It isn’t often that grace walks around on two feet in this world. But grace is walking in Charleston.
Felicia Sanders played dead in a puddle of her son’s blood. He died. She survived to offer mercy to his killer.
Nadine Collier’s 70 year old mom went to that bible study and didn’t come back. Nadine offered forgiveness.
Bethane Middleton Brown’s sister was killed, leaving behind four daughters. But Bethane told the world “We are the family that love built. We have no room for hating.”
I don’t know if I could do what they did. Maybe, now that I have seen them do it.
A mother. A daughter. A sister.
There are some people calling these women weak, saying things will never change if we appear to accept and forgive the things that are done in the name of hatred, ignorance, bigotry.
But these women aren’t sending a message to men. They are talking to the evil that walked into their sacred house of God and tried to rob them of their faith.
And they are telling him that he failed.
Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10
If you want to help the people of Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC you can donate to these two funds, one to help the church members and one in honor of Reverend Pinckney. Or you can send an email of prayer and support directly to the church from the Contact US button on their website.
Full Of Graces 
I know that I would NOT be so forgiving; I’d want to retaliate.
That’s why I wish the media would show these stories more. So it can sink in for all of us.
The hatred in this world is a huge, sad thing. Being Jewish, I’ve had a SMALL taste of it at times, not really personally, but hearing people talk negatively about “my” people, and I’m VERY vocal in speaking out-nothing like the hate that’s spewed for people of color.
I was thinking that, that you must have had a taste of this a time or two. I’m sorry for all of it and I am doing the most important thing I can as a white Christian woman–raising my kids differently.
I felt the same way with my son, wouldn’t want him to ever feel he’s better than anyone or others might be LESS than he is, whether it’s color or privilege or grades. I did a pretty good job, so it CAN be done!