A Celebration of a Life------Remembering Whitney Houston
~My Thoughts for the Day~
First; I would like to say, in these past few days, I've been busy with schedules, meetings, appointments--- deadlines
and haven't had the opportunity to post as much as I would like.
there has been much stress I've had to deal with concerning some issues that involve both my mama as well as my older brother.
It would seem in the former small hometown where I grew up; there is much corruption taking place there. When 2 of my family members are being targeted.----- Certainly from a spiritual viewpoint, it is an attack orchestrated from the adversary......With Faith and Prayer, I am given the strength I need and these past months, I have requested prayer and continue to do so on behalf of my mother and brother. Though with these issues, I haven't a great deal of time to make blog posts.
I'm not sure why, my mother and brother are being so mistreated....my mother is a genteel lady and my brother has always been my hero, he still is----Yet, both my he and my brother are being falsely accused and are in the middle of separate legal battles......and still I believe there are those in "smalltown" USA whom wish they could be the person that my brother is.....it never ceases to amaze me the jealousy, envy and malice of some. My mother's battle is involving foreclosure and the sale of her home and property from a Bad mortgage company that many are facing in this country. We are doing all we possibly can to try to save and retain our mother's home. Needless to say it has been an extremely difficult time and a time of which if it werre not for my Faith, I simply could not endure. My request for those whom do pray and have a personal relationship with The Lord, please remember my mother and brother in Your prayers..
People need God in they're lives and instead of persecuting innocent people., they need to go after those who are creating the "real" harm. Those whom attack children, molesting them, abducting and murdering them. The officials need to use and appropriately manage the tax payers dollars wisely., and funding should be invested and go toward putting they're time and energy into
apprehending the "Real" Criminals instead of seeking to destroy the lives of elderly genteel ladies and they're adult son and or other adult children whom are simply standing by and honoring they're parents as is one of the commandments in the Holy Bible.. those same Ten Commandments that not more than a few years ago were arguably debated over, when the Right was Challenged to Keep the Ten Commandments on display in my former hometown.
I recall the townspeople and those in public service conducting business from the courthouse, took a stand and fought to keep the Plaque containing God's Ten Commandments hanging inside the lobby of that same courthouse--------My experiences when living in the city when you are born and raised in rural small town America, can be difficult at its very best. --------Being far-removed from the big city and its issues with drugs, murders, crime, gangs, abuse of power and authority.......And yet, it would seem Big City, corruption has infiltrated the very heartbeat of quaint small country towns across this entire nation and sadly has found its way into my former hometown.
What is so wrong with this country; this nation, has its people forgotten what Love means?. For it seems there isn't any respect any more....Prayer taken out of the schools, was simply the beginning of a nation in crisis., there is not any respect for the Family as a unit any longer.....Family values are neither appreciated or respected any longer....I must ask; People of this Nation have we forgotten God!!? The Bible warns those who forget Him., however this is for another post. I simply wished to explain why I had not made a recent post in a few weeks.
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For these few moments that I do have to spare at this late hour, I thought I would share my thoughts on the passing of Whitney Houston.The sadness I feel at her passing....... Like many; I watched the viewing, the "Going Home Celebration" that was available to the fans around the world, I watched the service in its entirety via CNN. It was inspirational, touching, encouraging and at times heartbreaking.
The encouragement came from those singing, CeCe and BeBe Winans, and they're Brother Reverend Marvin Winans offered words of comfort to Whitney Houston's family. Faith and Hope demonstrated through the words of Tyler Perry were awesome and that of Bishop TD Jakes and R. Kelly, Kim Burrell. Clive Davis; certainly a man who clearly loved and respected his Protege' Dionne Warwick's powerfully moving recitation of "Don't Grieve for me" It was truly a service that will be remembered.
There has been so much coverage from the nearly 4 hr service to past media coverage, from several years ago and the latest media and the videos ,photographs. I'm sure there will be much more to come., both good and bad.
Earlier I heard a spokesperson from Entertainment Tonight state that Whitney Houston, is possibly worth more dead than alive. And that she would be remembered for her voice....how so very sad!----When clearly; She was more than a voice..... There have been rumors and more rumors that she was broke., .....wouldn't some in the media love that if that were true!?......how so jaded, cynical ----------
I also watched a Bio of her life on Lifetime Saturday night and the individuals interviewed, were both spiteful, malicious. and extremely scornful, needless to say; I was highly disappointed that Lifetime television would have chose to air something such as the program, it was clearly in very poor taste and certainly in my mind would not represent a Biography to me, more like a Bashing contest back and forth from the individual who claimed a Biography on Whitney Houston and the person involved in music and entertainment, sad indeed!......
CNN reported Sunday ; Whitney was lay to rest beside her dad, during a private ceremony for the family only and the media has already began with so much negativity., "Inquiring Minds" want to know how much is Whitney's daughter going to get.....what was Whitney really worth? Clearly someone who could put a price upon the life of a dear precious loved one, has not suffered loss, for it is great-----
What is wrong with some people!!?....Her family doesn't need to hear all of this from the media........I couldn't believe such a comment, a statement as that. How so callous uncaring, thoughtless., and yet isn't that Show Biz. And I believe it was show biz that took its toll on Whitney Houston.
I think in a lot of ways Whitney Houston was tired of all the exposure, it was evident in one of her interviews as far back as 1992 during the making of "The Bodyguard" in particular with Co-star director; Kevin Costner. I believe she cared about her fans but didn't care for all the media exposure, the prying into her private life the constant extremely critical comments, clearly she must have had some enemies envious of her success.
Personally I thought Whitney was a truly First class lady and too classy for Bobby Brown who Whitney had stated herself in an interview., apparently Brown was envious of her successful music and acting career as well at times his behavior could easily be interpreted as extremely vindictive and vengeful.......I am simply stating my opinion, I hope Brown gets his life together....though still they seemed a mismatched couple, yet it must have been obvious at one time they loved one another and created a beautiful child together----however it wasn't so obvious to the rest of the world....But perhaps this is where we should keep our opinions to ourselves (?)......Nevertheless it seemed she was also involved in other projects, the movie Sparkle and the theatre as well and was ready for a comeback after her absence of several years.
It's the negativity and degradation of her memory I find difficult to hear, when some were saying that her looks were gone, her voice was strained. I didn't see that her looks had went any where!.....Ah, where did they go!? Other than the fact, she was older, yet still too young to leave us as she did.....at 48 years old.....Ah, yes Youth!....Of course she was not going to look as she did when she was 18, 25, 28, 35 ------neither 43 years old. None of us do or will for goodness sake!
I am not in any denial here, I think Whitney was very candid when she discussed and shared with Oprah Winfrey, Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters in separate interviews at different times, regarding issues with alcohol, prescription medication and even a cocaine addiction.
Yet I also believe she was ready to face those issues and it was going to take being strong and a lot of work.--------- At this time until we hear from the media about the toxicology results which will not be back until 2 to 6 weeks. We aren't going to know what caused Whitney's passing, yet media was certainly stretching to have gotten a glimpse and those photographs of her lifeless form in which I thought was morbid and extremely disrespectful for not only Houston's memory but the feelings that of her family and close friends.
My favorite songs that she sang, "I Love the Lord" I Look to You", "All at Once", "The Greatest Love of All" and The Beautiful Legendary Country Music Singer; Dolly Parton's, "I will Always Love You" Speaking of, earlier tonight Twitter was all a'flutter with Tweets from those who thought it unfair that Dolly Parton would profit from Whitney Houston's death due to the obvious sales of Dolly Parton's Song, "I will Always Love You" in which was quite popular, presented and performed equally as beautiful when Dolly Parton sang it in the late 1970's. I'm not even sure why the statement was posed in the first place.....jealousy, envy ....resentment perhaps? When there were those from Black Media Scoop on Twitter and Facebook complaining that Parton would receive all the money while
Whitney Houston's estate would not receive a dime and how they thought Dolly Parton should donate the proceedings from the sales to Whitney Houston's estate or to a charity. How strange is that!? Talk about a guilt-trip..Would they!?....Would they donate money for something they had created from their heart....their life experience?-------and how unfair is such a question as it is anyway!?--------Apparently there must have been some conflict in the past and I did hear at the memorial service in which I thought was not spoken in fairness and should not have been mentioned at all., when someone stated and I paraphrase:
Whitney Houston took a Country song and made it famous....Nevertheless, that "Country song" in reality and legally remains; the song that which was solely penned and written by Dolly Parton and she retained not only the Royalities but the Publishing rights and therefore the profit is rightfully hers as it should be as such, it's as simple as that.
And though Whitney sang some beautiful songs, I don't believe I have heard her producers/ publicists say that she penned, had written any songs, herself. And I would like to believe that she would have been appalled at the mentioning of something such as this in regard to Legendary Icon and rightfully a Diva herself; Dolly Parton....Why should there be such contraversy, when it's evident the song was, is and always will be; Dolly Parton's.
While furthermore., truly it is sad how there are those who attempt to cut-down, degrade........then dissect and malign someone's memory after they have passed. A writer for People Magazine did as such during her interview as well and frankly I will not be buying any more "People's Magazine"
I believe Whitney is at rest, the media need to let it go and stop the degradation of her memory...instead be thankful
God gave her to the world for a while, sharing her special Gift with us...celebrate her life, her "Going Home" and not attempt to dehumanize it.....viciously picking apart her character.....instead of dwelling on one's shortcomings, the failings........ failings. and we've all got them.....we all Fall short of God's Glory every day....instead, why not concentrate on a person's goodness.....their Uniqueness, their contribution....... their beauty, their spirit.........how blessed we are as a nation to have been a part of something beautiful wonderful--------this should also be something that we can all learn from as well.......hopefully-------there is human weaknesses in all of us......
But we have a Heavenly Father to help strengthen us when we stumble, too. He is there Waiting.....waiting with arms outstretched open wide, inviting us to partake of His everlasting Love of His Salvation....Why not open up our hearts to receive Him.......As One minister stated plainly, why put it off until tomorrow?-----What if our tomorrow beings today?........ I for one believe that Whitney Houston was a child of God in spite of any shortcomings and I believe she was received into His Love......as the strains from that old Hank Williams song, comes to mind....."Unless you've made no mistakes in you're life, be careful of the stones that you throw"
Rest in God's Love, Whitney Houston.........
Until next time, Blessings~
