Just for fun, to see if I've grown as a writer, I was re-reading what I wrote here about two years ago. I was shocked to learn (just now) that I actually GOT A COMMENT under a post, and it was a great one, at that!! So, I've decided to re-post my 5-29-2018 blog today WITH that comment attached and with an APOLOGY that I never saw the comment before today, and never ACKNOWLEDGED it.
"Racism Is A Disease of the Heart"
Every week, I buy my new wife flowers from a (white) Florist. On Friday, I was in her shop and she inquired as to how my beautiful (black) bride was doing. Then, she asked me ANOTHER question.
"Do you and your wife ever have any problems with people who don't approve of you?"
Before I could answer "not really," she told me she was dating a black man now and they had a very tragic thing happen. Seems that they were eating out and a white lady came to their table and said, to both of them, "you people are what's wrong with this society today."
It was heartbreaking to hear.
I told the Florist that my wife and I rarely have problems with people who don't like us, but even if we did, we have a very strong support network at our church which ENCOURAGES us and offsets any critics. Additionally, as Christians who believe and live by the Bible, we cling to Scriptures such as "if God is for us, who can be against us?" And in the ultimate sense, it doesn't matter what ANYONE thinks of us. We live before God and are not slaves of men, you see.
Some will object to my "bringing God" into a discussion about racism, but I make no apologies.
Racism is a disease of the heart. Electing the "First Black President" didn't eliminate it, the success of the Black Panther movie won't purge it, and having all of those commercials with interracial couples won't change people's hearts...only GOD can do that.
I hope, of course, that the Florist and her boyfriend don't break up over that incident but more than that, I hope they find THE LORD and know peace, like we do!!
"Do you and your wife ever have any problems with people who don't approve of you?"
Before I could answer "not really," she told me she was dating a black man now and they had a very tragic thing happen. Seems that they were eating out and a white lady came to their table and said, to both of them, "you people are what's wrong with this society today."
It was heartbreaking to hear.
I told the Florist that my wife and I rarely have problems with people who don't like us, but even if we did, we have a very strong support network at our church which ENCOURAGES us and offsets any critics. Additionally, as Christians who believe and live by the Bible, we cling to Scriptures such as "if God is for us, who can be against us?" And in the ultimate sense, it doesn't matter what ANYONE thinks of us. We live before God and are not slaves of men, you see.
Some will object to my "bringing God" into a discussion about racism, but I make no apologies.
Racism is a disease of the heart. Electing the "First Black President" didn't eliminate it, the success of the Black Panther movie won't purge it, and having all of those commercials with interracial couples won't change people's hearts...only GOD can do that.
I hope, of course, that the Florist and her boyfriend don't break up over that incident but more than that, I hope they find THE LORD and know peace, like we do!!
I once read that what other people think of you is none of your business. That sure takes the pressure off!
It also helps to remember that the wrong that other people do you is not between you and them, it’s between them and God.