Tag: faith

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Saint Josephine Bakhita: Patron Saint of Those Who Have Been Sex Trafficked

Saint Josephine Bakhita stands as a quiet but powerful witness to survival, dignity, and hope. She is the patron saint of people who have been trafficked, abused, and exploited—especially those subjected to slavery and sexual violence. Her life reminds us that sanctity can rise even from the deepest suffering, and that no human being is ever beyond redemption or worth.

From Enslavement to Freedom

Josephine Bakhita was born around 1869 in Darfur, Sudan. As a young child, she was kidnapped by slave traders, torn from her family, and sold multiple times. During her captivity, Bakhita endured brutal physical abuse, psychological trauma, and repeated violations of her body and dignity—experiences that closely mirror what many survivors of sex trafficking face today.

Her captors gave her the name Bakhita, meaning “the fortunate one,” a cruel irony given the horrors she endured. Over time, she was forced to forget her birth name and even her native language, a devastating loss of identity that is common among trafficked victims.

St. Josephine Bakhita for kids

Encountering God in the Midst of Trauma

Eventually, Bakhita was brought to Italy, where slavery was no longer legal. For the first time, she encountered kindness without violence and authority without abuse. It was there that she learned about Christianity and came to understand God not as another master, but as a loving presence who had been with her even in her suffering.

Bakhita later said that if she met her captors again, she would kneel and kiss their hands—not because what they did was acceptable, but because, through her suffering, she came to know God. This radical forgiveness does not erase injustice; rather, it reveals a profound spiritual freedom that no chains could destroy.

Why She Is the Patron Saint of Trafficking Survivors

Saint Josephine Bakhita is the patron saint of victims of human trafficking because she lived their reality. Her sainthood does not romanticize suffering; it validates it. She represents:

Survivors who have been silenced

Bodies treated as commodities

Lives fractured by exploitation

The long, painful journey toward healing

Her life tells survivors: You are not defined by what was done to you. Your dignity is intact. Your story is not over.

A Saint for Our Time

Human trafficking is not a problem of the past—it is a global crisis happening in plain sight. Bakhita’s story urges us not to look away. She challenges us to listen to survivors, to support organizations that protect the vulnerable, and to confront systems that allow exploitation to thrive.

Her holiness was not forged in comfort, but in endurance, compassion, and love. In a world that often reduces trafficked persons to statistics, Saint Bakhita restores the human face.

A Prayerful Call to Action

Honoring Saint Josephine Bakhita means more than remembering her story. It means committing ourselves to justice, mercy, and solidarity with those who are still trapped in cycles of exploitation. Whether through advocacy, education, prayer, or direct service, each of us can play a role in ending trafficking and supporting survivors.

Saint Josephine Bakhita, patron saint of those who have been trafficked, pray for us—and especially for all who are still waiting to be free.

Room 21 A Film on Human Trafficking
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Faith, Feminine Strength, and Financial Independence

“Things happen in life. They happen to planners. To non-planners. They happen to the so-called good and righteous among us. They happen to the not-so good ones too. If you live long enough, something is going to happen to you. Your reputation may be on trial, your finances at stake, and your soul in a constant state of unrest. But, if you believe and continue forward—a rainbow exists on the other side.”–La Luz

Last year I went through a difficult season that I barely had the space to face. I faced it, yes — but imagine praying for visibility, receiving it, and then feeling the weight of how much it changes everything. I’ve always been private about my relationships, so when someone emailed me saying, “Remember to protect your why or someone might take it,” it struck me deeply. That message arrived right as my marriage was ending. It’s ironic how we met and married at lightning speed, yet the “conscious uncoupling” has been a slow drip.

It’s difficult to stay sad when you’ve endured being unprotected for far too long. It’s difficult to remain bitter when violation becomes the very fire that forges your strength. Some lessons don’t come gently—but they do come with purpose. And if there’s a silver lining, it’s this: the experience sharpened me. It taught me how to parent forward, wiser and stronger, with resolve.

I bring this forward because it sparked one of the most important realizations of my life: as mothers, it is essential that we remain actively present in our children’s lives and intentional about sustaining our income. There is no one-size-fits-all path. Every woman’s circumstances are different. Some may need to outsource more, some less. I could have hired help—and maybe I will someday—but I value being hands-on whenever I can.

I love to work. And after immersing myself in lessons from thinkers like Tony Robbins, I began to see a sweet spot: a life where purpose, presence, and provision coexist.

I’m speaking especially to the woman who is traditional, who grew up in the church, who was taught modesty and discretion—and who sometimes feels embarrassed by conversations around money or power. Life still happens to modest women. Growth still happens to spiritual women. Who we were ten years ago is not always who we are becoming, and that evolution is sacred.

The Divine Feminine woman is designed to grow, to expand, to live in abundance. Her ideal partner is one who complements that growth. And if you have been obedient, prayerful, chaste—yet things didn’t unfold as you hoped—trust that it is still part of God’s design. But faith does not exclude wisdom. Within God’s design, it is prudent to be financially literate, fiscally conservative, and prepared.

I had to learn that “having a stash” means more than a few hundred dollars set aside. True security is built. The most beautiful woman, the most devoted partner, can also learn how to open a laptop and create something lasting. While we invest in our appearance and the things that fade with trends, we must also invest in understanding the system we live in. If you plan to live in America, learn American capitalism because it can quite literally save your life.

When your children want haircuts, stylish clothes, cultural experiences, or a magical trip to Disney World, it takes vision and planning. And you can do it.

I had a wonderful upbringing—perhaps too comfortable. Financial literacy wasn’t part of my education. But today, knowledge is everywhere, and as I move toward an AI-inclusive lifestyle, I intend to share what I learn along the way.

I want your children to have a solid, beautiful life. I want you to be present for it, not constantly away from home trying to make it happen.

Finding Hope in Faith and Tradition

One day a video crossed my feed — a Catholic priest teaching on divorce — and it was something every traditional woman should see. It reminded me that righteousness still has a future, and that hope is not lost.

Letting Go of Old Strongholds

The truth is, I wasn’t just living under the stronghold of a person — I was living under the stronghold of an idea that may never have been real. In life you have to pick a side for yourself. If it’s a good side, others will follow.

A Lesson From My Daughter

A little boy once told my daughter that he would marry her when they grew up. She carried those words close to her heart, feeling seen, beautiful, and chosen. I told her that if she truly meets her person that early in life, it would be a rare and precious gift—because most people don’t find their person so young, if at all.

She often talks about growing up and becoming a mother one day. She also loves science, building, and fashion—all beautiful interests that deserve encouragement. My role is simply to guide her: to nurture her heart, honor her curiosity, and quietly teach her to set her investments aside while becoming the most loving, capable woman she can be.

I remember a time when my parents faced a financial challenge. My mother produced the money to fix it—an amount so substantial it left me stunned. I remember thinking, I thought you said you didn’t have any money. But my mother, like my grandmothers before her, was wise. They were humble, simple women who worked tirelessly, lived modestly, and bought things in cash. They carried strength quietly. These are the lessons I want passed from mother to daughter, and to our sons as well.

Why Financial Responsibility Matters for Women and Single Mothers

The women who approach me at events, in public, after I speak, are often young and beautiful, yet rarely encouraged to develop their minds. Many were raised to believe their purpose begins and ends with a man. What they really need to learn is how to cultivate their relationship with God in the purest and most intimate way possible. I wish the advice was different, but I was married for a very long time, this is what I know. You never know what you will be hit with in your union. For example, an illness, death, or having to car for a family member unexpectedly. Money can buy back some of the time you lose and that is the most valuable thing. Time is priceless and finite.

For women — especially single mothers — fiscal responsibility is not just practical. It is protective. It is dignity. It is safety. It is the foundation that keeps you from being trapped in situations that diminish you. That is why I am all over this Genius Act.

I am moving into a digital space because it allows me to show up for my babies and pushes me closer to my dreams and goals. I believe that decentralized finance can be a great equalizer for many of us. I have heard the case for community banks and lending, and my thought is that it is good to have choices. Choices are always good because not everyone can handle the responsibility of having great risk, while others thrive in it. I think having choice and structure are good options. Whatever allows you to thrive.

When you understand money, you understand choice. You understand boundaries. You understand power.

Life Begins Again

Today, I feel like my life is just beginning. I have not only my voice but the courage to use it. It has nothing to do with money, because when people adore you, they adore you with or without it. They want to build with you and bond with you because of YOU. I have seen people come up together. I have seen power couples get it and lose it together. I think those couples are bonded by something stronger than a paycheck. It has to be a divine union, and life has to have a divine purpose in order to reap the benefits that living a faith filled life brings. I am speaking of one that flows, is understanding, abundant, and is rooted in peace. Please check out the video I attached at the top. It will give you some solace on your new beginning. Also, I just feel a tiny feeling that these next few years are going to be epic. But I had to fill in some gaps on why the conversation shifted so that I could get into the storytelling. And I hope the stories are good.

Lastly, sometimes we have a stop off or layover to our greatest story in life. Live in the moment because it tends to change.

Stay in the light. Peace Be With You.

Tax Season is here and there are many good things are occurring with your refund. Time to gather your documents and file early.

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Why You Can’t Grow Weary Now

In a world where the courage to do what’s right is often met with silence, misunderstanding, or indifference, the true challenge isn’t just starting well it’s staying faithful when the applause never comes.
In my latest piece, “Why You Can’t Grow Weary Now,” I explore why perseverance in goodness matters, how quiet acts of courage shape change, and why staying committed, even in the face of resistance, is one of the most radical forms of leadership today.
Read on to discover how steadfastness, faith, and purpose can transform the way you lead and serve.

Read more on Medium.

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Healing Through Art: A Journey of Spiritual Growth

Image by the author Chiara Luz via Generative AI

Sometimes there is a heaviness that we feel in our lives. It may be there for various reasons. It can get difficult to manage in the cold months and when the weather is grey. I was talking to a family member about the healing power of art today and what makes it so powerful. Art doesn’t ask you to talk. It doesn’t judge and when you are in the process of creation—you are free.

I’ve moved into the realm of spiritual art, and as fascinating as it is, it can also feel heavy. Its purpose is healing, yet I realize now that I needed more healing myself before diving into this journey. I’m in a better place these days, more grounded, and more prepared to receive the remarkable gift of communion with the other side.

When I feature saints here on Chiara Atoyebi Media, it’s intentional. Through every challenge and hardship in my life, a saint has walked with me. Even my daughter Calais — whom I imagine praying for me day and night — brings me a deep sense of calm. I share with my readers the same things I lean on in my own life. I may not be as direct as many people, but this is my story. I mention my other site, my life’s work, and my nonprofit because they are part of that story. The House of Maryam is something I had to grow into, and I suspect I’ll always be reaching for the wisdom and compassion I hope it reflects.

In my daily life, people don’t often associate me with struggle, but I have my challenges. Parenting, especially, stretches every part of my soul — particularly when guiding children through a new family dynamic. I think I handle it well, yet when I talk about opportunity, housing, stability, education, creativity, all of it matters. This is life. We only get one, and it should be beautiful.

One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is that the beauty I’ve poured into others becomes medicine when I finally give it to myself. That realization felt like a holy ordinance. I never imagined I could offer that kind of love to myself or that joy could be something I truly experienced. For the first time in my life, I listen to love songs. The first was “Overjoyed” by Stevie Wonder, then “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers, and the list keeps growing. I spent a lifetime listening to breakup music. If I have any advice, it’s this: you are what you listen to. If you fill your ears with fighting and making up, you’ll live in that cycle.

In the months ahead, my goal — along with the other writers on this site — is to offer simple, useful information that helps you build a beautiful life right where you are. I believe that when we’re faithful in small things and truly grateful, we rise. I already feel lighter and more elevated simply by having this space to communicate and share with you.

This month is National Hobby Month, and it’s the perfect time to reconnect with something you love. What’s life without a little joy that belongs only to you? If you have a hobby you adore, I’d love to hear about it. I’m always open to trying something new. Who knows — I may even join you from afar

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Love as Infrastructure: Designing Relationships That Last

Love is an action. So is support. If there is more talk of support instead actually supporting, then we aren’t there you.

When you’re looking for the right partnerships, why not look through the lens of love?


Love asks: Is there respect here?
Is there honesty?
Is there mutual investment and shared accountability?


Through this lens, partnership becomes more than alignment on paper, it becomes trust in practice. It looks like showing up consistently, valuing every player, sharing credit, and counting wins as ours. It’s transparency over performance, clarity over control, and collaboration over competition.


Love doesn’t require perfection, but it does require truth. It lays the cards on the table and builds on facts, not illusions. It feels steady, not transactional. Supportive, not conditional. When viewed this way, the right partnerships feel grounding rather than draining.


Looking through the lens of love means choosing relationships albeit personal, professional, and political, that honor who you are and what you’re building. It’s a builder’s mindset: practical, intentional, and rooted in respect.


And when love is the lens, you don’t have to force alignment, you simply recognize it.

Lastly, be careful who you partner with. All relationships aren’t destined to scale. If you find that others are scaling and your pocketbook is draining–this was a bad option. Some extremely talented people have aligned with some people that used them as a host and they have never been heard from again.

I like to think of Zerrubabel and the building of the second temple of Jerusalem. This was no ordinary call to action, this was a call that would wipe the transgressions of a nation and reap a huge blessing. Zerrubabel had a lot of people pulling on him. Alot of “relationships” but he had to know which ones were destined to scale. When it’s destined to scale the building process may be intimate but the rewards are for the masses.

That’s the goal for 2026.

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Understanding the Feast of Immaculate Conception

By Chiara Luz

AI Generated Image by the Author for The Feast of Immaculate Conception 2025

“Celebrating the Feast of the Immaculate Conception — a serene tribute to Mary, adorned with Turkish-inspired elegance and timeless grace.”

While many of my Marian histories, crafts, and news will be featured my website, The House of Maryam, I wanted to share the meaning of today’s feast to all. I like to shape my posts similarly to how you would find them at a Marian Basilica–filled with images, miracles and devotions.

Today is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated on December 8, and honors the belief that Mary was conceived without original sin — a truth at the heart of Catholic faith. Declared a Holy Day of Obligation, it calls the faithful to pause and reflect during Advent, attending Mass in gratitude for God’s plan of salvation. Under this title, Mary is the Patroness of the United States, making this day especially meaningful for American Catholics. Though not a public holiday, its spiritual significance shines brightly, inviting us to embrace purity, grace, and hope.

This is my personal artwork and St. Francis altar. I will have images of Mary in my Woo Commerce shop for purchase this week.

All around the world, many people see Our Lady as the mother they never had or as an inspiration for living a good life. For anyone feeling uncertain, I encourage reaching out to her—like a mother with unwavering love and no judgment, her love can truly transform the heart. The journey itself is deeply personal, and that part is yours alone.

Peace be with you and your family.

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Embracing Resilience: Who Inspires You?

Daily writing prompt
What is something others do that sparks your admiration?
View all responses

I admire people of conviction. People who watch the trends come and go and remain steady. I admire people who are wise and can pass on wisdom to others. I admire people who find the silver lining no matter what is happening all around them. I admire people with lived experience who come out of the trenches with glowing faces.

In life some people have an abundance of those people around them. Maybe they were born into circumstances where they didn’t have to do so much in order to get ahead or to stay alive. Maybe they weren’t constantly looking over their shoulder in a dog- eat-dog situation. Good for them, peace is the biggest leg up anyone can have in life. That’s why I admire people who, despite their circumstances, choose to lead and become the change in the lives of others.

I also admire people who can walk away from a thing. They may even come back at a later date. But strong people are not tied down to things so much. My personal belief is that we do all things unto the cause of love and for the glory.

In doing so, everything else comes into right standing.

In this life so many people want to take you off your square, but there are more that want to see you win. I like to call them hidden in the fog. We get one life, and I hope the choice is to do it right.

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Embracing Transformation Through Faith

The next phase of my life is intentional and full of meaning, shaped by stories of transformation and inspired by moments that spark gratitude. It may be deeply personal, but many of those moments are love letters to God. I’ve thought carefully about what I’m building, and nothing moves, changes, or inspires me like my walk of faith. My journey is unique—I wasn’t born this way—but I strive daily to be a “good daughter” and a faithful steward of my freedom.

There were times when money was tight, yet those seasons brought the best holidays ever. There were moments I thought anger would consume me, but I ended up laughing instead. Life keeps getting better. Every day brings challenges, but they’re worth facing. When I say “thank you for your support,” I mean it. Even in the darkest times, I can look back and feel the love. If you’re in a dark place, hold on—just for one more day. Find one thing to be thankful for. Gratitude brings blessings, and those blessings are for everyone. No storm lasts forever; eventually, the rain has to stop.

So maybe when you lay your head down to sleep whisper Jeova Es Mi Pastor and know that you are loved. That is why I created “Your Cross Is Your Crown.” It is. The thing that seems like it is too much to bear is the very thing you will bring in the light.

Besos and Bendiciones,

La Luz

Shop your faith wear here.

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A Poem: Stewards of The Shift, A Daily Invocation

By Chiara Luz Atoyebi


“An Invocation for Balance, Courage, and Love in Leadership”


We are living in a provisional stage. The ground is shifting, the veil is lifted, and the call is clear: leadership must be reimagined—not as domination, but as stewardship. The cross we carry is not defeat. It is the crown of responsibility, humility, and love.


This is my invocation, my prayer, my offering:
May those in power bow to the work of right balance and visionary stewardship.
May they be endowed with courage when action is required,
and with humility when it is time to listen, support, or stand down.
May leaders who have sworn the oath of right action
become teachers of a new standard of life.
May those who struggle to see, see clearly,
and grant themselves grace for the deceptions they once believed.
May forgiveness take root in every heart.
May men and women alike recognize one another as brethren
in the fight for equanimity and humanity’s rightful standing.
May false notions of correctness collapse before truth.
May abundance be revealed as the true inheritance of all.
Let love be the standard bearer, not fear, not scarcity, not pride.
For God’s spirit is love, not endless pain.
And when suffering is endured in God,
it is not suffering at all, but glory—
a strengthening, a calling fulfilled.
The cross is your crown.
The burden is the blessing.
The trial is the testimony.
The stewardship is the light.

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Life Re-Imagined With The New American Homestead: Building Ownership, Not Bureaucracy

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Kambili: Let Me Live

When I first started my writing collective a few years back, I chose the name Kambili. It means “let me live.” I felt it was perfect. I was living in a world where I was being focused on at a granular level and that’s alot. Yet, I have lived enough life to know that there are people who feel an innate need to tell others how to live despite being reproached.

For me harmony is achieved when everyone is respectfully giving their opinion and sharing feelings and ultimately minding their business and letting other people live. In 2019, I gave up gossiping. Right after that I did my best to remove the things that were erected as idols in my life. Those two actions cleared out pretty much everyone in my life. That’s sad and scary when you think about it.

To be clear, I really only had one gossip partner, but she was, and is, the queen bee of it. We all have these people in our lives. For the most part it’s innocent, but I had to permanently let it go. Gossip puts in motion unforeseen tragedies that often boomerang back in the form of karma. Most people don’t know that’s what’s happening though. When I did that, it created a peace within me that has been unwavering. I largely focus on the tasks at hand and the joy in my circle. Harmony is best when you do you and I do me, and when it feels right, we can do us. I am ok to lose out in some situations and win in others. But all people need the space to express themselves and to simply be. We are here to love and to express ourselves in the unique way that God intended and will often upset the apple cart if those ideations are obstructed. Remember, one person’s harmony is another person’s overbearing—therefore walking away or taking turns being quiet is best.

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Dust It Off

Daily writing prompt
What’s your favorite thing about yourself?
View all responses

My favorite thing about myself is that I can stick and move and it’s natural. I am resilient. I have something innate that doesn’t totally deplete my hope and faith in the fact that I will recover from tragedies and traumas. As long as I wake up each day, I have another chance to get it right. I can live my purpose. My joy is similar to what I read about when I read about the martyrs and saints. I lament and then I somehow see a silver lining. There’s always a silver lining, you just have to find it.

As a youth, I took it for granted. As an adult, I am grateful to have it. But I have also learned not everyone does. The area where I am growing is within the understanding that even if someone is not skipping down the street and smiling all the time, it doesn’t make them necessarily problematic. It makes them human.

A large shift in my life came after I had children. I felt like I lived in a way that crossed all t’s and dotted all i’s and a large amount of adversity kept stealing my joy. It took me a moment, but I finally learned that there are things I can’t control. It may not even be personal. When I lost the stability of family, that thrust me into a next level of consciousness. It’s like the book of Job,” what I feared the most came upon me.” Forget what I truly felt inside. But the irrational fear of a great many things came upon me. What I discovered is that on the other side of fear, rejection and failure, is actually liberating. It is the living breathing serenity prayer. It is the strength to live unabashedly, and the knowing that when storms come, somehow, you’ll get through them.

When I was going through emotional changes in high school my parents used to always tell me that Marvin Winans line, “Ain’t no need to worry what tomorrow is going to bring. It’ll be all over in the morning.”

So, I’m proud that even if I am buying one tomato, one package of bread, one pound of fish, one pair of shoes at a time–I’m glad I can. I just try to make the best out of every situation and be glad doing it. Protect your peace. Prepare new paths. Stay on purpose.

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It All Lies Within You: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Expression And The Power To Re-Write Your American Story

Written by La Luz

All of my endeavors have been in the realm of publishing. Within the realm of media you have the ability to touch upon many topics. I began my first newspaper while living in Ft. Riley, KS. I was in the fifth grade, and we all sat at a four-top table with me at the head giving out the writing assignments. I remember calling one of my friends on the phone over the weekend to see if they would bring their pages in on Monday so we could staple the newspaper together. She told me that she may not be able to because she only had pens at home. Maybe we only could use pencil. I’m not sure, but that’s a memory that still speaks to me.

It was all so simple then. When you wanted to get something started, you just did it. In fourth grade, I used to love the Babysitter’s Club series and decided I wanted to start my own. So, I made the flyer. My mom made copies, and I put them in my small neighborhood on the military base. I babysat two times. I was actually a bit nervous so it didn’t last long, but I liked getting paid. I liked knowing that I could start something and just go do it.

Today we have so much red tape. We are discouraged before we start. I think because we are thinking in the “middling” space. See, big dreams need lots of people. Small dreams can become big dreams, but they need fewer people to start.

In the middle you often get tripped up and therein lies the problem. You also have people with bigger voices coming to take the food from the small fish, but as a highly intuitive empath, I am here to let you know—that time has come to a halt.

No longer will you, your ideas, and your freedom of expression will become engulfed by people that will use your vulnerabilities against you, especially for profit. There is a shift in the atmosphere.

James 3:3, in the English Standard Bible, talks about the “bit in the horse’s mouth used to steer him.” To me, I read that as the power of spirit being able to use an individual to do a good work. This same spirit calling a people who believe on faith, in humanity, and the goodness of their fellow man and woman to speak a truth that will continue to balance the scales. This is a powerful thing. It is also a truth that speaks to how David was able to overtake Goliath. See, freedom of speech is a slippery slope but it also has its confines, or it should. Unmitigated freedom of speech, that operates outside of the civility for which it was intended—is incendiary and dangerous. Yet, with the “bit” in our mouths and the roots of truth as our foundation—then the truth becomes the power. True is Power because like a math equation it largely follows a pattern. If you go forward and contextualize truth as unemotional facts, they become easier to work with and then bring forth new emotions.

Free speech should to some degree should stop at actions. If harmful actions follow words, then we have work to do when it comes to educating the public how to discern and respond to information.

With or without permission, the choice and the ability to rewrite your story and to exist in a world where you feel validated and seen comes from the bottom up. Not the top down. Freedom was bestowed on you at birth but the noise of the world will force you to fumble.

At the end of the day it should be family first. Safety first and honoring the divine call that resides over the lives of us all. My work with The House of Maryam is a passion. It is an inter religious endeavor that centers peace, resource management, and sacred living practices that will actually save lots of families and individuals. Peaceful religious freedom and expression is not only a must, it is needed. The Maryam is seen in many ways throughout many traditions but the mother figure as a whole is constant. Yet even that constant is nuanced. This isn’t about being kissy-face and pinching cheeks this is a matriarchal call. To be a matriarch is not about money, she is the stability of the family. She is the lighthouse and standard bearer of the generation. When the matriarch passes she becomes the ancestor we call upon.

Matriarchs and patriarchs are the leaders of our world and they grow into position. We need a nation of individuals that ok with cultivating wisdom and becoming those people who are able to give wise counsel. Therefore we need our minds, our choices and our voices to be free. Let the voice of reason and truth be the unifier. Let common sense and empowerment be the unifier—not solely your pain. Trouble doesn’t last always but your progeny and your legacy will.

You may not be strong enough to do this today. But you will grow into it. You will respect every aspect of your life because your imprint will be on it. To me, that’s how you rewrite the story. You rewrite it together, throwing out the old wine and braking down the old vessel and making room for the new.

I dream of a New America. Where someone is not constantly telling me what to do. Where even if I am wrong, I can die knowing that I have the tools to think for myself. I have the wisdom to know that I can better myself or someone can lead me to that notion. But I will no longer sit in the passenger seat of my own life.

Peace be with you.

Don’t forget to subscribe and share. Thanks for reading. Very much appreciated. Please share your thoughts. It’s better not to write in a vacuum. You matter to me.

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All Loyalty Is Not Good Loyalty, It’s Good To Know The Difference

What is one thing you would change about yourself?

There is really only one thing I would change about myself and it revolves around my loyalties. Throughout my life I have struggled with engaging in relationships, and even jobs until the point of catastrophe. Although I know that after every catastrophe of some kind immediate blessing appears after, I still seem to take my time making decisions. That’s because if there’s a catastrophic moment allowed to enter my life, I know it’s for a reason.

Life Is Too Short Too Be Unhappy, Is it?

I wrote an article about life decisions the other day and posted it on Nextdoor, and someone commented that life was too short to be unhappy. I remember thinking is that true? In my mind that is an oversimplistic way of looking at life. Think about it, just because you rid yourself of one area of unhappiness doesn’t mean that another is not going to pop up later down the line. Unhappiness, just like happiness, is forever. Ultimately happiness is a choice and it is controlled by you. Now, there are situations where people can disrupt and systematically try to dismantle your happiness and decisions need to be made about it. All the decisions involve a level of detachment, and that is where my pontification comes in. When is it time to reconsider your loyalties and embark on the next phase of your journey? For the most part, life tends to move along for me from glory to glory. However, in the rare moments when tragedy hits, I know it’s time get off the fence. When my steady boat threatens to capsize, I know the only thing that will get me through is faith and loyalty to whatever I hear from God.

This past year my spiritual journey has unearthed a lot about my strengths and weaknesses. It allowed me to see how I put others before myself, and how they would like to see me put myself first. Believe it or not, I have put myself first but it still looks like putting other people first at times. In many ways, that’s most of us–we are simply caring individuals. Maybe that’s just how my life is designed. I am created to inspire.

In the past I allowed so many people to keep the energy and gift of inspiration in small group. But, I noticed that my spirit was calling me out the group. I was feeling a desire to spread my own wings and fly. I believed then, and still believe now, that all things ultimately work for my good. Even in the toughest of times and sometimes especially in the toughest of times. Like you, I’m a person that at one moment I think I have a part of my journey that is so compelling than another thing hits me before I can even tell how I was delivered from my past. Through it all, the worst thing has been meeting so many emotional vampires– but I now know that I’m the only one with the power to change that trajectory. The change comes with the consideration of my loyalties. Wherever I go, I take the crux of who I am with me, because it belongs to me. Just as the essence of you belongs to you, and you can always call back your power when necessary.

Loyal To God

This past year has caused me to rise up in my life and take the drivers wheel in a firm way. It was initiated by a consecration I did to The Virgin Mary last year. After I completed this consecration, I began to see life with new eyes. I saw that due to my rose colored glasses I was missing a lot of important things in life. I was missing important moments. I was missing hidden truths, and I was missing myself. When we are loyal to God we get the ultimate gift of being reconciled with spirit and with ourselves. It is a level of divinity that brings about continued happiness.

When I reflect on 2024, that will be my greatest gift, that of spiritual growth and finding myself again. It has been a journey of discovering all the things I love, and removing all the things I can live without.

Loyalty to the wrongs things, and to severely broken things, can cause you to become despondent and stagnant. I don’t think that is God’s best for our lives. I remember going through a great deal of emotional stress that caused me to shut down and become numb. Numbness is one of the worst things you can feel. Especially if you are like me and you understand that life is a gift. Going numb is dangerous. Thankfully I am not numb today, yoga and art helped a lot with that. But the interesting thing about that time is I had a memory that crossed my mind like a beam of light. I had a memory of eating pizza with my friends. It had been so long since I’d done anything fun that the memory of me having fun was lost. I know that is a direct correlation to negative soul ties and negative relationships.

For many Christians we take a lot. There is a false teaching somewhere that makes it seem like we need to be the wastelands of the lost and it’s not true. When God says he cares, you are counted in that grace. You are designed for glory and happiness. The thing I had to retrain myself to remember is that God is the savior, not me. My job is to keep my soul in alignment to my calling and pray for others on theirs.

You may say, what if I am married to that person? I’d say especially if you are married to that person. You need to pray for them, but your loyalty is to whatever He is calling you to do. Too often in our lives we are tied to situations we should have never been in because we leaned into our own understanding then we need God to get us out.

If you are called to move across country, start a new endeavor, leave a friend or family member behind —be obedient. If you are called to stay, do that too. Obedience is always better than the false sacrifices we tend to make. Sometimes loyalty has an end and possibly a new beginning. For me, I have undergone such a significant spiritual change that I no longer resonate with a great many things. It’s now time to make new plans, alliances, dreams, and memories. Not out hate for the past, or a lack of loyalty but out of a hunger for the future and a renewed relationship with God.

So when anyone asks where my loyalties lie, there’s your answer.