i wish

Dear Maliyah,

I wish I could keep you innocent forever. Keep you from knowing the horrors that make up so much of this world. Keep you from hearing the malicious words spoken, seeing the merciless actions of others, and experiencing the vicious and vindictive hearts of some.

I wish I could fully prepare your heart and mind for the world you live in and the experiences that will come with it.

I wish I could protect you from all that is out there.

I wish I could keep you from the truth that there are people out there who will hate you because of the color of your skin.

I wish…

I wish we lived in a world where this wasn’t necessary. These unending moments where reality hits and the horrors that humans are capable of come into the light. Where we rally together to support those broken down, discriminated against, and mistreated.

I wish we lived in a world where everybody saw the perfection of each individual. Where we recognized others’ differences and found joy in them. Where we appreciated others’ strengths and encouraged them in their weaknesses. Where we used our differences as the culminating force to make the human race great.

I wish we lived in a world where only words of love were spoken. Where words of hate, scandal, and disgrace were nonexistent and every conversation that was had only uplifted the hearts of those hearing it. Where words of encouragement were as numerous as the stars in the sky. Where words only had the power to uplift, and never possessed the power to tear down.

I wish we lived in a world where we all got along. Where we listened to other’s opinions and didn’t instinctively disregard them. Where we smiled at everyone we passed on the street. Where we gathered together to serve others, enjoy people, and appreciate life.

I wish we lived in a world where everybody saw you for the person you are rather than the color of your skin.

I wish…

My girl, if only I could save you from the reality of this world, but I can’t. So instead, I will prepare you for it.

You will be discriminated against.

Satan is real. Evil is real. Sin is real. Hatred is real.

And despite the truth that our Father reigns over all and is the sovereign King, this world is fallen. People are fallen. And not everyone knows Jesus. Not everyone believes in love.

Why?

Because they haven’t experienced it.

Because somewhere deep down, those that will hurt you, speak malicious words to you, or treat you with disgrace are the ones who so desperately need Jesus, yet haven’t experienced His all consuming, relentless, and unconditional love.

This doesn’t excuse their behavior. It will never make what they do right or okay. But it does offer us up the opportunity to do something about it.

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44

Yes. It is true.

For the people who will hate you for the color of your skin, we are called to love them, and pray for them.

For if we won’t be love to them, who will?

We as the church are called to be His hands and feet. To be Jesus to those who don’t know Him. To be love to those who need it most.

Jesus was sinless. He did no wrong. He served others. He was love. Yet, people still went after him in the most gruesome, horrific, and malicious way possible.

They mocked Him. They beat Him. They crucified Him.

Yet, right before His last breath, with a crown of thorns on His head, nails in His hands and feet, wounds covering His body, He said this, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

If Jesus is love and who we are supposed to embody, and He prayed for His enemies in His most desperate moments, who are we to not pray for our enemies?

Who are we to not lather them in His love, mercy, and compassion?

Who are we to simply look down upon them, call them out in their hatred, and then move on?

That will do nothing.

That will change nothing.

I won’t stand by and continue to watch history repeat itself.

I won’t accept the idea that sharing an article on Facebook about the horrific acts of others and speaking about how disgraceful and broken our world is, is enough.

I won’t sit here and hope you are never wounded by the hatred of others.

I won’t wait around for people to change.

I will attempt to be the change.

I want to be love. I want to embody Him. I want to forgive. I want to exemplify what His grace looks like. I want the broken and hurting to see me, and therefore see Him.

I want to pray for the hearts of those hurting. For the ones who speak out against others. For the ones who are pursuing the wrong fights. For the ones who will hurt you.

I wish we as a church could stand together and proclaim His name to the world.

I wish we as a church would put aside our differences and come together to fight the fight. To fight for His kingdom and His people.

I wish we as a church would take our disgust and turn it into compassion.

I wish we as a church would stand hand in hand and cover our enemies in prayer.

I wish we as a church could embody love.

I wish we as a church would act.

I wish…

It will come your way. In time they will try to hurt you. They will come at you with their words and their actions. They will come at you full of hate and disgust.

So be ready.

Be ready to be the change.

Be the love.

Be exactly who they don’t want you to be: someone who believes the truth.

That despite what they might say, you are a child of the King. You are loved. You are perfectly created. You are worthy. You matter.

Be exactly who they don’t expect you to be: someone who will love them.

Someone who will cover them in prayer. Someone who will not discredit the value of their hearts because of their actions and words. Someone who, despite their treatment towards you, will see them through His eyes and have compassion on them. Someone who will attempt to be Jesus to them.

All my love,

Sissy