Get to The Heart of the Matter

When it comes to the truth as I see it in Liberia. The differences are too deep. Reconciliation of the entire populace is an illusion. National unity is a more realistic quest. People's hearts are filled with deep and chronic resentments. Wounds and grudges fester too far down into the soul of the nation. Imaginary or real, hatred and bitterness dominate most people thoughts. There might never be reconciliation in Liberia. There can be unity. A United People. If we would rally together around one common agenda: LOVE FOR LIBERIA. This Agenda must be buttress by RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER. There's the reality to strive for.

Reconciliation of all. I say not no time soon.

Respect for One Another. I say begin right now at this time. 

The Result. Unity. Irrespective of whether or not we reconcile the vast differences amongst the Liberian people. 

You see. The root of irreconcilable differences in Liberians is a "heart" problem. Human beings cannot fix the heart. Only Almighty God can change a heart that has purposed what it has determined to be. The masses of Liberian people have no desire to reconcile. By the way, if I may ask, what exactly are we as a nation trying to reconcile? The work of Omnipotence cannot be completed by mortals. 

We, believers, keep praying, until, individually, people turn to God through Jesus Christ. As citizens and friends of the Republic, let each seek God, and ask for Divine assistance to focus on the Country and not on one another. 

Unity can exist in Liberia without reconciliation. Do what you can do for your country. Forget about liking one another or not. Strangers do not have to be friends, but strangers have to be kind with each other, if either one is to be considered a "decent" member of society. Total strangers can coexist respectfully in the same space. Those living in the Western World know this first-hand. We see and live it frequently. 

Liberians. We can agree to disagree in all our positions. We cannot disagree that every Liberian must love Liberia first, foremost, and last. I believe if we intend to win at something new for our beloved country, we must first accept that engrained beliefs and tendencies in the people have resulted in deep seated differences. We must commit and focus to Love Liberia despite these irreconcilable differences. We must all work toward a common good, Liberia. A shared interest, Liberia. Our passionate object, Liberia. We must Preserve The Entity, THE REPUBLIC. 

Hortense Duarma Grimes (~HortenseInspiration)

Born and raised, Liberia West Africa
Servant of the Living God

DO IT FOR CHRIST Ministries

*writing includes local Liberian vernacular

Prayer Is The Answer

You know you have too much time on your hands when you harbor intense hatred for another person who has absolutely no idea who you are, does not know your name, and has never ever heard of you. 

Watch out, my friend. Your arch enemy, Satan the devil, has numerous subtle ways of possessing you. Paramount is his being able to vape into your head. You must be alert. When one part of the heart gets contaminated the poison spreads quickly throughout. Soon the filth comes out of your heart onto your mouth and into the lives of people around you. 

Remember, all your time is precious. Make your dash (-) count. Your dash records all you do in this side of everlasting life. (Born that day - Died this day.) Eternity beckons. Pray. Ask Jesus for clarity and strength to redirect your time and energy. You are too precious in the eyes of God. Let every thing about you reflect the Christ in you. Today. Starting now.

Here's sending much love and peace your way.

Srvt. Hortense Duarma Grimes (~HortenseInspiration)Servant of the Living GodDO IT FOR CHRIST Ministries

Divide The Whole Place

This Thought Scenario has been on my mind for several years, but I did not have enough courage to say it out publicly. Until today. Over time, in conversations with several different people, I realized there are quite a few Liberians who feel the same way about this as a solution. I am emboldened to put the thought scenario out here and see if we could begin the conversation. Particularly, at this time and season in our Republic. I know for a fact things will not shift for the better any time soon, especially considering the current mentality of the "This is Our Time to Eat" group. And that is fine by me. They can still continue eating on their side. What do you think? If for nothing else, where does this put your thinking?

My THOUGHT SCENARIO**

Divide Liberia into Two Parts. Have the population form two groups of people.

Group 1: the "This is Our Time to Eat"
Group 2: the "Rejects"

Let Group 1 be the first to choose which part of the country they want. Group 2 takes the part what remains.

For the sake of peace and fairness and equality, everybody should stay on their side and fix up their side. 

All donors should give Group 1 access to all the money and resources they ask for to develop their side. Also give Group 1 complete access to Liberia's wealth. Leave Group 2 to hustle for their own money and resources to develop their side. Everybody stay on your side of Liberia. FINALLY Peace will return to the heaven on earth that God meant for Liberia to be. *

Srvt. Hortense Duarma Grimes (~HortenseInspiration)

Servant of the Living God 

DO IT FOR CHRIST Ministries

*writing includes local Liberian vernacular. 

**Disclaimer: Exasperation mood. In my Liberian voice, this is my "I nah reach my frustration limit" thoughts. 

I Feel Like Reiterating True True Truth July 29, 2019

Originally Published July 29, 2018. This is a repost, commemorating the one year anniversary of HortenseInspiration Movement #ChangingtheNarrative #RaisetheBar.  We must correct the erroneous narratives about Liberia, for the sake of fostering national unity and an attempt to bring about some reconciliation among all the groups of Liberian people. 

"It is impossible to erase all elements of an establishment."  

~Hortense Duarma Grimes, July 29, 2018

July 29^th 2018 #ReconcileLiberia #RaisetheBar Over the last several days, I have been following and participating in a Facebook thread relating to a recently published writing, “Children of A Lesser God” by Mr. Henry Mamulu. The Facebook comment-conversation continues to be insightful. Mamulu’s Article is profound, passionate, and provocative. I like the piece. It triggers all types of reactions from readers. The ongoing discourse spurred a sermon in me. Always, the Servant of God must be bold, truthful, fearless and kind—all at the same time. Here is a long one from me. If you have the time, take a good reading. Blessings! ~~Servant Hortense

 I FEEL LIKE PREACHING. This early Sunday morning, Lord Have Mercy!

The current thread has gotten unbelievable in the kinds of venom it has uncovered in some people. Profoundly and meticulously as I work toward wishfully getting Liberians pointed in a direction of real reconciliation dialogue, I struggle to determine where do we start. If we can find a starting HONEST point, the real conversations can begin.

The problem I’ve found repeatedly, is that the “other side” does not have nor do they desire a starting point. By the other side, I am referring to those Liberians who feel the Congo people (pronounced "con gau"; hereinafter referenced as "Congau"), Liberians who are descendants of Americo-Liberia settlers, are not Liberian enough and therefore not entitled to having a history like every other human being. Only they, the self-proclaimed “Indigenous Liberian” should have such a right to a history. Furthermore, that Indigenous Liberian has the liberty to spin any and all kinds of tales about the years of Americo-Liberian rule; however, God forbid, Congau should so dare. In present day Liberia, it is largely wished that the Congau must bury their tales. Any attempt to relive their reality and personal Liberian experience is silenced by insults, bad bad cussing and dirty cuss words, inhumane treatment, death threats, and more. Extreme threats, of annihilation of an entire group of people. *

By the way, 99% of Congau people alive today are mixed with non-Congau blood. Intermarriages and interrelations took care of that long time since. Being Americo-Liberian is firstly, descent by blood. You are Congau, if you can trace your genealogy and any or all parts link you to at least one of the new passenger/arrivals on ships operated by the American Colonization Society which transported returned slaves to Africa, after the abolishment of Slavery in America. You are non-Congau if you trace your genealogy and no part can link you to at least one passenger/arrival on those ships. Congau is a large group, and largely unrecognized number of Liberians that should be counted as the seventeenth tribe, if tribalism is a requirement for being Liberian.

Not only is Congau a bloodline, heritage and natural lineage, it involves other definitions. Congau is an upbringing. Congau is training and nurturing of a mentality. Congau is a mindset. Congau is culture, class, decency, self-discipline, disciplined cultured behavior and temperament, nuances, diction and phrases. Congau is a system of conducting one’s life. Congau is a kind of style and class; classiness not seen much everywhere in today’s Liberia. Congau is flair; a you got it or you ain’t got it personality. When Congau enters a room you know it, you hear it, and I dare say, you can even smell it and feel it. Congau is many things, a myriad of attributes. Congau is a way of life. Congau is a unique expression and carrying of oneself; posture, statement, ambience. Congau is relative to environment. Congau is comprehensive.

Congau is a beautiful awesome way of life! Congau is a presence. Congau is present and we are here to stay. In Liberia, if we so choose, or anyplace else we so desire. Black America honor and cherish their slave ancestry. Liberian Congau are doing so and will continue likewise. Congau will remain present in Liberia. Congau will not die out or be wiped off the face of the Republic of Liberia. It is impossible to erase all elements of an Establishment.

Let me get back to track. I QUOTE” “…No point in trying to educate heartless morons. Wait for the next savage upheaval in Liberia to wipe out their future generation, totally. Then Liberia will finally be at peace. How did Native people ever allow such wickedly evil people to step on African land. For real!! ... END OF QUOTE.  These are words I read on the thread related to the article.

All rights to freedom of speech and expression being considered. Notwithstanding, that a human being would express such thoughts, because another human being wrote of their experiences, brings me to silence. Even in apartheid South Africa that tirade would be repulsive. Nevertheless, mentioning a memory of death often would call for a moment of silence. Likewise, whenever fundamental truth is established one must ponder its ramifications by a moment of silent thought. I am silenced by the expressions in such narratives. Albeit a temporary silence. I wake up. To remain silent is to hush my ancestors’ voice.

The quote represents what most self-proclaimed Indigenous Liberian believe is the solution for the anarchy Liberia has today become. True or false is factually debatable. The self-proclaimed Indigenous Liberian believes that for Liberia to thrive again the Congau people must be killed out of existence. Essentially, they are saying the same group of people synonymous with Liberia’s long gone glory days (by all accounts worldwide and Global proclamations) must now die, murdered away completely, for the present day now disintegrated nation to thrive. There’s a big grammar English word for this kind of scenario.

May I submit to anyone listening and the world at large. Sadly for those so wishing, the descendants of Congau people are going nowhere no time soon. Not going anywhere! Americo-Liberians are secreted in the national soil and immersed with the sand. Their DNA is etched in the sandy grains of the Nation’s concrete. The ground tucks their blood, sweat and toil. The Congau forefathers gave their everything for their country, Liberia. Americo-Liberians give their all. Their all still speaks.

The undisputed fact remains this: Prior to 1822 there was no place on earth called by the name Liberia. The land mass referred by the world as the country, Liberia, was established when freed American slaves returned to Africa, land of their ancestors, looking for a new home, far away from life in slavery. And they discovered such a one. They, the freed slaves from America. “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.” The Settlers, as history often refers to them, established a country and name it Liberia, to commemorate their freedom from the evils of that Era of Human Slavery in America.

These men and women had ENDURED the atrocities of being a slave, traded like cattle, and treated worse than animals. Essentially, they were considered non-human beings. They overcame. Those Overcomers translated their knowledge and experiences, gained from centuries of captivity, over 246 years, to form, nurture, establish, maintain, and preserve a space to call a Republic. They toiled like brand new young vibrant energetic slaves, this time for themselves. They died by the droves. The ultimate sacrifice, all for the experience of freedom for themselves in their new found home. Imperfect it may have been. A shred of imperfection should not discount the entire human being. The self-proclaimed Indigenous Liberians are no less flawed.  

The great America, from where the slaves had returned, was not perfect. Africa, from where their own forefathers had traded them off into slavery, was not perfect. The world all around was not perfect. Not by a long shot was any place on earth even close to perfection. Several World Wars and global Revolutions proved a grossly imperfect planet. It yet remains so to this day. The Americo-Liberian rule was imperfect. Europe was imperfect. That Columbus discovered America is still imperfect history. The globe is strewn with imperfect nations and their imperfect beginnings. Native America has yet to declare wiping out Columbus’ discovery. Let me leave this here.

The history of Liberia will forever, and ever include the most significant part, the portion about this country being indebted to the freed slaves, the Americo-Liberians as the founding fathers of Liberia. I submit to all self-proclaimed Indigenous Liberians that history cannot be rewritten and remain history. Whenever legacy is pronounced historical facts are researched. And legacy confirmed. There is no indigenous Liberian more than the Americo-Liberian. To call oneself a Liberian is to acknowledge that you are from that place discovered by the freed American slaves who are indigenous to that name. Otherwise, one must call oneself by another name. Liberia was a name given to a country established by returned freed slaves from America, back to the land their forefathers had sold them from centuries prior. The self-proclaimed Indigenous Liberian must know this.

What I have found in today’s Liberia, is a culture of illusion versus reality. If reconciliation means the Congau people descendants must be killed off Liberia, then there will never be reconciliation in Liberia until Jesus Christ return in the clouds. God Almighty will not sit still in Heaven and allow such annihilation to happen.

Listen up. Indigenous Liberians means ALL Liberians. Each with a different experience. All experiences relevant. Self-proclaimed Indigenous Liberians cannot rule Liberia by themselves. This is a fact which is yet being unfolded minute by minute. Simply, you do not know how it started so you cannot finish it. Furthermore, until you do the research on the origin of it you will not know how to continue it. Let alone maintain it. Hence is the problem. Administering, effectively handling and properly managing the affairs of the country requires efforts by all Liberians. There can never be a glorious land of liberty when hatred is the order of the day.

Even the freed slaves engaged the people they met. The freed slaves embraced their “relatives” (it was the same relatives’ ancestors who had previously sold the returnee slaves’ ancestors into slavery). Now the descendants had come back home to join them. What. What! This is where I’d say, who came first, the chicken or the egg? “Can we all just get along,” I hear them saying! And both groups formed a friendship and partnership. And great imperfect human beings forged collaboration. And the journey began. And the journey continued. Imperfect though it was. Until the idea took evil footholds. … Not this time. The idea does not stand a chance. Not ever again.

Wickedness begins with minute thoughts that grow into small ideas until the brain gets overrun with more thoughts and ideas. All evil. 

This is my last piece on this FB thread. There is a Bible verse that says …

Thanks for enduring My Sunday Sermonette. Almighty God Bless Us All. Do enjoy a beautiful day of the Lord.  ~~Servant Hortense D. Grimes (Founder, Do It For Christ Ministries)

*Writing includes local Liberian vernacular

Prayer Requires You

Stay vigilant in prayer at all times. Morning. Noon. Night. Midnight.

God Loves You More

There is nothing you could do that would stop God from loving you. 

Country Giant Shrinks Liberia

Today. As I watch in disbelief the day to day unfolding of events in my beloved home country, Liberia, I join many disappointed citizens to lament. This President, who many of us decided to give the benefit of doubt. History is replete with leaders who take their citizens for granted. History is replete with leaders who do not listen to the cries of the poor. History, I dare say, African History, is laden with leaders who treat their people with disdain and disregard the country they were elected to uphold. History has a way of repeating itself. I re-post this Open Letter, written favorably, to a new leader, with the burning hope that love for country would win over greed, selfishness, ugly pride, and same ole same ole, in the Republic of Liberia. I am saddened by the reality. George is a huge disappointment. ~Servant Hortense D. Grimes  (May 2019)

"Here is more News, President Weah. You are inheriting a country poised for successful continuance because of the solid foundation that has been laid. A country which has come tremendously far in the last twelve years. It is indisputable your predecessor has accomplished great national success, overall, and worked assiduously to set Liberia on a firm footing. Build on the infrastructure that will be delivered into your hand. The nation which you inherit today is institutionally intact and functioning. From this point build Upward. Case closed." ~Hortense Duarma Grimes, January 19, 2018

Original Publication January 19, 2018. George M. Weah, I am still very proud of what you have done. As your Inauguration approaches, I couldn’t help but think of the tremendous work that is before you. Hard task ahead is what you have. According to the Newspapers, you have inherited a poor and broken down infrastructure of a country. The national News is saying the nation is a broke government –that there is no money to begin work on your first day –national coffers are empty. According to local news, Liberian lawmakers earn on average $208K annually including extravagant perks. Such a pay scale leaves no money for civil servants salary adjustment. The News report that Recurring Expenditure make up 80% of the Liberian National Budget, and the national budget is largely dependent on foreign aid. Salaries of upper government officials and public executives are excessive, plus fringe benefits. Liberian legislators earn more per annum than the average US Senators and Representatives. How can this be? The United States is a first world country, global World Leader and Superpower. Liberia is a third world vastly undeveloped country, which depends largely on the money and resource of the first world for its very budget and operation. Most every dollar spent is borrowed. Besides, competency level of the Legislative branches of the two countries is not even a point for discussion. Case closed.

Here is more News, President Weah. You are inheriting a country poised for successful continuance because of the solid foundation that has been laid. A country which has come tremendously far in the last twelve years. It is indisputable your predecessor has accomplished great national success, overall, and worked assiduously to set Liberia on a firm footing. Build on the infrastructure that will be delivered into your hand. The nation which you inherit today is institutionally intact and functioning. From this point build Upward. Case closed.

Bottom line Liberia. Start with reduction of high salaries for government positions. The country is bleeding to death from this wound. The trimmings could jumpstart a middle class. There begins a path to economic recovery. In nations everywhere, middle class drives economy. It is vital to have a functioning middle class which, in turn, stimulates business and growth and fuels productivity. President Weah, it might be time to implement strict austerity measures. Slashing all unnecessary wasteful spending is one definite way to reverse the money drain and fix the broke-ness. Get tough on the money trail. “Ain’t gon work no other way.” The system is broken; repair it. Detect all the leaks, plug them, and redirect the flow of cash.

Oppong, here’s my experience. I was once elected president of my country. I had won in a landslide victory. Just like you. The majority of people were tired, they wanted change. They saw me as their hope. Just like you. The country had been through many years of ethnic war and countless civil conflicts. My predecessor had done significant work and had made huge improvements, but the system was still not working much in the people’s interest. We remained the third poorest nation in the world. International news media described our capital city as the dirtiest capital in the entire world. We had an 89% illiteracy rate. Imagine in today’s world that huge percentage of a country’s population not being able to read or write. Ignorance was prevalent. Elaborate stealing “corruption” was the staple fancy. We were that bad. There was poverty, disease, and chaos all around. Our young people were wasting away. All they wanted to do was talk politics from morning to night. Often, meaningless discussions, which agitates them and take them nowhere. They were too disillusioned to expect more for their lives. I ran for President on the hopes of these young people. I was sorry to see all the sufferings of the population. The one thing I hate with a passion is abject poverty. I observed how systematically poverty had taken over my people and my country and was sucking the life and zest out of them. I believed I could make a difference so I ran for the highest office, the presidency. I won election. The hope of the young population was at an all-time high. Here’s something notable: When you become President you then discover the secret, that the job is not easy. Being president of a country is not for small children: No, it is not children’s play. This is superhuman work. The responsibilities are overwhelming. Everybody story becomes your headache. The problems were so plenty I didn’t know where to begin. But I started somewhere. I dived in with full strength. George, my friend, let me tell you how I went about to change the national direction of my once destitute country. Below is an excerpt from journal entries in my HI Presidential Archive.

“Two days after being inaugurated, I ordered a 150-day Austerity Measure Rule. I declared a five months Period of Autocracy. First order of business was governmental salary trimming. I dictated a slashing of the Legislature salary to $7K monthly and taxable, with not a single penny more. I dictated reduction and capped Public Office executive salary at $10K monthly and taxable. No added perks whatsoever. I dictated the establishment of communications blitz called Public Awareness Media Campaign (“PAM campaign”) to involve and motivate the population. Numerous PAM campaigns were tailored informing the citizenry that Government Job/Public Service is not for amassing wealth. Citizens were encouraged to be creative, productive and become rich from their own private enterprise. The general population was sternly warned that private stealing will bring public disgrace. I dictated the Initiative of a line by line consideration of every operating principle of Government. I dictated that The National Budget be overhauled and stripped to bare necessities. I dictated the appointment of a Special Judicial Body to investigate the massive allegations of corruption in every sector. Those found guilty were disgraced for theft of public funds. Criminals of elaborate stealing and fancy thieves, systemic corruption and other ill-mannered practices were tried and prosecuted. Convicted felons were imprisoned and served their full jail sentences; additionally, they were forced to repay stolen money back into the national treasury. This was a major turning point in the country. It was absolutely a defining shift in administering the national state of affairs.

During the Autocracy Period, I ran the country with a council of advisors and the leanest of governmental heads. I dictated strict stipulation that nothing accomplished during this period could be overturned. There was no tolerance of citizen uprising or violence. Freedom of speech continued, and was encouraged. But nobody hardly was listening to plenty talk-talk. Empty rhetoric was sparse. The people were shocked to see good results in the short time. A different mentality was shaping. Pockets were beginning to feel heavier nationwide. Life was breathing back into civil society. Serious-minded entrepreneurship was on the rise. Many of the lawmakers resigned because of the mandated salary cuts. Several opted to remain in agricultural and farming businesses. Others ventured into the transportation industry. Government officials resigned in large numbers, many returning to private sector opportunities. At the beginning, my leadership style appeared unconstitutional, but it quickly accomplished the goal. Business was being done not as usual. Good change was evident. People became excited.

When the Autocracy Period had elapsed, there was a new and fresh scented aura in the country. The World saw the seriousness and dedicated efforts we were making collectively as a nation. The Global Community took particular notice of the austerity measures and respected the dawn of a new day in our country. Strategic Alliances acquiesced to our collaboration on how our abundant minerals and natural products were being plundered. That was the beginning of jointly working in national interest with each party reaping maximum benefit. Ratified Agreements and Contracts made sensible and firm demands of partnerships. The inclusion of our own technocrats, industry experts, financial and legal expertise at the table in all negotiations gave us the upper hand. Where necessary, PAM campaigns were used to inform and solicit public input. Our natural resources, the breadbasket of the country, were being traded fair on the global market by most accounts.

For the remainder of my tenure in office, I focused on reforming the landscape of the nation and transforming the livelihood of the people. There was an upward trajectory materially and humanly. Hundreds of vocational training centers were built. There was PAM campaigns about education, including adult literacy. The Public Schools System was reinstituted nationwide. Hundreds of schools were constructed and outfitted with laboratories and libraries. Several new universities and a medical college were built with state-of-the-art technology. Numerous modern hospitals and specialty clinics were constructed and equipped world class. Two giant recycling centers for waste management were completed. Several factories were built to process, treat and convert raw material. A manufacturing plant was commissioned. Plans were being considered for a rail system linking the counties. Domestic air travel commenced. Talks were underway for purchasing a national aircraft for outbound international flights. My personal highlight of all was the roads. One of my campaign themes had been Roads, Roads, Roads. There was a road network connecting every inch of land mass. Many PAM campaigns were launched on the importance of building roads. Roads, Roads, Roads. We spoke loudly that Roads bring development. Roads spur national unity. Roads feed infrastructural delivery. The economy lives on the transportation grid of any nation. People go where the Roads lead. Goods and services follow the people wherever they go. And people build as far as where the Roads drive them. Jobs are created whenever a building boom occurs. And it worked. Everywhere, people were building, residential and commercial construction. All around were Roads. Roads. Roads. We got the people moving about freely.

The money trimmed from fiscal excesses was redirected to government initiatives. Hundreds of millions of dollars had been salvaged. The citizenry had access to incentives and stimulus packages designed to jumpstart the economy and trickle a middle class. Messages were circulated widely in PAM campaigns that a Middle Class is the life blood of any society. The country’s brain drain and huge population residing in the Western Diaspora were offered lucrative sustaining enticements to return home. They responded by the drove; bringing their knowledge, expertise, experience, exposure and talent. And they understood that the rules on the ground applied as well to them. Zero tolerance for nonsense from locals or returnees; foreigners and legal residents alike. A bonus was the influx of young men and women of Liberian heritage. Additionally, trained and skilled international workforce and labor were imported to assist infrastructure development alongside the highly skilled and professional nationals. My country was restarted on a pathway that propelled it into 21^st century, giving a more realistic shot at climbing up from the bottom of third-world archaic conditions to its rightful place among world nations. It was a tough challenge and had taken strict discipline to change the crooked “business as usual” mentality. It had taken thick skin mentality and a tougher stance from the leader.” –Hortense Duarma Grimes

Mr. President, you have to start somewhere. Quickly. And do something. Soon. For your own legacy. Your employment began the day you were elected. There is no waiting period with this job. Politics is ugly-dirty business. Human beings are unpredictable. People in general are disloyal. The people have short attention span. The people have short memory. The people have no patience. The people are quick to change their mind about their hero. The people want everything for nothing. The public can never be satisfied. That is why you must hurry up and do the good things fast. In the long run, the public will only remember what you did not do. But the History books will record facts. Prezzo, you have to be tough and make sound and good decisions. My Prezzo, you have to be strict and flexible at the same time. Strict on discipline. Flexible on order of priority depending on the reality. You must be an action man for the people.

George “Oppong” Weah, surround yourself with game changers. Indiscriminately, assemble the best and the brightest minds. The loudest talkers are not necessarily the action takers. The smooth operators are usually coward actors. Learn to be firm. Say NO with straight face. Say YES to what you mean. Insist on saying THIS IS what I said. Be focused in repeating THIS IS NOT what I asked. Be definite with your agenda. Half of the people around you have their own agenda. Human nature being what it is people wish it were them in that spotlight, more times than not. Blind envy and much jealousy come with your new territory. You are now forever etched in history as a President of the Republic of Liberia, the highest office in the Land. Your stage is set among distinguished leaders of countries all over the world. Doors automatically open to give you access. You definitely have earned yourself more and fierce enemies. Discern. Discern. Discern. In your past professional career you became very rich by self-made wealth. Now you have acquired power. And the authority that comes with your Office. Honor the calling. It is often very lonely at the top. Not too many can go with you all the way. Know that. Yours is a rag to riches story, by sheer tenacity and audacity, the boy from Clara Town is the man who now lives in the Executive Mansion. Remember your Grandmother and the lessons and training she instilled. You are in a class amongst a distinct cadre of political miracles of this modern era. You are in the leagues of the Barack Obamas of this world—the one least likely to be who has become! Indeed, Mr. President, it comes with its own migraines. Know your space. Guard your boundaries, socially and professionally. Have your own mind and follow your inner GPS, your conscience, guided by Godly wisdom, prayer and faith.

My friend, we might not get to meet. I’ve left the world of politics. After serving two terms in office, I returned to my life’s calling and passion: Ministering the message of Jesus Christ and writing and speaking about the love and grace of Almighty God. I’d stepped away those eight years to satisfy a civic responsibility. I had only wanted to straighten things out and chart a new course for my people. Today my country is the envy of our neighbors. The whole world admire us. The superpower countries respect our little country. We are now the number one prosperous nation in all of Africa. You, too, can make your country rise again. Timing is everything. You’ve been given this your time. With God everything is possible. Nothing is impossible with God Almighty by your side. And your determination to do good. Good will knock out and outshine evil any day every day! Good always triumph. God is good. And God is good all the time. Congratulations, President George Manneh “Oppong” Tawlon Ousman Weah.

Oh by the way, Your Excellency, there is one element I didn’t mention. My presidency is a hypothetical scenario.

Hail To The Chief. May God Almighty give you victory. You will succeed in this work. Maybe you are called to the task for such a time as this in Liberia. Do your part well. Build everyday a stellar reputation for leadership. Leave behind a legacy worthy of respect and emulating by future generations. We, your people, wish you and your team nothing but the best. We lend helping hand and various support. It’s in our interest to wish you well. My personal contribution during your time in office is to help brand you to the world. I will follow your Executive work and tell your stories and accomplishments in narratives that describe your heart and spirit to build a better life for your people. I am counting on you to perform and do your very best. At least, let it be said of you that you did an excellent job trying to lift your people up. Let it be said at the end of your reign that you certainly did contribute…CDC. My friend, work tremendously hard, and work smart, to relieve the plight of the masses of poor people under your rule.

George, enjoy your Inauguration. I will write you again on the eve of your second term. God speed President Weah. Blessings!

Servant Hortense D. Grimes

Founder, Do It For Christ Ministries

Creator, HortenseInspiration Media

Dreambearer & DreamCarrier, Solace Africa

Mothers Day 2019