Sealed With a Kiss.....Red Lipstick!

By Michelle Jefferson J.

This memoir is of the many intentional conversations I had with my mother, Dorothy Jefferson.

It's amazing to me when I watch the manifestation of a vision that mom and I discussed way before me stepping out in faith on my journey to serve people. As we coauthored this book together, I smile looking at the hand writing on the p

• Language: English
• Publisher: Palmetto Publishing
• Release date: Jan 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685158347

Book preview

THE INTRODUCTION

Sealed With a Kiss; Red lipstick

The journey of writing ‘Sealed with a kiss, red lipstick’ started off as a a partnership with my Mommy and I. However, knowing and remembering Mommy holding my hand as a child and later as an adult, I must finish this journey alone. My idea was the partnership; however, God had given the assignment of this book to me.

I dedicate this book to God first. Thank you, Lord God, for the assignment. Although I waited 10 years between each call, you welcomed and instructed me as if it were the only call. Thank you, Lord, for Mommy! Thank you for assigning her to me. Mommy held me in her arms several times as a child, however, she held me up when I was broken in 2009, when I became ill in 2015, along with losing the usage of my legs. Lord, you allowed her to be the confirmation for my assignment. Not only for this book, but for the ministry of mentoring children and sharing my life experience with women. Mommie knew what you had instructed me to do, and she was my earthly encourager. She encouraged me right after I signed the papers to leave my job and she encouraged me before she closed her eyes to be with you. Thank you, dear Lord, for entrusting me to praise you and give you glory through this journey and this book writing.

THE FINAL INSTRUCTIONS

FROM MOMMY.

Clear instructions…. complete my assignments and don’t take on any more projects. Mommy said I had helped enough people for now. She instructed me to stick to my assignment from God and live my life. On her last evening, before bed (I stayed every night with her), she thanked me for making sure she had what she needed and wanted. She said, Thank you for keeping me happy!

I am still humbled remembering her words to me. Lord knows I struggled through the 10-year journey with Mommy. It wasn’t her; it was me. I needed to be humbled, purified, and then focused. I needed to know me, realize my value, remove wasteful relationships, and continue to walk by faith in this journey. Lord knows, through all, I needed faith.

I am ever so grateful and thankful, for this assignment; ‘Sealed with a kiss, Red lipstick’. Here we go, as I share my journey of lessons learned. The lessons of life of hard knocks, lessons from God, lessons through therapy, and lessons from Mommy.

I thank you Lord and praise you for strategically allowing me to share this journey…….

PREPARE YOURSELVES……

Pray and be opened minded for

help and not judgement.

This book is like no other. It has no chapters; it is merely events before and during what lead to learning so many lessons. It is written in no specific order; it is a combination of writings compiled of conversations that Mommy and I intentionally had. This book is designed to help, open eyes, avoid pitfalls, learn forgiveness, and yes, move on after pain. It is important for me to introduce my co-author as she rests in the bosom of God.

Who is Mommy? Mommy ‘is’ to me

and possibly ‘was’ to others……

Mommy, as I call her, is Dorothy ‘Dot’ Jefferson. She wore many hats during her lifetime; baby of the family, sister, friend, wife, mother, protector of the pulpit….shall I continue. For me, she was and is Mommy, teacher, friend, therapist, and my calming post. She was a true example of what God expected mothers to be. She loved me through my good and she loved me through my bad. She wasn’t judgmental but she was the tote of truth. I needed and required all that Mommy had sown into me! God knew it.

Mommy was one that would listen to your truth, smile, and ask you if you wanted her thoughts. The very best of this is love was always expressed with her knowledge.

Born and raised in Tennessee. She was the baby of ten siblings. She was loved by several and those who didn’t love her, probably didn’t or don’t understand why they didn’t’. She was a little ball of fire and to appreciate the book and lessons learned, one must keep this in mind. This book is basically a dialogue between Mommy and I during a ten-year journey the Lord allowed me to spend time with her basically by myself.

For those who knew Mommy will be able to feel her presence throughout the book. The intent for those who read this book; even those that didn’t know her, will leave with life's lessons that I learned and the wanting to have sat at her feet as I have done.

What is Sealed With a Kiss?

During this journey, I intentionally journaled conversations and discussions Mommy and I had. She knew this. It was an agreement we had just between the two of us. I have four journal books and pieces of paper with sayings on them. Some of the sheets are church bulletins and some are grocery store sale papers and receipts. Wherever and whenever I could get a nugget from Mommy, I grabbed a hold of it. This effort, again I must say, was intentional!

‘Mommy’ will be mentioned several times in this book. Mommy did not like to be referred to as ‘she’. Mommy would tell you in a minute, that She has a name! For the sake of writing this book, I will have to write ‘she’. I laugh as I type this because I can just see the expression on her face. Now that you understand the power behind her let me share her with you in this book; ‘Sealed With a Kiss; Red lipstick’.

THE MANY SAYINGS MOMMY

USED IN THE DISCUSSIONS

HAD… NOTE, THEY ARE NOT

IN ANY PARTICULAR ORDER

Every shut eye ain’t sleep, every goodbye ain’t gone

A case of compelment will make a monkey eat pepper

Beautify what's left

Respect is earned, not demanded

Love yourself

Are you finished?

Sex is nothing but a wet a** and a wet bed if no love is there

Always be a lady, when you lose that you’ve lost all you have

Love requires reciprocity

Hurt will only remain until you force it out!

Second time around? It depends, do you want to return to vomit.

When taking a bath, where there is a hole, water will seep in

Don’t leave a stone unturned. Love your loved ones and don’t forget to share everything with them while they are here.

Take care of the man of God and God will take care of you

Stick to your assignments

Don’t half do things, or don’t do it at all

Know your place

Watch the words you speak…story of the hindering post

Get your fight back

Watch your circle…this includes your eyes and your mouth!

Everyone has a past

There are just some things there is absolutely nothing you can do about!

Choose your battles

Entertain yourself, read.

Be self-sufficient, just in case

Just sit still sometimes

Choose your own path

You can’t worry about people talking about you

Every zebra shows his stripes

Put it in the master's hand, Give it to God!

Women have too many options these days, no excuse

Women weren’t meant to be like men

Don’t look for validation, good quality stands out by itself

God's timing is not our timing

Where's your scruples? Watch your persuasions.

Know your stage in the game. Stay in your lane

Your character will be upheld, and you won’t have to be around

Afford your own habits

They have moved on, why are you sad or angry?

What are you dragging?

Moody? Who has time for it and who cares?

Treat people the way you want to be treated

Care and compassion come naturally, give it time

It's someone for everyone

Dress like you, because everyone can’t wear everything

Cutting eyes, chile, don’t worry about that. it's the only way they can cut you without touching you

Jealousy is a bad seed. Don’t let it grow in you.

What did I do to them? Nothing but woke up….lol…

Mind your own checkbook

Thankfulness and gratefulness can’t be measured. Let it