It is a week already since the celebration started for my birth anniversary celebration. My God is awesome. The service exceeded my expectations. To God be the Glory because this would not have been possible without him. The stage was set from the anointed opening prayer from Pastor Carol Brooks. I am a proud member of Love & Faith World Outreach Ministry under the leadership of Apostle Claude Brooks. Apostle Brooks, Pastor Nath Ayo Aiyedogbo, Selwyn Sills, Simon Harris, and Joseph Persaud. All the messages were on point and profound and blessed not only me but people who were in the zoom and on the live stream. I recommend you watch the replay on my page. We had two bonuses from two awesome young people. Rashlie Joseph sang ‘To God be the Glory’ and ‘He made a way’, and it was pore-raising and a blessing to many. Tondicka Austin shared this poem she wrote specially for me and I am sharing these meaningful words with you.
“ A flower that is fading, a vapour in the wind, a wave in the ocean
We know this, yet when death comes; we are overwhelmed with emotions
So, birthdays at every age are to be celebrated
We join to celebrate Ms. Sonia Noel, today, we are elated
God knew we needed such a caring, kind-hearted sweet soul as you
We wish you the very best in all you do
May your smile be from ear to ear
May this year be of good cheer
You have a smile that’s infectious
You are courageous
Doing what many are scared to do, You charted your own course
To your dreams, you stayed true
You are an inspiration to many – for this, we say thank you
We thank you for your labour of love and your impartations on our lives individually
We thank you for your notable contributions to the fashion industry
For your designs are uniquely crafted and recognized internationally
Year after year, you do this skillfully
You are a woman of great faith
Your reward will be great
Because of the grace you carry, when you enter the room the atmosphere changes instantly
We won’t trade you for anybody
Happy birthday our lady!
I felt so much love and compassion through this service and my gratitude is extended to everyone who made it possible. I received all the advice and prophetic words that were imparted for my new awesome season. I am engaging in a lot of reflection as I approach this significant milestone, and I thought about love and compassion in my life when I received and give.
This quote “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.“ by the Dalai Lama is so profound and I share it with others and invite them to share it with on when they experience love and compassion and how they felt. We Will be sharing two short stories that were submitted
“When God made Adam, He saw that it is not wise for a man to be alone and give him Eve, thus making us realise that without love and compassion- which are necessities humanity cannot survive without. I remembered receiving the diagnosis that changed my perception and meaning of what is existing and what is living. Those four words hit me harder than I expected knocking the very wind out of me. “Your result is positive” bellowed the doctor as he looked me dead in the eyes, a mixture of emotions and empathy expressed with every resounding beat of his voice.
It was one of those rainy days in the month of May. In my head the rhythms resonated. I smiled, reminiscing on the lyrics of the songwriter who sang, “I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day, when it’s cold outside, I’ve got the month of May”.
Smiling sheepishly, as I stared through the window of the vehicle taking me to know my faith. I honestly wished it was a limousine and I was on a night out on the town, enjoying a fancy dining restaurant with exquisite delicacies. I wished the earth didn’t stop spinning and the orbit could press reset. A journey back to the past would be nice, before closed stores, hushed sneezes, hidden coughs, and deadly colds.
Where never in my lifetime persons dropping like flies right before their beloved eyes was the new norm at least it appears that way for now. This diagnosis proved the grace of God bestowed upon us in every wakening day, with each breath that we take not only a privilege but the ultimate gift. The love, support, prayers, and calls I received from near and far, family, colleagues, or friends concerning my COVID-19 diagnosis made me realise that without love and compassion, which are necessities and not luxuries, humanity cannot survive.” Anandy Gittens
Another story is by Charissa Rampersaud.
“It was the New York leg of my 2017 vacation, and the day I turned 36. I took the train by myself and headed into the city. I was going to treat myself to a birthday lunch at red lobster, my favourite restaurant. There I was in this crowded restaurant enjoying my meal and feeling totally at peace. I was the only person who was dining all alone. As I was getting ready to place my dessert order, the waiter came over with a huge smile on my face and said, “This is the nicest thing ever, a gentleman paid for your meal, the coolest thing is he didn’t even want your number or anything. He just wanted to pay for your meal.” I was so surprised I asked him who it was, but the gentleman was already through the door.
When I told the waiter this just made my birthday a little more special, he said, “No way! It’s your birthday? How cool is that?”
I don’t know why that gentleman decided to do such a kind thing for me. Maybe he felt sorry for me because I was eating all alone. Whatever his reason, he decided to do something kind for a total stranger without expecting anything in return. His kind act will forever be in my memory.
Every day, we all have opportunities to do something kind for someone else. It doesn’t even have to cost us anything. It can be as simple as saying a few kind words to help put a smile on someone’s face or asking how they are doing and actually paying attention when they reply. Just think how much more meaningful your life would be if you intentionally set out each day to do at least one act of kindness.”
We all can contribute small acts of kindness every day as we continue this beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.
