The month of “Black History “and love is here “Valentines Day.” So why not celebrate Black Love. Which should be acknowledged and celebrated every day of the week and every month of the year.
Start by admitting that you are beautiful. Respect yourself, treat yourself with forgiveness and kindness.
Love your caramel, pecan, and blackberry complexions. Love those thick juicy lips. Love the strength that twist your locs. Love the creativity of your innovative language and how you express yourself. Love the originality of your fashion. Embrace your ancestors’ traits that has been passed down from generation to generation. Love the blackness that the creator made when he created you with greatness and perfection.
Remember that you are Kings, Queens, Princes, and Princesses. Although, some may hate the color of your skin love yourself and continue to love others as well.
Sure, these are new times that we are living in, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t return back to some of the ways of the past.
When we honored and respected our elders, when we would hold the door for them, carry their groceries, helped them cross the street.
These are the people that paved the way for us. It was their wisdom, knowledge, strength, and courage that carried us over those bridges, under those tunnels, and across those oceans.
If you take a moment to stop and listen, you might gain something of value.
Their stories are saturated with wisdom. Just Like those homemade meals are filled with love.
Respect, honor, and love Granny, Pa Pa, Aunt Gail, sister Betty and uncle Forrest Jr.
We must love our neighbors. We must help one another when in need, we must uplift, encourage, and build one another up, not tear each other down.
Instead on talking about Lisa because she is struggling to raise three kids on her on. Why not assist her in what in ways that we can.
Why trash talk Marcus behind his back, because he lost his job and is down on his luck. Wouldn’t it make more sense to be supportive, do some networking and help him find another job so that he can get back to providing for his family.
What happened to looking out for one another? What happened to making sure Lisa kids made it to the bus stop, when she has to leave early for work. What happened to making sure Lisa kids have dinner after school because Lisa has to work a double.
Let’s get back to being a community. Let’s rekindle protecting one another, helping one another, and loving one another.
Am I my brother’s keeper? Yes, I am! Am I my sister’s keeper? Yes, I am!
Picture a time when black women and men were forbidden to love one another. A time when they couldn’t show any affection towards one another.
There was a time when the institution of marriage was prohibited.
Back in those times couples would join hand in hand and jump the broom to seal their commitment of love.
No matter what prohibitions there was, there was love!
I can’t imagine what my ancestors had to endure just to love one another.
In honor of my ancestors fight for love and what is given freely to me. I vow to love my husband beyond death does us part. I vow to respect the man that he is today, understand the things that he has been through, and the things that he has to face today being a black man in America.
I vow to treat him like the King he was born as. He will know that I love him by my actions, not a ceremony or a signed document. And as the world is blessed with our presence it will encounter TRUE LOVE! love is an action word achieved through expressions of affection, respect, trust, kindness, forgiveness, admiration, devotion, loyalty, consideration, concern, and passion. love should never be taken lightly, but at all times be valued, cherished and treasured.
Love is a gift given to us by the creator of the universe and humankind. Love brings joy and happiness to our souls. The love of the creator is what fulfills our heart and completes us.
love is not only what sustains us but what sustains life and what flourishes it. True love shows commitment and sacrifice.
My command is this: LOVE each other as I have
LOVED you. Greater LOVE has no one than this:
to lay down one’s life for one’s friend. JOHN 15:12-13
Where there is love, there is no darkness. BURUNDI
Let your love be like the misty rain, coming softly but flooding
the river. LIBERIA
“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find
all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”
RUMI
You can search throughout the entire universe for someone
who is more deserving of your love and affection than you
yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You,
yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserves
your love and affection. BUDDHA
Written By: Nairobi X and Leonard McNeil