Good morning. I hope you and your family are surviving this pandemic and staying safe. I have been silent on one of the other issues on the forefront of our news right now: racism. This is such an important issue that needs special attention. I’m married to a husband who is half-Mexican and my adopted daughter is half African American. While I believe that all lives matter, I also believe we have to step up our game for those who are not like us.
I read in my devotional today, “One day there will be healing,” by Cochran & Co, that we are to consider who is our neighbor. The devotional tells the story of the Good Samaritan and how he cares for someone of opposite race and culture who is left to die.
“I believe Jesus is doing the same thing for us today. He is saying, “I don’t care what race they are, who they’re voting for, what their religion is, or how much money they have—if they’re a person, they’re your neighbor—love them!” Even if they feel like an enemy, Jesus tells us to love them too (see Matthew 5:44)! Jesus calls us to love those who don’t think like us, act like us, or look like us.”
You may not feel like you’re a racist, and possibly you’ve gone out of your way for people of other races and cultures. That’s how I’ve always seen myself. However, as a white person, society has offered me privilege, whether I’ve recognized it or not. Today, I am choosing to thoughtfully love my neighbors the way Jesus would. I’m choosing to drop any pre-formed opinions I might have regarding other races, whether I’ve been conscious of them or not. I’m choosing to love all races and cultures with an open mind and heart, the way God loves each one of us.
“…Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:39
