peace

Equal Sight & Value

/ Toni Williams / 1 Comment

Every year during the month of January, schools everywhere shift their social studies and history lessons to include that of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Before COVID, there were special school-wide assemblies and songs and even speech contests for children to proclaim the famous words, “Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, I’m free at last!”

Because we all know that Rev. King was a minister and Bible scholar, it should be no surprise to us that a lot of his thoughts and actions are based on Biblical principles. From non-violence to pursuing peace to seeking knowledge and wisdom, it’s safe to say that this man knew Scripture.

And he knew it well. Continue reading →

Let’s Talk About the Ugly Cry

/ Toni Williams / Leave a comment

This post is part of series this summer dedicated to my friend Chrystal’s new book, She’s Still There. The book’s official release date is August 8, and as a member of the book’s Rescue Team, I will be posting nuggets of wisdom related to it throughout the summer. This post is all about the last time I did the ugly cry, which was not too long ago. To find out more about Chrystal or her new book, visit her website here. #shesstillthere

I’m learning to own my story and have the courage to speak up. Even if my voice shakes, His power is made perfect in my weakness. Even when I didn’t think I was ready to talk about something, I’m here to tell you all about it. And y’all, it’s ugly and raw, and while I knew I was going to write about it eventually, I didn’t know that was going to be this weekend. Here. We. Go. Continue reading →

The Difference of Six Months: We May Try to Sprint But Our God is Steady

/ Toni Williams / 3 Comments

I am pleased to participate in Five Minute Friday, a community of writers who, at the release of one prompt, write and publish a blog post about that prompt. And the catch for the writers is this, we can only write for five minutes. It takes planning, it’s takes diligence, and it takes mad editing skills.      This week’s prompt is steady.

Six months ago my life was drastically different than it is now. Six months ago, out of a reverence for tradition and holiday celebrations, I was in the midst of doing what everyone does – I made a list of resolutions (or goals, if you prefer that term). I deeply looked at my life and I was scared as I faced the uncertainty of what was to come. All I knew then, was one thing: 2016 was an awful year, and it would take nothing short of a miracle to make me to make it through 2017.

And from that moment forward, I began the fight for change, for peace, for joy, and for love. I wish I could say that journey was quick and by February 1, 2017 I was completely healed. But friends, I’m hear to tell you, slow and steady wins the race.
Continue reading →

Ideas For Honoring Martin Luther King This Week and Next

/ Toni Williams / Leave a comment

keep-dreaming

For as long as I can remember, Martin Luther King Day has been celebrated as a day on, not a day off. As a young child, my parents would take the opportunity to teach me historical information that I may not have learned in school. In high school, classmates and I honored the day by having open and meaningful discussions about race relations in America. Since I became a mom, I’ve done a bit of both, and included travelling to the 2012 Presidential Inauguration and delivering for Meals on Wheels with my family.  Continue reading →

Teachable Moments and Finding Peace

/ Toni Williams / Leave a comment

Yesterday one of the older two kids’ favorite teacher announced she was leaving our school and going to another school district. She sent the email to all of the families that she taught. It was a nice email. I was touched. I even replied to the teacher wishing luck and thanking her for the impact she had on our family.

Unfortunately, not all the parents felt the way I did. Well one in particular replied to all and said some pretty negative things.

And this my friends is a teachable moment for the tweens. Yep. So I practiced my whole speech on the way home from work. We needed to talk about the “reply to all” feature of email communication. We needed to talk about using proper grammar in email. We needed to talk about how you respond when you know there was no ill-intent on the part of the original email sender.

So we started talking. And I though they got it. One of them said, “So what you’re saying is, people sound really crazy when they talk ghetto over email and we shouldn’t do that?” Ummm. Ok. Even though I despise the use of the term ghetto the way she said it,  I made a choice to stay focused on the email and address “ghetto talk” later.

A ghetto is a place, not a dialogue.

Sorry, I digressed. Until overnight there were more emails slandering the teacher, the school, the District. And then finally at 3:00 a.m. the last email said, “I’m at peace with it all.”

Are you really at peace if you had to send an email at 3:00 a.m. announcing it?

Probably not. So today’s teachable moment will be about truly finding peace when you need to get over something. Somehow I think this lesson will take longer than a day. Any thoughts?