Encouraging words
We are looking for readers to submit
their favorite words which they find uplifting. It can be original or it can
be a quote. Either way, please list your name and city. We would also like for readers to send
an encouraging message to their friends and family. Submit photos or small
drawings where possible.
Send to:
umojamagazine@sbcglobal.net
Urban Prep Academy 
The entire senior class of 107 students at Chicago's only public all-male,
all-African-American high school has been accepted to four-year colleges
Good thoughts
Ten things God won't ask on that
day
Do you
believe in me?
|
Just Because He's Black...
A white
man asked his black friend, 'Are you voting for Barack Obama just
because he's black? 'The black man responded by saying, 'Why not? Hell,
in this country men are pulled over everyday just cause they're black;
passed over for promotions just cause they're black; considered to be
criminals just cause they're black; and there are going to be thousands
of you who won't be voting for him just because he's black! However, you
do not seem to have a problem with that!
This
country was built with the sweat and whip off the black slaves' back,
and now a descendent of these same slaves has a chance to lead the same
country, where we weren't even considered to be people, where we weren't
allowed to be educated, drink from the same water fountains, eat in the
same restaurants, or even vote.
''So
yes! I'm going to vote for him! But it's not just because he's black,
but because he is hope, he is change, and he now allows me to understand
when my grandson says that he wants to be president when he grows up, it
is not a fairy tale but a short term goal. He now sees, understands and
knows that he can achieve, withstand and do anything... JUST BECAUSE
HE'S BLACK! |
Live better
The King Center
Chinese proverbs
(PowerPoint
Presentation)
A Black Woman Smiles
Beware of Garbage Trucks
by David J. Pollay
submitted by Rene Robinson
How often do you let other people's nonsense change
your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss,
or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you're the
Terminator, for an instant you're probably set back on your
heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly
she or he can get back their focus on what's important.
Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson.
I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab.
I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station.
We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden,
a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.
My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded,
and missed the other car's back end by just inches!
The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident,
whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us.
My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy.
And I mean, he was friendly.
So, I said, "Why did you just do that?
This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!"
And this is when my taxidriver told me what I
now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."
Many people are like garbagetrucks.
They run around full of garbage, full of frustration,
full of anger, and full of disappointment.
As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it.
And if you let them, they'll dump it on you.
When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally.
You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.
So this was it: The "Law of the Garbage Truck."
I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me?
And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people:
at work, at home, on the streets?
It was that day I said, "I'm not going to do it anymore."
I began to see garbagetrucks.
Like in the movie "The Sixth Sense," the little boy said, "I see Dead People."
Well, now "I see Garbage Trucks."
I see the load they're carrying.
I see them coming to drop it off.
And like my Taxi Driver, I don't make it a personal thing;
I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.
One of my favorite footballplayers of all time, Walter Payton,
did this every day on the
He would jump up as quickly as he hit the ground after being tackled.
He never dwelled on a hit.
Payton was ready to make the next play his best.
Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting.
Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home
from school with hugs and kisses.
Leaders and parents know that they have to be fully present,
and at their best for the people they care about.
The bottom line is that successful people
do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day.
What would happen in your life, starting today,
if you let more garbage trucks pass you by?
Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so..
Love the people who treat you right.
Forget about the ones who don't.
Believe that everything happens for a reason.
If you get a chance , TAKE IT!
If it changes your life , LET IT!
Nobody said it would be easy...
They just promised it would be worth it!
A
holy splash of time - Visual therapy for the soul
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
EVERY moment, thank God.
57 Cents - a story of
unselfish love
A little girl stood near a small church from which she had
been turned away because it was "too crowded."
"I can't go to Sunday School," she sobbed to the pastor as
he walked by.
Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed
the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place
for her in the Sunday school class. The child was so happy that they found
room for her, and she went to bed that night thinking of the children who
have no place to worship Jesus
Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor
tenement buildings. Her parents called for the kindhearted pastor who had
befriended their daughter to handle the final arrangements.
As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled
red purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump.
Inside was found 57 cents and a note, scribbled in childish
handwriting, which read: "This is to help build the little church bigger so
more children can go to Sunday School."
For two years she had saved for this offering of love
When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly
what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the
pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion
He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money
for the larger building.
But the story does not end there...
A newspaper learned of the story and published It. It was
read by a wealthy realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many
thousands.
When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered
to sell it to the little church for 57 cents.
Church members made large donations. Checks came from far
and wide. Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to
$250,000.00--a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century). Her
unselfish love had paid large dividends.
When you are in the city of Philadelphia, look up Temple
Baptist Church, with a seating capacity of 3,300. And be sure to visit
Temple University, where thousands of students are educated.
Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a
Sunday School building which houses hundreds of beautiful children, built so
that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday
school time.
In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture
of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved,
made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is a portrait of her kind
pastor, Dr. Russell H. Conwell, author of the book, "Acres of Diamonds".
This is a true story, which goes to show WHAT GOD CAN DO
WITH 57 CENTS.
AND HE SHALL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE OVER THEE TO KEEP THEE
Brenda Long
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