Digging Deep

Strawberry Letter | Steve Harvey in the Morning on WDAS

Today's Strawberry Letter is a good example of why you should go to the source for the truth, because people will lie to make themselves look good; it's crazy & sad at the same time. This man makes his daughter's mom to be the worst parent in the world: She doesn't do nothing for the daughter, she's trifling and this, that, and the third. My question is: If she's so trifling, why did he lay down with her? He didn't think she was trifling when he was hitting it, so all of a sudden she's trifling because she put him on child support. Some of these men irk me with this mess; She's good enough to lay down with, but not good enough to raise a child with. Yeah, ok...that makes sense. After meeting his family, the stepmother to this 8-year old girl decides to ride with one of his cousins to the baby mama's home. Needless to say, his story didn't match hers. From what I read, the 34-year old mom has herself together and encourages her daughter to have a relationship with her father. That's good because girls need their dads just as much as sons do. A father is the first example of manhood for a young lady. 

If a father does right by his wife, that daughter won't settle for anything less in her romantic involvement with a young man because she saw an example of a healthy relationship between her parents. I salute this mother because she could be nasty and keep her daughter from seeing her dad, but from what I read, she doesn't flow like that. As for him, I can't co-sign his behavior because a man owns up to his responsibility. A thorough man would have no problem with child support if he created the baby. What he doesn't realize is that the longer he dodges child support, the greater his arrears and the longer it'll take him to pay off that balance. $32,000+ in back child support? That's crazy. That's a new car, entry-level salary, a down payment on a home; a lot of things. She had no way of knowing he was shaking his responsibility because he told her what he wanted her to know upon first meeting him. At least she followed her instinct and dug deeper for the truth. Now that she knows, is she going to stay with him or leave? If he kept this from her, there's no telling what else he may be hiding from her.

Realness In 140 Characters Or Less Cont'd

This is a continuation of my previous blog where I post some of the best tweets from myself and others on my timeline.

What makes you laugh, can make you cry.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) February 26, 2015

There may be areas in your life where you seem disadvantaged but know you're at the advantage because of the blood. #ThickerThanWater

— Jewel Tankard (@Jeweltankard) February 22, 2015

You can't please everyone.

— Life is Good! (@rulesolife) February 23, 2015

When you've seen stuff beyond your years, it shows in your demeanor and your thought process. You have a different mindset than most people.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) February 21, 2015

God uses the willing, man or woman. I have no problem with women in church leadership positions. #PreachersOfDetroit

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) February 21, 2015

Relationships should help you, not hurt you. Surround yourself with people who reflect the person you want to be. http://t.co/7qsqVSRCgi

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) February 20, 2015

Don't ask to play, if you're not ready to pay.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) February 18, 2015

God is preparing you for greater things, so don't be surprised when He asks you to act accordingly.

— Fannie Gouger (@Fanniehkg) February 15, 2015

One of the most important keys to success is having the discipline to do what you know you should do, even when you don't feel like doing it

— Life is Good! (@rulesolife) March 5, 2015

Faith makes things possible, not easy.

— Life Facts By Lemon (@lifeandlemon) March 5, 2015

Friendship isn't about who you've known longest, it's about who came and never left your side.

— ~Relation Sheep~ (@relatedship) March 5, 2015

When God wants to bring more power into our lives, He brings more pressure. He is generating spiritual force by friction. —Simpson

— theophilusscribe (@ScribeGirl) March 3, 2015

Bae is one of those terms I wouldn't mind NEVER hearing again.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) March 5, 2015

Realness In 140 Characters Or Less

With titles come expectations, which can sometimes bring disappointments.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) March 4, 2015

Not everyone has your back; Some people use you to get where they're going.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) March 4, 2015

Don't ever change just to impress and please someone. Change because it makes you a better person and it leads you to a better future.

— Life Facts By Lemon (@lifeandlemon) March 4, 2015

#RandomThought. I can't stand when people eat chicken and pizza with a fork.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) March 3, 2015

Reestablish Trust First THEN we can talk about PIE and keke with some tea, #ThickerThanWater

— Brooklyn Tankard (@Queen_Brooklyn) March 2, 2015

If you’re going to live a large life, it starts in your mind. You’re full of possibility. There’s untapped potential in you.

— Joel Osteen (@JoelOsteen) March 2, 2015

There's nothing like starting your day off with a 5am workout followed by a shower, then a good breakfast. Energy stay on point all day.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) March 2, 2015

Stop rehearsing your failures... Rehearse your victories! #ThickerThanWater

— Jewel Tankard (@Jeweltankard) March 1, 2015

If you think you are better than others, when you really aren't, you are wrong. http://t.co/gvGtN6T0Tq

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) March 1, 2015

The first time someone cheats on you should be the last time that person cheats on you! Respect yourself enough to let go & move on!

— Mind Of A Real Man (@RealMenTalk) March 1, 2015

Thicker Than Water Season 2 Episode 6 | The Ben Honors

Since it's debut, Thicker Than Water has grown into the highest-rated family show on Thicker Than Water. It chronicles the blended Tankard family: Ben & Jewel, the Tankard daughters (Brooklyn, Brittney & Cyrene), Benji, Marcus. This is my favorite episode because it discusses Ben's rags to riches story as well as the tribute to 25 years in the music industry. One thing that stuck out to me was when Ben Tankard said: The death of my basketball career, created the birth of my music career. Sometimes, Christians have their trajectory planned out from Day 1 of what they're going to do, and most of the time God blesses our trajectory. What happens when unfortunate circumstances derail our trajectory? Some Christians get in their feelings and get upset at God because our plans didn't work out how we wanted. When Ben said "I can't read a lick of music, and I've had a successful music career", that had to be God's anointing. Take a look at this recent Thicker Than Water episode.

Focus On Who Wants You

One of my Facebook friends posted a stat about men's relationship trouble. He stated that men focus on women who don't want them, instead of those that do. When she repeatedly rejects him, some men want to get mad, and call her everything but the child of God. I think I can understand why some men try and go after women who don't want them; they like a challenge. If they're persistent, many men feel she'll let her guard down and say yes. By saying yes, he feels accomplished because he was able to conquer her; meaning, he wore her down enough to where she gave in to his advances. Now, I'm pretty sure when some women say no, that's what they mean. I know for me, no means no. I seldom go back on my answer unless there's strong reasoning stating otherwise. The way I'm set up, I don't have the desire of going after women who don't want me. Why? I don't have the patience to give her 10,000 reasons why she should accept me as her man. I know my worth, and what I'm willing to provide her with, and if she can't see that, it's her loss. For me, it's common sense: I check for those who check for me. It's a win-win situation for me & her. I'm about easy victories, and if I sense drama, I back off from it. Men need to stop that challenge nonsense, and learn how to pursue women who WANT them. That's why you have these Facebook Relationship groups with men and women bashing each other. Both genders wasted time pursuing those who didn't want them, and when they finally got tired of rejection, they become jaded and label all (wo)men as no good.

Purpose: By Khrystle Nichole

Had to share something from one of my Facebook friends.

Khrystle Nichole

3 hrs · 

Each of us come here for a purpose. Sometimes we often wonder what our purpose is. Whether we know it or not, we are all teachers and students. Many times, our experiences are lessons for others as well as ourselves. We are also comforters and servers. We have the power to comfort and serve others with kindness, generosity, and selflessness. Teaching and learning, comforting and serving is not always easy. Sometimes these come as the hardest challenges in our lives. Yet this is our purpose. Teaching does not come without learning and comforting does not come without serving. We will never figure out all the answers to the questions of why. It is when we recognize and accept the teacher, the student, the comforter and the server within ourselves that we find some purpose and joy while we are on this journey called life.

You Want To Know My Business? Become An Investor

If someone wants to know your business, tell them to invest in it.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) February 28, 2015

 At what age do you stay out of others' business? I'm just asking because everywhere you turn, some folks have to know your every move: What you're doing, how you're doing it, are you ok, this, that & the other. There are two kinds of people who do this: 1. Those who mean well, and 2. Those who are fishing for information to use against you at a later date. If you're meeting someone for the first time, and their energy is right, those are the people you don't mind sharing your affairs with because you know they'll keep your business between you and them. Whatever issues you and them may have, you two immediately squash your beef and get back on good terms. You seldom have skirmishes with people who mean well because deep down, they want the best for you, and vice versa. You have to watch those in Group #2 because they slide in like a snake. Nobody's gonna come into your life just to cause drama. They're gonna play a wolf even though they're wearing sheep's clothing.

Those who are fishing for information to use against you at a later date, you have to keep an eye on them because you never know when they're going to strike. They act friendly, and want to keke with some tea. So far, things are going good between you until they start showing their true colors. What starts off as little skirmishes turns into epic confrontations. What you told them in confidence starts spreading like wildifre, and they start becoming besties with former enemies. Weren't you just battling with this & that person a week ago, and now you're besties? Get on with that nonsense. I pride myself on being a very private person, which is why I don't lead a drama-filled life. I don't keke with some tea with everybody because although some people may mean well, people are great actors. For those who want to know your business, tell them to become an investor. That's how you stop nosy folks in their tracks.