TABLE
OF
LIFE PRINCIPALS PG. 16
CONTENTS 1. EDITORIAL 2. LIFE PRINCIPALS 3. HEART OF GRANDMA 4. HEART OF GRANDPA 5. MY PAPA 6. MY MAMA 7. EXTENDED FAMILY
M Y PAPA PG. 20
HEART OF GRANDMA PG. 18
AUNTI E & UNCLE LOVE PG. 26
"IT'S A FAM ILY AFFAIR" This month's theme is "It's a Family Affair ", and you better believe it! Here at Mecca, as well as through our sister and brother publications, we celebrate family, and especially The Black Family! This month's stories have been curated from a plethora of our in-house writings. Whether your an avid Mecca reader or Black Family Magazine reader, this month we have chosen to glean from some our best features and present you with everything you need to know about your family. Now while it is absolutely impossible to give you specific details and information as it pertains to your household or immediate family, we are able to give you Biblical References as far as what it means to be say a "Godly Father " or a "Godly Mother " as each member of the family was created to play an intended role. Each section will enlighten you, inspire you, and educate you on the very specific way that family members should engage not only with each other, but also in their specific role. If the family is truly practicing Biblical/Life principals, they should provide support, help, stabilization, and shape your life accordingly, certainly not the opposite. The first institution established by God was Marriage, the second was the Family. So we honor, pay tribune to, and celebrate each of the divine and unique roles that each family member brings to the table, and this circle called life.
StephanieMaxwell- Robles Publisher/Editor- in Chief Content and Creative Director
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LIFE PRINCIPALS LIFE IS A GAME YOU KNOW YOU TAKE LEFT, YOU TAKE RIGHT ALWAYS FOR SHOW BUT ONE THING I DO KNOW IS THAT GOD SITS HIGH ON THE THRONE DON'T TAKE HIM FOR GRANTED LESS YOU'LL NEVER KNOW SHOW HIM WISDOM, GRACE, AND A FINE MIND I'LL SHOW YOU A REWARD THAT IS ALWAYS RIGHT ON TIME © 2019 By S. L. Maxwell-Robles
H EART OF
Courtesy of Black Family Magazine
GRANDMA By St eph an ie L. M axw ell-Robles Grandmother's provide a unique perspective on life. Since the beginning of time, they have been the voice, ears, and eyes of a nation...
Grandmot her's are a rare jewel in deed! Be t hey Mat ernal (your mot her's mot her), Pat ernal (your fat hers mot her), Adopt ed (no act ual relat ion), or Spirit ual (Godly t ie), t hey all have been divinely placed, and wit hout hesit at ion nurt ure and care for everyone in t he family, and beyond! Grandmot hers are such a great asset s. Their et ernal wisdom and broadly-ranging knowledge are of great value and have great impact on our lives in such a glorious and marvelous way. In fact , grandmot hers maint ain a very specific role not only in t he family, but also as indicat ed in t he Bible. Here is what Script ure says about her: "The elderswhich are among you I exhort, whom also an elder and a witnessof the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which isamong you, taking oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind. Neither as being Lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." 1 Peter 5:1-4 Grandmot her's render prot ect ion, love, warmt h, great st ories and t hey are t he keepers of t he family hist ory! Black grandmot hers have been t hrough and seen a lot , and have wit hst ood t he t est of t ime. A grandmot her's love is like a fine wine, it never goes bad, in fact , it just get s bet t er wit h t ime.
A grandmot hers solidarit y and post ure always reassures us t hat even in t he worst of t imes "t his t oo shall pass", and soon all "will get bet t er". She is resilient , one-of-a-kind, unique and has a plet hora of wisdom. A grandmot hers heart is so big and wide and t hat she even t akes care of children t hat are not her own. A grandmot hers divine knowledge, wisdom and inst ruct ion can, and does, uniquely alt er ones course on life. She's always making a profound impact ! She is a scholar, a lover, a believer, and rejoice in t he t rut h. A grandmot her is kind, willing t o help and always uses her life experience t o guide and direct her children, grandchildren and family. She is a driver of pat ience, wholesomeness, humilit y, and can cause even t he hardest of heart s t o melt . Her wisdom allows for everyone she comes in cont act wit h t o be blessed. She is happy, loving, well-informed, non-worrying, t rust 's and believes in t he Lord, and is diligent . Black grandmot hers at t imes can be t ough, and she doesn't t ake any st uff! She want s t he best for you and expect s you t o want t he best for yourself also. Grandmot hers rule over all, along wit h grandpa. They are t he t wo divinely, elderly appoint ed heads and t he mat riarchs/pat riarchs of t he family. W het her you have a MaDear, Big Mama, Nana or Paw-Paw honor and respect t hem for t heir wisdom and t he unique cont ribut ions t hey make t owards your life, exist ence, and t he overall family. Respect , Love, and Prot ect a Black Grandmot her t oday!
" Wisdom Tau gh t ..."
H EART OF GRANDPA By St eph an ie L. M axw ell-Robles "Paw-paw", Dad, Pop, Baba Karimi...we love our grandfat hers! Grandfat her's, just like grandmot her's have a unique perspect ive! They oft en share wit h us t he realness of life, and at t imes, humorously and non-sugarcoat ed! Their unique t ake on life and how t o arrive at family solut ions has been inst rument al. They have been t he gat ekeepers and t hat solidifying component in t he rearing of children/grandchildren, as well as t he voice t o "get st raight " any male presence want ing t o co-exist or ent er in wit h t he family, be it boyfriend, fiancĂŠe, or even current husband. Grandpa's are fun! They are prot ect ors and nurt urer's t oo, and by t he t ime t he grandchildren have come, like grandma's, due t o living life, and t hen living just a lit t le bit more, t hey oft en become t hat which everyone needs and at t he right t ime. Grandfat her's somet imes can be t he family Pat riarch ruling t heir "dynast y" it seems like wit h an iron-clad fist , but t he t rut h of t he mat t er is t hat we need, like grandmot hers, t heir st rengt h, guidance, humilit y, wisdom, and know-how. Was your grandfat her a "jack of all t rades", liked t o "t inker" or could fix or build anyt hing? Was your answer yes t o t hat quest ion?...We love our grandpa's! Most grandfat hers are known t o pass out
candy, give you a lit t le spending change or make sure you have your favorit e t hings or food t o eat . Black grandfat her's, just like Black grandmot her's have weat hered t he st orm. They have had t o wit ness and go t hrough t hings t hat no human being should ever eart hly have t o wit ness. However, because of t he fact t hat we are a Christ ian publicat ion, we are able t o put t he many t ragic occurrences t hat African-Americans have gone t hrough in proper perspect ive. Meaning, if God brought you t o it , he had a meaning and purpose for it all. And what God brings you t o, he will cert ainly bring you t hrough. Thank God t his publicat ion also knows t he power of prayer, and t hat God hears and answers our prayers. Grandfat her's have had t o endure and suffer much. If it wasn't for t he Lord, where would t hey be? If I had a grandfat her alive, I would ask him t o t ell me how many t imes, living during t he harsh sit uat ions in which t hey did, did God save t hem and t hey knew it ? I would ask how did God help you navigat e t he racist wat ers of t he Unit ed St at es and st ill survive it ? We have t o solut e our grandfat her's for being t he t ough guys t hat t hey were, and in a t ime when everyt hing was scrut inized and wat ched and t hey had t o wat ch t heir sons die in t he st reet s and t heir women being
"L esson's Learned..." raped by whit e men. And don't t hink t hey just sat back and t ook it . They st ood up, t hey fought back, went t o war, and at t imes were even forced t o fight for t he same count ry who killed t hem, and denied t hem equal right s, equal access, and equal opport unit ies. They endured a t ough and crucial t ime in t his count ry and it 's t ime t hat t he Devil give it back, all t hat he st ole! "For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possessthe double; everlasting joy shall be unto them." Isaiah 61:7 (KJV) Love, support , honor, cherish and respect your Black grandfat her t oday!
Courtesy of Black Family Magazine
" M Y PA PA ..."
BLA CK FA THER'S M A TTER.
By St eph an ie M axw ell-Robles Father's matter! Black Fat hers matter!! In fact, the entire Family matters...and they always have!!! What I love about God is that he is a God of #1: "Decency and order" (1 Corinthians 14:40 KJV) and #2: He is a provider of implicit, clear and specific instructions! No single person, place or entity can provide as concise, and painstakingly, right down to the most minute drop directions quite like the Lord! With that said, lets discuss a bit of human, as well as Biblical history. The very first institution established by God was Marriage, hence Adam and Eve. The very second was the Family. If you read and study your Bible, there are many examples all throughout the text that clearly express the importance of family, as well as the expectation and role each member will play. FACT: It is imperative that you have an established relationship with both God, your Creator, and Jesus Christ, your Savior. Nevertheless, it is equally important that you know not only who you are, but again, whose you are. Having a relationship, as well as knowledge of God, Jesus Christ and his Biblical instruction, knowledge and direction for your life is paramount! The Bible describes you, your human existence, and the very essence of your life, being, and soul. And ultimately, it provides for you information on how to fulfill God's purpose for your life and your destiny, as well as that of your family. "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge" Hosea 4:6 (KJV) For the record, I'd be kidding myself, as well as you the reader, if I wrote to you in any manner
less than befitting of not only what my and your heavenly Father would expect me to do, but also in a manner that waters down and negates from the real world's truth's, facts, and issues as we know it. God created you, the father/husband, to be the head of your household and family. "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Savior of the body" Ephesians 5:23 (KJV). Fathers/husbands, you have been given a great responsibility! A great charge! A great leadership role, one comparable to Christ's appointment over the church! You have been given the task to do tremendous, dynamic, awesome and amazing things not only in life, but also through and with, your wife and family! Despite all of life's ups and downs, challenges, trials and tribulations, it is you, the father, who protects, provides, loves, and nurtures. It is you, the father, who possess the long, strong arms to wrap around and keep his family structured, safe, warm, and away from hurt, danger or harm. As the head of your family, you will set the prime example for what is a good father, and good husband and a good leader. And remember, a role that is equatable to Christ's governing over the church means that you conduct yourself in a manner that also reflects that fact! Meaning, Christ would not abuse, leave, hurt, harm , overpower, misrepresent or destroy his church or family. Now, I must also take this opportunity to get to the real root of the matter. According to
scripture, if you are a father, you should also be a Husband, and be that husband first! Yes, that's right, God designed the family in a way for a father to be a husband, first! Here are a few scripture references that cooborate this Godly expectation and commandment: 1. "Flee fornication" 1 Corinthians 6:18 (KJV) 2. "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints" Ephesians 5:3 (KJV) 3. "Marriage ishonorable in all, and the bed undefiled. Hebrews 13:4 (KJV) 4. "Therefore, shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto hiswife and they shall be one flesh" Genesis 2:24 5. "Wherefore, they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder" Matthew 19: 16 (KJV) 6. "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb ishis reward" Psalms 127:3 (KJV) The first step towards becoming a good father is getting married! Marriage is a holy union and ordained by God and was set forth first, before the children and family came. We will continue this discussion in the next issue.
" M Y M A M A " ...
By St eph an ie M axw ell-Robles Nothing like a Black mother's love! From a United States point of view, and throughout the world, we have been the steady and consistent "backbone" of our families! Like our male counterpart's, we have had to love, and at times, take care of everyone else before we could take care of ourselves. We have a unique story in this country as we were and still are the only group of people who were taken, raped, robbed, and pillaged and forced to do manual labor to feed the insatiable monetary appetite for those who established America's capitalistic system. It was money or economics that drove the former slave masters to do the things in which they did. Black women however have always upheld a standard, even in the midst of the battle. God would always praise them, and cover them. They have broken strongholds and torn down generational curses. They have accomplished the unaccomplishable in a world who has constantly tried to remind them, and the Black man, of a myth or belief of them being inferior because of the color of our skin which was, and still is, a lie.
THE OTHER HA LF OF YOU.
Black mother's have been given the ability to hold on in the darkest of hours with a belief in Jesus Christ to rebuke it all, including the enemy. They have chosen the high road, one less traveled, and have tried to continue the legacy that which God have established for them. It was God who sustained them in the shallowest of times. Our women have suffered. but yet through it all, we have come
out on top and victorious through Christ Jesus. He, our Savior, is the only one who can right the wrongs of American society and redeem the harsh reality we have had to endure through life. "No weapon that is formed against thee shall proper and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me" Isaiah 54:17 (KJV). You are a "Champion among Champion's!" It does not get any better than you. You, just like the Black man, have been vilified, demonized, and criticized yet all of your natural attributes - the world desires. Your speed, intellect, endurance, natural beauty, swag, lips, hair, butt and yes skin color!
Only those who are whole-heartedly practicing these principals are truly successful in the natural and the spiritual realm and in this magazine, yes, we will say the Biblical and Godly truth of all matters. Just as with the Black father, God ordained Marriage for you too mama. Not only was it the first institution established by God, but also serves as a gateway to motherhood. Yes life happens, but you were never created to do the job of parenthood alone.
Mother's, you have a very special role indeed as it is to support, uplift, and take care of your children, your household, and your husband and not necessarily in that order. Marriage is honorable among men and women and it is what You have loved your children and God requires to engage in sexual others, so much so that it is built intercourse; the very act that in your DNA. You are forever a produces children . mom and the caretaker. You have faced insurmountable odds. In recent times, just as with Black If you are not married and you are father's, due to racism, sexism, having children, you are wrong! and societal injustice and woes. Mistakes will happen, maybe As a result, there has been a build once or even twice, but God up and one that has people ready expects for you to be married, no exceptions! There is a certain completely implode! maturity that comes along with being married. In the union, God But my God, and your's, says not develops your character, your today. We salute you today Black wisdom, your morals, your values, mama, and this section is for you. and further prepares as a lifetime Just as with the Black father, mate, and to become a mother. everyone, not only in your family, but Christ's family, has a role. As a people, and especially as It develops who you are as a Christian's, there is a cultural person and allows God to work uniform, as well as Biblical on those things necessary in your mandate to teach, love, uphold, life to continue to make you a uplift and support one another. good wife and good mother. See: Mat t hew 22:39, Tit us 2:3-5, Proverbs 27:17, and 1 Pet er We will continue this discussion 5:1-5 in the next issue. In the meantime, Read Proverbs 31.
By St eph an ie L. M axw ell-Robles
A U N T IE & U N C LE LO VE ...
They are the BOMB! Auntie's and Uncles are the BEST! They make you laugh, cry and testify. They are your go -to mom's and dad's when the real one's aren't on top of their game or simply unavailable. And even if the real one's are available, they don't honor, respect, support, and "get you" like your aunt or uncle do, right??? At least in our mind. And then some of them are your mom's and dad's go to PEEPS!! Either way, a cool aunt or a cool uncle can be and are, so fulfilling to a child's life. They impart in you the "necessary", the "viva la dolce", or that "sweet life" that ultimately will give you an edge you never could have received just kicking it with mom and or dad.
Now, this is not to throw shade at your mom or dad. In fact, we each have the parents we have in our lives for a specific reason, if not just for conception purposes only. However, nevertheless, they are still our parents for
"And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply." Genesis 1:28 (KJV)
the better or for the worse. And God is so good that even they will at some point, impart into you something that you also will need at some point in your life. God allowed you to have the parents that you had so that at the appointed or right time, you would be able to take and use from them what you needed to learn or what what they genetically transferred over to you.
parents, and super bomb relatives too. The apple clearly does not fall far from the tree! However, in reality, the fact of the matter is that auntie's and uncle's are usually the extended "fun parent" who allow you to somewhat let your hair down and be who you were meant to be, and they sometimes play a major role in establishing the person you became or will become.
This "inheritance" from your parents becomes either a recognized or unrecognized trait that uniquely belongs to them, and now you. However, the shaping, molding, imparting, and learning that comes from an aunt or uncle is in a unique class by itself.
Family is so important to God. Whether you have actual blood ties, spiritual ties, or simply human ties, God values family, how we treat one another, and so should you.
In actuality, you could have super bomb
Here are a few key scripture references to remember when thinking about family, God's or your own:
"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and isworse than an infidel." 1 Timot hy 5:8 (KJV) "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there isneither bond nor free, there isneither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Galat ians 3:28 (KJV) "Behold, how good and how pleasant it isfor brethren to dwell together in unity" Psalms 133:1 "Though shalt love thy neighbor asthyself" Mat t hew 22:39 (KJV)
EXTENDED FAM I LY
By S. L. M axw ell-Robles "While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, 'Who is my mother? And who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister and mother." Mat t hew 12:46-50 (KJV) Have you ever t hought what it would feel like if you had no one in your life? Albeit , what if you had no mot her, brot her or sist er? Well in Gods family, you always have a mot her, brot her or sist er. Take
heed of t hat informat ion because one day you may find yourself in a sit uat ion and t here is no one else t o fend for you. Take for example t he st ory of t he Good Samarit an, he chose t o go in a way t hat he was not t o sure of, along t he way, he was at t acked and jumped. A Good Samarit an came along and saved his life. Somet imes, we have t o rely on t he help and wisdom of t he Lord. He is our comfort er and provider. He t akes care of us like no one can. He provides our Ext ended Family. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths" Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV) There is always family, in God's family.
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