Jezebel, spineless, manipulative, arrogant, beauty with no brains, divisive, out of touch, controlling … we’ll have anyone lead us … well anyone but Maggie.
Believe me when I say, I’ve heard it all and then some since the clock struck midnight announcing 2018 had begun. The things that were said about me would be enough to cause a sane person to seek shelter and never lift her head again. Ever. Thank goodness my mama taught me at an early age, “it ain’t what they call you, it’s what you answer to.” Ha! (Score one for strong mothers everywhere!)
So, let me make this clear. Here are a few of the titles I answer to: wife, mother, daughter, sister, auntie, cousin, sister-friend, Beyonce-back-up-dancer wannabe, micro-braids wearing, politician, servant, super-high heel, Ruby Woo-lipstick wearing, lover of girly things, and the one I love most of all — Christian!
I am a child of God, a believer, a person of faith! And those are three titles or positions that can’t be taken from me — which is great news to a person like me. Because when you know what you know, then you know that what you really know is what you know (some of you will catch that on the way home)! And what I know is that there is no title or position that will keep me from doing what I was called to do!
I am a servant! My service is important to me and I know that I was placed on this earth to serve others. I discovered early on when I worked as a certified nurse aide in high school, I was destined to serve others. I knew when I worked at the Charles T. Hyte Community Center in Terre Haute, that my conviction for serving others was unwavering. I found after visiting a bathhouse with a homeless neighbor that my purpose in this world is to serve those in need. And today my conviction and my passion for serving others is the strongest it has ever been.
I’m not the type of girl that gets mad and rides off into the sunset at the first sign of trouble. I take my licks like the next person, I pray, brush off my shoulders, pop my collar, put my lipstick on and keep it moving! So, for those who are wondering if I’m done with my life as a public servant, let me be as direct as I can. NO! No, I’m not done! This bump in the road, the circus that is sometimes described as politics, the circumstances witnessed on television and in the newspaper don’t define, distract, nor deter me from my service to you.
Maggie A. Lewis is still the person she has always been but she’s a whole lot stronger. My service as a member of the City-County Council will continue for several more years, and I have a crazy, fun day gig that allows me to support non-profits in our community. I have the best sorors ever in Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and I’m honored to be a member of The Links.
So, as long as there are babies that don’t have access to a quality education,
as long as we are fighting for affordable, dependable, accessible public transportation, as long as we refer to those suffering from addictions and mental health issues as “those folks” and as long as my ‘hood looks like the “have-nots” then I have work to do — and so do you!
So trust me when I say, I’m going to keep adjusting my crown and putting one stiletto in front of the other because we all know, it ain’t over until it’s over and I’m not done yet.
#letsmove!
