A Breakthrough

I love when the Spirit connects the dots for me …

Yesterday, during morning prayer at Cornerstone Baptist Church, my heart was heavy for our youth. It grieves me to witness them dying – physically, spiritually. Over the weekend there was an incident in East Flatbush (the neighborhood I grew up in), which left a young man, Kimani Gray, dead. This is right on the heels of the anniversary of the slaying of Trayvon Martin, the death of Hadiyah Pendleton while she was seeking shelter from the rain, and just prior to the shooting of 6-month-old Jonylah Watkins when she was getting her diaper changed by her father. In addition, our young people deal with some challenges these days that we didn’t have to encounter until adulthood – it is taking a harsh toll on many of them. 

So we prayed. And then I felt like when we bring our concerns to the circle, yes, we have corporate prayer and God hears our cries, but we also plant seeds. At some point we will work together to find ways to address the issues that are on our hearts ... we pray, listen for the response and follow up with action.

But, I still felt as if there was something I should be doing, right now … something I should be doing to effect change in the lives of our young people (other than the two I birthed). Yet, I’m not … I’m not a teacher … I’m not a social worker … I don’t run a program that keeps youth off the streets or positions them for later life … I don’t mentor or facilitate workshops … I barely even engage children I don’t know personally … 

Yet, they are still weighing on me. Then, I was reminded of something that was spoken to me, nearly 20 years ago. I was told that God knows my heart, He knows what I want to do for the children and it will come to pass. At the time I was like, “What is she talking about? What do I want to do for the children?”

Here is where the good part comes. I was reminded of my ministry, formal and informal, which is to mothers.  Although I am still an ever-learning, work in progress, during my 24 years of parenting, I have experienced a few things, read a lot and conversed with many people. I’ve accumulated quite a bit of information which I readily share. Within the church, I have led a ministry to women with children. My online presence began and flourished in groups geared toward mothers such as Baby Center’s Parents of Color, MSN’s African American Moms Online and Café Mom’s Domestic Violence Survivors. 

That’s when it hit me that I am doing something to help the children. How? When mothers are physically, mentally, spiritually, and financially healthy, the children thrive. When mothers are safe, the children thrive. When mothers are engaged in joy-filled and productive relationships with fathers, the children thrive. 

What’s my point? While there is always more work to be done, don't discount the work that is already taking place. Everyone is not meant to have a worldwide platform, but what we do in our circle of influence has value. We must remember that there are numerous ways to accomplish a task, and we each have unique talents that equip us to achieve our goals. 

Be encouraged. Don’t grow weary of doing good. This world needs you. Even if you can’t see the fruits of your labor, know that they will develop. Remember that the work that God began in you will continue until completion.