The AME church Women's Missionary Society had a
  Sister's Summit in February at Bethel AME, San Diego.
  The speaker was Pastor Joann Browning from Ebenezer
  AME in Fort Washington, Maryland. When she stepped to
  the podium to speak, she told the women of the need to
  let go of their baggage. i.e., grown children still in
  the home, abusive husbands, etc.) Her speech
  referenced Erykah Badu's song "Bag Lady", and then she
  played the song in its entirety and was groovin' to
  it. One woman in attendance (and there were nearly
  900) said the place was "On Fire!!!!".
 
  Reverend Joann then preached her sermon from the song.
  Here's the gist of the sermon....
 
  By now, we've all heard Erykah Badu's "Bag Lady". This
  song is a prime example of the healing powers of
  music, lessons in lyrics, and a message in the music.
  It serves as a wake-up call to women everywhere. And
  none of us are exempt. From the very first verse to
  fade out, the words resonate. Here are a few key
  verses we need to remember:
 
  "Bag Lady, you gon' hurt your back, draggin' all them
  bags like that....
 
  " Sermon: Holding on to pain, hurt, anger, and
  disappointment manifests itself in our bodies. The end
  result runs the gamut from chronic illnesses to life
  threatening diseases. Sooner or later, our baggage
  causes our bodies to give out.
 
  "Bag Lady, you gon' miss your bus. You can't hurry up
  'cause you've got too much stuff..."
 
  Sermon: When we spend our time focusing on negative
  people and negative experiences, we end up missing
  opportunities and blocking our blessings. We can't see
  the future because we're too busy living in the past.
  Meanwhile our perpetrators go on living their lives;
  oblivious to the hurt they've caused. So why are we
  really hurting?
 
  "When they see you comin', {they just} take off
  runnin...."
 
  Sermon: How many relationships have come together on
  crutches? Most women know they have no business
  getting involved when there are unresolved issues
  within. Still, due to fear of being alone, or of
  'missing out' on a good man, we cover our wounds with
  tight hairdos, beautiful clothes, and a fake smile.
  Forging ahead into an alliance with someone who has no
  idea we're still hurting over what that so-and-so did
  to us in 1995, or over the father that never came
  home. As time passes, the wounds get harder and harder
  to hide. When they're finally exposed, he's history!
  In the grand scheme of things, the only thing that is
  stopping us.... Is... US!
 
  True, we have no control over what others do or say to
  us, but we can control our reactions. And as for the
  baggage, it's nothing to be ashamed of. We all have
  issues. The shame is not in having baggage, it's
  KEEPING it.
 
  So to all my Bag Ladies, search yourself. Be honest.
  Ask yourself what's in your bag, then do whatever you
  gotta do. PRAY, CRY, SCREAM, GO TO CHURCH, GO TO
  THERAPY....Do whatever it takes. Just let it go. Let
  it go, Let it go! Stay strong.... Rock on!
 
  God is your Salvation; trust in Him and do not be
  afraid. He is your Strength and your Song.
 
  If we recognize that GOD is in all of us, then we can
  start to treat ourselves and our brother and sisters
  with respect. We are quick to spot the devil in us,
  why not the divine?