dreamin4freedom

Romans 8: 38-39

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Thank God, evil could not separate these beautiful girls from the love of their heavenly Father. Four girls at church, in their Sunday best, getting ready for service to their God and congregation.

How easily can you recall the names of the Four Little Girls killed by a pipe bomb on September 15, 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama? Be honest. Can you even remember one name?

I took time today to study, mourn, and reflect on Addie Mae Collins (11), Denise McNair (14), Cynthia Wesley (14), and Carole Robertson (14). I have seen their faces many times. I remember their place in civil rights history. It hurts to remember how they died. Today, I studied their faces and wept at the grief of their parents at their funerals.

Their egregious murders were an impactful event that helped pave the way for the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1964. Our current administration wants to reverse and even erase this history. They don’t want this history taught in schools. I shared this history moment with 2nd graders on Friday. They were wide-eyed with disbelief and questions. Some asked, “Why did they bomb them?” My short answer, “Racism and hate.”

Maxine McNair, mother of Denise McNair, died on January 2, 2022, at the age of 93. She was the last living parent of a child killed in the 1963 bombing. She spent three decades teaching in Birmingham Public Schools. In 2013 President Obama awarded the four girls The Congressional Gold Medal, and Maxine McNair was in attendance. Lisa McNair, Denise’s sister, has written a book of letters to her sister she never got to know, titled “Dear Denise”. Check it out at this link https://g.co/kgs/hxKowCM.

To honor the memory of these four little girls, let’s remember to say their names:

Addie Mae Collins

Denise McNair

Cynthia Wesley

Carole Robertson

We will never forget!!

We may be quite familiar with the verse Philippians 4:7, which talks about “peace that passes all understanding”, but I sometimes wonder what it really means, and why does it sometimes evade me. I am not always at peace. I have to talk to the Lord, I have to ask questions, and I have to pray my way to peace. Some days, it might be a struggle. Does anyone else ever feel that way? I found a great translation today of Philippians 4:7. The Contemporary English Version says it like this:

“7 Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel. “

That’s a whole word! “Control how I think and feel,” now that’s what I need peace to do FOR ME! Say Amen, somebody!

The world news, daily trials of life, sickness and disease, foolishness of coworkers, family and friends, and even the normal aging of our bodies can displace our peace. We have a multitude of reasons to not be “at peace.” BUT GOD! He who makes a way out of no way, who hears our prayers (and answers), who told us in Him we would have life, our God can and will give us peace. True peace, a peace folks will not be able to completely understand!His peace will shelter us from the daily storms of life. Our job is to acknowledge Him, seek Him, and pray for this peace.

Pray with me:

Dear Lord,
We need your peace today. We need to experience rest from the worry and fear the daily news brings. We need your peace to control how we think and feel. Let us cling to your peace when we get bad news, when someone hurts us, or when we are anxious. Lord, your peace is the only peace that calms, that restores joy, and makes us feel we can go on. Your peace is unlike the peace of the world. Bless us with peace today and everyday. Amen

Praying for your peace.