On the Topic of RACISM
I am writing this, not in defense of what is happening in our nation right now, but to share my story as an individual. In doing this, I hope to show that every person has a story, both with hurt and heartache, as well as joy and the ability to overcome. It's a personal, spiritual issue, and even if I die unfairly at the hands of another, I am confident in my heart of God's love for me, and that matters more to me than anything else. I also know that I will be in a beautiful place with Him for eternity! (John 14:1-3) So, that being said, here is just a small glimpse of my story.
I grew up as the little, white girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. I have German in my blood on both sides of my family. I grew up listening to the stories of my grandparents and the hardships they faced just for being German in a post-World War II era. Talk about stereotyping! These stories always broke my heart, but at my age then, they were just stories to me. I will always remember them, and as I grew up and encountered racism for myself and saw how real it was, I could sympathize more and more with what they felt. Unfortunately, their story had another side to it. Without realizing it, they turned around and did the very same thing when a person of color moved into their predominantly white neighborhood in Pennsylvania. They, very mistakenly, put others in another category than themselves. And this was wrong. So, so wrong! It was hard for me to see that they would do this to others when it had been done to them. How does this happen? Sin.
As I grew up, I contemplated more on these things. I also began to have experiences of my own. I learned quickly that skin color, hair color, eye color, and everything else, does not save you from racism. You see, I grew up in a predominantly poor, black neighborhood in the city of Detroit. I remember at one point, at a very difficult age for a young girl, when I was put in an all black school with all black teachers. I remember vividly being outside for recess with a group of students surrounding me, intimidating and bullying me. I was scared. I knew we had different color skin, but at that age, I didn't know about racism and I suspect, neither did they. They sought me out because I looked different. So you see, it isn't easy no matter who you are. I'm not saying any of this to downplay what is happening in our nation today. It is awful, uncalled for, and truly ungodly. What I have learned, is that, in order for anyone to be free, it starts with forgiveness, no matter how hard it is to forgive. I thank my parents for teaching me godly principles. I learned how to forgive, and I had many friends in my neighborhood, both white and black. It takes, as individuals, a step of faith to truly forgive, not only other individuals that have hurt us, but even other people groups, if we feel we have been characterized or stereotyped by them. We must also be willing to change our own actions and learn how to love and accept ALL people. If God can forgive us, then we can surely forgive others. With that forgiveness brings true freedom to love others and to love ourselves.
Racism has been around since the beginning of time, unfortunately. It has been in every nation, in every people group, and in every individual. Not one of us can say honestly that we don't judge people. It's a sin, but one that can be forgiven if we are willing. I do hope that we learn from all of this as with all the experiences we go through in life. And beyond learning, we can grow and be better people. We must always be willing to love one another the way that God loves us. And that starts with listening to the stories and experiences of others. It's important to tell our stories and to learn from each other. So, no matter what MAN does to us, we are healed within because of what CHRIST did for us on the Cross. "By HIS stripes we are healed." (1 Peter 2:24)
I am writing this, not in defense of what is happening in our nation right now, but to share my story as an individual. In doing this, I hope to show that every person has a story, both with hurt and heartache, as well as joy and the ability to overcome. It's a personal, spiritual issue, and even if I die unfairly at the hands of another, I am confident in my heart of God's love for me, and that matters more to me than anything else. I also know that I will be in a beautiful place with Him for eternity! (John 14:1-3) So, that being said, here is just a small glimpse of my story.
I grew up as the little, white girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. I have German in my blood on both sides of my family. I grew up listening to the stories of my grandparents and the hardships they faced just for being German in a post-World War II era. Talk about stereotyping! These stories always broke my heart, but at my age then, they were just stories to me. I will always remember them, and as I grew up and encountered racism for myself and saw how real it was, I could sympathize more and more with what they felt. Unfortunately, their story had another side to it. Without realizing it, they turned around and did the very same thing when a person of color moved into their predominantly white neighborhood in Pennsylvania. They, very mistakenly, put others in another category than themselves. And this was wrong. So, so wrong! It was hard for me to see that they would do this to others when it had been done to them. How does this happen? Sin.
As I grew up, I contemplated more on these things. I also began to have experiences of my own. I learned quickly that skin color, hair color, eye color, and everything else, does not save you from racism. You see, I grew up in a predominantly poor, black neighborhood in the city of Detroit. I remember at one point, at a very difficult age for a young girl, when I was put in an all black school with all black teachers. I remember vividly being outside for recess with a group of students surrounding me, intimidating and bullying me. I was scared. I knew we had different color skin, but at that age, I didn't know about racism and I suspect, neither did they. They sought me out because I looked different. So you see, it isn't easy no matter who you are. I'm not saying any of this to downplay what is happening in our nation today. It is awful, uncalled for, and truly ungodly. What I have learned, is that, in order for anyone to be free, it starts with forgiveness, no matter how hard it is to forgive. I thank my parents for teaching me godly principles. I learned how to forgive, and I had many friends in my neighborhood, both white and black. It takes, as individuals, a step of faith to truly forgive, not only other individuals that have hurt us, but even other people groups, if we feel we have been characterized or stereotyped by them. We must also be willing to change our own actions and learn how to love and accept ALL people. If God can forgive us, then we can surely forgive others. With that forgiveness brings true freedom to love others and to love ourselves.
Racism has been around since the beginning of time, unfortunately. It has been in every nation, in every people group, and in every individual. Not one of us can say honestly that we don't judge people. It's a sin, but one that can be forgiven if we are willing. I do hope that we learn from all of this as with all the experiences we go through in life. And beyond learning, we can grow and be better people. We must always be willing to love one another the way that God loves us. And that starts with listening to the stories and experiences of others. It's important to tell our stories and to learn from each other. So, no matter what MAN does to us, we are healed within because of what CHRIST did for us on the Cross. "By HIS stripes we are healed." (1 Peter 2:24)
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