Category: Women

Maya Angelo

Leave a comment

Maya Angelou’s life and the seven autobiographies left behind are wonderful evidence that people of all races and backgrounds have told their stories and had the freedom and opportunity to do so here in America. This is the fruit of democracy and excersize of constitutional rights. Maya’s life is evidence of the American experience, she who rose from the very dredges of life; her great grandmother was emancipated from slavery after the civil war and yet over time because of our free, not perfect, but free country Maya at a ripe old age died a successful, wealthy, famous, influential author with a long and extensive career and honored member of society not because of the color of her skin but because of the choices she made in life; she and people like her are the reason everyone wants to come to america. her voice was not only heard and listened to but is used in educational institutions still to this day. This is a true American story the story of the individual rising up like a Phoenix. She received a presidential medal of freedom from president Obama. she was the first poet to make an inaugural address at the inauguration of of JFK. She was a respected spokesperson and political activist. Her life and experiences are not free from hardships and pain, she suffered a great deal. Her very life and history is evidence that no one has a perfect story to tell, that suffering and obstacles descend upon every human being and in many situations build into us purpose strength and character. no family, people group or Individual is spared of affliction in this world unfortunately, it comes to us all in different ways; however as long as we live in a free country we can make choices about how we live and what we do as individuals and we can work hard, rise up and make a difference. Maya Angelo certainly did.

“Nothing will work unless you do.”

Maya Angelo

Temple Grandin

Leave a comment

“I am different not less”

Temple Grandin

April 2 was autism awareness day. Temple Grandin is an autistic woman. She is one of my hero’s, because she used her differences to make a difference in the world,. She recognized the beauty and value in different kind of people, but many people haven’t even heard of temple Grandin. She wrote a fantastic book called ‘thinking in pictures”, there’s also a movie about her life called temple Grandin. Temple graduated high school and college and went on to re-design over half of the cattle processing plants in America so that they would be more humane. She is an amazing woman. Here’s more info from biography.com.

Who Is Temple Grandin? “

Temple Grandin was diagnosed with autism as a child and went on to pursue work in psychology and animal science. She has become a leading advocate for autistic communities and has also written books and provided consultation on the humane treatment of animals. In 2010, HBO released an Emmy Award-winning film on Grandin’s life. “born August 29, 1947 is an American scientist and activist. She is a prominent proponent for the humane treatment of livestock for slaughter and author of more than 60 scientific papers on animal behavior. Grandin is a consultant to the livestock industry, where she offers advice on animal behavior, and is also an autism spokesperson. “The world needs all types of minds. -Temple Grandin

Vincent Van Gogh

Leave a comment
  • Only when I fall do I get up again.”
    – Vincent Van Gogh
  • I am still far from being what I want to be, but with God’s help I shall succeed.”
    – Vincent Van Gogh
  • I’m such a nobody.”
    – Vincent Van Gogh
  • I would rather die of passion than of boredom.”
    – Vincent Van Gogh
  • What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything? ”
    – Vincent Van Gogh
  • I try more and more to be myself, caring relatively little whether people approve or disapprove. ”
    – Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh. An unloved man in his life in every way. No one wanted his paintings , no one wanted his company and no one wanted his perspective on life. You might not know that he studied theology, but was kicked out of church for preaching the Bible too literally, he failed at everything he tried to do, and as far as he knew even his paintings were a failure. He only sold one small painting in his lifetime, because people didn’t like his original and unique style of brushwork, he painted because it was all he could do. He only knew rejection but still he painted, still he gave the world over 800 pieces of artwork, not because they made him rich or because they pleased others. Man was made to work for a purpose and if the only work you can do is paint then paint, if it’s to teach, teach if it’s to be a parent be the best parent you can, if it’s to lead then lead well, if it’s to speak speak truth. Whatever you can do, do it with all your strength regardless if others accept it – because you never know the impact your work will have on the world. We are made with eternity in our hearts and I think there’s something deep inside each of us that knows the work we do on earth will outlast us if we do it with all our heart.

The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore. ”

– Vincent Van Gogh

If you hear a voice within you say “you cannot paint,” then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced. ”

– Vincent Van Gogh

Harriet Tubman

Leave a comment

“Twant me, ‘‘twas the Lord. I always told him, ‘I trust you. I don’t know where to go or what to do, but I expect you to lead me,’ and He always did.” – Harriet TUBMAN

Here stands a woman we all admire. Her strength, resiliency and determination to be free inspires regardless of what divides us. I am fascinated that Harriet with all her setbacks , weaknesses and obstacles rose up to victory; not in the name of herself or feminism or social justice. She rose in the name of God who gave her strength. Americans should look to her , perhaps we should look to how she walked, prayed and believed, perhaps we ought to look to her savior and her faith and find strength for our own journey to freedom. It’s not politics that divide us or color or religion in my opinion, what divides is that we are enslaved by our own self-righteousness , sinful nature and the need to be right. It is the heart of man that needs to be set free above all else. “ God’s time is always near. He set the north star in the heavens; he gave me the strength in my limbs; he meant I should be free.” – Harriet Tubman Harriet cannot be separated in any way from her faith in a loving God without forfeiting her accomplishments and giving up the freedom she gained. It was her desire for freedom working in tandem with her faith in the power of God that broke the chains she was bound by. I want to remember that Harriet struck against the root of slavery with one act of bravery, but there have been many since then; the freedoms we have access to today in this country were first sought by those who trusted in God to free them. we cannot have one without the other. Freedom without God or God without freedom.Dear God raise up a generation of Harriet Tubmans! “I could have freed thousands more, she said, if they had only known they were slaves”