I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about, praying about, and speaking to others about my individual “gift”. It’s a difficult conversation to have with yourself but even more difficult when you’re constantly being reminded that you’re not walking in it.

Let’s be clear, we can’t confuse our gift with talent. You may be asking what’s the difference, Great Question! Talent is something that you’re good at, example you have the voice of a singer. Your gift is what you do with that talent, example singing to be a comfort to others. What’s kept me in conversation is not having a clearly defined talent and believing I didn’t have a gift.

People have always told me I’m good with words, I’ve chalked it up to public school teachers that cared and parents that checked homework. I still remember the day I realized my ability to tell a story was more than that. It started out as a simple Facebook post that someone commented on. The individual also sent me a private message to explain in detail why my words “ministered” to their situation. I remember tears forming as I read the testimony, I also remember telling myself that day I don’t want the responsibility of “ministering” to anyone – and that’s the day I started running from my gift.

I’d still make post but kept them limited to “my thoughts” thinking I’m one of a kind, no one shares those thoughts. Well, I was wrong! People had those thoughts but lacked the ability to put them into words.

Writing is a talent I possess! I am finally starting to accept that as such but question daily how can that talent take my “gift” to the next level. The answer came to me in the form of friends, patients, and a few strangers …… just write and your words will reach someone that needs to hear them.

I woke up this morning not thinking what am I going to write about, I opened my eyes, thanked the Lord for life, and started writing. For the first time in years I’m putting my thoughts in an open space in hopes that someone will be encouraged.

In case you’re wondering what my gift is, I’m a helper.

“If I can help somebody as I pass along, if I can cheer somebody with a word or song, if I can show somebody he’s traveling wrong, then my living will not be in vain.” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Hello World,

I started this journey a few years ago but it wasn’t time… Way’ell, thank God for second chances!

I’m a self described black butterfly in a world filled with rainbows.

I’m glad you asked what that means!

Society today is filled with “perfect” women. Full faced wearing, big booty, perfectly shaped women – and then there’s me. I’ve become confident enough in myself to see the beauty I possess, but getting to this point was definitely a struggle. 

Why a black butterfly? Well, you won’t run across them as often as you will the more colorful varieties; however, when you do you’ll forever remember it’s beauty.

Why the world filled with rainbows? There’s so much color surrounding us that we’re often times distracted from noticing basic beauty. 

The purpose of “Simply Lisa” is to build and inspire a village of strong black butterflies. It’s my prayer that every post gives someone the strength to soar. 

You are beautiful! 

Join me each day in reaffirming this message to yourself and pledge to uplift another black butterfly in your life.

I’m wondering, questioning, trying to figure out….

How did we go from movie nights in flannel pajamas, having popcorn fights
~ to an all out war of words with no white flag in sight?

How did we go from sitting in the car, taking turns singing our favorite love songs
~ to scathing post, tweets, text and telephone calls?

How did you go from being my boo, my protector, my sunshine, my rainbow, my smile, my everything and my all
~ to the shadow that goes boo in the middle of the night?

How did we become so wrong, when at when time we were ohhhh so right?

I stood before a class and defended my position with statistical data and confidence…

I’ve grabbed a mic and stood before an unknown crowd belting out the lyrics to a Beyonce song, quite off key ….

I’ve stood before crowds and delivered words that both comforted and amused them …..

At times, I’ve needed to be the voice of the not so easy truths to hear, and I delivered with empathy and compassion….

After fighting to escape the prison of self doubt and insecurity I’ve become the confidence builder, the ego booster, the ever present cheerleader on the sidelines of your life  …..

I’ve discovered that words and phrases come naturally to me, expression is without effort, but telling him I love you is a battle yet won ……

It’s been said many times before “fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me”.

As easy as it is for me to quote those words it’s hard for me not to find myself playing the role of the fool.

I’m not quite sure if it’s the flutter of my heart when I see your smile or the breathtaking sound of your voice, but I believed, I wanted, better yet deserved the happiness I felt.

Maybe all those nights of laying beside you confused my reality. All those kisses placed upon me clouded my perception. Maybe, being with you made me believe that I too am beautiful and worthy of being loved.

I’m sleeping alone now. There are no more fluttering heartbeats, no more breathtaking moments. It’s just me, the one that thought and felt, just for a moment, that I escaped fools paradise.

I’m giving up before the 12th round. I don’t need the judges decision to know that I’ve been beat.

You’ll have to look beyond my exterior to see the bruises of defeat. Sadly, my scars are hidden within the brown of my eyes.

I’ve put together my best combinations and thrown my best punch, I tried to hold my own knowing that I’d never make it to the finish

From the beginning I was the underdog,  the black butterfly,  the ugly girl fighting for a spot in your heart.

I give up, I’m totally beaten ~ defeated by your love.

This blog will not educate readers on black butterflies so please don’t expect statistics or photographs.

Instead you’ll find the thoughts of a woman with overlooked beauty. A woman that exists in a world where her complexion and features have rendered her invisible.

I know that some may not be able to relate to my thoughts,  and that’s ok ~ You’re not my target audience.  I’m sharing these thoughts for those that at some time in their life have felt like a Black Butterfly in a sky full of Rainbows ….