Craig Mack ~ Heart Failure In African American Men
Today many lovers of rap music learned of the passing of Craig Mack. Being the researcher that I am, I immediately began to search for the cause of his death. I didn't know his exact age but I knew we were close in age. Craig Mack was 46. His cause of death was heart failure. Heart failure? At 46?
Craig Mack was one of those artists that had "it". He was part of Bad Boy Records he had features with top artists in the early 90's. So what happened to him? I've read that he left music because of his faith and eventually became a minister.
One of the initiatives that I love is Have Faith in Heart, it's now referred to as Empowered To Serve. That initiative is a part of American Heart Association's Go Red For Women Campaign. In one session a speaker said, "You have to make sure you heart is healthy. It's hard to serve others if you are not well." To goal is to be heart healthy so that we can serve others.
Through my working with Go Red For Women I know that heart disease is the number one killer among women. Here is information from the Go Red For Women website:
Here are a few unsettling stats:
- Cardiovascular diseases kill nearly 50,000 African-American women annually.
- Of African-American women ages 20 and older, 49 percent have heart diseases.
- Only 1 in 5 African-American women believes she is personally at risk.
- Only 52 percent of African-American women are aware of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack.
- Only 36 percent of African-American women know that heart disease is their greatest health risk.
Fast Facts: Black Americans & Heart Disease
- Black Americans are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke than White Americans.1
- Black women (49%) and Black men (44%) have higher rates of heart disease than White men (37%) and White women (32%).1
- Between the ages of 45 and 64, Black men have a 70% higher risk and Black women have a 50% greater risk of developing heart failure than White men and women.2
- The earlier onset of heart failure means higher rates of hospitalization, earlier disability, and higher rates of premature death (death before the age of 65) for Black Americans.2
- The annual rate of first heart attacks and first strokes is higher for Black Americans than White Americans
At 46 Craig Mack still had more to give the world through his music and through his ministry. May his legacy not only be his music but I pray that his heart failure prompts more men to go to the doctor and prevent another premature death.
Sending condolences to his wife and children and to all who knew and loved Craig Mack.
He'll forever be remembered as the man who brought that new flavor to our ear and he'll forever be in our hearts.
Practicing Daily Gratitude
For the past month I’ve been keeping a Gratitude Journal. The image contains the 3 things that I write about. Every so often I read through the journal to remind myself of all of the things I’m thankful for.
I started this process as I was completing a meditation challenge. It all just seem to flow together, from a heart of gratitude.
Be mindful
Be present
Just Be
Make Room
It must of been on Friday when I saw Maranda Curtis post about the new Jonathan McReynolds music. I love Maranda's music. It's totally amazing. My alarm is set to Track 3.
I venture over to Tidal to see if Jonathan's new music is out. I see it and hit play. The first day I just listened. I really couldn't get pass the second song, "Great is The Lord" because well.... When I heard "He's just too good, to just be "good" I about lost it thinking of how good He's been to me when I could have thrown in the towel on several occasions. This past year almost wiped a sista out.
On Friday night I wrestled with something. Nope, it's not super deep. I wrestled with cleaning out my closet. I have this beautiful space that has turned into storage over the years. My mind was thinking, "How did I accumulate all of this stuff?", "How do I start the process?" "Where do I start?" I got so discouraged that I just feel asleep. I can laugh now about how overwhelming it was but then two things happened. Ok, three things happened.
1. I woke up.
2. I read in one of my Bible plans that we all have something to bless another person. In the plan it asked "Do you have a coat you're not wearing that someone else could be wearing?' Hmmm... I have 3 maybe 4.
Now I was more alert and I needed music to get started. I'll be honest, generally when I clean I need music that I can dance and sing to. Not this time, I needed something different because I was about to do something different.
3. I pressed play to listen to the entire Jonathan McReynolds new release.
I'm just cleaning. I had 2 bags of stuff to give away and 1 and 1/2 bag of garbage. Then I hear song number 10, "Make Room" and 11, "Move That Over", and the entire moment changed. I now realize the challenge of my closet, it's a mindset issue. You see as I'm cleaning out my closet I'm addressing the marriage that didn't work, the relationship that didn't work, the weight that was lost and gained back. It represents some of those things that didn't work in my life.
The whole closet isn't like that though. It also represents the growth of my youngest son and how after being diagnosed at an early age with a communication delay, he's an elite basketball player in his class and he will be entering one of the best high schools in the country next year. So pulling out his little shoes and socks and seeing him become who he is without a father in his life brings tears even now.
Pulling out each thing out I have to remember, feel what I feel and decide what to do with it. I gotta face what I've packed away. I have to be present in that moment.
What's beautiful about the closet is that contains so much that could bless another women, another family. I honestly believe that God is telling me to get these things out of the way to make room for the newness. Make room for clear spaces that reflect my mindset. I'm already thinking that part of it could be used for a prayer room, which I've desired for years. I already know the paint color and the lighting I want in there, I have a thing for chandeliers.
By four on Saturday I was whipped from being in there. I have a way to go but I'm off to get a good start. God's been having stuff in store for me and now I have a mantra to say when I'm cleaning out my closet.
The stuff in my closet... You can move that over.
The things that no longer serve me.... You can move that over.
The things that no longer serve me.... You can move that over.
The negative self-talk..... You can move that over.
Whatever it is...... You can move than over.
I will make room.
Not only do I have to make room for all those things that God has for me, I need to be a vessel and bless someone with my overflow. I've been given much. I need to bless even more.
Pray For Marjory Stoneman Douglas High
Today is Valentine's Day
A day that celebrates love
Today is Ash Wednesday
A day that represents
The beginning of Lent
The journey to the cross
Amazing how a day where we
Celebrate love &
The One who laid down His life for us
Turned dark
Turned grim
On this day
Dozens of families are changed
Many lives were lost
Posts of lifeless bodies & gunshots
Are etched in our mind
Embedded in our hearts
A high school community is shattered
With the loss of several of its members
In this dark hour
Light comes through
As love pours in
From millions around the world
Who are covering
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
In prayer
Finish Strong
When this year started I was over 60 days behind on my 2017 Bible Study plan. I was upset because I had gotten so behind. As December of 2017 was ending I knew I would not complete my goal. In January I made a commitment to finish it. Finish it even though our church was starting a brand new Bible plan. Finish it even though I had a lot of odd and ends going on in my life. Finish it even though I knew I had a lot of reading to do to finish it.
And so I came up with a plan. Read as much as possible every day until it was completed. It was one of those things that I had to do. I had this things about not bring incomplete activities from 2017 into 2018. On tonight I finished my 2017 Bible plan and it felt so good.
If you have a task that you haven't finished take on a Nike mentality and just do it.
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