What Do You Think? Wednesday

• She’s pretty, single and perhaps saved with a perhaps saved boyfriend but they aren’t saving the sex for marriage. She’s conflicted and he’s confused; he thought their arrangement was working out swell until…

• This is the last time she would bail him out or at least that’s what she wanted. But what’s a strong black mama to do when her baby’s in trouble?

• She went to college, owns a business and runs with the movers and shakers. Though she grew up in the church she was now far from God. How does she maintain this lifestyle without giving praise to God?

You probably know one of these women. Maybe you are one of these women. These are three of the main characters in Living in the Pink, a new novel by Sharon Tubbs. And though Living in the Pink is a novel, as you can see from the character sketches, you experience real life when reading this collection of short stories. These women with strong black women characteristics are all “living in the pink,” but Laura Pinkston, aka Sister Pinky, challenges them to abandon their self-willed lives and embrace “the glory of living white as snow.”

People living in the pink have had their red like scarlet sins washed as white as snow but dabble with some of their sins, thus tinting their lives. Sister Pinky explains: In-the-pink people “say they believe in God, but only enough to call themselves ‘spiritual’ without having to make significant changes in their lives. Don’t be fooled…they might go to church and say eloquent prayers or sport a Jesus bumper sticker—all the while nursing sins that they’re unwilling or afraid to let go. They want to believe in God, just not too much.”

Author Tubbs says Sister Pinky, the all-seeing church mother, is based on a mixture of women she knows, including her mother, and the Titus 2 woman. She crafted this novel, complete with discussion questions at the end of each story, so women will examine themselves, whether based on responses to the questions or from the correction of a Sister Pinky that they know.

“Everybody is living in the pink in some aspect of their lives,” Tubbs says. “The question is, ‘Are we happy there or do we want to improve?’ Everyone needs to be striving to get more out of life.” To help with this process, in addition to the questions in the book, Stubbs has created the “Pinky Meter,” a non-scientific, yet fun, quiz to help you determine just how in the pink you’re living. Take the quiz here.

Tubbs says, “The intent with the questions is for women to be more introspective. So often what we tend to do is blame our circumstances on our jobs, on other people…on men. I’m not saying these things don’t have weight, but we have the Holy Spirit inside and that’s power.”

You know from the beginning of this blog I have challenged African American Christian women to forsake their strong black women ways and walk in the strength of God. I believe Living in the Pink is another tool to challenge you to do that. As you read the book, you can’t help but think about another sister you know or even wonder how you should handle your own strong black women issues. Pick up Living in the Pink at Tubbs’ website or on Amazon and enjoy a fast-moving, funny and spiritually-fulfilling book that will help you cherish your salvation and summer days. And make sure to tell me what you think.

Copyright 2011 by Rhonda J. Smith

About the Author

Sharon Tubbs is a Christian who loves to write and has done so for more than 15 years as a newspaper journalist. The Living in the Pink project originated when Sharon wrote a version of the first story, Revelation, for a writing contest. She didn’t plan to create a series at the time. In fact, that story stayed tucked away in her computer for years before she looked at it again. The second go-round, she saw potential for something more and began to develop the central character “Sister Pinky,” using humor and real-life situations to touch others in a down-to-earth way. A condensed version of the series was launched online in April 2009 to a select number of women around the country. The positive feedback inspired Sharon to seek print publication with Lift Every Voice Books (Moody Publishers) for broader distribution of an expanded and improved version of Living in the Pink.

Originally from Indiana, Sharon now lives in Florida where she has encouraged other women spiritually through leadership activities. She has also inspired others to write poetry, devotionals, and books with Christian themes. In her spare time, Sharon enjoys hanging out with friends, live theater, a relaxing bubble bath, and Rocky Road ice cream.