This Powerful Video Of Essence Atkins Washing A Woman's Feet Is A Pure Act Of Sisterhood
If Jesus wept after being moved by someone’s grief, imagine the tears that would’ve poured at seeing someone weep with joy!
We always say that we should stand and support our fellow sistahs, but Essence Atkins (Smart Guy, Deliver Us From Eva) put action behind her talk when she performed a powerful act of kindness when washing the feet of Radio One Promotions Coordinator Allison Peterson.
Photo Credit: Instagram, @Hot1079ATL
The beautiful actress was in Atlanta this past weekend to promote her stage play Things Your Man Won’t Do along with fellow cast members Allen Payne (House of Payne) and Tony Grant (The Last Punch). During a promotional tour with Hot 107.9 and Majic 107.5, what started out as a joke of “what men won’t do” turned into a “What Would Jesus Do? moment as Essence randomly got down on her knees to wash Allison’s feet, just like Jesus did.
In the midst of amen’s and hallelujah’s Essence went into an impromptu speech sermon that made us shed some thug tears at the mere sincerity and beauty of her spirit—and let’s just say that she took us to church!
Essence Atkins got down on her knees and washed my friend Allison Pecola Person's feet today which I believe is a wonderful way to exude a simple act of kindness. #WWJD #TYLPosted by Michael Adeyeye on Friday, November 13, 2015
“This wasn’t planned for me to do this, but sisters it’s so important that we love on each other. I know I just met you today but I know the road that you walk, and I want you to know that you’re beautiful. And I want you to know that I got you, and I support you, and I love you."
Wellllll. Oh she ain’t done yet!
"And if we don’t give that to each other ya’ll we are lost, and will never be what we can be. So I get down here on my knees the way Jesus got down, and I give to you and say thank you for your strength, for your beauty, for your tenacity, for your integrity, for your intelligence, for your kindness. Thank you.”
Yes, Come on Sistah Atkins! You better preach!
[Tweet ""Sisters, it's so important that we love on each other!" -@essencesays"]
In case you slept through Bible Study, Essence’s act of kindness is reflective of when Jesus washed his disciples feet (John 13: 1 - 14) during an evening meal just before the Passover Feast and before he was to be crucified and return to his heavenly Father. Despite dining with men who would soon betray and desert him, he used his final hours to demonstrate the extent of His love before his departure. Jesus, who was looked at by his many followers as a leader and the son of God, began to wash his disciple’s feet—a task normally reserved for the lowliest of servants since back in the day people walked around in sandals on filthy roads and would need to wash their feet before a communal meal.
In this act, Jesus shows that “no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him” (John 13: 14), and instructs his disciples to go into the world and do with others what he has done as an example to them, and also to bring others to Christ to be cleansed of their sins as well.
Photo Credit: Instagram, @GabUnion
It’s such a powerful lesson, and who better than to teach us the word then Atkins, who just two years ago officiated the wedding of her besties Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union alongside her husband Jaime Mendez (Interesting fact: Essence met Jaime on Match.com at the age of 36—won’t He do it?!)
We are blessed to be a blessing, and Essence is certainly a good example of a woman of God who is fulfilling her mission of being a humble servant.
Allison is also clearly living up to the accolades that Essence gave her, as her friends and followers took to her Facebook attesting that she is, in fact, a beautiful spirit and that her light, love, and strength radiate through her.
Both women are positive examples that nobody can dim your light and that we as women are stronger together uplifting and encouraging one another, than we are tearing each other apart through bitterness and hatred.
Keep shining Queens!
What act of kindness will you show today to your fellow woman?
Kiah McBride writes technical content by day and uses storytelling to pen real and raw personal development pieces on her blog Write On Kiah. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @writeonkiah.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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How A Stay At Switzerland's Luxurious 7132 Hotel Reminded Me To Live The Life I Deserve
Sometimes, as women—especially as single Black women—we simply need to be reminded that we are deserving of living a life we dream of. Even if that means creating it for ourselves. I recently set out on a weeklong trip to Switzerland, a trip I’ve been wanting to take for years, and near the end of my visit, I had an epiphany.
“DeAnna, this is the life you deserve,” I thought to myself as I took in the gorgeous bathroom in my suite at the famous 7132 Hotel and Thermal Spa. It was one of the most luxurious hotels (and bathrooms) I had ever stayed in—and that’s saying a lot for someone who often travels for work.
To help you better understand why this was such a mental awakening for me, I first need to give a bit of my backstory. I’m in my late thirties. I’m an attorneyand a journalist. I own a home and have traveled the world extensively. Essentially, I’ve done everything in life I set out to do. However, when it comes to dating, I struggle. Not because there is anything wrong with me per se, but because my career and “lifestyle” often create problems in my romantic relationships.
View from my hotel room
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I’ve been told everything from, ‘I can’t continue to date you because you seem to choose your career over wanting to settle down and have kids’ by a man after only the second date to ‘Maybe if you just sat down somewhere for a while, I’d actually wife you’ by someone who has honestly never proven themselves to be the settle down type. And these are only a handful of the things I’ve been told over the years.
It’s been frustrating, to say the least, and there have even been seasons where I purposely dimmed my light in hopes that my career wouldn’t push away potential suitors. I know what you’re thinking, “Girl, why would you even consider that? If they’re for you, it won’t matter what you do.” Hey, don’t judge me, but also, I one hundred percent agree.
My hotel bathroom
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That’s why this recent moment in Switzerland was right on time. When I first walked into the hotel to check in, I was blown away by the surrounding beauty. It was a five-star property with one of the world’s most famous thermal bathhouses. Yet, it was something about seeing that 90% of the hotel’s guests were couples, that forced me to sit back for a bit of introspection—while soaking in the thermal spa, of course.
As I went through the mental conversation, there was a battle of sorts. On one hand, I knew that being able to partake in experiences like the one I was having at that moment was important to me. I knew that, at times I actually love being able to dabble in the finer things—after all, I’ve worked hard to be able to afford them. On the other hand, and sadly, I knew that sometimes being a single Black woman that publicly showcases her “luxurious” habits can intimidate men and even scare them off from pursuing you under the guise of them feeling like they “can’t do anything for you, because you have everything.”
My hotel room
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So, what is a girl to do?
Do I minimize/hide the life and experiences that I have? Do I play down the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am professionally? Or, do I risk being single in exchange for being able to have said life, without backlash?
Luckily, the joy that I felt while being at this property won. There was something about taking a full day to simply pamper myself at the bathhouse and in my in-room steam shower and soaker tub, indulging in cuisine from a 2-star Michelin restaurant and doing all of this while surrounded by an amazing group of Black women that reminded me—this is certainly the life I was meant to live and that I deserve. Even if it means that right now, I’ll just have to provide it for myself until the right partner comes along. And honestly, I’m okay with that.
Restaurant at 7132 hotel
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