#JoshWilliams: Will They Still Love Me or Forget About Me?

On Thursday, December 10, a St. Louis Circuit Court Judge sentences Josh Williams to eight years in prison for “arson, burglary and stealing.” The charges stemmed from Williams’ involvement with a December 23, 2014  protest that resulted in the burning of a QuikTrip. AME pastor, Rev. Renita Marie visited Josh and shares this reflection.

Parenting is hard.

We are constantly messing it up. No one comes through this life without pain, for sure. We parent in our own brokenness. We screw up because of our brokenness. Children don’t come with instructions. Sometimes we make decisions for them or because of them. Sometimes we misinterpret needs, don’t have the wherewithal to meet needs, or are just oblivious because our own needs are blinding.
Sometimes we make decisions for ourselves without understanding how our personal decisions impact our children.

And while I talk in plural, be sure, I speak of self.

When I left the INjustice center I wept. Leaving Josh is so hard. I never had to leave my children in jail. The one time my son was in, by miracle he was released without charges. My heart weeps for Joshua’s mother. I know well the guilt, anger, shame and grief of parenting. Her wail in the courtroom was paralyzing.

I share this for three reasons:

Movement Fam: please love on Josh’s mom too. She’s mad at us, but she loves God and Josh. She may or may not accept our outreach, but let’s extend ourselves to her. At the very least, remember her in prayers.

Secondly, to all parents:
Be humble enough to listen to your children lament about the shit of their lives. Trust God to heal them and you and your relationship. No matter how terrible we were or are, our children love us so much.

And thirdly, to all children:
Cut your parents some slack. Have grace; its likely their life sucked worse than yours. Generations heal by each one doing better than the previous one.

Most of all….love each other….and let folks love you.

Rev. Renita Marie is an AME pastor.