Fake or For Real

"A forged painting, which is 1,000 years old, is still a fake today! Wrong stays wrong forever." ~ Reinhard Bonnke

There was a time in my life when everything was off balance inwardly, but outwardly, I was a successful woman, able to fool anyone who didn't spend a prolonged amount of time with me into thinking I had it all together.

Eventually I got to the point where I could look at myself in the mirror and not know the person looking back at me. Something had to change! I had to get my mind right! I didn't want to be a forgery of a person, taking a little technique from one person or another that I admired, and not knowing who I really was.

Here's the thing: imitation is NOT the highest form of flattery...unless Jesus is the one I'm trying to imitate. I'm no good trying to be anyone else but Harriet Hairston. A forgery, no matter how old, mature or wise they get, is still wrong.

How do ensure you remain genuine to what you believe and who you are throughout the course of your life?

Who Are You?

"Originality does not consist in saying what no one else has ever said before, but in saying exactly what you think yourself." ~ James Stephens

I love the fact that I have a mind of my own. If I'm offered the kool-aid served by the media, church or amongst family and friends, I know that if I'm the one choosing the flavor. I can choose to drink or not to drink. Personally, I prefer sweet tea, thankyouverymuch.

Speaking of edible preferences, I like my chicken grilled, not fried. I like my toast slightly burnt, and before I put the butter on it, I like to let it cool down so when I bite into it, it still has a crunch (instead of letting the melted butter make my bread soggy). I'm a label whore when it comes to popcorn. The only kind I purchase is Pop Secret Homestyle so I can lick the salt off my fingers once I'm finished. And that's just the beginning of what I lick my chops over.

For example, I'm neither Republican or Democrat. Although I almost caused WWIII with my family (who raised me a Democrat), there are too many other issues that aren't addressed fully by either side for me to pick just one. I'm non-denominational in my Christian beliefs (WWIV for the daughter of a Baptist family), because I don't want to get stuck at one man's revelation without fully seeking God for what's next. He doesn't belong in a box, anyway. He sent His Son so we could be free from that kind of tyranny. Plus, researching how Jesus lived His life shows how He was a man of purpose, unfazed by the bars of popular opinion.

I'm fully aware that such a lifestyle may not be acceptable to some. When I was in the military, I tried to find the smallest things to do to my uniform to make it uniquely mine without violating regulations. I'm not a rebel without a cause...I'm a person with a sui generis, one of a kind personality. Obviously there are boundaries to ensure that I don't cross lines with anyone unnecessarily, but those boundaries are not chains...they're set up to ensure I don't let my mouth write checks that my actions cannot cash.

I love meeting people who know their identity and walk confidently in it, regardless of the backlash it may cause. If that is uniquely you, let it be known in the comments section. What makes you...YOU?

Y'all Better Be Glad I'm Saved!

Salvation Haiku:

They'd better be glad

I'm saved! Or else I would have

removed my earrings.

~ Harriet Hairston

I've come to learn that many people get Christianity confused with cowardice; meekness with weakness. Just this week three people offered me the distinct opportunity to smack the taste out of their mouths...but for the Holy Spirit within me, I would have. He arrests me when my fists start balling up. He becomes a filter when my thought process degenerates to a tempting desire to show how many combinations of expletives I can combine in one sentence. Inside, I'm hopping mad, but on the outside, my countenance is calm and collected.

You know what? I want to be Jesus for just ONE DAY. Let me have His power when people start mistaking my kindness for weakness! Oh...you want to take me for granted and try to run me over? Here...let me take back my oxygen for a couple of seconds! What's wrong? Why are you turning blue? Oh, you can't respond because you can't breathe? My bad!

If I had been Jesus...ooo-wee! I would have called EVERY angel to the scene of the crime. I would have done a divine bait and switch to put Judas on the cross instead of me. I don't even think I would have bothered being born. I would have just ripped my way through a cloud and stepped out on the scene! I would have bullied and judged and condemned every person that rejected me! But what would that solve?

Seriously, though, here's the thing: Jesus had more power in His eyelash than the people that orchestrated His murder on that cross. I want to give way to my anger at the smallest infraction or libel against my character. Jesus, the Son of God, was SET UP to be MURDERED...and He responded with love.

He didn't have to go through all that, but He knew if He gave back what was given to Him, crazy people like me 2009 years later wouldn't be able to blog about how they wanted to smack the taste out of someone's mouth, but the Spirit of the living God arrested them and showed them a better way.

Besides, His Word states that anger resides in the bosoms of fools. Since my mama didn't raise one, I'll continue to calm myself down and replace thoughts of assault and battery (or at least a good tongue lashing) with love, forgiveness and strength under control.

What about you? How do you control your temper? Does it always work?

Can She Say That?

I'm a married woman, and my husband and I vowed we would remain so until death do us part....even if we have to kill one another.

Can she SAY that?

I'm a Christian woman, saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost, called to ministry, but I can't STAND church folk!

Can she SAY that?

I'm the mother of a three year old little boy who, in one moment, causes me to be overflowing with love and affection, and the next moment makes me want to wring his neck!

Can she SAY that?

I'm an African-American woman who embraces all the grace, laughter, love and uniqueness my ethnicity has to offer, but at times, I hang my head in shame at "my people."

Can she SAY that?

I'm a person with a voice that needs to be heard, whether you choose to listen or not. This is who I am, and I'll say whatever the Lord places on my heart to say without fear or hesitation.