The Color of Love

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
-Galatians 3:28 (NIV)

I heard a story recently about a South African bird, the sociable weaver, that welcomes birds of other species and colors to nest with it. The weavers and the other birds all fly, sing, and hatch their young together. Their differing feathers' hues only add to the beauty of their group, much like an array of mixed spring flowers creates a breathtaking sight. A field of flowers of only one type or color, although beautiful, cannot match the variegated mixture's stunning display.

Some friends of ours are a lot like these multi-colored birds. He is white, she is black, and their son says he is "brown." Unfortunately, the three of them have experienced the pain of being treated unfairly based solely on their variation in color. Others attempt to pigeonhole them because of prejudices born out of ignorance.

In the scripture from Galatians, Paul teaches us that we are all one in Christ Jesus. As a child I often sang "Jesus Loves the Little Children." Part of the song's lyrics say, "Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight" - and yes, brown too. God created our many variations; no two of us are alike, and each of us is precious to God.

by Jo Rae Johnson (South Carolina, USA)