"What makes a man a Man!!!!

I was again talking to a friend and the thought entered my mind, "What makes a man a man". I thought and tried looking up ideas to relate to my subject. But then I thought. I don't need to look for other's thoughts on this matter; I can reminisce based on my childhood and look within to determine "What makes a man a man".

I started thinking about my father. As a child, whenever my father would come home from work, my brothers, sisters  and I would always run to his car to greet him home. It was always an exciting time when came home.

He brought home a sense of stability, security and strength. Even though my mom and dad's marriage did not survive, my dad's presence was  positively felt. {In our early years}.

Moving on ... I was in the 8th grade when my mom and dad separated. That was a very devastating time for me. It was so devastating that my 8th grade math teacher came to visit my mom to tell her my grades were dropping  drastically. Oh, I was an A student in Math in the 8th grade only! :)

My mother explained to Mrs McMath  {my math teacher} that she and my father had just separated  and that could have been the reason, which it was. My teacher cared about me.

Later on I met a teacher who's name is Mr. James Redmond. Mr. Redmond was my Driver's Ed and History teacher. He was also a neighbor. After my dad left us, Mr. Redmond became a father figure to me. He gave a sense of worth, security and a sort of protection when I was around him.

After finishing High School I would visit him often. One day I went back home to Hartsville, S.C. to visit my family and I stopped by to see my old friend, father figure and, teacher Mr. Redmond. I began to explain to him just how important he was to me and how much I needed him in my life back then.

He said and I quote "Edwards, I had no idea of the role I was playing in your life back then, but I am glad to know that I helped you so much, and you have proven my worth to you, by always coming by to visit me each time you come back home".

I don't recall to many other men being in my life that made such an impact, except my instructor at DeVry Institute of Technology, which was Mr. Adolphus Sams,  who always encouraged me by saying "Edwards you will do well in this industry".

I guess Mr. Sams was correct, because the industry I am in, is the industry that I am still in and I guess you can say I was successful.

Now, let's examine what I've just stated concerning "What makes a man a man".

Recapping:

A man gives the people and family around him a sense of Stability

He brings a sense of  Security

He brings a sense of  Strength

He shows that he Cares

He displays Confidence

He Protects

He provides

He makes wise Decisions

He Prays

He has a way of making others feel good about themselves

He has Integrity

He admits when he is Wrong

He is quick to say I'm Sorry

He is patient

He is a Giver ... and don't look for repayment

He is forever learning

He is always a Thinker

He Sacrifices 

These are just a few examples that depicts the attributes of a man.


Listen.....I no longer wonder what you are about to read below,,,, Now I know!!!

Well, what make a man I once wondered. Is it his Origin, when he comes to life? I don't think so!

It is the choices that he makes. ------ It is not how he start things, but how he decides to finish them.

I understand now, that a man becomes a man only when he secures himself with Honesty and Integrity.


I've said this in a previous blog and that is: .... Somehow I believe, that  a man becomes mature, when he no longer allow these two choices to co-exist: and that is to allow The spirit of a boy to over-ride The wisdom of a Man!!!

I am so thankful for the people God allowed to enter my life, from my youth and as an adult.

Remember this..... Age does not constitute being a man. Wisdom dictates that!!!



These are my thoughts ..... I welcome yours!!!!!!!

Happy reading......

Reach For Your Dream .........

"Some of this writing ... I have endured" {Personally}

The reason I chose this picture is because I wanted you to see that dreams can be accomplished, if we would but reach high and dig deep, with a mind that is as determined as a hungry Lion seeking his prey.

I've learned in life that when, it comes to having aspirations and setting goals, disappointment will occur, but the race is not given to the swift nor to the strong, but to the one who endures until the end.

When I view the picture above I think of Medgar Evers and Martin Luther King and so many individuals who fought for and gave their lives for equality. To be treated as human being and not like animals and slaves.

The Bible makes it clear that the poor will always be among us, but God never intended for wealthy men to treat those who are less fortunate as slaves. We all serve someone. We are all servants to someone in this life, but not to the point of being De-humanized by another human being.

The picture above represents two scenarios. The first lets us see just how far America has come.  How?

A young white girl, wearing on her shirt, the picture of a black man, whom she wishes to become President of these United States of America.

For so long racism has separated mankind. Where black men and women had to say "yasser  massa" to these slave owners.

Where blacks picked cotton, cropped tobacco, chunked water melons, picked peaches, cleaned houses, ate the left-over food eaten and left on the plate of massa and his family.

Black men had to endure massa coming into their shacks desiring to be with their wife and daughters. Realizing there was nothing they could do about it.

Where they had to endure watching theirs wife and daughters being Impregnated by slave owners and then having to endure them nursing the children.

And the wives and daughters of these black men having to endure shame and embarrassment  to their husbands and and the daughters shame and embarrassment having to face to their fathers for having babies by these slave owners.

Yes, we as a people have endured an awful lot through the years. Yet God strengthened our ancestors and because of their strength we have survived, by the Help and Grace of God!!!

In life, the highlights we experience teaches us what is possible.

The hard times reinforces the consequences of not being true to our character, of not living up to our own expectations.

I believe we all have a responsibility  to each other. A responsibility to create more than we consume; A responsibility to build things that will out last us; A responsibility to find our own limits and push through them to accomplish even more.

Even when life challenges weigh us down, make us unrecognizable even to ourselves, we can always began again.

There is always time to thrive, As long as we have life, it is not to late to be inspired, It is no to late to change.

We are here to do good quietly; To shine in secret. To give when no one pats us on our backs or praises us.

To give of ourselves to someone, when they can offer nothing in return.

Yes ... There is no match for the Human Spirit!!!

So, reach for your dream ... Why? Because, if  Medgar Evers did not have a dream, if Martin Luther King did have a dream, and the hosts of others not mentioned did not have a dream and reach so high that it cost them their lives, then the change with the young white girl wearing the T-shirt, with the picture of a black man- in the above picture, may not ever have occurred.

And The First Black President may still have been our hopes. But today....this Great day!

• Slaves are now freed

• Blacks and Whites are now eating from the same table

• Ours schools are now integrated

• The First Black President is in Office  .... Where would he be without a dream, hope and without Change!!!

Dare to dream .. Dare to reach for your dream . . . Dare to believe in yourself and in God!!!

Lastly, to dream is good, but to reach and touch your dream is GREATER!!!

Also understand this, hope is a desire accompanied by expectation. Therefore, hope big,  desire strong and maintain high expectations.

These are my thoughts .... I welcome yours!!!


Happy reading...    "YES WE CAN"

Why ......Do .. We .. Lie........ !!!

"What does it mean to lie?," "Are secrets the same as lies?," "Why do people lie?," "What are the consequences?," "Can you lie to yourself?,"

Can one live an ethical life in an ethical world?

We lie at times to save face, that is to make ourselves look good or not guilty.  We lie to shift blame.

Whatever the reason we lie. Sometimes we lie to ourselves, and sometimes we lie for so long until it can feel like the truth.

Maybe we are the person that we con the most. We all do this. We all keep a little bit of ourselves hidden.

Because, it we didn't, then we would have to look at who we really are, and if we didn't like ourselves then we would have no one to blame except ourselves.

So, the question is, does my lie excuse who I am or what I've done.

Listen, if someone is deeply in love with you, then the lie you tell can truly destroy a person's life.The lie you tell can cripple a person's ability to love again. And ..... when that happens, it becomes a terrible thing to take away someones ability to trust and love again.

Especially, when that person have given you all that they have .... Their Heart, body and mind.

Remember, love is one of the most important things that we have. Both to love and to be loved.

Hey look .... Love is Simple, but people are complicated!


I believe that no matter how bad a thing looks or is, the truth is always the best route to go. Especially, when a relationship is at state, when love is about to really be tested.

It is noted that the eyes are the window to the soul. In other words, when you lie, the eyes reveal so much  when looked into by the one who deeply loves you. Because when love is real, he or she has the ability to see what you are attempting to hide or coverup. Provided he or she really want to see.

I guess  looking in a mirror before we lie can be a good thing.

As you know, there is so much more we could say about lying, but whats the use? We know the effects a lie can cause....  A good lie or a bad lie can hide the truth for a very long time!!! It is like climbing a ladder.

And Never Reaching The Top!!!

So the question is Why Do We Lie?


 These are my thoughts ..... I welcomes yours!!!


Happy Reading ...

Love versus Sex .........

 Love and Lust are inextricably intertwined.

Now inextricably mean:
Difficult or impossible to disentangle or untie.

Intertwine mean:

 Spin or twist together. 

Lust is ground zero for hormones -- it's nature's way of bringing the sexes together to mate.

In fact, without Lust or shall I say some form of physical attraction, it's doubtful that Love between our species would have a chance to prosper at all.

The driving force of the sexual imperative  {Absolutely necessary} bridges the gap between the almost incompatible brain styles of the two sexes. 

Men fight wars over Lust, but they make homes and families for Love.

For men, Lust is a heady experience; the brain goes on hold and red-hot surges of testosterone run the show.
It is said the Lust -- like Love -- is truly blind. 

However, I do not believe love is blind. Not true love. Men and women many times choose to see what they want to see. A man or a woman will always show you who they really are, it you would but open your eyes to see! Especially if they have the wrong intentions in mind for you.

This is why, especially at the beginning of a relationship, it can be hard to tell whether you're in Lust or in Love.

Lust says I want it now ... lust does not care where, but it does care when, lust does not care if it is wrong. Lust simply want what it wants right then. Lust is very impatient.

On the contrary, love is patient, kind, considerate, and love cares. Love want the best for you and loves cares that  right always win.

So how can you tell the difference between Lust and Love?

Here are a few tips to help you sort things out:

If it is lust:

1 - You're totally focused on looks and body.
2 - You don't care about anything she/he has to say.
3 - You only want to be with her/him to have sex.
4 - You make excuses not to spend time with her/him, except for sex. 
5 - He/She is your booty call.
6 - You leave after sex.

If it is Love:

•  The chemistry between you is remarkable.
•  You get lost in your conversations and the hours pass like minutes.
•  You're more than willing to listen to him/her when he/she talks about his/her day.
•  You find him/her beautiful when they wake up in the morning.
•  You want to spend time with him/her.
•  All you want to do is to be with him/her, whether you're having sex or not.
•  You see or fantasize a future together.
•  You introduce him/her to your family.
•  Lust is short-term fun; 
•  Love is the long haul.
•  Even though the two sometimes masquerade as each other, 
•  you should be able to tell the difference.

 But remember ..... God has a master plan already for you and that

 special someone. So, be patient and wait on the Lord to reveal his plan to you for your life.

......The real trick is in deciding what you want and that's up to you;

Happy reading!!!

To My Daughter Christina ..... Persevering ... I Love You!!!

There are two types of people in the world, the pessimistic and the optimistic. Unlike the pessimistic persons, the optimistic people always set their goals high, no matter what challenges come about.

When a challenge comes up to a pessimistic person, they put themselves They can end up having low self esteem. Optimistic people would welcome those challenges and overcome them. Know this Christina, you are an optimistic person. The other is : Fear and Caution.

 Fear and Caution may both have a similar way of operation.While one has the ability to prevent you from reaching up for your dreams and goals by masking your vision with false evidences that in your minds eye may appear real, the other one allows you to take your time in every step of the way till you reach your goals and make your dreams a reality.

Which of these two does what is described in the two instances above is what you have to search deep inside yourself to find. Be sure which one you are allowing into your soul. Know this, never give in to fear.

You have accomplished so much in such a short time of living. Continue to press on.

Never forsake God' wisdom and guidance ..... forever seek His face ... forever hold His Hand.

Life is about overcoming, persevering and believing, and you Christina DeLoris Edwards have embraced each.

Lastly, women who seek greatness will never be great without being honest.  Therefore my darling youngest daughter always allow integrity to reign high in your heart and life. By allowing this, you will go along way in life and you will bridge many bodies of  opportunity.

I love you,
Your dad,

Happing reading...

To My Daughter Deidre.....Overcoming Fear...I Love You!!!

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

Most of us have been afraid one time or another. We can always look up the definition of fear, but do we really understand it?

Many of us have fear that we don't know we have and once that fear is upon us, it can seem so overwhelming.

The wonderful thing about God is this; He understands and knows all of our fears even though we don't. And the more time we spend with Him the more He will reveal to us about us.

You see, God always prepares His children for the unexpected and the expected.

Let's look at fear:
Fear is an aversion to a person, place, activity, event or object that causes emotional distress and often avoidance behavior.

I want you to hear this and apply to your mind and your heart.

God did not give you the Spirit of fear or intimidation, but a Spirit of power, Love and a sound and discipline mind. Timothy 1:7...Remember that.

All through the word of God we see victory after victory of men conquering awesome obstacles in their paths. And these victories were complished because they trusted in God all the way.

God calls each of us to engage in spiritual warfare at times. Whenever satan wants to come against God's children, he does so by trying to intimate through fear...

Take a look a David and Goliath. Look how big, arrogant and boastful he was.  And remember, because God's anointing and fallen from Saul , he was unable to respond to Goliath challenge.

Listen sin stiffens the power of God in your life and obedience increases the power of God in one's life.

Also fear paralyzes and torments. That's why Saul could not respond.

However the anointing had fallen upon David, who was just a young boy, but the word of God's tells us that David was mighty in spirit...

David did not punk out because of Goliath's size, tone or his threats. As a matter of fact David saw Goliath through the eyes of God, who then saw Goliath as a pimple on a cheek.

David was righteous, the Spirit of The Lord was upon him. He defied Goliath challenging God' authority and His power.

Fact:
1 - David rested totally in God
2 - He over came fear by totally trusting in God's power and not his own

These are some of the World, Flesh and the devil's fear ground

1 - Bills
2 - shakey relationships
3 - Lawsuites
3 - Unstable jobs
4 - The economy

I'm sure you have more to add.  But you must stand firm in The Power of God to Overcome.

Never fear sudden calamity if you are walking uprightly before God.  It maybe a preparation for a great victory that will bring praise and honor to God. Remember Deidre, these battles and training ground for greater victories to come.

I want to say this to you as well. So often when gain victory in a matter, we look for some monetary value. Please when your victory comes, let it bring glory to God and trust me whatever you need, God already knows.

Deidre, you are strong, gifted and reliable. Go and reach the destiny God has for you. Reach your potential.

I Love you...
Your dad,,,


Happy reading...

To My Daughter Shana.....Avoiding Detours ... I Love You!!!

So often in life we are confronted with detours. Sometimes the detours we take end up safe and sometimes they don't. Nevertheless, Life consists of so many detours that can easily take us down the wrong path, making it very difficult to get back on the main road.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

These detours may be compliled by bad attitudes, wrongful accusations, selfish decisions, lying, deceiving, disobedience of some form, just to name a few.

Detours in the world's system are excuted to give us safer routes or to lead us down a spiral path.

They could be obstacles to prevent us from seeing or listening to the voice of God, as He gives us direction.

I'm reminded of a story of someone who exited the interstate to get gas. It was late and he was very tired. As he attempted to get back onto the interstate he couldn't find it, as it was very dark. He could not see any signs.

He made a turn that appeared to be correct, but it wasn.t. He continued down that road, he could see the interstate on the his left. However it soon became obvious it was not the entrance road but rather a frontage road. He continued to travel that road and determined that the road he was on was turning away from the interstate.

As it grew darker and darker the road then became a dirt road. He became frustrated and made another wrong turn. Then he decided to turn around losing valuable time.

Sometimes you have to go back to go right!!!

The moral of the story is this:

It is easy to make assumptions about the path we are on. If God's Spirit has not enlightened our reasoning, we are inclined to make the wrong choices. Our choices seem right at the time, but later we discover these choices have led us away from God because they were based on our own reasoning.

Acknowledge God in all your ways today. Lean completely on Him to reveal His direction for your life. If you do so, He will direct you to the desired destination He has for you.

Also the word of God states this:

II Timothy 3:16-17 ---- All scritpure is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteous.

That the man {woman} of God may be complete, throughly equiped for every good work.

Lastly, the word of God lets us know when we are off track, where we have gotten off track, how to get back on track and how to stay on track.

Yet, you still have a free will to choose God' s will to stay on track or your will to get off track.

Always strive to be the best you can be, and that requires you trusting God with every aspect of your life.

Go and reach the destiny God has for you. Walk closed to him and he will free you of you. And then you will become more Him...

I Love you...
Your dad,,,


Happy reading...