The story of Dreamgirls is more than music. It’s more than show business. It’s more than lights and sequined dresses. It is about life and hearbreak it’s about finding yourself. And believing in what you bring to the table as well as what you deserve. The word deserve always sparks interesting thoughts for me. Because if we are honest as a believer, we have to know that things that we have said, done, and thought deserve to be punished. We are not worthy of God’s grace and forgiveness. But because His love is so deep, so wide, and so strong, He takes pleasure in doing good things for us. He never sees us for our shortcomings, but He sees us through the lense of love. He sees us through the lense of the ultimate sacrifice, which is Christ crucified. He sees us cleansed in blood. We can circle the bend 100 times. We can fall down 500 times and God still loves us just as much. He still has grand plans for us. He still wants us to prosper and be in health.
Because I’m a preacher’s kid and because my spiritual dad is a preacher (and my mentor) I can literally carve a sermon out of anything. The lesson that Effie White, Deena, Laurel, Michelle, Jimmy Early and Curtis Taylor, Jr. teach me is dreams are only a part of this work. Sacrifice goes into making a dreams come true, but I have the power to choose whose dream I will be a part of. I will not be forced into the background because of some ideal that some person has about what looks good. I won’t be governed by what will be acceptable to a certain group or society at large.
I also understand that my greatest successes will not be achieved alone. In order to have major wins and consistent wins I need support. I need someone to run ideas by; I need someone who will cheer me on; I need someone who will say, “Have you considered making this tweak or change?” But most of all I have to stand on what God told me. I also have to be discerning of others motives. I have to be steadfast so that no one can dampen my passion. No one can knock me off course from what I know my promise and purpose are. I have to remain consistent and passionate. With that I can find a way to forgive myself for bad decisions, bad connections, or even for staying in one place too long.
So I remain as committed today as wver that I will no longer continue to sit at tables that are no longer serving me. I can extend grace to myself and also forgive others who have wronged me. I can be compassionate to those who have overlooked me with misjudgement. I can be healed and free of those who have flat out betrayed me. Whether it was for their own amusement or to further their own agenda. I can forgive not hold any darkness in my heart toward them. And I can grow.
I thank God I’m not the same. I’m growing. I’m changing. I’m dreaming. And most of all I’m grateful. All praise be to God Almighty.
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