Not Tonight
Into the deepest darkest night
Where evil lurks-hid from his sight
An Officer goes-prepared to fight
With all His strength and all His might
Praying to God, not tonight
He gently pulls His children near
Their smiles can lift his heart with cheer
He kisses boo-boos wipes their tears
And as He leaves for work He hears
Daddy, don’t go, not tonight
She kisses him, to work he goes
And all the time, too well she knows
That he must face such evil foes
Phone clutched tight, her eyes then close
Lord, don’t let it ring, not tonight
A mother awakens to whisper a prayer
Protect my son from sin’s dark lair
Your warrior of truth-just and fair
Endowed by you with virtues rare
He’s yours to call, please not tonight
Forgotten and paid a pauper’s wage
Media and public he must assuage
While calmly holding back the rage
When violent criminals do engage
Pleading to God, not tonight
These officers protecting you
They sacrifice more than you knew.
When will you value what they do?
Or even stop to say, “Thank You”?
Shame on you, if not tonight
The sad reality is that for five brave officers in Dallas, it was the last time they kissed their children goodnight, it was the phone call their wife had prayed to never receive, it was their mother’s heartbreak, and it was the communities loss. We cannot continue this road of hatred toward those who sacrifice so much to protects us. They see more evil in one night than some of us do in a lifetime. What kind of world would we have if they all just quit? Anarchy and chaos would rule. Those who believe that police target blacks—look at the statistics! The statistics report that 50% of all police shootings are white, 26% are black, and the remaining hispanic or asian; while 60% of all crimes are committed by blacks. Do you want to change the Statistics–don’t break the law and treat the officer who stops you with respect–no matter what!! If 13% of the population are committing 60% of all crimes—think about it. If you don’t want to be profiled—don’t profile yourselves into those statistics. Many of my very best friends are black; because, to me color, ethnicity don’t change how I see the person. I see them for who they are. Yet, when my purse was stolen it was a black man who ripped it from my arm, when my house was broken into—it was two black men who violated my home, when my windshield was violently broken on my van as I left our office—it was a black man, and when our office in Dallas was broken into—it was 2 black men. Yet, I REFUSE to say ALL black people are bad because of those 6 who chose to be bad. Yet, the chants heard in the Black Life Matters protests is proclaiming ALL Cops are racist–using slurs and hatred toward all law enforcement–escalating the problem and resulting in more young black men resisting arrest, disrespecting the officer and fighting instead of “doing as told.” If you are innocent that can be determined after the fact–not at the moment you first encounter the police!! Each and every one of us needs to look deep within our own hearts. The other day I was pulled over because I had forgotten to place the new stickers on my license plates, though I had them. As anyone when pulled over, my heart was pounding, I felt a moment of anxious wonder as to what I had done. I rolled down the window and kept my hands visible, open and lying on the steering wheel in clear sight—like you are suppose to do when pulled over. If there is a delay before the officer approaches the window, then you get registration, insurance and drivers license out to lay in open view in the passenger seat. If there is no time, just place your hands open and resting on the steering wheel in plan view. Simple ethics of being a citizen in a democracy such as ours. Everything was good. He smiled and said, “when you get home, put the stickers on the tags” My reply? Yes, Sir.
[bctt tweet=”As a nation we must pray for grace & love to reign in our lives. It begins with me!!” username=”effiedarlene”]
[tweetthis]I must be responsible for my own behavior!! It begins with my own heart.[/tweetthis]
[bctt tweet=”If I desire Peace, Love, and Grace from others, it begins with me giving Peace Love and Grace.” username=”effiedarlene”]
[tweetthis]Let’s start a new movement of hope, love and harmony. “It Begins with ME”[/tweetthis]
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2016
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
