Vendor Writing

What NOT To Do When You're Expecting

BY NORMA B.

Most if not all women remember when they found out they were pregnant with their first child. I’m no different, but like so many aspects of my life, mine was well, different. For starters, I’d been told for as long as I could remember that due to my disability I’d probably never have children. Obviously they were wrong! I have two. One girl and one boy.

Not wanting to take any chances, I took all the usual precautions, but it turns out that birth control pills can be rendered ineffective by antibiotics. Who knew? Not me.

Ironically my mother-in-law figured out I was pregnant before I did! How? She caught me mixing peanut butter and chocolate syrup in a bowl for a midnight snack. In my mind, I thought what’s wrong with that? Hasn’t anyone heard of a Reese’s peanut butter cup? Then, there was the time I ate an entire pound of bacon. Again, I didn’t understand why that was such a big deal — I was hungry and I like bacon! Perhaps most convincing of all was when I could no longer drink coffee, and I do love my coffee!

Even with all this “evidence” piling up, I still was not convinced. So what did finally change my mind? Would you believe it was getting shot at?

You see, our neighbor Harold was doing my husband and me a favor by cutting down dead trees on the family’s property when Uncle Jack stopped by for a visit. He’d clearly had plenty to drink before he got there and went ballistic because Harold was cutting down trees on our side of the property line and began shooting his .22 caliber pistol aimlessly at anything that moved.

As we crouched down for cover, I was understandably hysterical, and my husband was trying to reassure me that everything was going to be OK. I began to cry and I told him, “No it’ll never be alright again, because I’m pregnant!”

Shocked, he said, “Why would you say that now?” (Remember, I’d spent a considerable amount of time denying it to his mom.)

I told him, “If I am ever going to start my period it would be now and it’s not happening!”

After all the excitement was over, I began to have stomach cramps, so we went to the ER where it was determined I was 11 weeks pregnant! I got to hear a heartbeat and everything!

What was my mother-in-law’s reaction when she’d heard about all the commotion her brother had caused? After making sure we were alright physically, she asked, “How far along is she?”

I have to give credit where credit’s due —she was wise beyond her years!

I guess sometimes the truth really is stranger than fiction. I mean you really can’t make this stuff up!

No place in his Kingdom

BY JOHN H.

You know, everytime I think about this subject I laugh. I look at people everyday who has this heart of hate (racism-prejudice) white and black, and I wonder what could they possibly know that I don’t, about getting into God’s Kingdom when they die. Do they think they can buy their way?

Many Americans spend 12 to 20 years in school, from first grade to degree. But what I don’t understand is, some of God's Word he wanted us to think about it, but some of it was very simple, even a second grader could understand if they were told. I mean do you seriously believe when you go to that throne of Grace for judgement that God’s gonna turn that hatred you’ve carried in your heart all your life, to Love. Are you out of your mind? Get off that high horse people, “Hell Ain’t No Joke.” Then we lead the children too! My advice is, get into your closet, and barricade yourself in and pray without ceasing. Take a flashlight and Bible.

The Bible says love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and to love thy neighbor as theyself. These were the most important commandments that he commanded of us. Somehow we Americans think that God don’t see the bad things they do everyday or the power they may have on earth will work at the Throne of Judgement. Please! Please! Don’t be mistaken, Love while you can. I love Yall! Cause “Love” is the Key.