10/25/2024
ONE MORE NIGHT AND A WAKE UP
WRITTEN BY TONI HARPER
If it be God’s Will… one more night and a wake up; I’ll be 65. I can’t remember not ever being my brothers and sisters keeper, the family protector whether you were a neighbor, cousin, friend, niece, nephew, etc. I can’t remember not ever being the responsible, dependable, caring, giving and loyal one.
Nor will I ever forget those times when I thought vengeance was mines. I didn’t know God back then and what little I knew about Him. I just felt His vengeance took too long. It took a while but now I really know Him. Not just “know of” Him. I remember those old days, knowing there will be a familiar spirit reading this. One who will boldly testify about the old me. That if you looked at me (or anyone I cared about) wrong or if you said something wrong, a fight was definitely about to break out and be on!
Those old familiar spirits that once thought they knew of me; Have never had the pleasure of meeting the New and Transformed me! Just one more night and a wake up; My own family won’t be able to recognize me. I must admit it took me a very long time to Surrender to Jesus (notice I didn’t say “surrender all” since I still got some flesh hanging on these bones.) Every now and then that ole flesh attempts to wrestle with my spirit. Yet; JEHOVAH-NISSI gives me victory over my flesh.
Now as I look back over my life; recalling how I helped so many, how I raised my younger siblings and was there to help when they had children. I smile because I was a very present, supportive and active helpmeet to so many family members and friends. Yet, I barely hear from any of them or their children! I sure don’t feel like the wonderful person that I’ve been to them all their lives and mine as well. Somehow their “in with the new and out with the old” lives that they’re now living has erased away my lifetime contributions. I sure expected more from all in my latter days! Yet EL- ROI is still the God that sees all!
The enemy will always find its place of attack at a structural gate. The family structure is one of those gates. If the enemy can tear down the pillars which secure the gates of the family then he can gain access and wrack havoc within the family structure. That’s why family relationships are so very important to maintain!
The structure of our families were held up by the praying pillars of our grandparents, great grandparents, our great aunts and uncles. The days when cousins were like your siblings!
Today, the structure of family relationships has been so watered down; One can barely taste and see the Goodness of God in and through the Pillars of the praying intercessors of our ancestors that kept the enemy out of our family camp. The young ones know not one another nor does anyone offer to help the elders. Everyone seems to be living a life for self; While I continue to trod this lonely road living a self-less life every day and night.
God willing; One more night and a wake up, I will be 65 and not even my own family will recognize me. I’m about to un selflessly use my latter days to focus on strengthening the intimacy between my God and me. Taking the time to give birth to all these unborn talents that I rebuke in Jesus Name will not be buried with me. Just one more night and a wake up. Me and selflessly neglecting myself is about to break up. Amen❣️🙏🏽❤️💋
