People are often surprised by my knowledge of and enthusiasm for the game of football. Whereas my true loyalty and affection will always be with the Crimson Tide, like I proved on Sunday night, put some former Bama players on a team with Michael Oher and you'd think I was a Ravens fan for life. I'm not.
The only reason I would ever play for the NFL: confetti angels.
Although I would probably have to stop calling players, little *insert name.*
But seriously, look how much fun he's having in that confetti!
So, yay Ravens!
Go ahead and take your 24 hours to celebrate.
Time's up.
With all the excitement surrounding the Super Bowl there are still two things weighing on my mind. First of all, the sobering fact that the Super Bowl is the largest human trafficking incident in the United States. I know, I didn't even give you a Debbie Downer alert. The fact is, though, that it's truth..and now that I know, and now that you know, we can't unknow, you know? How is it that modern day slavery happens here in the land of the free, yet remains in the shadows? It's uncomfortable..I'd rather stay in my safe, happy bubble. If we don't acknowledge it perhaps it will just go away. Hmm..
...And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God. -Micah 6:8
Before my next point I would like to applaud both Jennifer Hudson and Alicia Keys--thank you both! I'm pretty sure I cried when the kids from Sandy Hook started until kick-off..really beautiful.
The other thing that was blatantly in our faces, yet perhaps we are just as blind to was the halftime entertainment. Our culture is sneaky and often innuendos are so subtle that we don't even know they are happening, they creep in slowly over time. I mean, can we all agree that Beyonce is stunning and talented? And that if anyone could pull off wearing a sackcloth it would be her? Really, she is a beautiful, strong woman. But, what message do we, as women, receive when she is jirating around the stage in her skimpy "outfit?" What message does that send to our men about women?
And, this subleness is not only finding it's way onto stage performances, it has found its way into every aspect of our culture. I know, we call it entertainment, and the media, we make excuses and say we know where to draw the line. We no longer listen to the meanings of lyrics as long as we like the beats. Our culture is sneaky, and I'm becoming more and more aware of it's tricks. But what do we expect when we let in garbage?
My circle of friends has changed over the past years; I find that I now am around more families and children. And, on Sunday night I just wanted to sweep up in my arm the beautiful little girls of some of my dear friends and remind them: You is smart. You is kind. You is important. Adding: You is beautiful. Of course, the grammar nerd that I am would never allow me to say those phrases, but you appreciate my The Help reference, right?
I know some of the most beautiful women, world-changers. I am surrounded by women who are faithfully raising god-fearing children, running businesses, publishing books, teaching, counseling, giving and pouring in ways that may never be celebrated here on earth. And they are called beautiful. And they are called talented. And they are called beloved. And by they I mean you and me, we.
So, let's celebrate beauty. Let's celebrate gifts and talents. Let's be the difference that our culture truly craves. Let's be women of integrity and truth. Let's be women that we would be proud for our little girls to look up to and model their lives after. Let's make our own confetti angels.
Love,
andrea
