THE SCOOP WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
February 11, 2024 / Vol. 6 Southside Church of Christ 800 Elmira Avenue Durham, NC 27707 info@sside.org www.sside.org 919.688.3535 STAFF Orlander R. Thomas Senior Minister William A. Stephens Minister Emeritus D’Andrea Fanning Director of Ministry Operations & Non-Profit Candice P. Blount Church Administrator Quentella Williams Executive Assistant DEACONS John Alcox Anthony Green, Sr. Arthur Hackney John Mathis Chester Mayfield, Jr. Roger McDougal Joe Williams Keith Wright
WEEKLY WORD Oww, … Ouch! By RICKI FULLER How many of us can recall a very painful experience (or several painful things) that happened to us in our early lives as children? I, for sure, can recall several – such as falling out the backseat of a moving car onto a paved street [oww!]; crushing a couple of fingers in a closing car door [ouch!]. Once, I had the unmitigated gall to run away from my grandmother so she could not punish me for a wrong I had committed. Well, that was the absolute first and last time I ever ran from her. She did not choose to stop me from running because she knew I had to return at some point. So, later that night while sleeping, I was surprisingly awakened (with my I outdid her attitude LOL). ‘Muh’ proceeded to give me the whipping of my life which served to encourage me to respect her and her instructions from that time forward.
On an even more traumatic note, I was molested by an older man who happened to be a deacon in the same baptist church from where my mother was expelled/ excommunicated due to being impregnated with me at sixteen years old [whew!]. Then, in my twenties, I was in an abusive and violent marriage. … Those are just a few traumatic events in my life. What about you? Instead of childhood experiences, perhaps you can recall what you consider traumatic event(s) during your teen or early adulthood years. Perhaps you were discriminated against in high school, in college, or on a job. Or, maybe you experienced a heart-break from someone you considered a true loved one. Are you one of those people who has been told you are not ‘good enough’ by ‘elitist’ people/groups, or even by fellow church member(s)?
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Whatever it is that you/we consider traumatic/hurtful things/occurrences in our lives, we do not have to live nor wallow in the pain! Psalm 55:22 gives us hope and assurance of how GOD will protect and sustain us: “Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” (New Living Translation. Please note that having been baptized into Christ, you/we are godly – you/ we just have to See it and Be it regardless of how others perceive you/us!)However, if, for any reason, you find it hard to grasp onto the reality and the promise that GOD in triunity as The Father/Son/HolySpirit truly is there for you, please find a Christ-centered person with whom to talk through your issues. Recognizing (as best you can) that you are Enough because GOD made you/us His Image as stated to in Genesis 1:26-27. This is your/our ticket for successfully overcoming trauma. Keep praying to and thanking GOD while giving Him all your cares/burdens/traumas, (and when needed) continue talking with your Christ-counselor emptying/releasing the negative holds. And, recognize/believe that you are Enough and Special to GOD! Turn those ouches into GOD praises/thanks (Psalm50:14-15; Philippians4:6,8)!
“So God created mankind in his own image” -Genesis 1:26
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