Celebrating Memorial Day..Honoring and Remembering those who served

Understanding the legacy we hold in our hands.
I hope we understand we have so much to be thankful for.
Those who sacrificed their lives understood the premise of brotherhood
and thanksgiving.

Dedicated to those who Sacrificed to make our country
what it is today:

Oh, if we could but understand
the sacred legacy we hold in our hands.
Every dream that ever came true.
It is all because of you.
You watched by day and by night
You fought until the dawn's early light.
You left the safety of home
You ventured out alone
You made the decision to leave
Because you believed
Everything beautiful in America we see,
the oceans, the seas,
the flowers on the fields,
the majestic mountains and green hills
It all could have disappeared
They are still here for us to enjoy
because of the young girl or boy
who answered the call
to protect us all
The tears they shed
The blood they bled
is why the stars and stripes
yet wave over land and sea.
Without them, none of it would be.
The battles we won and lost
Came at great cost.
Oh, how great the legacy
we hold in our hands.
For it was provided by those
who sacrificed for you and for me.
I pray you value the legacy we hold in our hands
A lifetime of thank yous would never repay the
debt we owe.
Treasure the legacy,
Remember the legacy
For oh how great the legacy
we hold in our hands.
I hope you can,
I pray you can understand
how great the legacy
we hold in our hands.

 copyright Patricia Newman-Harris

Congratulations Graduates

It is said that in order to win the race, you have to first enter the race; second, you have to run the race
and third, you have to cross the finish line!

May your graduation day be the beginning of many races towards the finish line.

GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU

copyright Patricia Newman-Harris 

Before you were born, God had a plan for you.

He already knew the things you would do.

At times when you felt all alone,

God was helping you hold on.

Sometimes we have to walk through the dark of night

Before we’re able to see his marvelous light

God sees what you have on the inside.

The world can only see what’s on the outside.

He knew some of your dreams would falter and die,

But he also knew one day you would fly.

God has already made a way for you.

All you have to do is keep pressing until you break through.

The world may not see how great you are,

But in God’s eyes you are a star.

In good times and in bad, you’ve got to be sure

The reward only goes to those who will endure.

God knows the beginning and the end.

He’s already determined that you will win.

Out of all the people in the world he chose you.

God has a plan for you.

The Precious Gift of Life

Watching the news of late has been very hard.
Every day some innocent person is killed.  The
accidents are difficult to accept but understood.
I cannot understand the unnecessary deaths that
occur each and every day.  It is especially hard
to listen to a report of innocent people being
mowed down by a vehicle, bombed or murdered
for the color of their skin.



Every day we live is a gift.
Treasure the gift of your life,
but also treasure the gift of each and
every life, regardless of color, station,
race or any other differences that may exist.

None of us have the ability to recreate a life,
so we definitely have no right to take a life.

That authority belongs to God alone.
Before you decide to take a life,
think of this.  You may be willing to
surrender your own, but that person has not
granted you permission to take theirs.  Please,
please, have respect for the gift of life.  It is
a precious gift granted to us all.  Love, the gift,
Thank God for the gift, but most of all, respect
the gift.  

What it means to be called an American

When we look back on our history, from our humble beginnings to where we are today, I am mindful of those who came before and how, through their struggles and tribulations, this country was birthed,  It was their beliefs and their aspirations that formed the foundation and the principals that, through the years, has governed this country.  As Americans, they stood strong and united in their convictions to insure the promise, that to every man who called America home, certain rights would always be guaranteed.  Further, these rights were established by written decree so that, without question, they would be what consolidated our unity.  This was an act of great courage and humility.   I am so grateful for those accomplishments, because I know the cost.  It was their ability to consider the greater good that brought them to the decision to write the Declaration that granted us the freedoms we now embrace.  For us, they stood as a United nation, sealing our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  That, was their promise, that was their decree.  Now, more than ever, we need  to consider our history, and decide just how much it means to us to preserve it and what it stands for.
Let us agree to stand, once again, as one nation, united for the common good of us all.  For as Americans who truly believe in the solidarity and unity that preserves our creed, this is what we should willingly do.  In conclusion, remember this:

America is not just me.
It's not just you.
It is us.
The one thing that describes us all
and unites us all,
regardless of our station or place in this great land,
Is that we are all Americans.
When we forget that, then, we forget what being an American really means.

Celebrating His Resurrection

Time stood still

On Calvary’s hill

The Angels had tears in their eyes

The day he was crucified.

To see the one they loved so

Beaten from head to toe

It was hard to watch him endure

What he had to endure

But they knew it had to be.

If we were to live eternally,

It had to be

In that final hour,

He could have cried why me?

Father, why me?

He could have begged for mercy

But he knew it had to be

No one else would have paid such a price

He became a living sacrifice

He laid down his life

For you and me

He knew it had to be

He suffered and died

Was unjustly crucified.

Time stood still

On Calvary’s hill

Oh that he didn’t have to suffer

That he didn’t have to die

He could have asked why,

But he knew it had to be.

It had to be

If we were to live eternally

It had to be.

Would that you could see

Just how much he cared.

He willing placed himself there

He died on the cross

To save a world that was lost.

No one else would have given their life.

No one else would have paid such a price

But he loved us so much

He died for us

He knew it had to be.

In order for us to have life,

And have it more abundantly,

He knew it had to be

It had to be

It had to be.

He knew he had to die

So, he never asked why

He willingly gave his life

For us he made the sacrifice

For us, time stood still

On Calvary's Hill

copyright P. Newman-Harris

Because by T.D. Jakes

Sometimes as women, we put our lives on hold, waiting for that 

special one to come along.  Society has taught us to put our worth in

who we are as a wife and Mother, not to say that this is not important.

The last thing I want to do is undermine the importance of being either.

Unfortunately, some of us may never be either.  One of the most challenging

realities I had to face as a woman was realizing I would never have children.

It is not an easy thing to accept, but life goes on.  That's why this poem resonated so

much with me.  I had to learn to accept that nothing in life is fair.  I know that God,

in his infinite wisdom, does not make mistakes.  

Just Because

by T.D.Jakes

Just because no one has been fortunate enough to realize

what a gold mine you are, doesn't mean you shine any less.

Just because no one has been smart enough to figure out

that you can't be topped, doesn't stop you from being the best.

Just because no one has come along to share your life,

Doesn't mean that day isn't coming.

Just because no one has made this race worthwhile, doesn't

give you permission to stop running.

Just because no one has realized how much of an awesome

woman you are, doesn't mean they can affect your femininity.

Just because no one has show up who can love you on your level,.

Doesn't mean you have to sink to theirs.

Just because you deserve the very best there is,

Doesn't mean that life is always fair

Just because God is still preparing your King,

Doesn't mean that you are not already a Queen.

Just because your situation doesn't seem to be progressing

right now, doesn't mean you need to change a thing.

Keep shining, keep running, keep hoping, and keep praying,

Keep exactly what you are already...COMPLETE11

Share this with your female friends who need to keep on doing

what they do best.

Celebrating Women---I See the Rest

This month is Women's History month, so I celebrate and honor all of our women, from the greatest to the least, past and present.  For all that you have done, are doing and will do in the future, I say thank you.  One day soon, we will be totally appreciated and respected completely and not just for the way we look, but for who we are.

Women of the world,

I see you there

Your hair,

Your dress,

Impeccable,

Yes.

I see you,

But I look beyond

Your hair,

Your dress

And see the rest.

Without a doubt,

You are beautiful inside and out,

But you want the world to see you,

In your entirety.

To look beyond your polished nails

and high heel shoes;

Not to be perceived as tough as nails,

But as someone who can compete

No matter what shoes she has on her feet.

Someone who is taken seriously by all

No matter how big or how small.

Someone who can stand firmly in position

Without being unfairly degraded by the competition.

The "phenomenal woman," that Maya described.

What a glorious tribe!
the Tribe called Woman.
I see you in all your glory.
I see your beauty
Your hair
Your dress,
Impeccable,
Yes
I see you
but I look beyond
your hair, your dress,
And see the rest.
Would that the world could see the rest!

Copyright 2017, Patricia Newman-Harris

To the women of the world who are not always taken seriously and are not viewed for the totality of
who they are, walk in faith, walk, in courage, and do not fear, because You've Got This!