DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
DON’T GIVE UP!
© NaimaLett.com/blog
Actor and Activist April Hernandez Castillo shares her story.
Don’t Give Up!
In response to yesterday’s blog Lolo’s Lesson Learned, my beautiful friend, SAG Award nominated actress, motivational speaker and activist April Hernandez Castillo (Freedom Writers, Dexter, Person of Interest) posted a reply about her own lesson learned in life to never give up. Her refreshing transparency is something that I love about April. She freely shares her life and faith.
April has a truly amazing story of survival and overcoming, and I can’t wait for her book so you can hear it. We’ll invite her on for a guest blog in the future, but today you can get a taste in her vlog for mamalatinas.com called “April’s Adventures in Mamihood”.
In the video above, April, who is from the Bronx, is on the road in Denver. She vlogs (video-blogs) from her hotel room before she speaks at the National Coalition of Domestic Violence Conference.
“I never gave up. I never stopped believing…even when I felt alone…” April recalls.
April encapsulates that Olympic spirit that we’ve seen in our athletes all week. She has Serena’s strength and Venus’ finesse. She applies Gabby’s flexibility to life. Like Lolo, she’s fought back from incredible odds to carve out a place for her voice. And like Allyson Felix, who finally won gold yesterday after taking silver in 2004 and 2008, April has never given up.
Last Sunday, I preached this message of “Don’t Give Up!” recounting how Jesus encouraged his followers to be persistent. After Jesus teaches them how to pray, He says keep praying: asking, seeking and knocking. Don’t give up!
LUKE 11:5-10
Then He (Jesus) said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened…
Persistence, Fam.
Our prayers require persistence.
Our faith requires persistence.
Our lives require persistence.
Ask and keep on asking.
Seek and keep on seeking.
Knock and keep on knocking.
Be encouraged today by April’s story, by our Olympic athletes, and especially by Jesus’ instructions. After all, if God says be persistent, we probably should not give up!
Tell a friend today, “Quitting is not an option!”
Naima
Can you relate?
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What a blessing! I thank God for April and her story and reaching out to all those women who need words of encouragement full of hope, but most importantly, words based on God’s plans and purposes for each and every one of us.
I grew up in a domestic violence environment, got married twice and divorced twice under the same circumstances, how each word mentioned by April just touched my heart in such a special way. But our God is such an awesome God and for more than a year now, I have been a volunteer at a shelter for battered and abused women and the journey has been just amazing . . . experiencing the wonderful things the Lord puts before you, while being blessed and a blessing.
Step out . . . speak up . . . take action . . . is what it’s all about. Sharing and listening . . . is priceless. In the midst of your healing process, words cannot express what it feels to give . . . as you also receive! Praise Jesus!!!
Raquel, first of all, thanks so much for sharing your story, and I’m so very grateful to hear that you are safe and well and healing and giving back. Thanking God for you! And passing your message on to April. Praise the Lord, indeed! So wonderful to hear from you. Lots of love your way. Keep being that blessing! :=)