The beach is my sanctuary and sacred place. The sunset is my personal call to worship. “God’s glory is on tour in the skies,God-craft on exhibit across the horizon” Psalm 19:1.

The sunset is my personal call to worship. “God’s glory is on tour in the skies,God-craft on exhibit across the horizon” Psalm 19:1.

Watching the sunset regulates my body’s natural rhythms; spiritually, it invites reflection and connection with God's creation; reduces stress and boosts my mood by encouraging mindfulness and gratitude. Sunsets still me.

I am grounded by the sand between my toes. The ocean listens to my prayers, my tears, my joy, my fears—whatever pours out of me.

As I walked to my sacred place, I passed by a Black couple in the beach parking lot, seated in their beach chairs, enjoying the view. We smiled and waved at each other.

I worshipped at my sacred place and watched the sunset. As I trudged back with my beach chair, the couple smiled and waved me over. The woman asked, “How was it?” I replied, “It was sooooo beautiful. This is my woosah place.” She looked at her hubby and said, “I told you … that’s Black girl magic right there.” He looked at me and said, “When we saw you walking alone, I wondered if you were meeting someone … and my wife said, ‘She doesn’t need to. We don’t wait to take time for ourselves. She’s gonna sit on that beach, rest, woosah, and take care of herself, cause that’s Black girl magic.’” I smiled. It is.

She said, “Can I tell you a story?”

I always love hearing a story.

She shared, “I was a single mom, and one of the few treats I could afford to give myself was time at the beach, as long as I had coins for metered parking. One day, it was literally a one-coin day, and I took some time at the beach.
As I walked back to my car, another woman walked alongside me. We chatted, and I said, ‘Gotta get to my car before it expires.’
She looked at me and said, ‘Sis, do you want to leave? I noticed you were only there for a short time.’
Tears welled up as I told her I didn’t have extra coins.
She said, ‘No, ma’am, let me scrounge up some quarters. Mamas need to take care of ourselves.’
She took a handful of coins and placed them in my hands. I walked back to my car, tears streaming down my face, holding those coins like they were gold—and they were. I wonder if she knew that she saved my life that day. I think she did.” Whew …

We then went on to talk about the sisterly moments from the Olympics, like how gymnasts Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles decided to bow to gold medal winner Rebeca Andrade of Brazil—the first time three women of color were on the medal stage.

We talked about a sisterly moment when Brazilian soccer player Tamira Morenes literally helped carry an injured opponent ,Albertina Kassoma, off the field. She said she respected her work a lot and cared for her. That’s a gold medal moment.

It’s these moments of sisterhood that transcend competition, rivalry, and status.

I told her that I wore my Black Girl Magic shirt that day in honor of these moments. I told her that the woman who gave her that handful of coins was another gold medal moment. Whenever we can support each other, it is a gold medal moment—watching out for each other, reminding us to slow down, take breaks, and take care of ourselves.

Her husband said, “By the way, we both decided we wouldn’t leave until after you did. We were watching you as you sat on the beach. Believe me, no one was going to bother you.”

Tears streamed down my face, and I said, “You were my beach angels, watching out for me.” Most definitely,” she said, “that’s keeping that Black girl magic and self-care.”

I walked back to my car, tears streaming down my face, grateful for the gold medal moment of receiving sisterly (and brotherly) care from two people who intersected their lives with mine for a moment … a needed moment. I wonder if they knew how much that meant to me.

Gold medal moment … Take time to remind each other about self-care. Tell A Sister how much she means to you, remind her to slow down and check in on her.

It’s what sisters do … Share this blog and encourage a Sister today.

Shout out to my Beach Angels Tasha and her Co-Angel Kevin.

Rev Sheila P Spencer

Here’s a sunset for you …….

Dec 1, 2024

The Complicated, Beautiful Relationship with Hope

My relationship with hope is still in tact. Despite the occasional “it’s complicated,” we remain connected. It’s the audacity of hope that keeps us going.

Nov 10, 2024

Brewing and Stewing ....... Journey to Gratitude

“Gratitude is not always about waiting for resolution. Sometimes, gratitude is found in the people and the moments that hold space for you, in the midst and allow you to just be …. similar to the process of brewing tea, just waiting”

Oct 26, 2024

Breaking The Myth of The Strong Friend ....

“Why does someone always have to be the strong friend? The label can feel heavy if it’s the only crown we’re allowed to wear. What if the role of the strong friend shifted within the group and became something we all shared?”

Sisterhood by the Sea - Gold Medal Moments

The beach is my sanctuary and sacred place. The sunset is my personal call to worship. “God’s glory is on tour in the skies,God-craft on exhibit across the horizon” Psalm 19:1.

Watching the sunset regulates my body’s natural rhythms; spiritually, it invites reflection and connection with God's creation; reduces stress and boosts my mood by encouraging mindfulness and gratitude. Sunsets still me.

I am grounded by the sand between my toes. The ocean listens to my prayers, my tears, my joy, my fears—whatever pours out of me.

As I walked to my sacred place, I passed by a Black couple in the beach parking lot, seated in their beach chairs, enjoying the view. We smiled and waved at each other.

She said, “Can I tell you a story?”

I always love hearing a story.

We then went on to talk about the sisterly moments from the Olympics, like how gymnasts Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles decided to bow to gold medal winner Rebeca Andrade of Brazil—the first time three women of color were on the medal stage.

We talked about a sisterly moment when Brazilian soccer player Tamira Morenes literally helped carry an injured opponent ,Albertina Kassoma, off the field. She said she respected her work a lot and cared for her. That’s a gold medal moment.

It’s these moments of sisterhood that transcend competition, rivalry, and status.

Her husband said, “By the way, we both decided we wouldn’t leave until after you did. We were watching you as you sat on the beach. Believe me, no one was going to bother you.”

Tears streamed down my face, and I said, “You were my beach angels, watching out for me.” Most definitely,” she said, “that’s keeping that Black girl magic and self-care.”

I walked back to my car, tears streaming down my face, grateful for the gold medal moment of receiving sisterly (and brotherly) care from two people who intersected their lives with mine for a moment … a needed moment. I wonder if they knew how much that meant to me.

Gold medal moment … Take time to remind each other about self-care. Tell A Sister how much she means to you, remind her to slow down and check in on her.

It’s what sisters do … Share this blog and encourage a Sister today.

Shout out to my Beach Angels Tasha and her Co-Angel Kevin.

Rev Sheila P Spencer

Here’s a sunset for you …….

My relationship with hope is still in tact. Despite the occasional “it’s complicated,” we remain connected. It’s the audacity of hope that keeps us going.

“Gratitude is not always about waiting for resolution. Sometimes, gratitude is found in the people and the moments that hold space for you, in the midst and allow you to just be …. similar to the process of brewing tea, just waiting”

“Why does someone always have to be the strong friend? The label can feel heavy if it’s the only crown we’re allowed to wear. What if the role of the strong friend shifted within the group and became something we all shared?”

Just Ask .....

Who are your Storm Friends?

The beach is my sanctuary and sacred place. The sunset is my personal call to worship. “God’s glory is on tour in the skies,God-craft on exhibit across the horizon” Psalm 19:1.

Watching the sunset regulates my body’s natural rhythms; spiritually, it invites reflection and connection with God's creation; reduces stress and boosts my mood by encouraging mindfulness and gratitude. Sunsets still me.

I am grounded by the sand between my toes. The ocean listens to my prayers, my tears, my joy, my fears—whatever pours out of me.

As I walked to my sacred place, I passed by a Black couple in the beach parking lot, seated in their beach chairs, enjoying the view. We smiled and waved at each other.

She said, “Can I tell you a story?”

I always love hearing a story.

We then went on to talk about the sisterly moments from the Olympics, like how gymnasts Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles decided to bow to gold medal winner Rebeca Andrade of Brazil—the first time three women of color were on the medal stage.

We talked about a sisterly moment when Brazilian soccer player Tamira Morenes literally helped carry an injured opponent ,Albertina Kassoma, off the field. She said she respected her work a lot and cared for her. That’s a gold medal moment.

It’s these moments of sisterhood that transcend competition, rivalry, and status.

Her husband said, “By the way, we both decided we wouldn’t leave until after you did. We were watching you as you sat on the beach. Believe me, no one was going to bother you.”

Tears streamed down my face, and I said, “You were my beach angels, watching out for me.” Most definitely,” she said, “that’s keeping that Black girl magic and self-care.”

I walked back to my car, tears streaming down my face, grateful for the gold medal moment of receiving sisterly (and brotherly) care from two people who intersected their lives with mine for a moment … a needed moment. I wonder if they knew how much that meant to me.

Gold medal moment … Take time to remind each other about self-care. Tell A Sister how much she means to you, remind her to slow down and check in on her.

It’s what sisters do … Share this blog and encourage a Sister today.

Shout out to my Beach Angels Tasha and her Co-Angel Kevin.

Rev Sheila P Spencer

Here’s a sunset for you …….

My relationship with hope is still in tact. Despite the occasional “it’s complicated,” we remain connected. It’s the audacity of hope that keeps us going.

“Gratitude is not always about waiting for resolution. Sometimes, gratitude is found in the people and the moments that hold space for you, in the midst and allow you to just be …. similar to the process of brewing tea, just waiting”

“Why does someone always have to be the strong friend? The label can feel heavy if it’s the only crown we’re allowed to wear. What if the role of the strong friend shifted within the group and became something we all shared?”

Just Ask .....

Who are your Storm Friends?

Sheila Spencer