You'll Never Amount to Anything!

"You'll. Never. Amount. To. Anything!" my father would shout. This morning, as I sat in the silence and stillness, my Science of Mind magazine open, I closed my eyes to pray, meditate, connect with Spirit and these thoughts came to me. They came because on Sunday I'll be giving a testimony at my place of worship on the theme, The Other Side of Through. Yes, I have made it to the other side of many, many  throughs.  

You'll never amount to anything! was one of my charming minister father's favorite things to say to me. What he really meant, I know today, is "I haven't amounted to anything!' He had to mean that because how could he predict MY future? Who was he or anyone to tell me, God's precious child, what life had in store for me? I didn't know it then but I now know my dad spoke about himself because whenever we hurl insults at another, we're really telling them what we think of us.  

I'm writing this post because you might be able to relate. Somebody, some so-called "smart" grownup may have told you the same thing or something quite similar. Who gave them the authority? Get all the juice out that doggone lemon that's there, then toss it...because remember, it is you, and you alone who gets to create your life...on your terms. Not based on what your mama, daddy or grand pappy said. 

Well, I have amounted to something. And you know what, I have my father to thank. Thanks to my dad-- who I have since forgiven for dumping his poor self-regard onto me--I had something hard to push against. It was my father's ugly words that fueled my ambition. It was my father's insistence that I would be nothing that drove me to be something. At 14 years old good ole dad decided that he would no longer give me lunch money and bus fare for school. God spoke. The God in me said, "I'll make it with you...or I'll make it without you!" Well, I made it.

Yep, I squeezed all the juice out of that there "you'll never amount to anything" lemon that was there! 

I have amounted to something. Not because I am a lawyer, author, editor, speaker, mother to a bright, loving, powerful soon to be Howard freshman, homeowner, gold card carrying member, world traveler, pretty good daughter to my mother, no, I've amounted to something because my life has meaning. I like my life. And I do good work in the world. Even before I heard Les Brown command, "don't let another person's opinion become your reality" years ago I'd resolved to not let anybody tell me who I get be, what I get to have, and what I get to do. That is, nobody gets to tell us how good it can get for us. Given my rather rough beginning, I think I done done good. But I can't take the credit for it; it was Divine Mind that did it. I only take credit for being wise enough to turn within to this Power, listen and take heed.

Smooches!
DeBora
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Visit us at the Spiritual Empowerment Center, 2129 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218 on Sundays at 10:30 AM, a member of the Centers for Spiritual Living.