There was a junk store ½ block from our house when I was 7. During the summer, my Mother would give me 50 cents to go to the store and buy something. Of course, I bought clothes. Most of them became rags to clean with.
She would sit down, go through my treasures and check the labels in each. Some times she would say, “This is worth so much more than you bought it for. It’s a keeper.” Most everything had a use. Daddy used some of the “rags in his garage” so the money I spent was important.
Lessons about the labels stay with me now decades later. Sometimes labels identify the Brand. Other times, people are labeled with words.
Since Monday’s post, I have given much thought to identifying labels we assign to people. Titles and or Labels such as Mother, Brother, girlfriend, wife, Teacher, Policeman, Judge, are a few that kindled deep emotions and actions this week.
Obviously, it’s great to describe someone as a mentor, healthy, beautiful, handsome, smart, entrepreneurial or successful. How about broke, old, elderly, crippled or handicapped? Oh, tell me we overuse the word handicapped. Why can’t we use preferred parking?
Listen to the news. Name calling includes Crazy, Sleepy Eyed, and Stupid are the words used to identify many people.
This week spotlighted the hurt of our Black Brothers and Sisters, those in the community and also directed the actions of violence. Racism and Discrimination divide us as a country, a community and a family. Is there an answer?
My heart and spirit aches for the family and friends of George Floyd. For those hurt by the actions of destruction and violence following his death, I feel for you and wish I could fix it.
From Sara Anna Powers
“I believe in God, who is a God of both justice and mercy. It is astonishing to me how those two attributes can exist in one BEING.
We need both. We need justice, and we need mercy.
We need both. We need justice, and we need mercy.
LOVE always wins over hate. And GOD always defeats the ENEMY.
Psalm 147:3 — “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
May we seek justice.
May we love mercy.
May we walk humbly with the Lord, reflecting His character more and more each day. “
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