Reflections from the Mirrors of My Mind: Volume 3

By Ethel Bridges-Patilla

I hope my book prayerfully represents my struggles with my physical health and representative of thought through poems, prayers, food for thought, commentary, and my opinion of world affairs and events. No matter what the subject matter, I pray I represented my strong beliefs in GOD.

Ethel Bridges-Patilla
July 13, 2021

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664185647

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Copyright © 2021 by Ethel Bridges-Patilla.

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.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Rev. date: 09/28/2021

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CONTENTS

Special Thanks And Acknowledgements

Foreword

BLACK HISTORY

Black History

Created Equal?

Modern Day Black History

CORONAVIRUS

2020 Coronavirus

2021 A New Year

Covid-19

Spring

HOPE

Another Today

Heaven

Life

Life Is A Gift

Mountain Top

JESUS

A Hill Called Calvary

It’s Going To Be Ok

Jesus Calls

Jesus On Your Side

Something About The Name Jesus

Thank You Jesus

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

Covit 19 Notices Lockdown With Spouse

Gnat Attack

How To Tell When You’re Getting Old And/Or Dementia Is Setting In

PRAYER

23rd Psalm

My Prayer

Thank You Lord

The Birds

Unto Thee

THANKSGIVING

Thank You Lord For This Day

Thanksgiving

FAITH

At The Cross

At The Top

Crossroads

Cup Of Salvation

Eternity

Faith

I Can’t Give Up

Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone?

Mystery

Never Ready

New Journey

The Beginning Of Another Today

MISCELLANEOUS /CURRENT

EVENTS/SPECIAL TOPICS

A New Season

America Under Seige

As The Worm Turns, So To Speak

Election 2020

Impeachment

Leadership

Speaking Of The Elderly

The Antichrist

The Blame Game

The Man With The Plan

What A Difference A Year Makes

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Who, When, What Is Wrong With Our Society?

Why?

Year 2020

GOD

God Is Still In Control

God’s Light

Let Go And Let God

My Anger With God

Speaking Of The Devil

Underestimating God

FAMILY

Family

Secrets

Yesterday

SPECIAL THANKS AND

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

A gain I give all thanks to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I know without Jesus in my life I would have not been able to keep going, to keep writing. Due to my physical circumstances, it has been another year of pain and suffering, but with GOD’s help I have survived, with GOD’s grace and mercy I have been able to write this, my 3 rd book.

I give thanks to my children, grandchildren, and friends for their moral support.

Special thanks for financial support go to my spouse Lugene Patilla, Sr. and my sister Rachel Lloyd.

I give thanks to my friend, Millie Knight who has worked diligently on each of my books. Without her assistance I would possibly have failed miserably.

I continue to pray that someday my writings will have special meanings to others as my writings have been to me.

Peace and love to my family and to Millie Knight.

To GOD be the Glory.

Ethel Bridges-Patilla

FOREWORD

W e both realized it almost at the same time: Ethel had moved away from writing poetry in this, her third volume of reflections.

Last year, 2020, was overshadowed by the Covid-19 virus and the horror stories of lives lost. Ethel wrote about it. This year, 2021, we are in recovery and Ethel has also written about it. There is looking back at Black history and family ties. There are some lighter moments such as Lockdown with Spouse and Getting Old. Ethel has included an exploration of mysteries, secrets, and eternity. She has also given voice to what is wrong with our society. It has been a time to re-set our goals, re-visit priorities, and resolve to do better.

Ethel looked inside her heart and around at the world we live in today, and she has written deeply introspective essays about life in these United States and our human condition. Now Ethel has not lost faith in Jesus nor in GOD’s power because He still is in control. She calls on them both always to help her through her personal storms and illness.

While Ethel thanks Jesus and GOD on a daily basis for their mercy and love, she does wonder what is going on in this world and what is happening to mankind. Her many, many questions in this volume may be shared by some of her readers. I know I look eagerly for the day when Ethel returns to writing poetry, for it is in her poems I find hope for tomorrow.

Millicent Knight

Valdosta, GA – May 2021

BLACK HISTORY

BLACK HISTORY

Facts – In our present time

Most black men do not attend church. Although in earlier generations, black men were much more involved in the church, and their religious faith bolstered their commitment to families and neighborhoods.

So, can we say the most effective way to reduce black crime, and to strengthen black families, is to return African-American men back to their spiritual roots? The answer is YES. When men are spiritually connected to GOD, there is a moral uplifting in the community. Why, because the church encourages a higher standard of moral responsibility. For instance:

(1) foul language

(2) lying

(3) cheating

(4) adultery

is not tolerated.

No drinking, no smoking, or blasphemy is allowed. We know that if men are unable to handle their emotions, they become prime candidates for abusing their wives, girlfriends, their children as well as their friends, neighbors and ultimately the community.

In America there are 2,400 black churches

The top 10 denominations:

(1) Catholics – 50,873,000 members

(2) Baptists - 33,830,000 members

(3) Methodists – 14,150,000

(4) Lutherans – 9,580,000

(5) Presbyterians – 5,596,000

(6) Church of Christ – 2,893,000

(7) Assemblies of GOD – 1,106,000

(8) Seventh Day Adventists – 724,000

(9) Non-denominational – 2,489,000

(10) Pentacostal/Charismatic – 4,407,000

Religious Bodies with Most Members

(1) Baptists

(2) Methodist

(3) Catholics

(4) Church of Christ

(5) Presbyterian

(6) Assemblies of GOD

(7) Jehovah Witnesses

(8) Episcopal Church

Churches with the highest amount of members

(1) Baptist

(2) Apostolic

(3) Catholic

Now if these figures represent anything, one would think that black males were off to a good start. Not so. 75% of each of the churches are female.

Black men are considered an endangered species. Young black males are forced into dangerous activities for their own survival. Men and boys are gunned down in the streets, not because they belong to a gang, because of the law enforcement agencies, and sometimes because they do not belong to a gang. Black males are frequently the target for racist law enforcement who shoot to kill, kill by strangulation, choke holds, other.

In school black males are under pressure, at home they are under pressure, in the church they are under pressure. Everywhere they turn, there are forces pulling and pushing, and to make matters worse, often they