My friend, the Rev H. Dwight Bolton, sent me an e-mail in May concerning "Hate!" It was a sermonette of sorts by Bishop T.D. Jakes titled "ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVES* * * * SHAKE THEM HATERS OFF!" In it, Bishop Jakes is quoted as saying: A hater is someone that is jealous and envious and spends all their time trying to make you look small so they can look tall. They are very negative people. Nothing is ever good enough! When you make your mark, you will always attract some haters... That's why you have to be careful who you share your blessings and your dreams with because some folk can't handle seeing you blessed...
Bishop Jakes is further quoted to say ... "The problem I have with haters is that they see my glory, but they don't know my story..."
Bishop Jakes' conclusion is quoted as You can handle your haters by:
1. *Knowing who you are & who your true friends are (VERY IMPORTANT!!)
2. *Having a purpose to your life
3. *By remembering what you have is by divine prerogative and not human manipulation.
Purpose does not mean having a job. You can have a job and still be unfulfilled. A purpose is having a clear sense of what God has called you to be. Your purpose is not defined by what others think about you. Fulfill your dreams! You only have one life to live................when its your time to leave this earth, you want to be able to say, I've lived my life and fulfilled my dreams, .........I'm ready to go HOME!
When I was young, my top three priorities in order were: 1) my family, 2) my job, and 3) my duty to God!
Dr. Roy Woods, V.P. for Academic Affairs at Norfolk State University, taught the Sunday School class I attended at Bank Street Baptist Church in Norfolk, VA. He helped me to grow and mature. His teachings, dialog with friends & mentors, and studying the word of God as presented in the Bible have led me to change.
My priorities now, in order, are: 1) God, 2) family, and 3) academic & intellectual development of all mankind--especially youth.
I realize that each tub must sit on its own bottom. Hopefully, I can be a positive influence and help people to orient their tubs so they sit squarely on their individual bottoms; however, the choice is up to the individuals. The people who have influenced my life are too numerous to mention in this small space. So suffice to say, I'm indebted to a number of people and my interactions with them. I have probably lived longer than I'm going to live! As I finish my life on this side of the earth, I will live it according to the Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth -- i.e., the BIBLE -- Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves [Philippians 2:3 (NIV)].
My aim and hope is that when my life on earth is over -- and given all of the sins I've committed -- that God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost will still be able to say in reference to me "I am well pleased!"
