“When Life Says ‘Wait, but I Want to Say ‘Hurry Up’”

One of the scariest experiences I’ve ever walked through happened right after a routine mammogram. The technician paused, stared at the screen a little longer than my nerves preferred, and gently said she saw something “unusual.” Now, let me tell you — when a medical professional uses that word, your whole soul sits up straight.

Before I could even gather my thoughts, they were scheduling me for a biopsy.
The fear that washed over me… whew. My mind turned into a full Olympic event: the 100-meter dash of “what ifs.”
What if it’s serious? What if everything changes?
Fear has a way of writing a dramatic script before God even hands you the first page.

The morning of the biopsy, I did what I always do when I’m two seconds from spiraling — I prayed. I needed God to steady me, because my nerves were not cooperating. But honestly? The biopsy wasn’t the hardest part. It was the waiting.

And isn’t that always the real test?

How do you wait?
What is your attitude in the in-between?

Not sure? Here’s a quick diagnostic: pay attention the next time you’re in a grocery store line behind someone at the counter digging through their purse trying to find their debit card. Or when you're at the DMV and the line has only moved one person in the last fourteen minutes. Do you sigh loud enough for the angels to hear? Get irritable? Roll your eyes like you're auditioning for a drama series?
Those little moments reveal big truths about us.

And then — God being God — He decided to reinforce the lesson at the hair salon. There I was, sitting in the braider’s chair, and let me confess: I absolutely wanted those braids done in 15 minutes. But baby, that’s not how the anointing works.

I can shift, twist, breathe loud, or try to send telepathic messages to her fingers… it’s not changing a thing. The process moves at her pace, not mine. If I want beautiful results, I have to trust her hands, lean into her method, and let the process unfold.

And that’s exactly how waiting with God works.
We can’t rush what He’s shaping.
We can’t push Him onto our timeline.
We can’t fast-forward the part that makes us uncomfortable.

We just have to sit still, breathe, and trust that His pace — even when slower than we like — is purposeful.

Waiting exposes our character… but it also strengthens our faith, if we let it.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage.” —Psalm 27:14

Mama Wisdom Reflection: If life has taught me anything, it’s this: waiting will show you exactly who you are. Not the Instagram-friendly version, not the smiling church version — the real, unfiltered, “Lord help me before I say something” version.

But here’s the blessing, waiting is where God does His best work.
It’s where He stretches your trust, steadies your heart, and reminds you that He doesn’t need your control — just your cooperation.

So the next time you’re restless in a line, frustrated in traffic, or sitting in your own “braider’s chair” season, check your heart. Waiting isn’t always punishment… often, it’s preparation.

“Crowds? Traffic? Elbows? Absolutely Not, Sweetheart.”

As we enter the Christmas season, like many of you, I’ve already started thinking about who’s getting what. Now let me be clear: Black Friday was a firm no for me. I wasn't about to spend my day bumping, shoving, sidestepping runaway shopping carts, and gritting my teeth hoping I could find that one item one of my grannies wanted. No ma’am, no sir.

Instead, I took the only reasonable route: straight to my recliner and into Amazon Heaven, where if you can think of it, Amazon has it — and Prime will deliver it faster than Santa Claus on an energy drink.

But even with the convenience, one thing I will not be doing this year is purchasing so much that I overwhelm myself — and everyone around me. I gave up that habit long ago. You know the one: wrapping paper flying everywhere, kids tearing gifts open so fast that we spend the next twenty minutes digging through paper piles trying to figure out who got what. Nope. I’ve graduated from that season.

But as I clicked “add to cart,” I made myself a promise: I will not overspend, and I will not be overwhelmed.

Christmas is meant to be joyful, but going into debt to prove something to people who love you anyway? That’s not joy — that’s stress wearing a Santa hat.

And as I drove past those packed parking lots this week, cars lined up from here to next week, it reminded me again:
I am not stepping one foot into those stores. The way my peace is set up? It won’t allow it.

But let me speak to something deeper… as I’ve gotten older, I understand my parents more. One memory I have is of my mama out feverishly shopping on Christmas Eve, because she and Daddy didn’t get paid until that day. And honey, there were a lot of us “Jones’s.”

I cannot imagine the stress she must’ve felt. The wondering: Would the money stretch? Could she buy each of us at least one toy? Would there still be enough left for food on the table?

Let me tell you, exhale…I recognize that was love. Stressful, sacrificial, exhausted love. And it taught me something: Christmas shouldn’t be about breaking yourself to look generous. It should be about giving from a place of peace, not pressure.

I know many people this year are wondering whether they can get their loved ones anything at all. Budgets are tight, inflation is real, and life has been life-ing in every direction. Maybe your stress level is already swinging from the rafters.

So hear me when I say this with all sincerity:
It’s not about how many gifts you give — it’s about the love behind what you give.

A thoughtful gift, even a small one, carries more warmth and beauty than a mountain of presents bought out of pressure or comparison. Christmas was never designed to drain your bank account; it was meant to fill your heart.

Let this be the year we choose purposeful, meaningful giving, not stressful, exhausting spending. I would rather give one intentional gift than five random ones purchased because I felt obligated or because the pile “didn’t look big enough.”

Give from your heart — not from your credit limit.

Let love be the biggest thing you wrap this year.

This season, remember that the very first Christmas gift wasn’t wrapped in shiny paper — it was wrapped in swaddling clothes. It wasn’t expensive — but it was priceless. It wasn’t flashy — but it changed the world. Sometimes the most meaningful gifts come in the simplest forms.

✨ Scripture: Proverbs 15:16 — “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.” A holy reminder that peace is a gift too.

✨ Mama-Wisdom Reflection:

Baby, don’t lose your mind trying to impress people who already love you. Give what you can, do what you can, and keep your joy intact. Christmas gifts come and go, but your peace? That’s a keeper.

A Heart of Thanks

Thanksgiving is a time for many families, like mine, to slow down and spend quality time with loved ones. If you’ve entered a season of life like me — where your children are now adults — they may have taken over most of the main courses, leaving you with that one dish the whole family absolutely cannot do without.

Now, as the matriarch of my family, I travel to my oldest daughter’s house with my famous “dressing,” all wrapped in tin foil. Once I arrive, I know I’ll get to sit and visit with my grannies, but inevitably I’ll be bombarded with, “Mom, taste this!” or “Do I need to add anything?” And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The word Thanksgiving itself is a beautiful combination of thanks and giving — a subtle reminder that we should always be grateful and have a heart to give. As we celebrate this day, I can’t help but be thankful for my family, both near and far, who are taking time to simply celebrate being thankful.

Thankful for what, you may ask? We’re living in challenging times. Many federal workers have lost their jobs. Some families stand in food lines weekly to feed their children. Older adults are struggling, and healthcare costs continue to rise. We even recently heard the heartbreaking news of a neighbor who took their own life.

So, if you are not in any of these categories, take a moment to truly pause and give thanks. Thank God for breath in your body, food on your table, a roof over your head, and people in your life who care about you. Gratitude doesn’t have to come from grand gestures or perfect circumstances — it grows quietly in the middle of ordinary blessings.

As I sit at my daughter’s table, surrounded by laughter, the smells of sweet potato pie and roasted turkey, I’m reminded that Thanksgiving isn’t just a holiday; it’s a posture of the heart. It’s about slowing down long enough to appreciate how far you’ve come and how faithful God has been through every season.

Be thankful. Our family likes to take turns before praying over our meal to share one thing we’re grateful for. I don’t know what your family traditions include — maybe it’s gathering to watch football, playing board games, or heading to the movies after dinner — but whatever it is, be thankful that you have loved ones to share it with.

This year, consider turning your gratitude into action. Maybe start a new family tradition of giving — whether it’s donating to your local food bank, volunteering, or supporting a church food drive. My middle daughter recently shared that she gave meal cards through our church that will help feed ten families this Thanksgiving. That’s the kind of thanks and giving that truly honors the spirit of the day.

So wherever this Thanksgiving finds you — in a bustling kitchen, a quiet home, or even a season rebuilding — remember that gratitude and grace go hand in hand. Be thankful not just for what you have, but for who you’re becoming through it all.

Mama Wisdom Reflection:

Gratitude turns what we have into enough. May your heart stay soft, your hands stay open, and your spirit stay thankful. 🍁

“Rejection? Baby, That was Just My Launch Button.”

Rejection. Whew. I get it. If you’ve lived long enough to buy your own toothpaste, you’ve probably met. It doesn’t tap you gently on the shoulder -no ma’am. It shows up like a fire-breathing dragon, inhaling your confidence and exhaling confusion. It can make even the strongest woman whisper to herself, “Why wasn’t I good enough?” What’s wrong with me?”

Let me tell you something as gently as I can: Nothing. Absolutely Nothing.

But I know that feeling - that sting so sharp you swear it took your breath for a second.

But before you let that question take root, let me show you a different picture - of a bow and arrow. When a bow is pulled back, it can’t be pulled only an inch. A weak pull won’t send the arrow anywhere. But the stronger the pullback - the tension, the resistance- the farther the arrow is destined to fly.

Now here’s the part we often miss:

The person who rejected you was simply the bow. Sometimes the person who rejected you didn’t know they were giving you the momentum to launch far beyond them. They thought you weren’t worthy. They didn’t see your potential. They misjudged your value. Look how much strength you’ve gathered from what was meant to break you

And since we’re being real, let me add something personal: When my former spouse said he didn’t want our marriage anymore -did it take me by surprise? Absolutely. But did it make me question my worth? Not for a moment. I never lost an ounce of sleep wondering if I had been a good wife or homemaker. I knew who I was. I had peace about that part - peace with a capital P. What I DID recognize was what he lost in leaving: the gift God placed in his path, the favor assigned to his life, the blessing he didn’t even know how to handle. And the last time I saw him?

Wellll…..

I gently - and I do mean gently- pushed him out the door toward my beautifully tended flowerbed.

Not in anger, but in a very “This meeting is adjourned” sort of way. My only concern was whether he’d crush my begonias as he stumbled out the door - because honestly, the flowers had shown more loyalty, consistency, and emotional maturity than he had in a long while. And there’s no use holding onto someone who’s already halfway out the door. Sometimes God removes people because we won’t. While he walked - I bent over to water my flowers. They appreciated the nourishment.

We’ve all done it- measured ourselves through someone else’s blurry lens. But you are not seen clearly through the eyes of anyone who doesn’t know your value. Stop gauging yourself by the person who walked away, the boss who passed you over, the friend you believed in who turned out to be less loyal than their Instagram posts, or the church that didn’t live up to its own social media personality. Here’s the thing: Rejection is not proof you’re unworthy. It’s often evidence you’re being redirected.

Instead, look at yourself through the eyes of the One who created you. The One who knew you before you were formed, the One who designed your purpose and potential before anybody else had an opinion. When my car needs care, I take it back to the dealership - not the nearest mechanic with a coupon. They didn’t build it. They don’t know it. They can guess - but the manufacturer knows every detail. Same with you, take yourself back to the One who knows you best.

Sometimes God allows a door to shut because what’s behind it would have destroyed you. Sometimes He lets someone walk away because their hands were too small to carry what He’s building in you. Sometimes He lets you feel the pullback because the launch requires distance.

Scripture to Stand On: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” Psalm 118:22

Sometimes the very thing dismissed by others becomes the foundation of something greater.

Mama Wisdom Reflection: “Listen baby, if someone rejects you, let ‘em. Some folks don’t deserve VIP seating in your life when they can’t even handle general admission.

An Unwelcome Welcome Surprise

Life has a way of rewriting our stories without asking permission.

For me, that rewrite came in the form of a divorce- something I never planned, never wanted, and never thought I’d experience. At the time, it felt like a breaking. If you’d told me 18 years ago that I’d look back on my divorce with gratitude, I probably would have laughed - or cried. Maybe both. Back then it felt like an ending. A door slamming shut on the life I thought I was supposed to have. But now at 64 years old, I see it differently. My divorce was an unwelcome welcome surprise, something I never wanted, but something that ultimately propelled me forward into a new and fuller version of myself.

The Shock of Change: When life as you know it falls apart , there’s a kind of silence that follows. You wake up and everything feels unfamiliar. The routines, the rhythms, the future you imagined - all of it shifts. At first I grieved. I grieved the dream more than the reality. The idea of what “should have been.” But slowly, God began to show me that even unwanted change can hold hidden blessings.

It wasn’t easy - it was lonely, humbling, and, at times, terrifying. But in that quiet space, I discovered something I’d lost in all the noise: myself. When you walk with God, no chapter is wasted. Every detour can become destiny, and every heartbreak can grow new strength.

The Grace in the Unexpected: When I look back I don’t see failure anymore. I see growth, and a woman who learned that endings can be beginnings in disguise. So if you’re standing in the middle of your own unwelcome surprise, hold on. You may not see it yet, but God can use even this to propel you forward - to peace, purpose, and a life that’s beautifully your own. Through my divorce I learned how to stand on my own two feet - emotionally, spiritually, and even financially. I learned how to trust God, not just in theory, but in the everyday details. And one day, I stopped asking “why” and started saying “thank You.” Not because it all made sense, but because I could finally see that the very thing that was meant to break me also built me.

My divorce was never part of my plan, but it was a part of God’s. And, in His hands, an unwelcome surprise became a divine invitation- to heal, to grow, and to live with purpose and peace. So if you’re standing in the middle of something painful, something you never asked for - take heart. You don’t have to understand it yet. Just trust that one day, you’ll look back and see what I see:

That your unwelcome surprise was actually a welcome turning point- the moment everything started moving forward.

Founder & Voice of Mama Wisdom

The Day I Learned to Forgive

The Shock That Changed Everything: For 27 years, I was a pastors’s wife - devoted to ministry, family, and faith. At 47, I was served with divorce papers. I still remember standing there at the post office signing for that certified mail, papers in hand, feeling like my world had cracked open. I had spent my adult life helping others heal, never imagining I’d need the same kind of grace for myself.

Facing the Pain: In those first months, I wrestled with anger, shame, and disbelief. I asked God questions that had no easy answers. How could a marriage I believed was built on faith unravel? Why me? I thought forgiving him would mean saying what he did was okay- but forgiveness isn’t permission. It’s release.

The Turning Point: Forgiveness began the moment I realized it wasn’t about my ex-husband. It was about my peace. Carrying the hurt kept me tied to a past God was trying to free me from. Slowly, I stopped replaying what was done and started praying for what could still be healed - in me.

Rebuilding the Woman I Was Meant To Be: At 54, I kept a promise I’d made long ago to my parents that because I had chosen ministry and marriage over finishing college, that one day I would get my degree in law. Walking across that stage, magna cum laude, I felt like I had closed one chapter and begun another. My parents weren’t there to see it, but my three adult daughters were, and that moment was for all of us. Again, receiving that degree wasn’t just about education; it was about redemption. It was me saying “I kept my word.” It was a reminder that it’s never too late to rise, rebuild, and finish what you started.

Living in Forgiveness: Forgiveness didn’t erase the pain. It just gave me the power to stop reliving it. I learned that peace is the proof of forgiveness. I’m not bitter. I’m better. I’m not broken, I’ve became whole. Healing didn’t come overnight. It came in the quiet mornings when I chose prayer over bitterness, in the moments I decided to see peace as progress, and in the realization that I could love my own company. Slowly, I began to see that healing isn’t about returning to who you were -it’s about becoming who you’re meant to be.

A Little Mama Wisdom: Forgiveness doesn’t excuse what happened - it releases you to live again. Let go, not because they deserve it, but because you do.

The Story Behind Mama Wisdom

Hey Friend, I’m so happy you’re here. I’ve always been considered a second “mama” to my daughter’s friends, and before I knew it that “honor” was also coming to me from women in my church and work circles. I’ve always enjoyed mentoring and having real talk with women who are just trying to figure out “life.” When I first dreamed of starting Mama Wisdom, I wanted to create a space where real life and real faith could meet. A place for women who are trying to balance it all - family, faith, work, wellness, and everything in between - but still crave peace, purpose, and a little laughter along the way.

Because let’s be honest - life isn’t always tidy. It’s full of joy and exhaustion, answered prayers and unanswered questions, holy moments and messy ones too. But even in the middle of it all, I’ve learned that God’s grace shows up - sometimes in the quiet, sometimes in the chaos, and sometimes through a little wit to keep us laughing when life feels too serious.

Mama Wisdom was born out of that space - where wisdom meets warmth, where we can talk about motherhood, and marriage one day, one day faith and fear the next, and always find encouragement in between.

Here you’ll find:

• Honest stories about life and family

• Reflections on faith and personal growth

• Simple wellness reminders that nourish your mind, body, and spirit

• Encouragement to help you keep going, even when life looks different than you planned

Maybe you are in a season of rebuilding, or just learning to see beauty again after loss - my hope is that when you read these words, you’ll feel seen, understood, and inspired to keep showing up - imperfectly, but faithfully. That you might learn that even after heartbreak, there’s hope, even in change, there’s grace, and sometimes a little wit can make the healing lighter.

So grab your coffee or tea, take a deep breath, and make yourself at home. You’re right where you need to be.

Founder & Voice of Mama Wisdom