Day 76 was the day our small town held a protest for Black Lives Matter. My heart has been so broken over the murder of George Floyd. I grew up in a part of Portland, Oregon that was ripped apart by the protests and riots of the 60's. We were not even allowed to go outside and play most days. But I was pretty young and did not fully comprehend just what was going on. I went to a school that was predominantly African American. As a child, skin color was never something I gave any thought too. Many of my closest friends growing up were Black. Of course they should be treated as equals. To do otherwise never even crossed my mind. Many things changed because of those years, but we as a country still have a long way to go. I have never had to worry about being pulled over because of the color of my skin. I have never had people cross the street when they approached me because they feared me for my skin color. I have never had the police called on me while I was out birding or shopping or walking the neighborhood. Yes, I believe all lives matter-of course they do-but right now we do need to focus on the fact that Black Lives Matter. My son put it this way: If you were heading down a block of houses on your way to fix a plumbing problem and another house on that street caught fire what would you do? Would you proceed to your plumbing job or would drop everything to help those whose house was on fire. All of the houses on that block are important but one is in very dire need at that moment. There is a house on fire in our neighborhood right now and it happens to belong to our African American community. They need us to step up; to step in; to hear their voices of anguish, frustration, fear, and yes, even anger. We need to stop and listen and then we need to work together towards a solution. Just a few short weeks ago it was Mother's Day and I designed this block to celebrate. My mother's heart has been grieved this past week. Grieved for a mother who will not ever get to see her son again, never to hear his voice. I cannot even begin to imagine her grief. And there are so many more mothers out there who know that pain all too well. So on Sunday I designed a new block. I wanted it to represent the broken and bleeding heart of our Black community. Block 76 I have named Black Lives Matter. Like many I feel I am fumbling my way through this time. I have had a lot to learn about what it still means to be Black in this country-the Land of the Free. I have spent time listening and reading their stories and I have cried many tears over what I have learned. Maybe I am being naive here, but I think that change has to start within the heart of each one of us. We have to be willing to look deep within and root out our stereotypes and misconceptions. We have to be willing to love one another as Christ has loved us. To be willing to lay down our lives for another. To stand up for the poor and oppressed, the widows and the orphans. To seek justice, mercy and grace for all. To work towards peace. There are a couple of books that have had a huge impact on me in the past couple of years as I have sought to gain understanding. One is Under our Skin by Benjamin Watson the other is Just Mercy by Bryan Stephenson. Just Mercy was also made into a movie and it is available to rent for free on Amazon right now. The book is so much more impactful though so while the movie is good the book is a must read. I don't write posts like this very often-actually I cannot really think of another one like it. Some of the days we are passing through right now just demand that I do more than simply share a pretty block with you. Some of the days we are passing through need to be addressed in a serious way and this is one of those days. For a pdf pattern of this block click HERE.
At times like this I simply want to wish you peace and love and a better tomorrow.
Robin
6/5/2020 04:58:05 am
What about David Dorn? Did his life matter? These so called "Peaceful Protesters" shot and killed David Dorn this week while he was trying to protect a Pawn Shop from looters. David Dorn was a Black Man - a retired St. Louis Chief of Police. A truly peace loving man who now has a wife, children, grandchildren who grieve the loss of their loved one. The "Peaceful Protesters" filmed him laying on the sidewalk dying and laughed about it. Don't sit there and try to tell me these people have a legitimate grievance. George Floyd was a career criminal. He once pulled a gun on a pregnant woman and threatened to kill her unborn child. Now tell me, is this a man you really want to memorialize? I subscribed to your blog to learn about quilts, not to hear empathy towards a faction of people who are trying to dismantle our country. Rest assured, I have unsubscribed.
Debra
6/5/2020 09:08:42 am
I totally agree with you about David Dorn's life. His life most certainly matters to me and to many others as well. I grieve for his family in the same way when I heard the news. I know there is a lot of violence associated with Black Lives Matter. There has ben a lot of violence associated with my faith as well. The things people have done in the name of Christ has been appalling at times and yet I continue to call myself a Christian. I know many who associate with the term Black Lives Matter who are equally appalled by the violence done in their names. Their lives matter to me-that is all I am trying to say. As a Christian I know that Christ came to die for everyone-no matter who they are, no matter what they have done. He has asked of me that I show mercy, that I show grace, that I show love and compassion to even those who are my enemies. He did it unto death on the cross and I can do no less. So if by standing with ALL of those who grieve I lose some support I am willing to make that sacrifice. Honestly if anyone can come up with a name that better represents that the lives of Black people are important and need our protection I am willing to listen.
Marija
6/5/2020 02:09:25 pm
Oh wow, I haven’t seen a comment and person who so blatantly and COMPLETELY misses the point as Robin does... in a while. So sad. Not even worth the discussion it seems, so I will just leave it at that. Thank you Debra for honestly speaking your heart, with all the grace there is. Keeping it open and willing to listen, learn, understand and love - that is what we all need to do more of.
Debra
6/8/2020 04:35:12 pm
Thank you, Marija! I am glad you understood where my heart was at in this post.
Faith
6/6/2020 07:07:25 pm
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with such honesty & responding to Robin's angry, misguided comments with kindness. Just subscribed. Faith.
Debra
6/8/2020 05:24:20 pm
Glad to have you join me, Faith!
Connie
6/7/2020 09:27:48 am
Beautiful block and sentiments so well expressed...what is that saying? There are none so blind as those who will not see. I never understood people who felt an overwhelming need to kick kind, generous people. Your reaction spoke volumes...heartfelt volumes...
Debra
6/8/2020 05:26:18 pm
Thanks, Connie, I believe everyone should be treated with kindness I do not always succeed, but I am getting better with age. 6/7/2020 12:11:52 pm
Well said Debra. Your word touched me deeply. A truly graceful response to an unhappy soul who just doesn’t see the whole picture. Just keep listening with your heart and encourage people to do the one thing that we all can do to improve things: VOTE. Loved the block. Thank you for all of your inspiration and caring in what is surely the most trying year we are all enduring. 😄 Carol
Debra@Tuning My Heart Quilts
7/16/2020 08:12:30 am
Thank you, Carol. Means a lot to hear that from you! 6/7/2020 04:54:41 pm
The block is a great way to integrate what's happening in our country in all ways, and it belongs in the quilt. There are 15 other dead people in addition to Floyd. It isn't who they were that counts, to me, but the fact that our country has absorbed 16 violent deaths, and there may yet be more. I see Robin's point, and feel she is emotionally involved in what's happening, as are you, Debra. You are reacting to events in different ways. That's human. We aren't all alike. And not one of us is perfect. Those of us who aren't Debra and Robin can't stand in judgment of either of you. We can only search our hearts and judge our own responses. My response was to fast and pray this weekend for peace between citizens of my country, for wisdom for the leadership at all levels, and for people to sit down and reason together. What happened in the sixties, which I also lived through, was not entirely peaceful, and I have trouble imagining Martin Luther King, Jr., advocating what's taking place today. But these times are not those times, these people are not those people. I believe the best we can all do right now is to keep a calm, cool head, fill our hearts with compassion, and LISTEN to each other, whether we agree or not. We can't understand someone else's point of view if we are busy preparing a rebuttal while they're talking.
Debra@Tuning My Heart Quilts
7/16/2020 08:15:42 am
Excellent points, Susan. We do need to listen with compassion and be kind to one another. I believe it is important to open our ears to the voices of others whether we agree with them or not. That is how we all grow in understanding and empathy.
Susan
7/15/2020 05:05:10 pm
Debra, your BLM block is riveting. I also want to say that this is your blog and you have the right to post anything you want. What you posted is the reasoning behind the "block for the day" which you do every day. I enjoy reading those. I feel sorry for Robin. There are more stories out there about this kind of treatment of people of color who aren't "career criminals" that have been arrested and treated as if they were. I am also awed by the responses you and the others have posted. God bless you all.
Debra@Tuning My Heart Quilts
7/16/2020 08:17:14 am
Thank you, Susan. Your words have touched my heart in a very good way. Blessings to you as well. Comments are closed.
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Welcome to the site of Debra Davis-a woman who loves the Lord and loves to quilt.
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