Its been a strange night for sure.
Around 5:00 my dad called to tell me that my great-grandmother, (Mamy Kibler), my little 94-year-old pistol of a french grandma, had passed away. Anyone who knew Emelyne, said she would outlive us all, so when I saw her this past weekend.. just yesterday... and saw her laying in bed, suffering, I said a prayer right then with tear rimmed eyes that God would take away her suffering in any way He saw fit. She was ready to go, she had told me countless times, and as I bent over her frail frame and kissed her forehead whispering that I loved her, she gasped out "thank you for coming to see me" and that she loved me too. I knew deep within my heart that that moment could be my very last spent with her. The next day, God took her home.
After small group tonight Amelia, Amanda, Lyndsay and I went to the "No Hate" peace rally on campus. Last weekend a hate crime happened just outside my apartment and apparently because some guys beat up a homosexual student. I was appalled. And still feel sick that people are so hateful and violent. Unforunately, I feel like growing up I was exposed to a lot of hatred towards people who are different.. and I have had to re-learn how Jesus teaches. As I stood at the rally I felt a sense of freedom.. knowing my parents would not approve me being at such a rally.. how many from my hometown would scoff at our actions... but I kept my eyes on Jesus.. what in the world would He be doing right now? He would definitely be standing beside me telling the hateful world that they could throw the first stone if they had no sin in their own life. He teaches me to love each day.. and to break free from old fashioned teachings that constrict me from loving people.. ALL people... whether they be Jews, Homosexual, Islamic, Agnostic, Atheist, etc... It is easy to love someone who your religion says its okay to love inside the church. But it's Jesus-love when we step outside of the church.. BE the church.. and love the people the religious-ideals tell us to stay away from and hate. That is when true character shines.. and our faith is tested and tried.
Tonight was a huge step for my thinking, and another foot of growth on my faith and awe in my Creator.
2 comments:
Amen sista!!! God IS love and the sometimes the only way to show God to others is to show them love, no matter who they are or what they do. I feel so privileged to go to the rally tonight. The reason for it was horrible but the action that followed was inspiring.
I agree. Jesus would have been right there, and I'm glad you were, too.
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