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The Struggle Appreciated

I am so thankful for the struggle I witnessed and experienced growing up.

Wondering if the light bill would be paid. The constant disconnection of telephone service. The water getting turned off. Having to open up the stove's oven to heat the two bedroom rented homed that housed five adults and three children. Eating the same meals (healthy) every week e.g. liver, rice, onions, and gravy on Tuesday. Enduring the barrage of jokes because the Chevy Nova we rode in did not have a muffler for the longest time. Having to share Levi jeans with my brother.

I can go on.

As I typed I got sentimental. I did not tear-up because I have regrets or have psychological troubles with my poverty infected past. Nope. Not at all!

I am happy. Content. Because I know what struggle is and can be. I know how to adapt while many basically lose it. Go crazy as a result of the poor economy and received rejection letters for employment.

Life is tough for so many. I will not begin to draw comparisons to the lifetime of struggles people from Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia have to face. My temporary struggles back in the day and now are minor when thinking of what men/women face each and every day across the seas.

One thing is for sure I have never imploded. I have made mistakes and reacted like an idiot – but I have never lost it.

My struggle. My poverty prepared me for the tough times.

If you find yourself in a struggle to make it…dig deep. Don’t be the person we read about: Man Loses Job. Kills Wife, Then Himself.


Know that struggles make The Man/The Woman. If you have none or never had any...you are 'all together'. Good luck with that!

Written by The Black Rebel. Inspired by a call a made this morning: My mother has NEVER been wrong.

Picture – The Real Struggles are Inward

Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 8, 2010 at 6:21 PM

    Reader Response:

    We have been thinking alike on a lot of things for a while. I initiated a conversation with my wife last night while watching the news. The crux of it was how ironic that Americans are able to come up with so many funds for Haiti (which is a positive thing) when we are in a "recession". Some Americans thought that losing jobs and money to travel and go out to eat is a STRUGGLE! Many of our kids have 3,4,5, Video game systems. Many adults have 2 and 3 cars and lord knows Lebron James and Michael Jordan's tennis shoes are still selling............................ I'm glad I know "temporary challenges" as well. Emotional and Spiritual emptiness is far worse than fincial setbacks.

    -PM

    ReplyDelete
  2. MUATA NOWEFebruary 8, 2010 at 6:22 PM

    The Black Rebel Responds:

    I would not change a thing about the way I grew-up. So appreciative of the way I had to learn: adapt/deal with it/make a way/hold on to faith! All praises are given to Honey-bee (my mother), Willie Jean (my aunt), Raymond and Jerry (my uncles), and the one and only Frankie Payne (my grandmother). I am full today. SO thankful! Guess what, nothing has happened too serious to spark this dialogue. Just appreciating life…

    Giving Praises!

    -The Black Rebel

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousFebruary 8, 2010 at 6:29 PM

    Reader Response:

    You appear to get it. Thanks, B.

    -LS

    ReplyDelete

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