Lent: Widows, It's Time to Turn Your Strength into Weakness | Black Women Widows Empowered

As you may know, today begins the Lenten season. *Lent is a season of the Christian Year when Christians focus on simple living, prayer, and fasting in order to grow closer to God. It's also the day after Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday (a day associated with great food and parties, among other things).

So, if you're one to celebrate these occasions, it's now time to rethink your strategy for the next forty days and give up the stern embodiment we as black women tend to exhibit.

My parents wanted the best for us and admire them to this day. I grew up in a stern household and to be honest, I've passed down that strength to my children, especially to my daughter.

As I watch her grow, I see a young little black girl who is loving, tender, gentle, vibrant but a bit shy. I see a young little black girl who refuses to allow anyone see her cry. I see a little young little black girl who loves people but is non-trusting of other little young black little girls but will allow them in her space just once. I see me.

I'm not at all apologetic for the kind of upbringing I provided for my children. They needed it because of the world we live in. They needed to be prepared for the hustle and bustle and racism of this world. Their Millennial minds needed to be given the wisdom and sternness from a Generation Xer and widow who was left to raise two teenage boys and a young daughter.

I've been there and experienced what it's like to be called a ni##er during a car chase just because of the color of my skin...in the city of Baltimore mind you. I've been laughed at because I was too light and therefore told to stay on the porch of a well-liked family friend as my younger, darker sister was given the sweet tour of a lovely home. I've been there so I will not be apologetic in how I raised you. When I was touched inappropriately several times as a young child all for the sake of the promise to watch Wizard of Oz, I will never, ever be apologetic for how I raised you. But what I will be is more loving towards you. I will decrease so that He (God) can increase in me. So I will give up my strength for forty days just so that we can communicate more, laugh more and learn more .... together.

*UpperRoom.org

#copingwithgrief #millennials #lent #widows #generationx