My Lion King x The Kingdom of God

‍

My dad has always been a king in my eyes. A man of little words, but a heart for helping others. I have core memories of us watching The Lion King many times growing up, so I see him as a great lion. He still has a gentle yet bold spirit. His charisma captivates anyone around him, and because of this, he's always been the glue to our family's gatherings. We're Cuban, so these gatherings came with a lot of music, dancing, food, dominos, and togetherness. Though all of these things may seem great, my dad had a bit of a drinking problem. Growing up I didn't see an issue. because he was never violent. His drinking produced the most social butterfly I knew, but he was definitely in bondage. For context, he is a farmer, and he built a bar ON his farm for everyone to gather every other day. It was that serious lol.

He never disciplined me while growing up. Looking back, I sometimes wished he did. Too much freedom can lead to seeking guidance in the wrong places, a recipe for an identity crisis. There are a handful of stories about how I almost died as a toddler whenever my mom wasn't around. As a family we laugh about it, but his negligence was a real concern for my mom. Although his love was NOT one of discipline, he was always physically present. It does count for something, but presence with engagement is even more powerful. Although he was present, we've never had any in depth conversations. We bonded by listening to his Cuban music or Bob Marley CDs when he took me to school each morning. His music grounds me to this day, and I'm forever grateful for it.

🤯LIFE TWIST!!🤯 On February 24, 2024, my dad was ordained as a Deacon at his church. Talk about a complete 180. Even the elders of the Church poked fun by saying that only Jesus could have made such a change LOL🤣. The congregation laughed and cheered as he accepted his new role in the church and community.

The service was sooooo emotional for me. I BAWLED at the church, then in my car, and then in my room until I fell asleep. I kept thanking God for allowing me to witness such a great transformation in his life. So much started to make sense. I thought about when my mom and dad initially gave their life to Christ in 2018/2019. I legit felt like they were "taking away our identity” as a family, not knowing they were actually uprooting the old and rebuilding a new foundation. My dad immediately gave up drinking. That was a shocking shift. Though I didn't drink, I felt like we were stripped from something special. I took it upon myself to create a carnival band experience to "unite my family" in 2019. I dedicated the carnival experience to my uncle Yang who had passed away (he was the life of every family event and always dancing!). It was a huge success. But I wanted more😬..... sigh.....

My sister and I then started an entertainment company (called Azucar) which entertained hotels and companies for a couple of years throughout the pandemic. That also was a huge success. I felt like we did a great thing for our family, but overtime I realized I wasn't truly fulfilled.... My intentions came from a fear of 'losing our identity' as a family unit, but it started to put a strain on my relationship with them. God was taking me through a deeper self-discovery process. So much so, that in October 2022, I officially closed down the company. This was also the same time that my main business had lost our studio space too, so I was forced to sit in silence for a few months. I’ve come to learn that when God doesn’t have your attention, He will disturb what does.

When I was immersed in the busy-ness of multiple businesses, my parents were preparing the way for my soul. I didn't know that walking past my dad and seeing him read his Bible every day would affect me over those years. I didn't think that my mom's worship music playing in the background, or seeing her pray on her knees each night was doing anything. I didn't imagine that I would have my own encounter with God just a week after legally closing down the entertainment company!🫨. This all happened by HEARING the word of God, seeing how He transformed others around me, and me genuinely asking Him to show me what they saw, because I couldn't understand nor see it.

I read a quote that said, “If you’re not ready to be criticized for your obedience to God, you’re not ready to be used by God”. My parent's obedience created a pathway for MY own freedom, even if I initially criticized it. My dad's actions brought order - the order that our home lacked throughout my childhood was restored. He didn’t do it by condemning me, but by indirectly showing me what it looked like to be obedient. I believe other people's prayers and forgiveness were involved as well. This is why prayer is SO important.

This isn't something I take lightly. I understand that many people may not have a "come to Jesus" moment with their families (while on earth). God takes us all through different paths which will make sense at the right time. For my journey, though, I am thankful to be able to witness my father use his gifts, his love for people and influence for the right Kingdom.

Now regarding our beloved family traditions, we have been finding new ways to enjoy each others company, without engaging in drunkenness or other ways that may cause others to stumble.

🌻 We can love and honor where we come from, but if our traditions cause us to damage our spiritual or physical health, it's not good. Throw it out and start fresh.

Thank you mom and dad, for your work in rebuilding a new foundation. Thank you for restoring order through your obedience. Thank you to my Lion King🦁

‍

‍

‍

_{Romans 12:2:}

_{Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.}

‍

_{Self-Reflection Prompts}

1. ^{Have you witnessed personal transformation in someone close to you? How did it affect you?}
2. ^{Reflect on a time when your sense of identity or purpose shifted. What caused it?}
3. ^{What does true freedom mean to you?}

‍

_{Thankful for music we can dance to that glorifies our Lord!❤️ See the lyrics translation here!}