What Do You Think? Wednesday
Some definite things move me: the depth and beauty of God’s word, His creation, my husband’s sweet talk and words that dance off a page begging me to embrace them. Oh, how I love words so good writers presenting a good message make me sit back, curl up and smile. This is what author Patricia Raybon, a strong writer, master storyteller and, above all, a Christian unashamed of her faith, does for me.
Author Patricia Raybon
You may recall that I wrote a bit about how her memoir My First White Friend: Confessions on Race, Love, and Forgiveness prepared me to meet my first white friend, again. Today I am pleased to be a stop on Raybon’s virtual book tour for her latest book, The One Year® daily devotional God’s Great Blessings that is encouraging, yet challenging, me. I believe the following excerpt will challenge you to let go of your strong black woman persona and long for God’s strength instead. Please, tell me what you think.
Fight Back With Joy
By Patricia Raybon
She’s laughing. Even though her home is a wreck. She’s laughing. Even though her kitchen looks lousy. Paint colors all wrong. Fabric choices breaking her budget. When the wood cabinets finally arrive—several weeks late—both the size and grain completely miss the mark.
“But I’m laughing,” says the TV host of the home renovation show, giggling into the camera. “It’s how I deal with setbacks,” she explains. “I mean, you have to laugh. It gets me back on track.”
It’s a timely philosophy. Joy imparts strength. For wise Black women, however, joy in the Lord activates His strength. In our lives. In our circumstances. Even in our kitchens. Both big and small.
Speaking to His disciples, Jesus put it this way: “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart”—be of good cheer—“because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) We love that promise, indeed.
But why would joy in Him—and not courage or bravery or boldness—deliver the strength of almighty God? Could it be the illogic of the principle? That the beauty of joy is so winsome and unexpected that it’s disarming?
No enemy expects a foe to fight back with joy.
Yet there’s something strangely powerful about joy. About laughing in the face of a storm. About sizing up your enemy but knowing that, compared to God, your enemy is powerless. About staring up at a mountain and accessing its peaks, crags and valleys, but knowing—as you laugh—the mountain can’t overcome God’s power. Is this rationalizing? Or denial? Or is it wisdom?
“I have told you this so you will be filled with my joy,” Jesus told His disciples in the upper room (John 15:11). “Yes, your joy will overflow!” Then as His joy flows, your enemies flee. Can you laugh at that? Try it today. Then don’t be surprised when your victory follows.
Award-winning author Patricia Raybon’s newest book is the One Year® daily devotional God’s Great Blessings, which includes this reflection on strength in joy. She is also author of two acclaimed memoirs, My First White Friend and I Told the Mountain to Move. She also collaborated with calligrapher Timothy Botts in his upcoming gift book honoring African American spirituals, Bound for Glory. Learn more at her website: PatriciaRaybon.Com.
