My students are amazing. Please read Maddie's response to the ongoing pandemic of racism in our country. I absolutely love your heart.
For the past few weeks, I have been silent on the current issues that face our country. It wasn't that I didn't care or that I didn't support, it was because my eyes have been open to the awful things that my black friends have had to endure their entire lives. Growing up in a small town, I didn't see them for their color. I saw them for their laughs, amazing support, and endless love they gave me. Of course, I knew that our interests and culture were different. However, that is what made our friendships even better. I didn't know the hardships they had to face just for the color of their skin. I never knew what it is like to be under watchful stares and accusations. These past weeks have really opened my eyes. Instead of immediately bashing out on social media, I went to God to find my voice. I asked Him to open my eyes and show me what I needed to say. Through the Hebrew Bible study, I have gone through for the past year, a few passages really stood out to me. In Hebrews 2:17, it states that "Jesus had to be made like us in all things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people." Then, in Hebrews 4:15, it states that "we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." I may not know what it's like to have to face the trials black people have to face, but Christ does. He was faced with every single temptation, but unlike us, He did not fall under the power of sin. That is why no matter who you are, white, black, mixed, we can all run to Christ with open arms. He understands the pain, the ridicule, and the persecutions. Hebrews 4:16 concludes that because Christ was tempted and did not sin, then "we are able to draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Racism, murder, hate, everything that does not follow the word of God is sin. My heart hurts for my best friends who are under such persecution just because of the color of their skin. My heart hurts for our country because it proves just how fallen of a creation we are. As we go out to change our country for the better, let us not forget to share the word of God. We need to stand together. Let's stand not just for the black lives that need to be made equal to ours, but let's stand with Christ and the word of God.
