MEETTA'S READERS - YOUR CONCERN FOR ME!

HELLO READERS!

Many of you are very amazing in sharing your compassion for me, especially about what I've been sharing of my life, as of late. Others of you think I should be ashamed for what I wrote of my abuse as a child and how it has affected my life. I say to you, May peace find you and remain. May it free you from your own personal prison. May the blinders of your hearts and minds come off and you shall see clearly once again or for the first time.

As for me, I will not wear the chains of shame EVER again! My blinders are off and burned. If you truly know me, or have ever been in my company as a friend or foe, then you can attest to the fact that I walk and stand with my head held high. I hold eye contact and I also speak in a loud, clear voice. There is no shame in me as a victim of abuse. So, don't expect it!

As for the compassionate writers of concern for the personal stories and soul bearing poetry that I share on my blog sight, I say AGAIN...THANK YOU! Thank you, for taking time out to write me sharing your compassion, words of concern and wisdom. May my soul bearing, be a gifting to someone else to encourage them to fight for their freedom, their peace of mind, their restored Joy, their dignity and their self worth. May they find their voice!

*This is a Re-post from 3/13/2011

Some of you are very caring and open with your concern for me. I appreciate you.

You have expressed your concern, in light of what I have been moved to share on this site in a variety of Biblical Scriptures, personal stories and poems over the years. Some of you have shown great compassion by saying

"Be careful Meetta, Be careful in what you write and share."

You have said this "because people can be cruel. And somebody, somewhere, in their misery is always lurking about to take something of someone else's and use it against them, even that which is meant for good purposes."

I SAY IN RESPONSE:

THANK YOU Dear readers and friends. Those of you who have taken the time to share your compassion with me. But please do not think me unwise for being bold and courageous enough to use some of my own life to empower others. I have "wise counsel". I have used and will continue to use great wisdom and discernment with what I share. I am not a babe just born and stumbling through this life. If there is something I don't have a peace about sharing, I won't. If there is something I have written and need to retract, I will retract it.

As far as the personal stories I share, I have spent my whole childhood and young adult years living in shame because of what someone else did and said. It had control of me. But I've come to learn over the course of my life, "Whom the Lord sets free is free indeed". Concerned Reader, I WILL NOT LET THE MISERY OF OTHERS PUT ME IN THOSE CHAINS AGAIN!

By the same token, If someone takes ANYTHING I say here, and try and use it against me, then the battle becomes between them and the Lord Jesus Christ! I am a Christ Child. I am a believer and follower of Christ Jesus, even in and because of, all my flaws. But I am striving. The bottom line is, I have accepted Jesus as the Lord of my life. I have put my life into his hands. So for that, He will "raise up a standard against the enemy" on my behalf. Lord! May God help them, because what I share, is for the purpose of building others up and that they may have Godly peace and healing in their lives. It is my hope that they use what they read here, in my life stories and come to know Jesus and God for themselves! So, if someone comes against me for righteousness sake, then the Lord will protect me. Just as he has protected me all these years from letting the ways of this world destroy me.

It was determined for my life, by the Grace of God, that not only should I survive the madness that was bestowed against me, but that I should become a victor over it! Not only for my benefit, but to the benefit of others and ultimately to the glory of God. I thank God for his new mercies and protection by acknowledging him openly, through sharing my stories and strength. So, I say Again...

I will not let the misery of others determine the direction of my life.

But I hear you all!

"People will gossip, even whisper behind your back discussing you!". As it has been both told to me and something I've experienced for myself. They will even go so far as to sneak around you to find out more about you to talk about! I've dealt with that before too!

For example, someone at work who was nosey like that was lurking around me and a buddy during a lunchtime conversation. This person just kept easing around us trying to hear what they could hear. Knowing full well they didn't care about either one of us otherwise! People do that kind of stuff all the time!

Some people even get to the point that they end up putting alot of energy into you andyour stuff! Even reveling in your pain and misfortune. Sometimes I get frustrated about why some people don't get that they can experience the same healing power and freedom that Jesus promises and continues to perform in others lives! Gods power can out weigh any problem or stronghold that you have.

But Misery...loves company and it doesn't care who it uses to get that company! And it's never satisfied. So it keeps seeking. It's fights back hard, fooling people into thinking they are OK! That they don't have to change because the problem is not with them! That the problem is

with everybody else! Which is all a lie, because not one person on this earth is completely free of flaws and things that cannot be made better in them! Nevertheless,

In spite of and despite misery's attacks, I will press on in the work encouraging on my blog site. And f

or the sake of easing your mind with the purpose of sharing like I do here, with you all, please read the following.

Acts 4 :3-4

"They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed and the number of men grew to about five thousand."

FOOTNOTES

ACTS 4:3-4

"Seldom will sharing the gospel send us to jail as it did Peter and John. Still, we run the risk in trying to win others to Christ. We might be willing to face a night in jail if it would bring 5,000 people to Christ, but shouldn't we also be willing to suffer for the sake of even one?

What do you risk in witnessing--Rejections, persecution?

Whatever the risks, realize that nothing done for God is ever wasted."

I love you Dear Readers for your concern.

It brings Joy to my heart, a smile to my face and tears to my eyes.

THANK YOU ever so much!

May the Peace and Grace of God be forever upon you!

May he honor your concern, for even me.

Meetta J. Martin

COMMUNITY CORNER - ADVERTISING YOUR EVENTS HERE

Hey Reader,

Here in Community Corner is where I usually list information on where you can get services like free or low cost medical care, help with free food to help you and your family get through tough financial crisis. But I also list fun community activities for you and your family to attend. I will blog about your local yard sales, Book Sale events at your local library as well. So, you see, in Community Corner column of my blog, I write just about anything to keep you connected! I provide the dates, times, places and other vital information to keep you in the loop.

Readers, I want to encourage you to send me your event information, because Blog Pages, SUCH AS MINE, are read all over the world And you never know who it may reach or what positivity they may get form what you write! With that, that this is also a place where you yourself can contact me and have things listed here as well. So if you are hosting or know of an event that you would like for me to post herein this column, feel free to let me know by e-mailing me at meetta@hotmail.com

In the subject line of your e-mail, write "For Ms. Meetta's blog" and I will receive your information. I welcome the chance to be of that kind of assistance to you.

Reader, please know that I understand, not all events in our lives are happy ones. I will list those too, in the way of Death Announcements and funeral arrangements as well as birth announcements. So,if you have any special event you want to share with others and you have a healthy respect for what my blog page is about, then this is for you! I open up this site to you, as a source that you not only can GET information from, but a source that you can PUT INFORMATION into as well.

I look forward to posting your events,

Meetta

MEETTA'S READERS - YOUR CONCERN FOR ME

HELLO READERS!

Some of you are very caring and open with your concern for me. I appreciate you.

You have expressed your concern, in light of what I have been moved to share on this site in a variety of Biblical Scriptures, personal stories and poems over the years. Some of you have shown great compassion by saying

"Be careful Meetta, Be careful in what you write and share."

You have said this "because people can be cruel. And somebody, somewhere, in their misery is always lurking about to take something of someone else's and use it against them, even that which is meant for good purposes."

I SAY IN RESPONSE:

THANK YOU Dear readers and friends. Those of you who have taken the time to share your compassion with me. But please do not think me unwise for being bold and courageous enough to use some of my own life to empower others. I have "wise counsel". I have used and will continue to use great wisdom and discernment with what I share. I am not a babe just born and stumbling through this life. If there is something I don't have a peace about sharing, I won't. If there is something I have written and need to retract, I will retract it.

As far as the personal stories I share, I have spent my whole childhood and young adult years living in shame because of what someone else did and said. It had control of me. But I've come to learn over the course of my life, "Whom the Lord sets free is free indeed". Concerned Reader, I WILL NOT LET THE MISERY OF OTHERS PUT ME IN THOSE CHAINS AGAIN!

By the same token, If someone takes ANYTHING I say here, and try and use it against me, then the battle becomes between them and the Lord Jesus Christ! I am a Christ Child. I am a believer and follower of Christ Jesus, even in and because of, all my flaws. But I am striving. The bottom line is, I have accepted Jesus as the Lord of my life. I have put my life into his hands. So for that, He will "raise up a standard against the enemy" on my behalf. Lord! May God help them, because what I share, is for the purpose of building others up and that they may have Godly peace and healing in their lives. It is my hope that they use what they read here, in my life stories and come to know Jesus and God for themselves! So, if someone comes against me for righteousness sake, then the Lord will protect me. Just as he has protected me all these years from letting the ways of this world destroy me.

It was determined for my life, by the Grace of God, that not only should I survive the madness that was bestowed against me, but that I should become a victor over it! Not only for my benefit, but to the benefit of others and ultimately to the glory of God. I thank God for his new mercies and protection by acknowledging him openly, through sharing my stories and strength. So, I say Again...

I will not let the misery of others determine the direction of my life.

But I hear you all!

"People will gossip, even whisper behind your back discussing you!". As it has been both told to me and something I've experienced for myself. They will even go so far as to sneak around you to find out more about you to talk about! I've dealt with that before too!

For example, someone at work who was nosey like that was lurking around me and a buddy during a lunchtime conversation. This person just kept easing around us trying to hear what they could hear. Knowing full well they didn't care about either one of us otherwise! People do that kind of stuff all the time!

Some people even get to the point that they end up putting alot of energy into you andyour stuff! Even reveling in your pain and misfortune. Sometimes I get frustrated about why some people don't get that they can experience the same healing power and freedom that Jesus promises and continues to perform in others lives! Gods power can out weigh any problem or stronghold that you have.

But Misery...loves company and it doesn't care who it uses to get that company! And it's never satisfied. So it keeps seeking. It's fights back hard, fooling people into thinking they are OK! That they don't have to change because the problem is not with them! That the problem is

with everybody else! Which is all a lie, because not one person on this earth is completely free of flaws and things that cannot be made better in them! Nevertheless,

In spite of and despite misery's attacks, I will press on in the work encouraging on my blog site. And f

or the sake of easing your mind with the purpose of sharing like I do here, with you all, please read the following.

Acts 4 :3-4

"They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed and the number of men grew to about five thousand."

FOOTNOTES

ACTS 4:3-4

"Seldom will sharing the gospel send us to jail as it did Peter and John. Still, we run the risk in trying to win others to Christ. We might be willing to face a night in jail if it would bring 5,000 people to Christ, but shouldn't we also be willing to suffer for the sake of even one?

What do you risk in witnessing--Rejections, persecution?

Whatever the risks, realize that nothing done for God is ever wasted."

I love you Dear Readers for your concern.

It brings Joy to my heart, a smile to my face and tears to my eyes.

THANK YOU ever so much!

May the Peace and Grace of God be forever upon you!

May he honor your concern, for even me.

Meetta J. Martin

TeEn SpEaK - FIND YOUR VOICE!, 1 of 2

TEEN SPEAK,

Is where I write about what concerns young people and what concerns adults about young people! This includes character building traits, self-esteem issues, peer pressure, loneliness, shyness...you name it!

Young People,

Yo! What's up? How you been? What's happening? What up doe? How's it going?

How you doing? Heyyyy!

.....Did I cover all the latest greetings?

If I left any popular greetings out, feel free to let me know. I will surely use it in my next greeting to you. Understand, your response to this column is very important, as it is dedicated to you. So, I want to create an environment in it, that you can feel comfortable.

My TEEN SPEAK, column is dedicated to you because I strongly and very passionately believe that young people should be given as much encouragement to find and lift their voice to be heard as much as possible! As much as possible! In spite of the outdated saying that "children should be seen and not heard." Because of the growing evil against children, children can't afford to be silent!" And I have my personal reasons for believing so strongly in that.

See, I was a Foster kid, made that way when the court took me out of my home at 15 years old as a rescue mission. The home they took me out of, my family home, was an abusive one. One where on my own, I could not escape. Though during those years prior to my rescue, I tried to tell others of my situation despite threats from my abusers, who were in turn were my mother and 3 out of 4 of my brothers. Despite the fact that I went to teachers, my Grandmother, friends, who tried to tell their parents...no one really listened. Many adults didn't want to get involved, not even my own Aunts and uncles!

Somebody! A neighbor, a teacher, Relatives... they had to know my mother, their sister, daughter, neighbor, had horrible, overwhelming issues! I knew, at least, for my relatives to be true, because as a child, I heard them talking. When I would visit my grandmother's and my Aunts homes, I would hear them talking about my mother. As an adult, some of them have told me things they knew was wrong! Maybe they didn't know the full story, but they knew something wasn't quite right with. I was told that they had their own children and they didn't want to get involved in our stuff. Some said they really didn't know how deep it went, that they just heard rumors throughout the family. I'm like, "didn't you pay attention to my tears when you would take me back to her! I fought to not get out of the car! I remember calling my Grandmother crying to send someone to come get me. I was hungry and tired. Are you kidding me?"

Didn't they know my brothers were running wild? One was in and out of juvenile and jail. One got hooked on drugs as a teen and still struggles. One has never really left my mothers side and still lives with her at 44 years of age, in part because he's really not in good health. My older brother lives out of town with his wife. They are happy, but even he and I remain disconnected because he supports my mother out of loyalty that I believe is deeply rooted in pity, even to this day! He often lets his regard for her be the basis of his views of me, which is not a good thing. He felt that I should have just kept my mouth shut and focus on our mothers pain, instead of my own. See, trying to silence the voice that I had been given. Anywayyyyy!

Young people, let this be a lesson to you, FIND YOUR VOICE!

And NEVER let anyone take it from you!

My immediate family is the reason why I have tried to do right by my son, who is now 20. Though I am my mother's daughter, I am not like my mother. It was from watching and suffering her that I decided what kind of woman I was and was not going to become. It is also greatly because of my brothers, my mothers sons, that I look out for my son like I do!

I give my son what he and I call, "Life Lessons".

It's wisdom, Knowledge and common sense tips with which to arm himself with and spend a whole lot of time communicating with him as much as I do! I have taught him to use his voice. Especially the one that comes through his mouth! Speak up! Speak up when you have thoughts to share. Don't quench them! Especially when you feel wronged! You don't owe anybody your pain. You don't owe anybody THAT, I tell him!

So you young people can get a full understanding of my what lead to find my voice,

I will tell you a bit more of my journey. In Foster Care they had to help me through a bevy of problems. One of which was my education, of course.

In Jr. High I was sent to the school social worker because I was doing so poorly.

I went from an A & B student to a F student in just a few short months. I was the spelling B champ and kept throwing matches. And my teacher knew I enjoyed learning and taking part in those spelling bees!

It was tough being my mothers child. For years, I felt I was being punished for something that I could never understand. She just took herself away from me. Being the only girl in the family, that was hard to deal with! There was no one healthy for me to relate to in my household. My mother wasn't doing my hair. My mom used to send me to the beautician, but she stopped. One time her and her boyfriend tried to perm my hair and ruined it. She sent me to school like that anyway. It was terrible!

It was so bad the teachers took notice and sent me to the office to try and help. You couldn't get a rake through that! My aunt saw me walking to school one morning, (as she lived in the same neighborhood) and brought me into her home to try and make something of it. She did my hair the best she could. It was so thick and tight! Ugh!!

With some clothes in a big black garbage bag, I later "ran away" to my Aunt's house, but she sent me back the next morning. I gave up after that point. I wanted somebody to pay attention! I wanted the people who had the power to do something, to look and see, come to my house, but they weren't listening.

I failed the 7th grade twice, on purpose! It was so bad that I remember the principle and the school Social Worker (Mrs. Jones) working frantically on how to save me from myself. They kept telling me at the end of the school year, to just come to class on exam day. When I got there, they instructed me to just put my name on the paper and they would pass me. NOPE! I REFUSED.

I still hadn't gotten the real saving that I needed!

*(Please don't do this to yourselves young people. I am not trying to encourage you in self-destructive behaviour. I am only illustrating my pain for the sake of taking you on my journey of how I found my voice and how I followed it as a pathway up and out! Other wise, I wouldn't have included this. OK?) M.

Part II is directly following part I.

So stay tuned and FIND YOUR VOICE!

Meetta

TeEn SpEaK - FIND YOUR VOICE!, 2 0f 2

Welcome Back,

For part 2 of 2, of "FIND YOUR VOICE"

FOSTER CARE: My JOURNEY

In Foster Care, I was moved to a safe, nice home with caring people. I had a nice room, decent food. I was immediately tested for placement in school. Too bright to be made to repeat 7th grade and at age 15, nearly 16. I was taken into St. Martin De Porres High School in Detroit, Michigan. Having never even seen 8th grade, I was placed in the 9th grade. The school officials felt that, though I tested high, I didn't have the experience of 8th grade, which would have made my transition into high school much easier. That putting me in the 10th (which was my correct grade at the time), would have doomed me to fail. Still, having them taking such a chance on me like that was a major coup! Because it not only tested my will, it tested the schools as they were a school of excellence! If this got out back then, that they were helping me like that and then this "experiment" failed, how would that effect their reputation? I felt the pressure all the way through. Believe THAT!

BUT IN THE BEGINNING, the pressure was just to get in! Mainly because of my track record. With several meetings with all the heads of the school, me and my Foster Guardians kept hoping. And Oh my God, Father in heaven, it was tense! I remember that! See, St.Martin De Porres was school of excellence. It was a Semi-private school, in an urban setting that still had an excellent reputation for preparing young students for college and to productive citizens. We all had to participate in volunteering, somewhere. Usually it was at Focus Hope because Father Cunningham was the Director there and he was a major part of St. Martin De Porres.

St. Martin De Porres, held parents accountable.

Even though tuition was required, that didn't get your parents or your guardians off the hook from having to attend Parent /Teacher conferences. And if they missed too many, the student was regrettably expelled. TRUST ME! MY GUARDIANS didn't miss ANY of the meetings! They worked too hard to get me in there in the first place! They tried to give me a good chance to make it. That school played a big part too in the growth of my voice. The people, the curriculum, it challenged me. Those four years were hard for me, but because of them, my voice grew louder and louder. My writings, self-esteem and confidence grew stronger and stronger. Not only was I Prom Queen, in 1987, I graduated on the honor roll and received the Principals Award. The highest award you could get from St. Martin De Porres (as was told to me by Principal Hughes, at the time). It was an honorable achievement because it was given to the most improved Graduating over their time there. And to my surprise, I got it! Geez, talk about a confidence booster and Mrs. Rosa Parks was there too as an invited guest! What a day to remember for a broken, nearly destroyed gift to the world. At least a gift to somebody, as I believe all children start out to be.

I was fortunate that in Foster Care, I was surrounded by some pretty amazing, safe caring people. I am aware that that is not always the case! They took care of me. Even battling me to take care of me! I was given counseling and time to heal. I found strength there and I also found my voice. In Foster care is where I learned to pray on my own. I learned that God hears and is actively caring for us. During that time, I learned I had voice, a beautiful voice that deserved to be heard. And understand, the beauty I am referring to doesn't necessarily have anything to do with a wonderful sound coming out!

The beauty I am referring to is the freedom of speaking up and out. Free yourself! And what you just might find is that, what you have isn't even just for you! That it can be used for a much larger purpose. Understand, if you use that God given form of expression, whatever it is that helps you find your voice, (minus self-destructive things, of course) it can be a HUGELY IMPORTANT and magnificent key to your healing. A key that could lead you into your future purpose. Somehow, someway, you will find yourself prospering because of it. I am not just talking money either. There are other ways. You may just find your gifting encourages others in a great way! Perhaps, encouraging them to find their voice. But first, finding your voice is about your freedom.

FINDING MY VOICE

My voice came through the form of writing. And writing for me, was an answer to a prayer. I remember praying to God, (as I had attended vacation Bible school, church after school etc. I had come to believe that there was a Loving God who cared). At 15, and still not trusting anyone at that point, I remember praying in my room. It started on a warm August day in 1984, and I could see the other girls of the house playing Volleyball in the yard, from my bedroom window. I wasn't comfortable there yet so the staff allowed me a few weeks to get my bearings. I needed something more than games, I needed an outlet where I could get out what had been pent up in me for so long. I needed the freedom of expressing myself without the threats of punishment, shame or death that hung over my head form the hands of my abusers.

I SO MUCH needed that precious gift of freedom, of safety, of Joy, laughter, open conversation, which had been taken from me for so long.

So, alone in my room, in my new Foster Care Home, I prayed! I prayed for an outlet. I had so much to say, it was bursting from the seams! I literally felt like I was going to combust from carrying so much inside. And the answer I kept getting was "write your feelings down." The more I prayed, the louder that answer got inside of me.

"Write your feelings down."

And to be honest with you, at 15 years of age and having heard how powerful God is, I thought my answer was going to come through some bigger way.

Like maybe he would've sent a bird to land on my window sill and sing to me or send lightening bolts right down the middle of the street or sent dark clouds overshadowing everything accompanied by claps of Thunder that would ring out over the neighborhood in answer to my prayer. These things didn't happen, but Believe me, I was watching for it everyday!

You laugh, but it's true! It's alright. I'm laughing right along with you. Seriously I am!

In any case, I just kept hearing, "Write your feelings down." I prayed for 3 whole weeks straight, every day and every day for 3 whole weeks, I got the same answer.

After the three weeks in frustration and watching, I gave in! I started writing my thoughts and feelings about my life up to then. At first, I was afraid to write too much, thinking if someone found my journal, they would not understand and I'd be criticised. The funny thing was, I discovered the more I wrote, the more

I wanted to write! And the more I wanted to write, I also discovered the more

I needed to write. It was then that I also discovered that...

God doesn't do anything small. "Cause along with my words, I noticed melodies started coming up and out me right along with them. WOW! That nearly blew my mind. I was encouraged to keep writing my feelings down and singing my tunes, if only to myself. My Foster family recognized that I had started to smile and celebrated when they first heard me laugh. It had been about 2 or 3 months after I got there, by then. Boom! I had truly discovered, my voice!

To this day, it's not much that will keep me from writing for too long. Not even sickness!

As I am recovering from a bout with terrible dehydration that caused such pain in my joints, muscles, my head, just all through my body! My legs felt like cement. I am battling nausea still. I had the chills and then the sweats off and on. In the beginning, it hurt so bad that even when I took a step, I could feel it pounding through my body. My head would throb, the pain would freeze me right in my step! This is day 7th day of recuperation. Still not 100 %. I can sit up longer, the pain is not as bad. I don't have the chills or sweats anymore. Still, I gotta write!

It's like a part of me is missing, if I don't!

I gotta tell you this, my son has been a great help taking care of me through these past few day, even with my writing. While I dictated, he even typed some of my article about Mr. Peabody's Apples. I spoke until I grew too tired to talk, which wasn't long. But like I said, when I'm not writing, I often feel like an important part of me is missing. Since that time when I was 15, I have always felt like writing and writing (speaking) the way I do is a gift to me, Blessed (gifted to me) by God. Writing is a HUGE part of who I am and was made to be. And it's good for me that my son understands the power of finding your voice as he is a great writer too and graphic artist! His writings are totally different than mine, but he respects my use of mine and uses his voice just as much.

Whether you are in pain like I was or not, I hope this column helps you to find your voice as I found mine, or at least use it! So, I've dedicated this column to the things important that are important to young people. Those above 9 years of age up through 22. My own 20 year old son has read the articles in this column, with his approval. Often times, he gives me thoughts to interjects, he will proof read, and even brainstorm with me to get it done. So, let it rip yall! Come on and give me your topic suggestions, your ideas of article that you want to see me write. Beyond that, I'm also going to do something new on here, just to encourage you to use all the vehicles available to you as well as Teen Speak.

I am offering you the ability to send me your own articles about what types of things concern young people and I will post it. AS LONG AS, it is not offensive to any particular ethnic, economic or religious group, for starters. So let's just start there. Send your articles to me by e-mail at meetta@hotmail.com and label them, articles for TEEN SPEAK. Also understand that all articles are open to my editing. As this is my post and I have to utilize discernment, I retain the right to edit what you would like to post on this site. So, OK then. Well, lets get writing and vocalizing.

STILL READING?

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

GOODBYE ! Waiting to hear from you, Love Meetta

SOCIAL SCENE- PICK YOUR BATTLES

Dear, Precious Reader,

In a world full of conflict, I feel the need to remind you of a simple lesson.

It is a lesson that I was taught several years ago by a very, very wise, loving person who saw the need to protect me...even from myself!

"LEARN TO PICK YOUR BATTLES.

... DON'T LET THEM PICK YOU! "

See Reader, recognize that we live in a world full of billions of people who think differently, who want different things and have different ways of going about them. All those people, each with their own personality ( Some have more than one!) missed in with different cultural groups, different life principles and family teachings and we are all supposed to figure out how to deal with each other without losing ourselves in the process. Conflict is always and has always been inevitable. So, the thing is, if you are open to every ( E..V..E..R ..Y) battle that comes your way, you will also inevitably wear yourself down!

The greatest warriors in history were masters at picking their battles! They were master Strategists on war tactics. They understood proper positioning of their soldiers against the enemy was important. They understood the strengths, the weaknesses and abilities of their soldiers and how they could best be utilized. Remember now, the battles fought were also fought with the thought of self preservation. Everybody could not afford to get wiped out! The war and battle leaders needed to ensure that when victory was won, that they still had a healthy, right minded army available. They needed them available to protect the kingdoms and to be ready and able to fight in future battles!

Inside of those war tactics, strategy, they understood also that the strength of the soldiers played a vital part in accomplishing victory. Soldiers are often switched out and relieved while other soldier s took their place for awhile. Rest for them was absolutely vital as well! Usually, war and battle leaders used the wisdom of strategy of knowing which battles to fight. War and battle leaders understand that conflict and battles are here to stay, as long as there are people on the planet, cause somebody is always gonna want what somebody else has! Somebody is always going to seek control of others! Somebody always wants to think themselves better than others seeking to prove somebody else less of a person! Somebody always wants to be right!

The issues of conflict are as old as the world is! Battle leaders knew it then as they know it now. This also includes those of us who are wise and paying attention! By the way, all of us are battle fighters, as we all have to deal with conflict at times in our lives. That's inevitable too! Because somebody is going to want something from you too that you are not willing to give them even on the level of life that you are, wherever that is! It's not always the rich and powerful who have conflict! Most of us face conflict with somebody several times a week. Others face it several times a day! Even children on the playground! So, what are you thinking?

Whether it be your attention, your possessions, your support that they seek. Conflict is sure to show up even it the issues concerns your affection, your happiness, your friendship, your mate or child. It seeks submission, control of you, even your peace of mind!... Whatever the thing is that they seek, that you are not willing to give!

Battles even arise in situations over your joy, because misery LOVES company! It loves it so much it will use & manipulate your co-workers, your boss, strangers, Preachers and regular congregants. It will use family members including your wife, your husband and children and grand children! Evil, is what misery eludes too because of it's destructiveness, doesn't care "whom it may devour" in the process! Not even you who gave it a foothold in the first place!

Conflict, battles...you have faced them and will continue to as long as you live. And I hope you live long! So, you have to understand the strategy of not letting those battles pick you, wearing you thin. If you let yourself be worn thin, you won't have the much needed strength to be ready for the REAL WAR when it is waged against you!

War leaders know you can't have your soldiers fighting all the time, exhausting them, exhausting finances, supplies, support alliances and exhausting energy unnecessarily. War leaders themselves needed rest in order to be spiritually, physically and mentally sharp as well! They also knew that part of an enemies strategy was causing Some "minor' battles or uprisings to distract their opponent, wear them thin so they could then go int for the kill. Therefore, the most effective war leaders had to know, which battles fight! They profoundly understood the utter importance of picking their battles instead of letting their battles pick them!

So, for your own sake, self-preservation and peace of mind...

You HAVE TO LEARN

which battles are worth fighting!

*Do you know the purpose of the battle you are thinking of engaging in?

*Weigh the benefits, the pros and cons.

*What will it solve if you fought this battle?

*Investigate what is really at stake?

*Know why you are fighting that battle!

*Understand what is the end result.

*What is stood to be gained by you,

by the people who are egging you on to engage!

Think about that person or those people.

What is their motivation? Consider that many of us wouldn't take on or even initiate certain battles if certain people weren't whispering in our ears!

If that person is you, you will undoubtedly do yourself great justice in questioning your own motives before you get yourself or someone else for that matter, in a battle where loss is not prepared for or can be accepted.

And be careful who you challenge in these battles because

you may not really know how they will respond! See, when people are pushed they tend to push back alot harder than you anticipated.

So, be careful of yourself and what battles you initiate and take on!

Reader,

for your own benefit I've taken this time to show you what some loving person, concerned about me, took time to teach me. Also trust that I have had moments of being challenged too! Serious moments where I WAS READY FOR A FIGHT ...only to have wisdom intercede. It brought discernment with it. It showed me some truths to focus on. Wisdom reached out, shook me, even collapsed me to my knees while it spoke that certain battles are not mine to fight. In such moments, it has even taken me to the point where I have literally cried out in victory, with strength renewed. I take to heart moments like those, allowing Wisdom to prevail. I have learned to pick my fights, not letting them pick me. By doing so, I am assured to be strong and ready when the REAL battles of life come again to wage against me.

Because Reader, there will always be another one to fight!

Wanting the best for you, Dear Reader

Meetta