Black Women Have It Going On

Good morning from Colorado, where the peaks are tall and the tomb is empty! Today is Thursday, and my faith is secured in Christ Jesus! Thanks for stopping by my blog, where we discuss life, faith, and the long walk toward healing.

When you live in a house fueled by a 16-hour sacrifice, you learn a secret language: the language of being “no trouble.” By the age of twelve, I had mastered the art of wearing the mask of the adult. I knew my mother was at the forge, fighting a battle for our very existence, so I tucked my own childish needs into the dark corners of my heart. I didn’t want to add one more ounce of weight to her already breaking back.

I became the “Little Shepherd” who never complained, the one who slept through the afternoon to avoid the hunger or the loneliness. I wore that mask so well that even my mother didn’t notice the child was missing. We were stumbling sheep, and my way of staying on the path was to act like I didn’t need a path at all. I traded my play for chores and my voice for silence, all to make it easier for her to keep working.

People on the sidelines see a “well-behaved” child, but God sees a heart that is holding its breath. Today, as a family historian, I’m taking that mask off. I’m realizing that while my mother’s labor was a gift, my silence was a sacrifice she never should have had to ask for. If you spent your childhood being “the strong one” so your parents could survive, know that God is inviting you to put the mask down. It’s okay to finally be the child you were never allowed to be.

The Takeaway for Us

• The Silent Contract: One realizes that children often “parent” their parents by suppressing their own needs to reduce the household stress. This “mask” is a heroic survival tool, but it leaves a debt of rest that must eventually be paid.
• The Cost of “No Trouble”: Being the “easy child” often means being the “unseen child.” Healing involves acknowledging the loneliness that was hidden behind the mask of competence.
• Reclaiming the Voice: Understanding the “why” behind the silence allows the adult of today to finally speak up for the child of yesterday.

Community Challenge

Were you the “strong child” who stayed quiet so your parents could focus on survival? What is one “childish” joy you are giving yourself permission to experience today?

Scripture & Prayer

• Scripture: “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” — 1 Corinthians 13:11 (KJV) (Exploring the irony of being forced to put them away too early).
• Prayer: Father, we thank You for the children who were strong when they should have been small. We ask for healing for the souls who wore the mask of the adult to protect their parents’ peace. Thank You for seeing us in the silence and for inviting us to finally rest in Your arms. Amen.

The Spiritual Seal

Remember: You are not defined by the years the locusts have eaten, but by the new thing God is doing in your life today. The tomb is empty, and your story is rising. See you Friday!