Black Women Have It Going On

Good morning from Colorado, where the peaks are tall and the spirit is free! Today is Sunday, May 3rd, and my faith is secured in Christ Jesus! Thanks for stopping by my blog as we continue this special week celebrating a life that was truly “stadium-sized.”

If you caught yesterday’s post, you know my brother Butch was born into a bit of family mystery. But once he stepped out of the “Baby Butler” camera frame and into the world, he became a force of nature. He possessed a quality that is rare: a total, beautiful naivety to the cruelties of mankind. He made friends instantly, feeling safe enough to hang out with anyone, anywhere. Within a mile radius of our home—North, South, East, or West—Butch had a “best friend” on every block.

As a family historian, I look back at the puzzle of our childhood and see how these pieces bonded us, even through the pitfalls. Because my mom was working her grueling 16-hour double shifts, the task of “keeper” fell to me. One afternoon, Mom came home and asked where he was. I had no clue. The weight of her exhaustion and worry turned into a “ten-ton brick” of trouble for me. I remember walking up the street, tears streaming down my face, searching for a brother who was simply off being his friendly, infectious self.

When I finally found him, the frustration of being a child responsible for another child boiled over. I’m not proud of it now, but I threatened him out of pure, flustered anger. He was so scared he ran to a neighbor’s house for sanctuary. When those neighbors came down to intervene, they didn’t see a “bully”—they saw a young girl who was overwhelmed by a responsibility she shouldn’t have had to carry alone. They were kind, telling me not to say mean things, but they understood the pressure. That day, I wasn’t just his sister; I was learning, through trial and error, how to be his confidante and his protector in a world that wasn’t always as friendly as he was.

The Takeaway for Us

• The Weight of the “Keeper”: Sibling bonds are often forged in the fires of shared responsibility. One realizes that the friction of childhood—the threats, the tears, and the “trouble”—is often just the growing pains of learning how to protect one another.
• The Gift of Naivety: There is a divine beauty in someone who refuses to see the “cruelty of mankind.” While it creates worry for those watching over them, it also serves as a reminder of how we are called to love: without suspicion and with an open heart.
• Kindness in the Gap: The neighbors in this story represent the “village” required to raise a family. Their gentle correction, rather than harsh judgment, allowed a frustrated sister to find her footing again.

Community Challenge

Did you have to grow up “fast” to help look after a sibling or a family member? How did that responsibility shape the way you love them today? This week, reach out to that sibling and share a “messy” memory that you can now look back on with grace and forgiveness.

Scripture & Prayer

• Scripture: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” — Genesis 4:9 (KJV) (A question answered through a lifetime of sibling love).
• Prayer: Father, we thank You for the messy, beautiful reality of family. We lift up the “older siblings” who carried heavy loads and the “younger ones” whose joy kept the world bright. Thank You for the neighbors who speak kindness into our frustrations. Help us to forgive our younger selves for the moments we were overwhelmed. Amen.

The Spiritual Seal

Remember: A child’s struggles are not “lost years”; they are the training ground for the “Hercules strength” one carries into adulthood. God sees every tear shed in the search for a sibling, and He walks beside the weary. The burden of the past is gone, but the bond remains. See you tomorrow!