Stuff We Talk About

Although my mother went home to be with the Lord, she told me something years ago that I will never forget. I want to pass on the same...

By Vernalee Stop criticizing others for bad qualities in their character when you have identical or similar ones! No one is squeaky clean! We all have faults of some sort. Your flaws are just as visible as theirs! That is why, you should not throw stones. Remember, people can throw stones back at you and reveal the skeletons that you thought were hidden in your closet. Just as transparency makes them easier targets; the same applies to you! More importantly, don’t be fooled

By Vernalee The phrase, “Fortune Favors the Brave”, refers to the revelation that courageous action is often rewarded. The phrase encourages people to take bold actions. It suggests that you'll never get anything if you don't work or ask for it. There are few born with a silver spoon in their mouth. The vast majority have to earn their keep. Besides, as the saying goes, "Work ain't never hurt nobody." Is it reasonable to ask for help, if you don't help yourself? When we acco

By Vernalee Thriving business; fantastic career; big house; new car; extravagant jewelry/clothes, lavish vacations …..all are sought after forms of materialism! Sounds good! Oh yes! But what happens to your psyche when someone has more of them than you? Are you truly happy for them or are you jealous? Do you really like to see people do good or do you resent it particularly when they are doing better than you? You don’t have to answer. Your conduct will reveal the truth;

By Vernalee If someone says “you've made your bed, now sleep in it, they are essentially telling you in an unsympathetic way that you have to accept the unpleasant consequences of your actions or decisions.” Unfortunately, changing the sheets does not remove the aftermath of poor decision making. Growing up, my Mother said those words to me so often that I had surreptitiously developed a lyrical jingle to the words; a jingle that I dare not utter in her presence! If I did so

By Vernalee I found myself telling my niece something this week that went way, way back to my days growing up on a graveled paved road lined with dirt ditches now called Spencer Street (it was unnamed when I lived there). It was one of those throw back phrases that I often heard the old women say. "Girl, just feed 'em with a long handled spoon." Of course as a young girl, I had no idea what that meant! This saying - "simply means to respect people, but not to get too clo

By Vernalee If your eyes were glued to the Lifetime channel like mine's during its premiere, we saw the making of the gospel group, the incomparable Clark Sisters. We traveled back in time to witness their family problems (we all have them), their climb, their challenges, their struggles, their successes, their love ... True to form as their lives personified, "We see the glory, but we don't know the story." The Clark Sisters have many gospel hits, but "You brought the suns

The roots provide the foundation. It is the roots that gives it strength. In that regard, a writer once wrote, “Our stories and pasts are our roots. If taken away, we would not flourish into healthy plants/people. ⁠Difficult stories and experiences are beneath the surface for many of us and are critical for our survival – let us never forget them. I am not my past but without it I would not be standing. I have learnt this - and it has become my source of strength. Learning to

By Vernalee There have been a number of theories and quotes on the types of friends who walk through our lives. For me, the version that hit the nail on the head is outlined in Bishop T. D. Jakes’ sermon on “3 Types of Friends.” Bishop Jakes called them, “Confidants, constituents, and comrades.” The confidants are people who are for you. Your confidants love you unconditionally. Confidants weep with you, rejoice with you, and are happy for you….Confidants will make sure th