See all Loving in the Red Zones
Since January of this year, I've struggled with a bothersome skin condition that forced me to stop wearing all makeup. It wasn't a life or death situation (even though I thought I was going to die when I had stitches on my face for one week), but it did worry me. I even wrote about it here a few months ago.
I'm happy to share that my skin has cleared up completely, and I now get more compliments about it "glowing" since I've stopped wearing makeup. Just like I'm not sure where it came from, I'm not sure how it went away...I'm just glad that it's gone.
One important thing I learned during this time was to pay attention to even the smallest details. Every morning and multiple times throughout the day, I found myself looking in the mirror, looking at my right cheek to see if the inflammation had supernaturally disappeared. Whenever, I saw the smallest bump or blemish, I immediately applied the prescribed creams and prayed fervently that God would completely restore my face. God answered my prayers!
Being an English professor and journalist, I think I'm more inclined to notice even the smallest details. I remembered seeing small, odd-looking bumps on my right cheek in the middle of January. However, I didn't do anything about them until they'd gotten larger and spread to a larger area. All I can think now is how much money I could have saved in medical bills and prescriptions had I done something earlier. This ordeal has taught me it's not enough to notice the details, but you also have to know what to do with them.
Matthew 10:29-31 shows that God is concerned about even the smallest details and so should we: "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
This year's conference was a great success because of following people who participated by speaking, donating, or simply helping me pay greater attention to the smallest details. I'd like to thank the following for their gracious support: Essence's best selling authors Michael Lockwood, Vanessa Miller, Michelle Stimpson, Literary Agent Sha-Shana Crichton, and Vickie Goble. I'd also like to thank the Christian Chapel Temple of Faith CME church family and Pastor Jerome E. McNeil, The Writer Magazine, Dallas Black.com, Art and Seek.com, CityBlack.com, Shane Hefner and the Black Business Directory, The Dallas Weekly, Cheryl Roseborough, Yvonne Smith, Alice Sykes, Ruby Mays, Alice Phifer, Donna Allen, Warren Brooks, Tarrant County College, The Writer's Block and Lisa-Lin Burke.
Shewanda Riley is the founder of the Do the Write Thing and the author of the Essence best-seller "Love Hangover: Moving from Pain to Purpose after a Relationship ends." She can be reached at lovehangover@juno.com , at www.shewandariley.com or www.anointedauthorsontour.com
Shewanda Riley is the author of the Essence best-seller "Love Hangover: Moving From Pain to Purpose after a Relationship ends." She can be reached at lovehangover@juno.com, at www.shewandariley.com or www.anointedauthorsontour.com
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