Word for the day “Forgiveness matters.”
I John 4:20 (NKJV) If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
Beloved leaders,
Today’s message encourages leadership professionals, personally, and practically to remember that forgiveness really matters. There will always be an opportunity to forgive someone. The challenge is whether we will forgive and whether forgiveness will help to remediate the despair we often experience in life’s journey.
LEARN TO FORGIVE AND CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.
Living in forgiveness toward others does not mean pretending or having a Kum ba yah, disposition. Kum ba yah is the African-American spiritual that is often associated with not making any waves or letting us all get along.
It does not exonerate those who are guilty from the demand for justice. It does not ignore one’s hurt. Forgiving does not mean forgetting. To truly forgive, we must remember. How can we forgive something we don’t admit happened? Forgiving also doesn’t mean trusting someone who betrayed you, I’m simply saying we can forgive and still maintain healthy boundaries.
In addition, I’m saying forgiveness is the same as making amends meaning admitting one’s wrong. As a Black man, I have forgiven those who have wronged me, whether in corporate America, my family, friendships, here in America, or those I’ve served in my leadership journey.
TODAY’S MESSAGE IS JUST TO REMIND YOU THAT FORGIVENESS MATTERS.
I feel compelled even as I struggle in this season of my life. I’m writing as a step to address the elephant in the room and to help other people, especially Black people and all people who have been treated in a denigrating manner to continue our journey and forgive. I also, want to exhort White people to let’s have authentic and meaningful interactions that lead to the change we all need.
I’m not saying that Black and other unrepresented people don’t have legitimate reasons to be angry, ready to fight and take matters into their own hands. Especially with what’s evolved in our world over the last 60 years and don’t forget these last 4 years of atrocities in our society.
Not a forgiveness that says that racially motivated crimes are okay or that critical race theory is not being used in a covert manner by the powers that be as we see in today’s culture. But a forgiveness that’s rooted in having a genuine and transformative dialogue of what’s been and still is wrong and sincerely endeavoring to make it right in our country and our families.
Make right: The disparities in our social, economic, and political systems where underrepresented people are still marginalized, disenfranchised, and hatred is at an all-time high. I’ve never seen in all my years the dismantling of the nuclear family, as I see it today. Maybe it’s been this way, and I’m older now and see things a little more clearly. There is still hope for so many of us so let’s get to work. Our families and our country need healing more than ever before and I am a proponent of that healing in the face of my own personal challenges.
POINT TO PONDER
America come on; we are better than this.
Husband and Wife, we are better than this.
Families, we are better than this.
Law enforcement, we are better than this.
Political parties we are better than this.
People, we are better than this.
Special thanks!
Chief Encouragement Officer (CEO) James Baker, Jr. and our leadership team are especially thankful for those of you who provided financial donations and support in November 2023, by partnering with us in efforts to advance the kingdom of God in this 21st century season: Special thanks to Ms. Annette Straker, Mr. Kenneth Washington, Ms. Itholear Abbott, Mrs. Barbara Mason, Ms. Rita McGuffin, Ms. Jeanette Grant, Ms. Cynthia Artis-Waiters, Ms. Michelle Winder Branch, Ms. Angie Scraders-Murphy, Mr. Calvin Jackson, Mr. William Jones, Ms. Judith Battle, Mr. William Wilson, Mrs. Lola Moore, Mrs. Angela Harrison, Ms. Gertrude Scott.
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Kingdom Blessings,