We, the People, Need Oxygen
Breathe deeply and read a message of hope.ย Discover 3 practical tips on how to teach your children about racism, and find over 30 book recommendations on diversity for children, tweens/teens and adults from knowledgeable resources.
Hi friends!
Yesterday, on social media, instead of singing a fun song to a slideshow of someone’s beautiful home, I sang and shared a broken heart.
For months we’ve watched breathlessly as a virus stole the oxygen from our lungs. And we still can’t breathe.
The toxicity of fear, anger, and chaos has infected us, and we are suffocating.
For others of us, the revelation that we may be ignorantly contributing to this barbaric suffocation leaves us gasping for air ourselves as the weight of such a heavy reality rests on our chests.
We, the people, need oxygen.
I am listening and learning, but head knowledge does not automatically result in heart transformation. Pride can convert the 12 inches from my head to my heart into a vast expanse keeping painful transformation at a safe distance.
“It may be true that the law cannot change the heart but it can restrain the heartless.” – MLK
Legislation is important, but God forbid we reduce the devastation of human lives to trending hashtags, yard signs, bumper stickers and political agendas alone.
Racism is a bi-product of fear, and fear is a condition of the human heart.
“Certainly, if the problem is to be solved in the final sense, hearts must be changed.” – MLK
Let us collectively take up the cross of racism. Not to be used as a legislative beating stick, verbally and physically assaulting all who stand in our way, but instead bearing it with the grace and humility of One who bore it before us.
“While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.
As Dr. King said, change of the human heart is the only final answer to racism, and ultimately, fear.
I humbly kneel at the cross of Jesus – a bridge between despair and freedom that offers supernatural heart transformation.
I ask forgiveness.
May Jesus mold my heart to love as He loves. Black. White. Left. Right. Everyone in between.
Won’t you join me?
Maybe then after we have all fallen to our knees, can we truly rise to stand.
We need Oxygen. It’s time for a revival.
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It’s hard not to feel offended at the term “white privilege” and the connotation that those of us who are white are spoiled, naive, ignorant, and maybe even – racist.
I have had to grapple with these emotions, but the truth is, I am white and I am privileged.ย There are certain realities that my children do not have to worry about because of their skin color.
This. is. truth.
The problem is – I don’t know what I don’t know.ย Perspective is key.ย And as someone who desires to love as Christ loved, it is my responsibility to be intentional and fight my own ignorance so that I can better understand the struggle of black lives in this country right now.ย And so I am assuming a posture of humility – a recognition that I don’t fully understand – so that I am not a road block but a catalyst for others to see grace, hope, justice, and most importantly, Jesus.
I hope you will join me in learning and seeking to understand!
Below you will find a random assortment of books for adults, children, and a phenomenal article written by a classmate of mine from college on practical ways to teach your children of all ages about racism.ย For anyone who wants to know, of all these I am reading “White Fragility,” “I’m Still Here,” and “Just Mercy” based on the knowledgeable recommendation of a dear friend of mine.
Hang in there friends.ย These are hard times.ย Make sure to put on some oxygen.ย If you are ever in need of prayer and not sure who else to ask, my email is always open ๐
Three tips on teaching your children about racism
Books for Children
These books for children come from my classmate from college as well, Brittany Salmon.
Books/Resources for Tweens/Teens
Resources for Adults
From Be the Bridge.ย <— Click here for all these resources!