Letter to My Black Brother: God’s Perspective of you is great and empowering!
My mother was married at aged 19 to her sweet-heart, her pen pal, my dad. By the time she was 29, my parents were separated. She bundled her five children, three girls and two boys off to a strange area, more than 90 miles from the comfortable life we had known. I was 10 years old.
At first we stayed with her grandmother, our great grandmother, then, another big adjustment faced us. Our mum was leaving, this time to get a job in the city. After another six months or so, the house our great grandmother was living in was sold. She was now forced to move. The decision was made that we will live with our mother’s mother, our grandmother and her husband.
After approximately a year and a half, our mother, who came every weekend, moved us to an apartment for us to live “on our own.” I was now age 12. My two sisters and two brothers and I lived there by ourselves for four years. What! Yes! I must mention that during this four year period our dad did come by to visit with us from time to time.
I share this with you my American Brother, to tell you there is hope for you. Our neighbours “watched” us. I became the manager, the organizer, the helper and supporter of my siblings. My grandmother, who lived four lots away, would check on us regularly; she was a no-nonsense person. Our mother came every weekend, bringing with her our needed supplies, including books for us to read. There were times she came, suddenly, during the week to “see” what was going on.
We were not neglected. We were well taken care of. My sister, the one after me, and I got up early, at 5:00 am in the mornings to cook our lunch. Our grandmother would leave her warm bed to come and wake us up every morning and then she would return to her home. We would wake the others at around 6:00 am for showers and getting dressed; eating breakfast, Crackers and Cheese Spread, with Tea. We always had lots of food in our house. My mum would purchase a cartoon of canned milk/cream for the month, a large tin of crackers per week and any protein we wanted for the lunches. My country is a place rich in fruits and vegetables, so we were healthy.
What was my mother doing in the city? Studying and working. She improved her Typing Skills, wrote GCE O’Levels and she did other studies. Eventually, in the 1990s she graduated from university with a BSc Degree in Public Management. God is good. Mum was “no superwoman,” what made the difference in her life was the fact God went out before her and there were three women of great significance that stood with her. They understood her plight, you see they were also “overcomers.” One was my aunt, my dad’s only sister, another, my charming godmother and the other, a strong woman of faith herself, our cousin. None of them were defeated by life’s challenges. I learnt perseverance from them.
Nevertheless, in the latter four year period before moving to the city with mum, she would depart on Sunday afternoons for the city. Among the things she would do is: for us girls, on Saturday afternoons, upon her arrival, she would “Corn-row” our hair. On Sundays she would press all our uniforms (e.g. 25 shirts for all of us, one per day for the five of us, plus the skirts and pants), to get us ready for the week. During the week and on Saturday mornings, I would wash all the clothes. We had to clean and scrub the house, and wash our hair before mum arrived on Saturday afternoons. My mum did not “play.” Consequently, we were and have remained much disciplined young people. We also enjoyed church and the community therein. When there were certain national events, mum made arrangements for us to travel to the city and then, afterwards, we will return home. So, we had a full life. By summer of 1979 she moved us to the city. I was now aged 16.
I share these details with you to tell you I have an important message from the Lord for you and although, I am not an American, I have met the criteria to talk with you. Brother, I felt that the Lord desired that I share these details on my life.
I was there to support my mother. I matured quickly. I am the first born. I succeeded at my career because God has been with me, all my life, in an exceptional way: He gave me great mentors, a wonderful godmother, teachers and adults in church who cared, and that included a very important man who thought of me as his daughter. I am a Trained Teacher. I have a BSc Degree in Communication, a Post Graduate Certificate in Diplomacy and a MA Degree in International Relations. There is no limit to what we can accomplish with God on our side. I am a Christian! I gave my heart to the Lord from age 12 and ever since, He has been with me. I am a black woman, but for me it is a hue and not a “distinction of a deficit,” when I think of myself. I see potentials. I look in the mirror and hear of God’s love for me. I see His promises and learn His word so that what He tells me I accept and look forward to living in the promises He makes to me. You can too. God is our Father!
My American Brother, I do not deny that you or someone you know may have experienced racism. It must be stressed, however, God is not the author of racism. Racism is the product of sin and a condition of the heart. Sin is the consequence of disobedience to God! Wherever it exists, despite the colour of the skin, racism is unjustified. No racist will have a seat in the Kingdom of God. Please let us work to get to heaven so in our hearts, Brother, we have to forgive and let God bring justice. Guard your heart, Brother, do not let yourself get sucked in and respond to racism with racism. Let God help you!
The Issues that Matter to you Bro
My American Brother, you are here today, because, thankfully, your mother did not abort you. This culture of death is impacting many communities and countries, far and wide. You’d be surprise how often women have to make the definite decision not to go down that road, sometimes the suggestion comes as a matter of course. Meanwhile, thousands of human beings are aborted annually.
The culture of death is tied to demonic principalities which thrive in communities where innocent blood is shed. Abortion is one example, and there are other stark paradigms. The principalities of death receive their powers through murder – these spirits aim to take the “man” out in his infancy, if not by abortion, then, later, via drug over dose, or by shots in the streets, or wrongful deaths in other ways, including suicides. Let’s take the power away from these principalities thru’ the name of Jesus!
Brother, you have the weapons to fight against these strongholds. The weapons of this warfare are: Scriptures, prayers and intercessions; as well as faith in God, the name of Jesus, the blood of Jesus, and the instrument of love. Brother, I adjure you to fight for your community. The only way is on your knees. You will win! It may take the collaboration of all peoples to join in prayer to “bind” the stronghold of racism so that there are no more acts of racism against any ethnic group. Racism is a spiritual stronghold. There is no stronghold that can be defeated by fists, they can only be defeated by the power of the name of Jesus and His blood which was shed for the remission of our sins.
Look at you Brother, tall, medium built, muscular, handsome and black. You pause in front of the mirror, just long enough to comb your short curly hair. But, stop! Look, look again. See what the Lord is saying to you, He is telling you that He is your maker. Not black, not defeated, not a loser, but a man whom He loves and has a purpose and a plan for. O, Brother, see your future, your white even teeth, your dreams, hear His voice!
Brother, remember this: no one can legislate love. Many fathers have not loved their own children, how can one expect a stranger to love them without the love of God abiding in him or her? Can you? We live in a sinful world and all men were born into this sin-sick world. However, those who are “born again” have a new hope. Love comes from the heart of God. He loves you. You can walk in this world a victor. Walk as in Hebrews 13: 6 says:
So we may boldly say:
The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear,
What can man do to me?
Thus, in the following are a few Scriptures for your consideration:
18 Timothy, my child, I entrust to you this command, which is in accordance with the words of prophecy spoken in the past about you. Use those words as weapons in order to fight well,19 and keep your faith and a clear conscience. Some people have not listened to their conscience and have made a ruin of their faith.
(1 Timothy 1:18-19, Good News Translation (GNT), https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+timothy+1&version=GNT)
37 No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! 38 For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, 39 neither the world above nor the world below—there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:37-38, Good News Translation (GNT), https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8&version=GNT)
11 For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
(Jeremiah 29:11, Amplified Bible (AMP), https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jer+29&version=AMP)
Finally, please follow God’s plans for your life, in your job, in your vote, in your purchases, in your choice of a wife, in teaching your children, in relationship with Him. In your need for guidance, the following Scripture text will be helpful:
2 By this you know and recognize the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges and confesses [the fact] that Jesus Christ has [actually] come in the flesh [as a man] is from God [God is its source];3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus [acknowledging that He has come in the flesh, but would deny any of the Son’s true nature] is not of God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is now already in the world.4 Little children (believers, dear ones), you are of God and you belong to Him and have [already] overcome them [the agents of the antichrist]; because He who is in you is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world [of sinful mankind].5 They [who teach twisted doctrine] are of the world and belong to it; therefore they speak from the [viewpoint of the] world [with its immoral freedom and baseless theories—demanding compliance with their opinions and ridiculing the values of the upright], and the [gullible one of the] world listens closely and pays attention to them.6 We [who teach God’s word] are from God [energized by the Holy Spirit], and whoever knows God [through personal experience] listens to us [and has a deeper understanding of Him]. Whoever is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know [without any doubt] the spirit of truth [motivated by God] and the spirit of error [motivated by Satan].
(1 John 4:2-6, Amplified Bible (AMP), https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+john+4&version=AMP)
Brother, God loves you! Thus, as a human being, made in God’s image, we declare that you will no longer have to fear for your life or safety, you will not be victimized, nor will you be criminalized for the colour of your skin, you are not inferior. God made you so let Him have charge over you and give Him responsibility to protect you from all harm. Live! Fulfill your purpose! Yield not to temptation. Do unto to others what is right. This is His message for you.
Jesus is coming soon Brother, be expectant, be ready to go up with Him!
Cherub on her 24th Birthday, in Teacher’s Training College in 1987
Your sister: Cherub
PS: Update: Friday May 29, 2020
Eight days after the Letter to My Black Brother was written, (on Monday May 18th), Mr George Floyd of Minneapolis was arrested on Monday May 25th (Memorial Day), and died in police custody, in the street, when a cop pressed his knee on Mr Floyd’s neck for over five minutes. The emotions across the country, from politicians to youths, have spanned the range, from grief to outrage. Some people have taken matters into their hands and are violating the rule of law.
As a Christian, I ask myself, what do I do in this situation? I pray for Mr Floyd’s family, the community, the officials in the state and the country, as well as for you my American Brother. I’m so sorry Mr Floyd would never be able to read this letter from the Lord thru’ me. However, you can, and I pray that you will inspire your other Brothers to accept God’s outstretched hands of love and peace. For “the gift of God is eternal life thru’ Jesus Christ our Lord.” (John 3: 16).