Ice Cube and Thanksgiving

 

In this song, Ice Cube describes what he considers a perfect day in south central Los Angeles. Although the song makes mention of drinking, drugs, and sex, it also points to the dangers and fears of living in such an environment. It serves as a great reminder of all of the things we truly should be thankful for.

 

 

I am thankful that I have never been shot at. I am thankful that I can stop at a traffic light without fear of a carjacker. I am thankful that I do not consider it rare to go an entire without anyone I know being killed. I am thankful that I live in an area with a low crime rate, abundant job opportunities, and safe schools. There are many things that I am thankful for. 

 

 

I also realized that there are so many people who live daily without these things. There are men and women who have known more violence and suffering than I could imagine. There are people right here in our country who live in daily fear. They never know when they might be hurt or killed. There are neighborhoods that are more like war zones. There are children who grow up in homes where they are exposed to drugs, guns, and sexual abuse.

 

 

As I thought about these things, I realized that there is more we can do. There is more we can do as individuals than sit back and say, “Oh that’s unfortunate” or “My heart really goes out to them.” This simply will not do. The Book of James proclaims that “faith without works is dead.” We should show our faith through the things we do. There are so many things we can do. Volunteer at a homeless shelter, tutor children after school, be a mentor, opportunities abound. If you don’t know how to meet the need in your area, do some research. I promise there are people just waiting for you to ask.

 

 

It is my prayer that somewhere between the parade, the turkey, and the football game; we would all sit down this Thanksgiving and think of what we can do to help the inner city. Let’s think about what we can do to help make a last change in the lives of the impoverished. Maybe next year, someone will be thankful that you made a decision to reach out and offer them love.