Article by Dr. Tunishai Ford
BEFORE YOU SAY, "I DO"!
This is Your Time
(Excerpt Chapter from the book, "I Miss the Hugs, But NOT the Hurts")
Well, we have made our mistakes and we have done our apologies. Who do we owe now? How long must we carry the burden of our past mishaps? When do we begin to shut out the people who continue to point the finger and throw the stones? We cannot continue to waddle in the mess. It is time for a second chance, a third chance, a fourth chance. However many chances it takes, it is time. It is your time.
As we travel down that new road let’s begin to keep in mind that we have not been where we are going, and we do not want to revisit where we have been. The time capsule is full and there is only enough room for you in it. Not your friends, not your family, not your pastor, nor old boyfriends; no one but you. This is your journey: a journey of new beginnings, a journey of hop, and a journey full of joy. So, sit back, buckle your seat belt and enjoy the ride.
These are the words I had to start believing and allowing to enter my spirit after my ordeal with my ex-friend (fiancé) Lee. I had to tell myself that now it is
time for ME! After I carried the frustration, headache and guilt around for so long. I knew that continuing to go on like that would be very destructive. It was time to shift gears and regroup. It had to be all about Tunishai, and yes, some people may not understand my newfound conviction, but it did not change the fact that it had to be done.
I had to make a new list of short-term goals that I wanted to accomplish by the end of 1999 and the year of 2000. I started working on improving my prayer life and became determined that His voice was the only voice I would seek for guidance. I did not feel like being mislead anymore by people with oh so good intentions that were leading me straight into the devil’s pit. It was time to start trusting my heart, my spirit and me. I placed too much trust in man and not enough tin God and myself. If you were to ask me what was the lesson learned from this experience, I would have to say to trust the inner voice in me, not to always go with popular opinion, and not to be afraid anymore of being