DANITA TURNER-WILLIAMS

Brenda stormed into Beautiful Diva’s—her place of business, her baby, her world—slamming the door behind her.  Brenda always seemed to make her presence known everywhere she went and she had an air that she should be catered to. 

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“Sally, hun, would you fetch me a towel out of the utility area and tell my 1:00 that I’m ready for her?”  She snarled at the shampoo girl in her normal demeaning way.   

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Sally humbly walked to the adjoining room to let Ms. Nelly know that she was expected by her highness.  Sally wondered how long she would have to suffer working for such an ungrateful, rude, person.  She thought Brenda looked right through her, as if she was no one, or someone who was beneath Brenda.  God said when he created us we were made in the likeness of Him and… ‘It was good.

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Ms. Nelly approached Brenda’s chair.  “How are you doing, Brenda?” 

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“I’m doing ok, just a little rushed,” she stated with much agitation.  “I’ll be glad when I don’t have to perform such manual labor; it’s so beneath me!” stated Brenda.  “A woman of my stature should not have to perform such tasks,” she continued. 

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Ms. Nelly responded, “The Lord will provide, he always makes a way.” 

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Brenda rolled her eyes and her anger intensified as Ms. Nelly mentioned God.  “Where was God when I needed Him, while my mother was lying on her sick bed, dying from cancer?” she raised her tone of voice.  “My mother put all her trust and confidence in a God that didn’t deliver.  She prayed and she told me that God would deliver her.  I even prayed and God didn’t answer my prayers, so why would I trust Him to make a way?” 

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Ms. Nelly was a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Crisis Minister at her church, so she was deeply touched by the pain she heard in Brenda’s voice. 

“Wow,” stated Ms. Nelly, “that must have been a great deal of pain that you went through with your mother.  Do you want to talk about it further?” 

“No, I don’t want to talk about it anymore,” she snapped. 

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Ms. Nelly stated, “Just know that I am here if you need me.” 

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“Alright, but for now, let’s concentrate on how you want your hair styled.”