I am less than a week away from thirty and my heart is heavy. Not because I am sad but because I have been heavily reflecting on who I am and who I have become. My greatest influence next to my mother was my granny, the late Sadie Polite. She was an amazing woman and sometimes I miss her so much that it hurts. My time of reflection would not be complete without reflecting on the lessons she taught me. With that being said the next five-blogs’ topics will feature lessons I learned from my granny.

One of the things my granny always said to me was to be a good little girl. It didn’t matter how old I was to, my granny, I was a little girl. She always encouraged me to do the right thing, follow the rules, and be an example of a well-raised child. I never thought that on the verge of thirty, I would be reminded of these words that my granny always told me. There have been many opportunities both professionally and personally where I could have been dishonest or played the game in a way that wouldn’t have been pleasing in the sight of God. However, I am always reminded to be a good little girl and to do what is required and not take the easy way out. I have to do the right things and plant good seeds because in due season I will reap what I sow. Granny taught me to be honest and to walk with integrity, and even today, I am still trying to be granny’s good little girl.

Lesson 17: Be a Good Little Girl.

I saw a quote that literally stopped me in my tracks. The quote by the late Maya Angelou states, “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” This quote was powerful to me because I noticed that at work, I was easily annoyed or moved by things that would change my attitude and perception. These things that would bug me I couldn’t change and my attitude couldn’t change it either. It bothered me that I was bothered or moved by things that I really had no control over. There was too much at work or in life to be done by me that I couldn’t afford to waste time being moved by the actions of others. So when I saw that quote it became clear to me that the problem was no longer the issue or circumstance that I was experiencing. No, the problem was me! I didn’t like the circumstance but I could not allow something that I could not control to shift my atmosphere and change my attitude. I learned that I have to steadfast and focus my energy on changing the things I can change and just accept the things that I can’t change.

Lesson 16: Accept what God allows.

The late Maya Angelou is someone that I think was very profound. Her words of wisdom will live forever. One thing that she said that has stuck with me for years is “Its none of your business what people say about you when you are not in the room.” When I first saw this quote, I said this couldn’t be true. I needed to know. I needed to know how I am perceived and viewed by others. But as I got older, I realized that some things that are said about you even if you heard it, it would not help you to become a better person. I had to realize that what people say about me is not what makes me who I am but what I say and believe about myself is what makes me Felicia. The opinions of others are just their opinions. Although some opinions may be constructive and helpful, in time God will reveal those things and give me the chance to work on them. At the end of the day, who I am is not predicated on the opinions of others so its none of my business.

Lesson 15: “Its none of your business what people say about you when you are not around.” Maya Angelou

The words no is a word that most people don’t want to hear. When we ask for anything, we want the answer to be yes and yes immediately. Growing up I hated when I was told no or maybe because to me that meant never. As God has molded and matured me, he has shown me that no doesn’t always means never. No could means not now. God knows how much we can handle. We just have to trust in his timing over ours own timing, be patience and wait. No doesn’t always mean never.  

 Lesson 14: Delay does not mean denial.

A year ago I received two small trees from church on earth day, and I was excited to plant and grow my own trees. I took both home, bought some soil and planted. I begin to water the trees and pick out the weeds that grew in the soil. Day after day, I watch those baby trees sprout but they had not grown much. After six months with no growth, I wondered if I had done something wrong. Did I not give it enough love? Did I over water? Against my better judgement I just let them be. I didn’t throw the trees away,I just stopped caring for them as they sat outside. No watering or weeding. Summer came and left, fall came and left, and even a bad winter stopped through. From time to time I would check but still no-growth in my little trees. Spring came again and right when I was about to give up and throw my baby trees away, they began to grow. I was so shock! It had been over a year, with many adverse weather conditions, and in the end, my baby trees finally grew. I realized that in life, everything is timing. To see growth I have to be patient. For you will reap what you sow if you faint not.  

Lesson 13: Trust God’s timing.