My humble Mama never gave herself a lot of credit or praise. She always deferred all the responsibility for the "yellow pixie dust" she was spreading to God. It's undeniable that her 10 years of Sunday School teaching and a lifetime of daily devotion reading was, and continues to be, an example for those of us that she touched.
But, Mama was extremely proud of one thing - that she started "Praying in the Parlor" at Epworth United Methodist Church. These Monday night prayer meetings meant so much to her that they garnered a first paragraph inclusion in the obituary she wrote.
But, Mama was extremely proud of one thing - that she started "Praying in the Parlor" at Epworth United Methodist Church. These Monday night prayer meetings meant so much to her that they garnered a first paragraph inclusion in the obituary she wrote.
She started "Praying in the Parlor" Nov. 16, 2009. This ministry allows members to gather each Monday night for an hour of intercessory prayer in the presence of our Holy Father and Creator
I never got a chance to go with her on Monday nights. She turned in her church key about a week before I moved in with her for those final days. But, based on our conversations, I can imagine what it was like. A small, intimate group of believers - mostly female, a mix of ages - devotedly coming together every Monday night to pray for all the hate and evil and wrongs on this Earth. Doesn't that remind you of something? I wonder if that wonderful group of Charleston believers met every Thursday night to pray for the evil that permeates our society?
As you all know, these 9 Christians lost their lives during a Bible Study because they are African American. A white young man who is a racist that believes in white supremacy took their lives with a gun after spending AN HOUR in their presence studying the Bible.
I have literally cried for days about this. I've read so much social media crap that my heart hurts for our country. But what sticks in my head is acknowledging and accepting something that no one has talked about. This evil racist who used a gun to kill sat in the room with these Believers for an hour before he opened fire.
He is an awkward white dude with a crappy hair cut. The Bible study participants are all African American with awesome weaves and hair. What do you think they thought/felt/did when this young, goofy looking white man walked into their Bible study? Did they tell him to leave? Were they nervous that he was there? Did they treat him differently or weirdly? No, no, no, no, no. These Saints were Christians to the end. There is NOTHING that shows us that these African American citizens were uncomfortable with a white man at their Bible study. They didn't call the cops for trespassing, they didn't ignore him or shun or embarrass him. In fact, they were so Christian to him that he almost didn't shoot them because they were so nice.
And now, after 9 innocent lives are senselessly lost, these families of the victims choose to forgive. THIS THIS THIS is the story. Not liberal or conservative, right or left wing, not Confederate Flag or not, not Fox News or Chicks on the Right, not gun control, not mental illness, not crappy parenting, not even racism which is truly prevalent in our modern society and the driver of this horror. The story is Christian love and forgiveness. #lovewins
What I want the world to know is that a dozen or so African American Christians welcomed a goofy looking probably socially inept white man into their presence for an hour without question but only with love. Because What Would Jesus Do? He would never, ever judge a man by his skin color or social acumen (and never, ever carry a gun but that's beside the point).
What would have happened at Epworth if on a random Monday night if a young, awkward looking African-American or Muslim or non-white person showed up at "Praying in the Parlor" when my Mama was there? She would have smiled, asked their name, held their hand and said a prayer to God of thanksgiving for bringing this person to this moment. She would never have worried about her safety or if this newcomer had a gun. She would have been so happy to have a visitor that wanted to pray with her.
Step away for a moment from the politics and rhetoric. Look at this situation from my point of view. What if that was your Mama running the prayer group at Mother Emmanuel like my Mama did every single week at Epworth? My Mom would never turned anyone away. She would have prayed with them. And, if she was a victim of a heinous hate crime, she would have wanted me to forgive. #lovewins #prayersforcharleston
I have literally cried for days about this. I've read so much social media crap that my heart hurts for our country. But what sticks in my head is acknowledging and accepting something that no one has talked about. This evil racist who used a gun to kill sat in the room with these Believers for an hour before he opened fire.
He is an awkward white dude with a crappy hair cut. The Bible study participants are all African American with awesome weaves and hair. What do you think they thought/felt/did when this young, goofy looking white man walked into their Bible study? Did they tell him to leave? Were they nervous that he was there? Did they treat him differently or weirdly? No, no, no, no, no. These Saints were Christians to the end. There is NOTHING that shows us that these African American citizens were uncomfortable with a white man at their Bible study. They didn't call the cops for trespassing, they didn't ignore him or shun or embarrass him. In fact, they were so Christian to him that he almost didn't shoot them because they were so nice.
And now, after 9 innocent lives are senselessly lost, these families of the victims choose to forgive. THIS THIS THIS is the story. Not liberal or conservative, right or left wing, not Confederate Flag or not, not Fox News or Chicks on the Right, not gun control, not mental illness, not crappy parenting, not even racism which is truly prevalent in our modern society and the driver of this horror. The story is Christian love and forgiveness. #lovewins
What I want the world to know is that a dozen or so African American Christians welcomed a goofy looking probably socially inept white man into their presence for an hour without question but only with love. Because What Would Jesus Do? He would never, ever judge a man by his skin color or social acumen (and never, ever carry a gun but that's beside the point).
What would have happened at Epworth if on a random Monday night if a young, awkward looking African-American or Muslim or non-white person showed up at "Praying in the Parlor" when my Mama was there? She would have smiled, asked their name, held their hand and said a prayer to God of thanksgiving for bringing this person to this moment. She would never have worried about her safety or if this newcomer had a gun. She would have been so happy to have a visitor that wanted to pray with her.
Step away for a moment from the politics and rhetoric. Look at this situation from my point of view. What if that was your Mama running the prayer group at Mother Emmanuel like my Mama did every single week at Epworth? My Mom would never turned anyone away. She would have prayed with them. And, if she was a victim of a heinous hate crime, she would have wanted me to forgive. #lovewins #prayersforcharleston
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