Who Do You Want To Get Revenge On?

The girls who bullied me in middle school and high school. The guy from the high school football team who humiliated me in front of our class and said I didn’t matter and sucked at life. The girl who was supposed to be my friend and betrayed my trust. The first guy that broke my heart. Or perhaps the ungodly Christians I’ve met who have other people convinced they’re good people? The list could go on. But what good would it benefit me to get revenge on any of the people listed above? Zero. Zilch. Nada. I have the choice to move on with my life. Revenge is an interesting concept. On one hand, the idea of inflicting the same pain towards someone that’s hurt you may bring temporary satisfaction, but at what cost? I don’t believe it’s worth it – even if and when given the opportunity. On the other hand, you can forgive and let go of whatever it was that transpired. That’s easier said than done for some more than others. I’m not a fan of actively seeking revenge. Revenge is God’s job and however He decides to proceed is up to Him. Because the moment myself, or anyone else, takes vengeance into our own hands, we’re inviting unnecessary chaos and drama into our lives. Romans 12:19 reads, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written, it is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord. Don’t seek revenge. Turn it over to God.

The Day I Became A Kidney Donor

About a year ago, I had a dream my dad wanted to talk to our family about something serious. I wasn’t sure what he wanted to discuss, but I knew it was something I needed to prepare myself for. Around the time after I had this dream, I remember stopping by my parents place and sensing something was going on that they weren’t telling me. I tried to dismiss what I’d been feeling, but I couldn’t shake it. Something serious was happening. As I returned to my home after visiting them one day, I was in my kitchen washing dishes when a heaviness hit my heart like nothing I’d ever felt before. Something’s wrong with dad. That’s what that dream was about. God, what’s going on? As I continued washing dishes, I started crying and praying. Then in mid-spring, my dad held an unexpected family meeting that would change all our lives forever. He hesitated at first, and as his voice started cracking and he started crying, he said, “Well, I wanted to talk to ya’ll to tell you that I have kidney disea...

Dear Young Black Professionals

As you embark on your career, I want you to know some things and stay woke about what you’ll be up against. Please understand that no matter what, you have value, and you matter. Always remember that. As progressive as this world and different workplaces may seem, every workplace has a culture. You’ll be in different places where a lot of people who don’t look like you will be in the room. But know that you belong in those rooms too. Spend some time observing and studying those spaces and learn as much as you can. There will be people you work with who will make presumptions about your competence, education, and ability to fulfill your job duties. There will be more who will think less of you because of the color of your skin and try to disqualify you the moment you make an error, mistake, or ask questions about things you may not understand. This will all feel uncomfortable and you may get insecure, feel like you’re all by yourself, and think you don’t belong there, but ride it out...

Black Male Athletes And Their Dating Preferences

In the 2017 horror film Get Out , there’s an unforgettable scene when one of the film’s villainous characters, Rose, a young white woman, is seen eating Fruit Loops and drinking a bottle of milk through a straw as she searches the internet for “Top NCAA prospects.” This moment in the film is frightening because the purpose of Rose’s search is to ultimately lure young and unsuspecting Black men to a deadly fate after she begins dating them. If you’ve seen the film, you know how everything ultimately turns out, but if you haven’t, you’ll have a better understanding of the bigger picture. Recently, college football superstar and future NFL prospect, Travis Hunter, became a source of media scrutiny and controversy regarding his relationship with his fiancée, Leanna Lenee. Much of the criticism was around his fiancée and comments she shared about how she wasn’t initially interested in Travis before they started dating. Additionally, she received backlash regarding the couple’s interact...

Making Waves