If you have never heard of the play “A Raisin in the Sun” please read it. It’s an excellent piece of American literature. It was written by Lorraine Hansberry in the late 1950s. She was a 29-year-old African American writer and her book was turned into a Broadway play.
A Raisin in the Sun has won many awards and received critical acclaim. The title comes from a Langston Hughes poem “Harlem” or “Dream Deferred.” It is a powerfully moving piece of literature that should be read and even watched by everyone.
In my mother’s house, there is still God.
In one scene of the play, the daughter Beneatha is being chided by her mother and sister because of her flitting interest in many things and not focusing on any one thing. At one-point Beneatha questions, the existence of God by saying, “There is simply is no blasted God – there is only man and it is he who makes miracles!” Her mother (who was known as ‘Mama’) absorbed the speech, studied her daughter, rose slowly, and crossed to Beneatha and slaps her powerfully across the face.
Read: Be Jesus
Afterward, there is only silence in the room, the daughter drops her eyes from her mother’s face. Mama stood very tall and before she says,
“Now you say after me, in my mother’s house, there is still God.”
Beneatha does not say anything as she is still staring at the ground. Mama repeats the phrase again with precision and cool emotion. Then Beneatha repeats it, “In my mother’s house there is still God.”
In most southern black homes, there is a matriarch who has a very deep belief of God and tries to instill that into her children and grandchildren. For example, in my household that probably would have happened to me if I said the same thing. Speaking for myself, I probably would not go that far if my children said that. However, it would warrant a profoundly serious conversation about what this family believes. I would still live my life in a way that my children would see how important God is to me.
God’s Point of View?
We see it on social media all the time. Especially in today’s climate. Racial tension, protests, police brutality, politics, COVID-19; should I wear a mask?; is the government trying to control me? Many of us spend a lot of time trying to convince people on social media to see our point of view. What about God’s point of view?
God had two remarkably simple instructions for us.
In Luke 10:27, Jesus says,
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.
All the differences we have in this world would be solved if we followed those two instructions. I seriously believe that.
I wrote another article called “When you look in the mirror what do you see?” It talks about finding what is wrong within yourself and fixing that before you try to fix others. If you end up broken down on the highway, you might try to flag someone down to help you. Most cars will just drive on by. But when you start trying to push your car somewhere other drivers will get out and push with you. If you want help, help yourself. People like to see that.
In my house, there is still God
In my house, there will always be God because I believe that is the best way. God can use me to help others in a broken world. A world that chooses to be selfish and not help others. A world that wants to ignore God and turn to government leaders. As a Christian man who has a wife and kids, in my house, there is still God.
My kids will ask me to do things I consider morally wrong, but the world says, “Hey it’s ok, you only live once.” But in my house, there is still God. It is so hard to disappoint. It is so hard to stick to your morals when you do not have to. When I was younger, I would learn songs by listening to them over and over. That is how I learned bible verses by repeating them over and over.
Say this phrase to yourself over and over when you get that tiny twinge of doubt or a small voice says, “I could probably get away with that”, or “Everyone else is doing it, it is acceptable now.” You must repeat to yourself,
“In my house…In my heart…In my soul…In my car…in my bedroom…in my office, THERE IS STILL GOD.
Prescott Williamson is a Bible-believing Christian. He is a husband, a father, and someone who believes that there is a little humor to be found in whatever situation God sends your way. He was born in the small islands of the Bahamas but now lives in the Suburbs of Fort Worth Texas, which is basically the same thing. He enjoys TV, reading, blogging and serving in his church (especially on the days they serve donuts). You can see what I have been thinking about lately on my blog www.prescottascoolbreeze.com.
