A Birthday Gift for My Big Bro From Trinity

My most recent surprise video is for my older brother's birthday. He is always inspiring me to create. And I create often. YouTube videos are also one of my favorite ways to create, and if it weren't for me seeing his motivation to draw, I don't think I'd be a YouTuber today. Nonetheless, an illustrator.

So, Happy Birthday Big Bro! Now, even if I don't know what to create, the very process of making a video and getting to see it come to life is a fun adventure in itself. From scripture inspired videos to artsy encouragement and challenges, there are many gems to be shared.

"Because I have a brother, I will always have a friend."

Please be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel to join me on my art journey.

A Father's Day Gift from Trinity

A Father's Day Gift

Father's Day came around the corner quickly, but the surprise video I put together for Dad was uploaded just in time! Best Dad I know, and I've got to say Happy Father's Day!! This scripture also reminds me of him,

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." - 2 Timothy 2:15

"Some people don't believe in heroism. However, they never met my father."

Please be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel to join me on my art journey.

Save Our Sons Huntsville

Who We Are

Real people, who serve a real God, that link arms to break bread and shatter paradigms. Save Our Sons is a place where parents partner with pastors, community leaders, and law enforcement to discuss race, religion, and reconciliation.

In 2014, a friend of mine, April Boddie who is an author and local chef, reached out about educating Black youth on police pullover etiquette. With the help of our mentor, the late, Art Leslie we gathered a panel of Black men and invited them to share their personal traffic stop stories. As two Black mamas of eleven kids between us, seven of our children are sons.

Due to COVID-19 we will meet via LIVE stream on our YouTube Channel

What We Do

We share potluck, poetry, and perspectives. Ultimately we share truth in love.

• We listen carefully

• We keep an open mind and heart

• We respect the speaker even if we don't respect their views

Why Poetry

Poetry has a way of bypassing head knowledge and penetrating the heart.

A HAIKU FROM OUR HEARTS

Poetry unites.

When politics divide us.

We are one in Christ.

Where We Are

We've been discussing police pullover etiquette for the last six years and racial tension has increased and trust in law enforcement has rapidly decreased.

We've attempted to answer the following questions since our first meeting,

• Who are we

• Where are we

• Where do we want to go

• What do we need to do as Christians to get there

Save Our Sons is a place where we fight for one another, rather than against each other. Our panel discussions are dialogues, not debates. Our panelists come with the intent to tune in, not just broadcast. We have seen an intense increase in support recently but our goal remains the same . . .

To see our husbands and sons come home safely at night.

We believe our position is to stand, and our posture is to bow. Matthew 10:16

SOS HSV is a safe place to stand and have hard conversations, so we won't bow to racism and police brutality when we're apart.

A message to those who truly wish to stand in solidarity with their neighbor.

Come on now, let’s walk and talk; let’s work this out.

Your wrong doings are blood red,

But they can turn as white as snow.

Your sins are red like crimson,

But they can be made clean again like new wool.

If you pay attention now and change your ways,

you can eat good things from a healthy earth.

But if you refuse to listen and stubbornly persist,

then, by violence and war, you will be the one devoured.

Isaiah 1:18-20 (The Voice)

Just as the quarantine separates us, so does racism. SOS HSV is a place where majority culture and minority culture intersect to grow in grace, and the knowledge of our Lord.

We invite our members to,

• listen (be slow to speak and quick to hear James 1:19-21

• learn (factual history and acknowledge that systemic racism exists) Isaiah 1:8-20

• admit (that white privilege exists and choose to be allies who advocate for justice) Micah 6:8

• explore (biases and seek to educate yourself on how to dismantle racism) Psalm 139:23-24

• realize what white supremacy is and be willing to tear down idols Jonah 2:8 (remove racists monuments and mascots both inwardly and outwardly)

• relinquish rigid paradigms that cause harm and hurt to your neighbor Romans 12

• be empathetic have the ability to listen to and feel the feelings of someone else is essential Mark 12:31

• be angry, but sin not, racism is wrong and you have every right to be angry Ephesians 4:26-27

• be prepared (for white fragility, black hostility, racial exhaustion, cognitive dissonance, in-attentional blindness, tone deafness, opposition) Matthew 13:13

• be considerate (we are at different stages along this journey) Romans 15:1

• be aware (different individuals can have different intentions) Matthew 13:24-30 "Let the wheat and the tares grow up together . . . "

• be honest (hold people accountable when they invalidate your experiences, cling to color-blindness, share revisionist history, or assert political agendas above the truth of the gospel) I Timothy 1:7, Revelation 12:11

• be wise as a serpent but as harmless as a dove a serpent is low to the ground (stay humble) and a dove (see the big picture) has an aerial view. (use parabolic wisdom and persistence to make peace) Matthew 10:16

We are committed to loving mercy, doing justly, and walking humbly with our God. And would like to link arms with our brothers and sisters who truly have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to change. Matthew 12:50

Where We Want To Go

• Through our Prayers, Pens & Perspectives events writers workshops we are seeking to create honest environments in which people can hold space for heavy emotions, and be liberated through the power of the pen. (Our rules are no prefacing, preaching, pep-talking, piggybacking, talking, commenting, or feedback. Snaps, tears, lament, exhales, and sighs are allowed."

• Through partnering with RYAN (Reaching Youth Across Nationalities) we support non-violence, homicide survivors, and survivors of bullying. We wish to create solutions to aide in ending violence in Huntsville and surrounding areas.

• Save Our Sons is not a black, white, or even a blue thing; it’s a blood thing. And we are grateful for our Black, Brown, White and Blue brothers and sisters who understand the heart behind why we do what we do.

• We want to be true ministers of reconciliation that see times of racial unrest as an opportunity to share the light and love of Christ. Our goal is to love every nation, every tribe, and every tongue, as we love ourselves.

What We Need To Do To Get There

We must each do our own internal work so that when we come together we don't add insult to injury. Connection matters. One of the ways we stay connected is through our private Facebook group. It is a safe place to continue the dialogue by sharing compelling videos, articles, and insight about race and reconciliation. We regularly engage through sharing relevant content, commenting, commending, and lamenting with one another.

We don’t have all the answers, but we are grateful that we get to remove aloneness and disagree without being disagreeable.

Our “Save Our Sons Huntsville” page is a place where everybody “plays nice.” By the time a panel discussion, Prayers, Pens & Perspectives Workshop, Diversity Dinner, or LIVE stream rolls around, it’s like a family reunion.

We learn from our neighbor, collectively seek the Savior, and savor one another's presence, potluck dishes, poetry, and perspectives.

And let us not give up meeting together. Some are in the habit of doing this. Instead, let us encourage one another with words of hope. Let us do this even more as you see Christ’s return approaching.

Hebrews 10:25 (NIRV)