Program Success Christian Reader September 2007 | Page 11

The Christian Reader September 2007 11
HONORING OUR DAUGHTERS
By Juanita L. Simmons
Jacksonville, Florida
“It all started as a Tea Party.” With the negative image that’s happening
in the world today and the need to provide inspiration to young girls at
an early age, an
idea was born to
honor daughters in
a special way. So
on Sunday, July
29, 2007, Juanita
L. Simmons and
Anntoinette
L.
Jones presented
“Honoring
Our
Daughters” to the
African–American
community. This
memorable event
honored fourteen
girls ranging in
ages 3 to 10.
Simmons said this
event began as a
tea party for six of
her
nieces.
However, she was
lead to celebrate
the love and joy of
a daughter instead
of the traditional
tea party. As the
word spread, other
family members
and friends were
invited
to
participate.
However,
says
Jones “we didn’t want to do it, but the number of girls was increasing
so fast we had to say no to other mothers who wanted to include their
daughters.”
Each mother wrote a poem expressing the love and joy her daughter
brings to the family. The mother also used the Holy Bible to provide
her with a scripture for her spiritual growth and development.
The girls dressed in formal white or pastel colored dresses, entered the
elaborately decorated room on a red-carpeted walkway, lined with
pink rose petals as the song “You are so beautiful” played as
background music. Each little girl introduced herself, reciting a
statement specifically written for her, with the phrase “I am a precious
jewel” included.
Vonda Jordan and her daughter Margaret Ja’Nice presided over the
program. William Lavant III, sang a “Song of Dedication” and a
“Dance of Love” was performed by mother and daughter; Ruth Taylor
and Roshonda Cooper. Each mother escorted her daughter to the
center of the room as Rosalind Lavant and Anita Buie-Walton narrated
the poem and scripture written specifically for the girl.
The program also included “A Prayer for My Mommy”, narrated by
Tavia Simmons who traveled from Atlanta, Georgia to be with
Simmons, who
is her mother.
S i m m o n s
closed
the
program with
“A Prayer for
My Daughter”
and
the
audience sang,
“There’s
a
Sweet, Sweet
Spirit in This
Place”. Each
Mother
and
daughter
received
a
framed copy of
both prayers
and
each
daughter
presented
a
long stem red
rose to her
mother. The
girls received a
gift basket and
a memorable
program book.
Following the
program, the
girls
were
honored with a
d i n n e r
especially
prepared for them. They were seated at reserved tables decorated with
white linen, candles, roses and formal place settings. All enjoyed a
colorful cake designed in the form of a teapot.
The Girls and their Parents include: