LISTENING AND ENGAGING

I’ve spent the last two weeks listening and, when necessary, engaging others. I realize how little I truly understand the injustice the Black community receives continuously. I can't say enough how I want to be quick to listen and slow to speak. I want to learn from the people using their voice for change and share what I learn as much as I can. I'm not the kind of person who enjoys hard conversations and I prefer not to have them. Ironically, my life has instead given me an abundance of practice with very hard conversations - one after another. When conversations are necessary, right, and for the good of everyone involved, my desire to avoid feeling uncomfortable is overcome by a stronger desire to do what's right. Isn’t that what I’m called to do as a believer in Christ?

One of the places I can share the stories of others is in our home. It requires hard conversations with 2 boys under the age of 5 who have short attention spans. But when it comes to my family, I desire to have hard conversations and make the most of the moments I have with them. Doing this means finding ways to connect with them appropriate to their age and in ways they will understand. With a heavy heart, I'm trying to help them understand that the color of people's skin affects how some people think about each other. Emet knows that Black people are killed because of their skin color, and that hatred lives in people's hearts towards people who look different than them. He also knows that these kinds of things have been going on for a very very long time.

I will stand in the gap, and I'm committed to doing that. I'm also committed to continue learning and investing in myself and my family. I desire to be part of the change. I want to show the love of Christ and compassion to everyone I meet. I want this to continue to be part of who we are as a family. The lives of our Black neighbors are important. They matter. Shouldn't we live in a way that reflects that?

"If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen." - 1 John 4:20

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 Credits: Author - Jacintha Payne & Photography - Calvin Payne |