WHY A CUP OF TEA WITH ME?
There’s a divine plan in work in all of our lives. It nudges us and guides us to just the right people and places that are meant for us. And If you want to see a Black woman SHOUT, recite,
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Most of us know that God’s plan is at work. If you need evidence of this, revisit the Fired Up and Ready to Go story of Edith Childs and Barack Obama. It explains that sometimes when we’re tired and at our worst, God will send an angel to guide us to our destiny place. Edith Childs was that angel for Barack Obama.
And for the last seven days, I’ve had my own encounter.
Please read my first post under the “Cup of Tea With Me”banner, We Love You, before reading this one, to understand my encounter fully. I wrote it two days after I returned from San Francisco feeling fired up and ready to go. But, before, I could hit the ground running, I fell ill. In the post, I explain why San Francisco fires me up, and how when I returned, suddenly, I felt like there were 1000 tiny pieces of glass lodged in my throat. Instantly, I knew that I had to sip tea, lemon, and honey, and retire to bed rather than do the 100 things I’d plan to do to share One Night in LA, my indie feature which is an Official Selection of the Essence Festival:
So on Day 1 after returning, I sipped; on day 2, I sipped, and on Day 3, I sipped some more.
By Day 6, I was concerned, although I went out for about an hour.
On Day 7, which was this past Sunday, I could, finally, speak and eat without feeling the tiny pieces of glass I envisioned in my throat. Still, I rested. But, I felt like God had turned me around:). I was clear about what I needed to do to be ready for the festival. During the week, I entered into a distribution agreement for One Night in LA. And I begin to feel more at peace and ease about this leg of the journey.
During the seven days, I slept, rested, took cold medicine, and sipped tea, honey, and lemon. My husband is the great comforter so he was by my side with comforting offerings of tea, soup, snacks, and Nyquil. He kept repeating, “just rest.” He knows that I’m sometimes child-like, and it’s hard for me to sit still and be quiet. During the seven days, every morning, I would, eagerly, wake, and then swallow slowly to determine if it was time to jump back into activity. When I’d feel the glass and the lump in my throat, I would slump back into my bed and bury myself under the covers. On Saturday, I went out briefly to my sorority (Delta Sigma Theta, Century City Alum) chapter's end-of-the-year meeting. I went for the last 20 minutes of the meeting, and I felt pretty good. I was supposed to go to lunch afterward, but when I swallowed while waiting for the meeting to end, I felt the glass, and I decided that I had to see my doctor on Monday to make sure the sore throat wasn't a symptom of something more serious. I touched my heart rather than hug my Sorors goodbye for summer while explaining that I had a bug and didn’t want to get anyone sick.
While quiet and still for seven days, I thought about the next 30 days on my way to the Essence Festival, and what it meant to me to have my first indie feature, One Night in LA, be an Official Selection of the festival. I thought about the journey of 30 years of writing, which has been filled with tacks and nails:). I’ve only continued because I’m a WGA (What God Anoints) writer:)! I produced One Night in LA with the help of friends and family. I crowdfunded it. I’ve pack theaters and produced plays. I’ve written, directed and produced several short films that have been featured in notable festivals. After I dropped my sons off at college, I returned to grad school to get an MFA in Creative Writing because it was on my bucket list. I’ve toured the nation with my novels On Edge and Wings to Fly. To share my words, I’ve done it all! I’ve persevered and kept the faith.
While sitting still with a cup of tea, I thought about who I wanted to be as a writer moving forward, and I decided that I would end my writing journey as I began: Loving others, loving America, and loving Black people with my written words.
I decided that what the world needs right now, more than anything else, is L-O-V-E! Ironically, it’s what it needed in 1993 when I begin. In 1993, I remember listening to Stevie Wonder’s These Three Words a 1000 times.
I reminded myself that first and foremost, I’m a writer, although I create in many ways.
And so I will write my way to Essence while sipping tea, lemon, and honey. For the next 20 days, I will blog.
And here I am!
In yesterday’s post, We Love You, I wrote about being a Quiet Storm, a woman reconciling 30 years of writing while sitting in an upside-down world:)! Today, I must add that, no matter what spin I place on my journey, it all adds up to a journey filled with my love for America, readers, audiences, viewers, and you.
I thank God for my angel, which came during seven days of quiet and stillness, sipping tea, honey, and lemon.
Now, I’m fired up and ready to go!
P.S. These posts are written quickly in the mornings after my prayer time. They’re edited by moi:). Please overlook any mistakes. If I tried to make my words perfectly combined, flowery, and special, I would never share a post. I would use AI. LOL. These are from imperfect me.
I love you! I look forward to my cup of tea with you tomorrow.