During what is known as a holy season of light in many faith traditions, and as Christians prepare to celebrate the birth of the most famous poor baby in the world, I often reflect on a passage from the Gospel of Matthew that comes long after the Christmas story.
On November 28, the family of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter held a beautiful memorial service for her at the Glenn Memorial Church at Emory University. Mrs. Carter’s friends, family, and pastor all emphasized her lifetime of service to others, including her longtime leadership as a mental health advocate.
For many years I always cooked Thanksgiving dinner for our whole family and for friends away from their homes. Before our meal, children read various inspirational passages and this beautiful prayer by great Black theologian Howard Thurman, A Litany of Thanksgiving.
“It should be clear by now that a nation can be no stronger abroad than she is at home. Only an America which practices what it preaches about equal rights and social justice will be respected by those whose choice affects our future. Only an America which has fully educated its citizens is fully capable of tackling the complex problems and perceiving the hidden dangers of the world in which we live.”
Until our nation makes a permanent change in “concern for ‘the least of these,’” there will be millions still searching for their place at America’s table of plenty.
You and I now have the opportunity—and awesome responsibility—to compose and play the next movement of the symphony of freedom and justice. That will be the sound of the joyful new day children and youth everywhere deserve.
Immigration
Fifty years after Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) was founded, some of CDF’s marks of impact go all the way back to the beginning.
On October 9, Hughes Van Ellis, who was one of the last three known survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, passed away at age 102. In a statement after he passed away, Oklahoma State Rep. Regina Goodwin said, “Two days ago, Mr. Ellis urged us to keep fighting for justice. In the midst of his death, there remains an undying sense of right and wrong.”
Child Welfare
At a moment of unspeakable terror, horror, violence, and despair, Scripture and prayers are often the first words that rise. I offer again a prayer to the God of all children.
Every time there is a new debate over political leadership it is worth returning to the examples we want to see.