Oprah is everywhere. Not only does Oprah come on TV, she also now comes in the mail! I’m not sure if you knew that or not. But even right now as we speak Oprah is flying around the world being delivered to homes all over the world. Of course I am not talking about Oprah her self, but Oprah the Magazine! I happen to be one of the few, the proud, the anxiously awaiting the next edition, the “this is classic throne room reading material” guys that actually receive Oprah in my mailbox from month to month. In print that is.
So as I was in my throne room the other day reading through the profundities that are just pouring off the pages, I happened to come across one that struck my interest. It is a story about the Freedom Riders. If you don’t know much about the Freedom Riders, check out this brief history found here. Well, anyhow, Oprah had a write up in this May’s issue. For you other Oprah readers, it is volume 9, number 5. 🙂 Anyhow, on to the good stuff.
The story goes on to reveal several of the freedom riders mug shots, and then their current picture, and what they did with their life since being apart of this very important movement. One woman literally jumped off the page at me with the comments that she made. Her name is Pauline Knight-Ofosu. This is what she is quoted saying in Oprah the magazine.
“My parents never tried to hide anything, but they were Strong Bible students, and they would rehearse to you the various things that had happened to people along the way since time began. It wasn’t a matter of being afraid- it was a matter of knowing who you were, going forward, and participating with other people, and never to hate. You cannot hate, you cannot hold this person in error. You’ve got to see them for who they are. They don’t know it maybe but they’re God’s children too.” ~Pauline Knight-Ofosu
Wow, I wonder if that strikes you as it did me. Here is a woman who has in most people’s minds every right to hate all of those people who had repressed/segregated/demeaned and in many other ways hated her and her family, and she is saying, I can’t hate them because they are a child of God! This is truly an amazing perspective. You and I have likely lived far easier lives, and yet we decide that there are certain people that we should hate. We don’t need to like them because they are less of a person, or they are this or that. However, they are a child of God, therefore loved by God, desired by God to be called heirs to the throne of God, valued human beings. I wonder sometimes we are quick to say things like God loves you so much he knows exactly how many hairs are on your head, he knows everything about you, but at the same time we then say, well he knows how many hairs are on my head, but not that guys. He’s a jerk. God would never care about him or her.
Not so.
People, we need to step up and love the way that Christ loved us. We need to be obedient to the great commandment. “You shall Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like the first, You shall Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Oprah thanks for reminding me of this very important commandment… … …
2 Comments
We also need to realize that even though Oprah is spreading a “positive message” she is not a Christian. Oprah does not believe in Jesus Christ as her way of salvation.
You are completely accurate, in fact sometimes I tend to be a little sarcastic in nature, so maybe that wasn’t clear enough. At the same time, I also realize that God can use so many things to remind us of His truths. For me, this jumped off the page at me, and it reminded me of how I should be loving others.
But great comment, thanks.