One of the things that I love most about family reunions, other than the good food, food, and more food, is speaking with the elders of the family and having them share their wisdom and love for coming together each year to see their family. As I sing to the tune of “It’s a family reunion”, I am simply overjoyed with having had the opportunity to see all my lovely family and take part in another reunion. I was truly humbled as I greeted the youngest family member of two weeks to the oldest of eighty nine; and get this I have an aunt who wasn’t there but she is one hundred and ten. Our family is truly an amazing example of God’s favor. I was in awe and complete amazement as I watched young women and men honoring marriage and sharing in the raising of children, cousins respecting each other, and young people honoring those who have come before them with kindness and respect. The sight of seeing young people fix a plate of food, speak with respect, and even take a moment to hear the great advice of the many years of life experiences from the elders was indescribable. I was so moved! In fact, I was so inspired that I had to take a moment and share this; for this is a great example of how the black family still lives and thrives in contrast to what we have seen or been told. During our family church service my grandmother REQUESTED, more REQUIRED that I stand and speak on behalf of the family! I immediately shook my head no and she gave me a look that said in so many words, “Please don’t have me ask you again”! Before I knew it, one of my cousins had nudged me in my back and my sister had given me a look that co-signed to my grandmother’s request. As I looked for words to impart to my family and the entire congregation, I was reminded of one of my favorite stories in the bible of a young woman who was chosen to be Queen. Esther, the unlikely candidate, had been given a position because of her favor with God. As her people were experiencing turmoil, she was reminded by her uncle that perhaps she was made Queen for this very moment, this very time, and this very opportunity to save her people. As I stood up, I began to understand that the very moments we stand in are in fact chosen by God to do something amazing; for we have been chosen for that very reason and we must be obedient. We have to understand that our circumstances and life experiences only position us for a time such as these to carry out a pre-arranged assignment. The black family is at a corner of transitioning a new generation into leading the next era of our world and we must know that the time has come and the great legacy must continue. We have a torch to carry and a legacy to uphold; therefore we have an assignment to challenge our youth to take their place and BE BOLD.
As one sistah to another let me be the first to acknowledge the Esther inside of YOU! You have been chosen for a time such as this to lead a nation of sisters, daughters, mothers, aunts, wives, mentors, and so much more. The legacy of our womanhood MUST NOT compete with man, but embrace the beauty that completes one another to fulfill the assignments that God has given each of us. My hope is that you do not confuse this with another “preach to the choir” message, but an encouragement that seeks to remind you to be in constant search of the mighty woman that lives inside of you which has been placed deep within your soul for the very time in which we stand.
As we embrace the call of what the world has proclaimed as “the new 21st century woman”, we must never forget the importance of our role in which God has position us to play in the lives of our family, society, church, and other places that may touch the world. I challenge you to use your strength and position to confront the struggles of our children and their education, the unbalance of our families, and the disparities in our knowledge of personal worth versus societal like. I am not saying you must trade in your Gucci Pumps for Esther or Mary’s clothe, but I do believe we can take a few lessons from some of our brave sisters in the bible and history who have taught us to never give up and always embrace the time when called upon. As Esther sought God when she was faced with a difficult task and a serious assignment, we must also be ready and willing to take heed to the TIME and seek God for direction! You are FLY, but being fly is having the God Confidence rather than that self-confidence to know that you cannot do this thin ALONE!
Little Sistah this is your time, you are the legacy that the world has patiently awaited your arival. You are the vessel that will remind man that in order for him to go to God on your behalf, he must be willing to seek Him with you in unison kneeling down in one accord. As a unit we must realize that we are deserving of each other, therefore we must not be afraid to speak up or lift up once another in order to save a generation of young men and women who have hidden treasures inside of them! We must shift our thinking in order to grab what has been taken and be willing to work on the very things that have clouded our minds that we now and have always had control over. Our grandmothers and mothers have left a legacy within us that that walks by faith and not by sight. You must not be afraid to walk in what you believe in nor speak on what you so passionately care and based your faith on. It is with this that I say, “Sistah Girl, allow God to use you for it is YOUR TIME. Understand that you are an heir to great things, and just like Esther, perhaps your success and struggles were given to you for such a time as this!
So know.…It’s Your Time: And So The Legacy Must Live On….
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