Loud

In the final moments of his life, it is documented, George Floyd was heard calling for his mother. I do not know how loud was his cry given that Derek Chauvin was kneeling on his neck. But it was loud enough for those present to hear him. As well as others around the world.

Diana Spalding of the Motherly website wrote, “When mothers around the world heard this, we let out a collective wail. Because deep down in the depths of our beings, all we ever want to be able to do to is come when our babies call us.” Shared humanity. Shared agony. The humanity of another has to be recognized for agony to be shared.

Ms. Spalding continued in her article, “I’m here, my love, I’m here. George Floyd’s mother couldn’t say that. But we can. Not in time to help Mr. Floyd, but please, dear God, please, in time to help someone else.” “…please,  dear God, please in time to help someone else.”

And I think of the call made by the Lord of hosts, documented in Jeremiah 9:17-18 (AMP):
“Consider and call for the mourning women to come;
Send for the wailing women to come.
‘Let them hurry and take up a wailing for us,
That our eyes may shed tears
And our eyelids flow with water.’” 

Will we answer that call? Will you? Will you share our grief and wail? And as you wail will you act? Will you?

I am joining (on a Monday) the Five Minute Friday writing community, hosted by Kate Motaung, for our weekly writing adventure. Please click here to learn about Five Minute Friday. This week’s prompt is, “Loud.” The link to Diana Spalding’s article was added after the allotted 5 minutes had expired.