Loving Perfectly in an Imperfect World - My Journey Thru Your Eyes

By Qzac

This book is a collection of inspirational short stories that Ive written to share with you. Each story shares an emotional experience that will take not only inspire you but also encourage you that no matter the shape, size or form, true love still exists.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 12, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483621531

Book preview

Loving Perfectly

in an

Imperfect World

My Journey through your eyes

(A Collection of Inspirational Short Stories and Poetry)

133720-ROGE-layout.pdf

QZac

Copyright © 2013 by QZac.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2013906826

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-4836-2152-4

               Ebook          978-1-4836-2153-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 05/07/2013

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

133720

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Scrapbook

Journey

Word And A Handshake

Timing + Patience

Make It Stick

First Things First

Love Is The Fuel

Be Free To Be

It Took Them To Make You

A Promise

Water Damage

Burn Rubber And Not Your Soul

Tough Times

Cookie

Which Direction

The Wind

Stone Mountain

Simple Change In Perspective

Signs

What Drives You

Positive Impact

Master The Art Of Living

When The Time Comes

Within You

Spaghetti Junction

So I Jog

Without Moms

Homeless

It Is Now Night

The Problem

She Called

She Stepped Away… (Heart Broken)

Keep Ya Head Up

Press Forward

I Sit

It Is Now Night

Mental Portraits Of You

Beautiful Things Of Life

Clouds As Our Guide

Drama

Fulfill

Go Out With Me

If You Were A Dozen Roses

If You Would Call

Lost Over You

L To The Is O, V To The Is E…

Match To Your Candlestick

Soul Mate

The Four Leaf Clover

Sexy Just Because

What’s Up You?

Appreciate You

Actions That Speak Volumes

The One

Friends

Restless And Can’t Sleep

After The Storm Clears Its Bliss

Gentle Breeze

Conversation Within Your Heart

I’ve Been Thinking

Chivalry Part I

Chivalry Part Ii

I Toast

Very Best Of Me

Who Already Knows

May I

DEDICATION

I    DEDICATE THIS book to the memory of my mother Clarissa Marie Reed. She and I talked extensively about life, love and relationships. She wanted so dearly for me to publish this before she died. Mom, I know you are up there watching over me. You taught me to remain focused, stand strong in the face of adversity and to never ever give up on your dreams. I love you then, now, always.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I    WANT TO SEND a special acknow-

ledgement to my beautiful daughter Zanaeh Marie Rogers, who is growing up to be all that a father could ever hope for, I’m doing this for you baby girl, love you.

Gloria Obaseki, whose always supported me from day one and embodies the true meaning of an unconditional friend; Steve Robinson, whom not only stuck by me when the going got tough, but taught me that it was time for me to get tough and get going; Bernard Westbrooks, who thru the years has shown me distance doesn’t end friendships it makes them stronger and is still as crazy and funny as he was when we first met, we stopped being friends years ago because he’s FOREVER family; Alecia Wright and Melanie Winston, two of my favorite co-workers, they seem to always bring me back down to earth when my head gets too big.

Quinn Owens, one of my favorite cousins who has his own story to tell one day and I hope when he decides to share it he’ll commission me to write it for him; Geneva Wilson, another of my favorite cousins, she’s the youngest of four sisters who we should call the momma of the group. She’s the glue that holds not just the siblings but our entire family together. To my AT&T family, that list goes back 12 years, thanks for putting up with me. Valencia Dickens, my home girl with the biggest heart; Niya Madison, we’ve seen each other grow thru life, relationships and our careers; Ms. Royal Mosley, my very, very dear friend, it was destiny that intertwined our paths.

Icey Akins, there’s one word I can use to describe her BEAUTIFUL, her insightfulness, her wisdom, her compassion is like no other, you will not find just a Mr. Right one day but your true King; Henry Thomas aka Big Hen, my man twenty grand; Larsett Wilson aka Low, its time my brother, the music world awaits you; Troy Quick aka T-Mack, owner operator of Quick Fit Personal Training, changing the world by storm one body at a time; and to the long, long list of all my friends and family whose personal experiences have impacted my life tremendously, thank you.

Last but definitely not least, in memory of the late Joyce Colbert-Jones, what can I not say about this woman, her love, her compassion, her extraordinary ability to embrace and connect with people, her zest for culture, her love for travel, her love for life as a whole is truly a pattern we should all follow. Joyce not only lived life she exemplified it! She kept it 100% real, she kept me honest, she spoke highly of my short stories and she always encouraged me to continue my writing. I’m writing Joyce, I’m writing, rest in peace my friend.

SCRAPBOOK

O VER THE PAST year or so my Faith has been tested in more ways than you can possibly imagine. So I have to share something with you that I have found to be truly inspirational. Something that made me look within at my own perspective and is amazed at how this person in spite of what was going on in his life continued to remain optimistic but most importantly faithful.

There was an older guy that came into the gym most mornings around 7AM or so. I’d guess and say he was probably in his mid to late 60’s at that time. In pretty good shape judging from the types of activity he would engage in. However, just a few short weeks ago he would begin sharing these stories with me in the locker room. While most of the time I would be in a hurry to get shaved, showered up and off to my day something within me said to be patient and listen to this guy because thru every story there is always a lesson to be learned.

Well he would talk about anything from the weather being too hot, the BP Oil Spill, how a guy he served in the Army with reminded him of President Obama. I could tell he was pretty passionate about serving his country because he would share a bunch of Vietnam War stories with me. But the one story that stuck close was the one where he begins talking to me about his wife. They have been married as long as he’s been living he says but even after 50 something years, they take timeout to sit, eat, and pray together. He loves to talk, she loves to listen, she loves to read, and he enjoys telling stories. He’s the extrovert whereas she is more laid back but will warm up to people at some point. For whatever reason this guy reminded me a lot of my great grandfather, so as often as he would say don’t let me hold you up. I was always eager and took an interest in whatever he was saying. I mean who knows this could be me in 40 years.

Just the other day in conversation he shares with me that his wife of 50 something years has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. After he said that I just stood there speechless as he was talking I had to fight off some of the emotions and thoughts from the recent loss of my parents. As I found a way to refocus my attention I couldn’t help but wonder being a man of many words I couldn’t think of anything to say to him. I mean where was Mister Motivator at this moment as I scrambled to think he just kept on about how positive his wife was and how she had wanted him to start reading more.

She didn’t want anyone to come around her who would be all emotional about her situation and she would appreciate just spending time with the people she cared about most, such as her family and her friends. She is keeping on keeping on by doing the very things she has always enjoyed doing. This guy who walks into the gym every morning with a face of sincere compassion and positive energy within the midst of a crisis is able to continue walking tall. He’s able to continue enjoying just the simplest of things such as a morning workout and some conversation with a stranger. I often wondered how he held it together when so many of us would just fall apart.

He says to me God doesn’t always give you an expiration date all HE will do is give you life. It’s up to you how you spend it. He says he’s enjoyed every moment of everyday with her. And he will continue to do just that until the days she’s called home. No need in getting rallied up about how much time she may have left or going to see 3 and 4 different doctors hoping to find one with some magical miracle cure that will rid her body of this disease. She wants to see all her friends, finish her scrapbook of wonderful memories with anything her friends and family wishes to add in it and to continue reading her favorite book The Bible. Well anyways he says abruptly not knowing where he should probably end his story, I’ll see you tomorrow same time? I shake my head in reply yep same time.

Don’t let small indifferences place distance between you, your family and your friends. In the wise words of Mr. Jim, God doesn’t always give you an expiration date all HE will do is give you life. It’s up to you how you spend it. Spend it creating your scrapbook.

JOURNEY

I T WAS DECEMBER 2, 2010 and I can’t help but wonder where that year had gone too. It felt like just two winters ago when we were celebrating the election of our 1 st Black President. Now 3 years later the novelty has worn off, consumer spending is back up and 2012 is just a few short clicks away. Have you thought about your New Year’s resolutions yet; in fact have you accomplished most of the goals you set out to