It Really Matters

I guess I like to think of myself as the “Queen of Kum ba ya”, an advocate of we are all God’s children, all equal in His eyes. There is something that I do feel the need to address. After I released the hands of my 18 year old son and his two college friends from praying their safe journey on the road back to the University of Buffalo, I smiled and waved goodbye and closed the front door. Listening to the car back out of the driveway, my heart swelled with concern and the flood of tears wouldn’t stop. “What are you crying about?” I asked myself.

I thought about as a mother you live with your heart outside your body and the elements of your children’s world touch you before they even notice. I thought about how I wanted to see these young men fulfill their God given destiny. How..

I didn't want them to be sperm donors or convicts, crackheads or the

victims of racists

idle or misguided

shot at or blindsided

pants sagging headed up with frail foolish minds

tongue wagging God-less stupidity thinking they see but really are blind

but above all else how they deserve not only an education but clean water

to be able to drive eight hours and not be seen as potential slaughter.

I came to the realization that the statement black lives really matter is like when we tell our kids “Say please” or “Did you say thank you” the masses may be listening but it’s an inside phrase to lodge in their brains they have value and how they are to behave. That regardless of an antagonistic system perpetuated by fear and hate

You my son are not somebody’s open season or reckless bait.

You need to know your life matters and it will be rehearsed again and again

Some may become angered

Some don’t want to see you win

But as long as you know that it’s not a slogan or a phrase or empty hype

Treasure this gift you’ve been given called life.

You matter to us and God, now matter to yourself and it doesn’t matter who don’t like it, who don’t like you or who don’t like the statement.

Text me when you get to school.