The Beauty of My Heart: Poetry from the Core of My Soul to Warm Your Heart (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781436337724)

I was blessed to be reared by my loving parents and grandparents who truly loved the Lord. I thank them for providing me with the knowledge of the Holy Bible and for inspiring me to do God's will. The loss of my father, Rev Joe Manuel on December 8, 2006, grandmother Mrs. Jimmie L. Bither on May 23, 2006 and the loss of my mother Shirley J. Manuel on March 29, 2014, took a toll on my strength. Nevertheless, through my faith in the almighty God my strength was renewed. My dad had a special connection with God. He taught me to put God first, and all things would happen in the proper time according to the will of God. I saw a light in my father, which made my faith even stronger. My dad was a remarkable man who was a servant for the Lord. As a father, he was my preacher, teacher, provider and protector. My mother whom I love and adore; was the core of my being. My mom always showed love, compassion, and support; she never questioned who I would become. She was the greatest mom ever. She gave me life on February 4, 1962, in Jackson, Mississippi. My parents relocated our family to Los Angeles, California when I was seven years old. My grandmother was the driving force in her families' lives. She never held her tongue; she encouraged when encouragement was needed. She was connect to God in a profound way, she was a praying grandmother. Being in her presence I felt safe, as if angels were always dancing around my head. What an awesome feeling! Also, my son Marvin who lights up my life through his determination to seek the best life possible; his quest for education is phenomenal. With the guidance of my parents, I know that I encouraged my son to put God first in all aspects of his life and he would reap the benefits of prosperity. Through my journey, I found it amazing how the death of my father, mother and grandmother inspired me to express myself through poetry. In many of the phases throughout this book, I found myself searching for answers related to my losses. My answers were in my heart, they were pure and simple, they corresponded through the faith that I have in God. I now spend time getting to know myself. As you see, I have a true love for God.