Life isn't about you
Life isn’t about you. Have you figured this out yet? To have something to say about your life you must live. You must not live for yourself only. You must share life with people. You must love and be loved by humans, poor and rich and in between.
You must share your home and your food. You must not hoard the watermelon you just got from the store the other day when your guests come over. You must share it. You must let all the banana bread be swallowed up by bellies young and old.
You must let toys fill the floor and get real messy. You must not care about your floors and the crumbs littered across the table and floor. You must let the kids laugh and scream. You must let the house be filled. You must pause to let the child give you pretend ice cream and lattes.
This life isn’t about you. It’s not about your biggest desires. It isn’t about you owning a big house so you could live alone with your family. If you do get that big house you must fill it with people. With baby feet and big ones too. You must fill it with folks that stop by just to say hi. Or the one that just needs a hug and was in the neighborhood. Or the one you met at the park or at the store.
You must not live too safe or hoard all your time and money. You must spend some and give some of both. You must give it away. You must do this or else you’ll be asking about the meaning of life. You’ll be sitting and thinking and wrecking your brain.
Life isn’t about you.
Fill it with people to love and be loved by. Life is much better when you spend it with people. It’s much better when you give your time away. It’s much better when you share your lunch and dinner with the folks that came over. Or the cup of tea you made. Or the presence you gave.
If you are sulking over life and depressed about your destiny, your identity. Give away what you have. I’m not talking about money only. I’m talking about presence. I’m talking about words from your lips. I’m talking about your feet, I’m talking about your ears and hands if you have them, and if you don’t you can give what you have.
My friends came over today. I am full of joy. This is what it’s about. The watermelon was much better shared. The banana bread was much better shared. I am full of great joy for the feet running through my house. I am full of great joy for the going in and out of the door, for the conversations we had shifting through the house, standing and sitting and interrupted by many bathroom breaks (me). My hear is full of great joy. You don’t understand. I get it now. I will tell you again, my heart is full of great joy.
This life isn’t about you.
Jazmon, forgive me if you’ve already done this, but the world needs a book from you. Even if it’s literally just a compilation of your posts from here on Substack, we need it. The deep, raw, theologically-rich words you produce in every single post reflect vulnerability only the Spirit can offer. You have clearly been given the gift of communication; that is evident. The Lord has used both you and Hakeem greatly in my life as a father of two young kids. May the Lord continue to use you both to teach the world and sow good seeds in tough, vulnerable places. I feel the Lord saying, “well done my good and faithful servants” ❤️ Thank you for doing hard things, and reminding us that doing hard things is always right choice.
You are an inspiration… beautiful & true words. 💕