of their lives,” Tubbs says. “The question is, ‘Are we happy there or do we want to improve?’ Everyone needs to be striving to get more out of life.” To help with this process, in addition to the questions in the book, Stubbs has created the “Pinky Meter,” a non-scientific, yet fun, quiz to help you determine just how in the pink you’re living. Take the quiz here.

Tubbs says, “The intent with the questions is for women to be more introspective. So often what we tend to do is blame our circumstances on our jobs, on other people…on men. I’m not saying these things don’t have weight, but we have the Holy Spirit inside and that’s power.”

You know from the beginning of this blog I have challenged African American Christian women to forsake their strong black women ways and walk in the strength of God. I believe Living in the Pink is another tool to challenge you to do that. As you read the book, you can’t help but think about another sister you know or even wonder how you should handle your own strong black women issues. Pick up Living in the Pink at Tubbs’ website or on Amazon and enjoy a fast-moving, funny and spiritually-fulfilling book that will help you cherish your salvation and summer days. And make sure to tell me what you think.

Copyright 2011 by Rhonda J. Smith

About the Author

Sharon Tubbs, author of Living in the Pink


Sharon Tubbs is a Christian who loves to write and has done so for more than 15 years as a newspaper journalist. The Living in the Pink project originated when Sharon wrote a version of the first story, Revelation, for a writing contest. She didn’t plan to create a series at the time. In fact, that story stayed tucked away in her computer for years before she looked at it again. The second go-round, she saw potential for something more and began to develop the central character “Sister Pinky,” using humor and real-life situations to touch others in a down-to-earth way. A condensed version of the series was launched online in April 2009 to a select number of women around the country. The positive feedback inspired Sharon to seek print publication with Lift Every Voice Books (Moody Publishers) for broader distribution of an expanded and improved version of Living in the Pink.

Originally from Indiana, Sharon now lives in Florida where she has encouraged other women spiritually through leadership activities. She has also inspired others to write poetry, devotionals, and books with Christian themes. In her spare time, Sharon enjoys hanging out with friends, live theater, a relaxing bubble bath, and Rocky Road ice cream.

Chivalrous Love

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Before I met my husband, my dad was the sweetest, most thoughtful and chivalrous man I knew. Curtis Anderson Sr. doted on my mom so much that one of her single girlfriends had the nerve to ask my sister would she mind having her as a stepmom if something ever happened to my mother. My dad would open doors, buy her things before she asked and rarely raised his voice with her. He was the family chef, so my mother never had to cook a meal nor did my siblings or I. To this day my brother is surprised that my sister and I cook so well, never being made to learn to cook or prepare a family meal. We were so self-absorbed, we never even volunteered. My father loved to give and I loved that he loved to give. To this day most of the classic suits I own are the ones my dad bought me, sometimes just because “they looked like you.” In my eyes he was the perfect man. No one could replace my daddy, but with Flynn I get that same love. In the beginning of our relationship, though, I almost blew it.

We were riding in the car one evening when dating and I took out something to read. Without me having to ask, Flynn turned on the light to help me see. Most normal people would have said “Thank you.” I, instead, began to berate him, telling him that I didn’t need his help and if I wanted the light on I could have turned it on myself. He responded with a soft word and had the nerve to still date me. Like my father, he saw a need and sought to fulfill it. Flynn wanted the best for me, but I was a strong black woman gone berserk (is that redundant?). He was trying to help me yet I saw his chivalry as controlling me, imposing his will on my life and thus redefining who I was. That little act spoke loudly the type of bondage I was in and that so many recovering strong black women are in. We shun the help that comes to us even though we are struggling:

So, then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. Stand fast, therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.—Galatians 4:31-5:1

Quench not the Spirit.—1 Thessalonians 5:19

I think we forget the position God has placed us in. Like a caring father or husband, Jesus Christ saw our need and gave of Himself and through the price He paid to take away our sin we have been grafted in the body of Christ. We have been provided for even when we didn’t know we needed provision. We have been given sight when we couldn’t see. We are constantly doted on and directed because of Christ’s deep love and care for us. He never imposes His will upon us but makes it clear and empowers us to want it and choose it, all for our good. We too often resist His love and choose the bondage of self-will. But Jesus is ever present, vowing to never leave us or forsake us. With His presence and our desire to let Him lead we will break out of bondage and surely succeed.

I praise God for a father and a husband who remind me of Jesus. And I praise God for regulating my mind when I didn’t accept Flynn’s love, giving me a second chance to receive what He knew I needed.

How have you rejected God’s blessings? How have you been able to adjust your mind to receive what God has for you?

Copyright 2011 by Rhonda J. Smith

My One Thousand Gifts List

#111-120
Andrina’s safe travel to and from Cleveland for Aunt Lois’ funeral
Andrina helping me to get Xfinity operating
God giving me an on the spot 1 Peter 5:8 bible study to help Joshua deal with Alexis
Joshua understanding the bible study
Joshua accepting his punishment for destroying the air freshener cap
Managing the children without anger
Preparing a tasty, fast and simple dinner
A lack of desire for meat
Intimate time with Flynn
Nate sleeping through the night

Friday Feature: Roundup Four & T-Shirt Winner

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  • In the last month I talked about ways to eat wheat- and gluten-free, but some of us need to be careful to monitor the other foods we eat too: Check out the New York Times Op-Ed piece When Food Kills.
  • This site is selling products (that I have not tried so I can’t recommend them) and offers some free tips for dying hair naturally: My Sensitive Skincare

And the winner is:

Our ThinkThis! Designs Eat Well Live Well t-shirt winner is Ajene M. Gailliard. She said she has incorporated more plant-based foods in her diet and regular periods of fasting. The Friday Feature that inspired her the most was on cooking healthy greens, which has inspired her to finish her cookbook and own cooking videos. Ajene blogs at Kingdom Mommy, a site to encourage Christian women with young children to raise them to be strong believers in Christ. Congratulations Ajene and thanks for taking the time to comment. And special thanks to ThinkThis! founder and CEO Nichole M. Christian for sponsoring her t-shirts for my giveaway.

Summer Reading & T-Shirt Giveaway

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What Do You Think? Wednesday

Summer is officially here. With summer comes more leisure time and that means more time to read. Next week I’m going to review a book I know you’ll love, but I first had to give you a taste of my own book, Daily Guideposts: Your First Year of Motherhood, with a sample devotional below.

If you’ve been following the blog you’ve heard me promote the book, which debuted in April. Yes, the intended audience is new moms, but don’t let that keep you from reading or supporting me. Reviewer Mahogany Jones, a woman without children, said “This devotional is awesome. It’s interesting because I thought that since I am not a mother, I wouldn’t be able to relate, but it touched me because I was so able to relate to the messages and themes that covered all spectrums of life. I think if you are a mother, that there will not only be practical words of wisdom to apply to your parenting, but I believe that God will meet you where you are, and as a parent you will get to take delight in sharing His attributes, considering He’s the ultimate parent. I definitely recommend this book.” And reviewer Mary Ryan-Maher said Your First Year of Motherhood is “(a)n absolutely beautifully crafted book that while targeted to new mothers also appealed to me – mother of a ten- and seven-year-old. The raw, sometime conflicted and overwhelming emotions of new motherhood are movingly related. I can’t imagine reading only one a day! . . .What a great book – even for those of us who are starting into middle-motherhood!”

Read the excerpt below, pick up a copy for you or a new mom at Family Christian Stores or Amazon, and let me know what you think. Also, don’t forget to enter to win the t-shirt giveaway here on the blog. Check out last week’s Friday Feature for details on how to win. Winners will be announced Friday.

“The LORD [is] gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy” (Psalm 145:8 KJV).

My first impression of Flynn was in ninth-grade government class, where he and his buddy Vojo couldn’t shake the sillies. If the wind blew they laughed, and the only thing I thought was funny was that they thought they were cool. My second impression was at a high school class reunion committee meeting. Flynn’s jokes were jovial, his smile was smooth, and he handled all his reunion business well. That take-charge man became my husband.

Flynn initiated our meals. He planned our dates. He bought me flowers and jewelry I didn’t know I wanted. He washed the dishes and the clothes. He took responsibility and took care of me.
After four years of marital bliss we had Joshua. Flynn-the-dad helped whenever I asked him. But surprisingly, I had to ask. It began to annoy me. Then came a day I was busy with laundry and Flynn commented, “I think I smell the baby’s diaper.” I paused to process the comment. What needed to be done was obvious, but Flynn didn’t get up to do it.

“Well, aren’t you going to change it?” I snapped. He complied; I worried. Where was my take-charge man? Was I becoming a married single mom?

Later that day we talked my fear of Flynn’s in-home abandonment. It turned out he thought I’d adjusted well to having Joshua and that I knew when to ask him for help. What he hadn’t figured out yet was where his fatherhood fit. I looked at my husband, usually so confident, and decided it was okay to claim the role of married single mother for a time so that Flynn could navigate his way into fatherhood.

Remind me, Father, to ask for Your guidance when my husband and I disagree.

Devotional by Rhonda J. Smith originally appeared in Daily Guideposts: Your First Year of Motherhood and is reprinted with permission from Guideposts Books and Inspirational Media, Guideposts.org. Copyright © 2011 by Guideposts. All rights reserved.