I’ve heard great things about this book and I knew they were all true...to admire Michelle from a distance as the first black “First Lady” was one thing...we were able to view her life in small doses through a peephole when the security detailed allowed us to do so (lol), and now for her to open the door and escort us through her life! The preface set the tone, it hyped me up and made me want to read beyond just the first chapter (but I didn’t). There were three sentences that touched me in the first chapter: (1) “Everyone on earth, they’d tell us, was carrying around an unseen history, and that alone deserved some tolerance.” During this part of the chapter Michelle was talking about how her Uncle Terry and Aunt Robbie were different from her mom and dad. This spoke to me about embracing people’s differences and accepting people right where they are. (2) “It was a flame inside me they wanted to keep lit.” In this section Michelle was talking about how her parents embraced her sassy personality. She thought her mother liked it because it was something she was afraid to do or be. I think we all admire people that are daring...that aren’t afraid to do that thing we always wanted to do. I know I do! (3) I’d spend a lifetime admiring him for his ease.” Here she was referring to the recital and how her brother didn’t appear scared. Fear is something; I’m guilty of admiring people who are stepping out with ease. And even if they are somewhat afraid, they do it anyway. I admire that...I’m trying to be that person who approaches things with ease. To say that I am in love with this book already would be somewhat of an understatement…. I can’t wait to read everyone else's thoughts on the first chapter.
Chapter 2 was just as great as chapter 1, I’m realizing that this book will not disappoint. There were two sections of this chapter that were profound to me. (1) “Lying in bed that night with my stuffed animals packed around my head, I thought only of “white. I spelled it in my head, forward and backward, chastising myself for my own stupidity.” I find myself chastising myself all the time. I’m not sure why I’ve always had this complex of thinking I should not make mistakes. I know it is not possible, I know God gives us all grace and forgives if we only ask. I still find myself expecting and wanting more of myself. (2) Whatever was eroding inside my father, withering his muscles and stripping his nerves, he viewed it as his own private challenge as something to silently withstand.” My father was a diabetic and also suffered from diabetic nephropathy, which was a disease that caused muscle weakness, loss of the sense of touch and sensitivity in his legs. Which ultimately led to gangrene and caused him to have his leg amputated just weeks before his passing. He also suffered for a long time in silence, I think to prevent us from worrying and also to avoid more doctor visits. He also viewed this life altering and in his case fatal disease as something to privately withstand. I’m very thankful for this group and this outlet to pour my heart out, thank you ladies!
I loved how she took special care in describing her mother to us in chapter four. “...a safe harbor of female wisdom.” Being a mother is one of the most rewarding and hardest jobs that I ever had. Each encounter with your child is important no matter what age they are because they are consistently looking to you to lead them and show them the way. The section in this chapter that really made me think was when Craig tells the story about a girl he liked in the eighth grade and how one day she issued a kind of loaded invitation. “She listened, but she didn’t absolve him from the choice at hand. Instead, she returned him to his agony with a blithe shrug of her shoulders. “Handle it how you think best,” she said.” I feel as though Michelle’s mother and father were brave to give their children so much lead way to make their own choices at such a young age. I wasn’t as brave, I always felt so protective of my children wanting to keep them safe and close for as long as I could. I guess there is no wrong or right way, it’s just everyone doing their very best with what they’ve been taught and what feels right. This book continues to grow on me the more I read...the more I want to read...off to chapter five.
In this chapter Michelle sailed smoothly through high school; it seems as though my high school career went by just as fast as Chapter 5. The section that stood out to me in this chapter was: “But as I’ve said, failure is a feeling long before it’s an actual result.” This statement is so true and the thought of failure is so powerful that it has caused myself and so many from doing so much. We have the power to succeed and accomplish so much...that “thing” that is down inside of us...that thing that we were placed here by God to do; something goes undone because of fear of failure. I wish that, actually I pray for all that are wallowing in self doubt right now, that we receive the courage to push past the fear and believe that we all CAN!
I love it!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I appreciate you :)
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