This Good News Story Gave Me Goosebumps…

2pm.

Sometimes, it’s really easy to post a blog. Other days, it takes hours and I sit with my fingers hovering over the keyboard waiting to figure out what I’m going to say! Today, I’m pleased to say, is the former! Jen shared a FB page from A Mighty Girl. So let me put this out there right away, that what follows is from www.amightygirl.com. They describe themselves as the world’s largest collection of books, toys and movies for parents, teachers and others dedicated to raising smart, confident and courageous girls. The story they highlighted this week is that of Ruby Bridges. She turned 60. If you’ve never heard of her, neither had I.

A Mighty Girl writes: ” As a six-year-old, Ruby Bridges famously became the first African American child to desegregate an all-white elementary school in the south of America. When the 1st grader walked to William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans on November 14, 1960 surrounded by a team of U.S. Marshals, she was met by a vicious mob shouting and throwing objects at her. 

One of the federal marshals, Charles Burks, who served on her escort team, recalls Bridges’ courage in the face of such hatred: “For a little girl six years old going into a strange school with four strange deputy marshals, a place she had never been before, she showed a lot of courage. She never cried. She didn’t whimper. She just marched along like a little soldier. We were all very proud of her.” This poignant picture captured my attention…

Once Ruby entered the school, she discovered that it was devoid of children because they had all been removed by their parents due to her presence. The only teacher willing to have Ruby as a student was Barbara Henry, who had recently moved from Boston. Ruby was taught by herself for her first year at the school due to the white parents’ refusal to have their children share a classroom with a black child.

Despite daily harassment, which required the federal marshals to continue escorting her to school for months; threats towards her family; and her father’s job loss due to his family’s role in school integration, Ruby persisted in attending school. The following year, when she returned for second grade, the mobs were gone and more African American students joined her at the school. The pioneering school integration effort was a success due to Ruby Bridges’ inspiring courage, perseverance, and resilience.” ENDS.

If you have access to You Tube, there is a 90 minute movie made about Ruby Bridges.

The Ruby Bridges Story on You Tube

Last year, the 53rd anniversary of the first day at school, was celebrated with this banner.

“Integration is a mortal sin.” Huh? Where in the Bible did they find that?! The USA may not have called it Apartheid, but they absolutely practised it.  This photo is from Wikipaedia – it is dated 1939 and was in Oklahoma City. The man is drinking from the Coloured only water container. …

As I read through the Wikipaedia article on segregation in the USA, I discovered that you can’t say it’s gone. Less, yes, but not eradicated altogether.

Jesus displayed only love, compassion and acceptance to those who were most discriminated against. I think of Him with the Samaritan woman. Jews did not associate with Samaritans. Not only does Jesus strike up a conversation with a Samaritan, He did so with a Samaritan WOMAN! So politically incorrect. Jesus came to break those barriers.

Romans 2:11

 God shows no partiality.

And neither should we.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you!

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

Gratitude Pic…I spent several minutes staring at our lavender bushes, trying to spot chameleons. I counted about 6. Here’s one of the better pics…’meleon on the move…