KNEE PADS!!!!!!
Monday, August 8, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Encountering Difference
Curiosity got better of the little girl and she spoke these words out loud. "Daddy is that a girl or boy?" High on life I sauntered on the dirt path , I stop to answer the question. Smiling " Are you talking about me ? I'm a girl. I just cut my hair off." An apologetic father lift his head to say "Sorry,stop being mean brat!" I rush away to escape the awkward situation and to find the restroom after all that is the reason I got out of my sit in the first place.
I wanted to tell the little girl's father that I wasn't offended. Children are curious and speak without a filter.And I love them for that. The problem is not in her comment. The problem was two adults neglected to use the opportunity to teach about love and appearance. Did I neglect to mention this happened at a church league softball game? It is our job to instruct and raise children in the full knowledge of God. I could explain to the little girl why I cut my hair ( the PG version of course) and explained that people cut their hair for all kinds of reasons. But our job as God's people is to love. We can ask questions to get to know people better but remember it does matter who the person is or what they look like. Our job is to love.
I could kick myself for not responding. I know how important the message of diversity in the church. We often raise our children in homomoguos environments. When they encounter difference how do they respond? Are you having authentic conversations that embrace diversity?
Lord, help us to use opportunities that are given to teach your children.
Make us BOLD so we can proclaim your promises and the richness of your kingdom.
Help us, to be shining example of Your love so that children having a visual of what to do when encounter difference.
In Jesus Name
Amen
I wanted to tell the little girl's father that I wasn't offended. Children are curious and speak without a filter.And I love them for that. The problem is not in her comment. The problem was two adults neglected to use the opportunity to teach about love and appearance. Did I neglect to mention this happened at a church league softball game? It is our job to instruct and raise children in the full knowledge of God. I could explain to the little girl why I cut my hair ( the PG version of course) and explained that people cut their hair for all kinds of reasons. But our job as God's people is to love. We can ask questions to get to know people better but remember it does matter who the person is or what they look like. Our job is to love.
I could kick myself for not responding. I know how important the message of diversity in the church. We often raise our children in homomoguos environments. When they encounter difference how do they respond? Are you having authentic conversations that embrace diversity?
Lord, help us to use opportunities that are given to teach your children.
Make us BOLD so we can proclaim your promises and the richness of your kingdom.
Help us, to be shining example of Your love so that children having a visual of what to do when encounter difference.
In Jesus Name
Amen
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Quote
"Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart." Mahatma Gandhi |
Monday, August 1, 2011
G.I. Kenya
I cut my hair, that might not seem like a reason to post on a prayer blog BUT it is.Life sometimes will distract you from your mission. In the last couple months I have been so self absorbed. Saturday I got a text message that changed my life and my utter self absorption. The message only said:
Slavery still exist.
Deep Breathe.... Slavery still exist in 2011. I was hoping that my friend was trying to be witty. That this text message would lead to a in depth conversation about how we allow fear to hold us captive. But that is not what happened. That text message lead to me googling modern day slavery. My eyes filled with tears. I sat and weep. In 2011 slavery exist. People are being held against their will and forced to commit sexual acts against their own will (IN THIS COUNTRY and throughout the world!!!!!). It is more commonly known as human trafficking. Human trafficking is defined as the illegal trade in human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor or a modern day form of slavery.
I needed to do something. I HAD to do something. I dropped to my knees and did the only thing I thought I could do. I moaned. I sobbed. I crawled into a fetal position. I do not remember much of the next hour. Somehow, I ended up in the barbershop. After most of my hair was on the ground I realized that this was not enough. Awareness was superficial. This issue deserved more.
I now consider myself an abolitionist. I am working overtime to bring awareness to this problem. I am now G.I. Kenya. Ready to battle in spirit and in truth. My haircut will be my reminder that there is indeed so much suffering in the world. It will bring me to a place of gratitude and remind me to pray harder. To labor and fight for what I believe.
Wanna know more about modern day slavery( check out the links below)?
Can you believe such a thing exist?
How do you pray about things such as this?
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