"Train up a child in the way they should go; when the grow old they won't depart from it." Proverbs 22:6
I must admit early in life I swore that when I was old enough I would no longer do the things my mom made me do. I'm glad that God does not hold onto our selfish thoughts. As a child I only could consider myself. My thoughts revolved around what made me happy. I also had a habit of focusing too much time on what my peers were doing. My mother was determined to have me involved in every activity she could think of. She understood the concept that an idle mind is the devil's workshop. My earliest memories are of children's choir rehearsal, church plays, the boy scouts, and volunteering. As a child I hated doing all of these activities. I could never understand why my mom made me be more involved than other children at church, being a boy scout should have been enough, why did I need to be involved in everything. Ironically enough today these are some of the my most cherished memories from my childhood. I can still remember quite vividly experiences I had in service at Martha's Table in Washington, DC, a place where homeless were fed. I remember service projects through the boys scouts, singing at different events in my church choir, and watching my mom mentor young single mothers, which she was. Trips to senior centers and hospitals particularly frightened me as a child, a fear I am glad I have grown out of.
Today as a grown man I thank God that I have a mother who made it her life mission to build me into a selfless person. Early in my 20s I was very ambitious, I came to Morehouse College with the goal of making tons of money as a high paid lawyer. I struggled to become who I purposed to be because it wasn't in my heart, nor was making money my true passion. I managed to waste a couple a years before I made it my mission to find the Lord's will for my life. I accepted the fact that God called me to express His love to others through ministry, I heard Him calling me several times throughout my life but I ignored Him until I realized my selfish desires would only kill me, not bring me peace. My relationship with the Lord began to grow like never before once I returned to the work of service my mother bred in me. In Atlanta I am very involved with the youth of my church, in fact after this blog entry I will travel with them to the "Sky Zone" in Kennesaw, Georgia for our "Alternative Spring Break." I am also very involved with meals on wheels, and a senior center in Atlanta that takes care of elders with Alzheimer and Dementia. My grandmother Emma Mae Goodman suffered from these before her passing. The joy and peace that comes from a life of service is like a fountain of youth to ones soul. I deeply cherish the relationships and experiences I have made through service. As I ready myself to take on "The World Race" I feel like I am approaching my defining moment. God has been building me for a life of service since I cold speak and in less than a year I prepare to dive heart first into an unknown world, with the love of Christ as my guide and protection. I thank God for giving me a life worth living, and I thank you all for supporting me! #livewell
