just listen.

Oh, friends. My heart is so very heavy this morning.

More black families are grieving the loss of loved ones. The names of even more sons and daddies and brothers have been reduced to a hashtag. Our country boils with racial tension.

I have no words for any of this. I just know my heart is grieving and my mind is reeling.

My dear friend, Jennifer posted something really succinct and beautiful as a white momma to a black son. I’m going to quote her as the white momma to a black daughter. Because the one thing I do know is that we desperately need to still our hearts and listen. We need to seek justice, yes. But, first, we must seek to understand. We must acknowledge the problem. We have to stop laying blame and pointing fingers. Our country is fractured. We cannot heal without first recognizing the pain.

If you love her, will you please listen? Will you read and lean in and lay down your pride and fear, and just listen? Please? I don’t want my baby to be a hashtag. And please, don’t start with the “you will raise her right” (aka: white) nonsense.”

Someday, she won’t be carefree and innocent. When that day comes, I pray, as a nation, we have leaned in and listened. I pray our brothers and sisters of color no longer live in fear and injustice. I pray for my girl to know her identity only as a treasured daughter of the King.

Need a good starting place?

Be the Bridge exists solely to see the Church and its people become a credible witness for the glory of God.

“Racial division and segregation have hindered the prayer that Jesus prayed for all believers (John 17). Be the Bridge desires to create space and conversations that would begin to tear down racial barriers that have divided people – even God’s people. This is only the first step, and while these conversations may make us uncomfortable, they cause us to live out God’s love of truth, diversity, justice and reconciliation.”