21 Days of Hope - Day 4

01.13.21 | Stories, 21 Days

    January 13

    Wednesday, Day Four

     

    “So Sampson told Delilah his whole secret, and said to her, ‘A razor has never come upon my head; for I have been a nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, then my strength would leave me; I would become weak, and be like anyone else.’” ~ Judges 16:17 

     

    “Hair Love”

     

    Dear God,

                I want to thank you for something you did long ago, when I was a child, when you showed me that my skin was beautiful.

                Do you remember how I was looking at the colors of my hand – all the shades that went into making my unique brown – how I was admiring the careful blending, thinking how lovely” and you chimed in with, Yes, it is, isnt it?” I love you for that comment. When I grew older, I realized that very few people shared our love for my skin. Everywhere I looked there were ads for things to bleach my color out. I even bought some, once. It burned. Even so, I kept it for a long time, because I wanted to be beautiful and the world was telling me this is how to do it. Forgive me for losing faith. And that reminds me of something else. Remember how I used to wish that I didnt have to straighten my hair, how I wanted to just let it be itself? I can do that now, and its wild and joyful in the wind, and I love you for giving it to me because it just exactly expresses who I am in my soul.

                But here is what Im really praying about. I want to ask you to help people understand that just because I love what you have made me doesnt mean I dont love what you have made them. I think thats part of our problem – we can only see one kind of beauty at a time when you have created so many different varieties. Youre just too darned generous, God. We cant take it. But I think if you work with us, we can try. We have to...

                You know, God, the other day a little boy about my same color told me that he wanted to be white. I asked him why. He said he didnt know, he just thought it would be better.

     

    by Angela Boatright

     


    21 Days of Hope, as a devotion, is a journey through scripture, prayer, and resources that can move those of us who are white toward a closer understanding of racism in our country and the experience of our black and brown brothers and sisters.