Oct 14, 2022
Do you have the resilient grace and wisdom you need to endure struggles? Today's guest, acclaimed vocalist Nita Whitaker, shares the wisdom and character she gleaned from the life stories shared with her father.
When Your Hand is in the Lion's Mouth: The Life and Wisdom of a Man Named Green is a narrative non-fiction story and a father-daughter memoir. Based on his remarkable 96 years of life, Whitaker's father has provided the lifeline of the story, as seen through the eyes and heart of his daughter. Whitaker captures the pride she has for the paternal presence who taught her about love and respect for yourself and others even in most trying times. Their bond grew from a family rich in experiences and strong sense of self with many lessons this story hopes to pass on to the next generation.
Nita describes her father as a pillar for the community and his family. She chose to curate a collection of his most powerful doses of wisdom after enduring incredible hardships with grace. Whitaker titled her book, When Your Hand is in the Lion's Mouth, because of the struggles faced by her father during his life as a sharecropper in Louisiana during the Depression and Jim Crow eras of poverty and oppression.
Nita shares how her father inspired his community to bond in mutual support through faith-centered grace, diligence, and overcoming evil with light. Whitaker notes her grandfather modeled living as a child of Christ and brought her father up centered upon solid faith and grace.
We discuss Nita's life song of communicating stories of light inspiring the world to live in peace, hope, and blessings. Whitaker weaves practical insights and her family's wisdom for living well into the stories she shares. She explains the universal appeal of outlining how to maintain healthy esteem and set successful habits.
Nita shares a few tidbits of the life-shaping wisdom she learned from her father and his life. She alludes to his work ethic, always doing your best because it matters even when you don't think anyone will notice. Her father, now 96 years old, imparted truth on subjects from dating and self-worth to how to love your family and the greater community effectively. Nita recalls one of her favorite tips centered on resisting the temptation to hurry into what might seem like an easy opportunity.
We chat about integrity and legacy. Nita defines legacy as the love you leave. Whitaker details the importance of modeling the values we hope our children will learn. She encourages listeners to overcome darkness with light rather than giving into bitterness and negativity. Whitaker illustrates how we can choose to apply our situation to become better as people instead.
Nita encourages listeners to work on becoming the light God designed them to be for those who need hope and positivity around them.
Connect with Nita Whitaker on her website at http://www.nitawhitaker.com/, on Instagram at soprantygirl or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NitaWhitakerLaFontaine. Check out her book, When Your Hand is in the Lion's Mouth: The Life and Wisdom of a Man Named Green on Amazon