- Pastor & Sister Billy Robinson, North Dallas Community Baptist Church, 1718 Trinity Valley, Carrollton, TX 75006, celebrating 13 years of leadership and the church’s 13 years in Carrollton. Join them June 30, 11 a.m. and view their website www.ndcbc.org
June is always a busy month for me; it’s “Family Reunion” time in Mexia, TX on both sides of my family; as well as other families. My maternal side is 66 years old this month; and my paternal side is 36 years old this month.
Some interesting things about Mexia during the months of June, July, & August, is that every weekend, there are not only Family Reunions being held, but at least two and many times more, school reunions and church Homing Comings going on at the same time.
Juneteenth (Black’s holiday in celebration of learning about Freedom from slavery on June 19, 1865) two years after it was signed into law; is going on in Mexia also. Juneteenth memorializes the end of slavery in Texas.
In many ways Juneteenth has come to symbolize for many older Black people, what the 4th of July means to the rest of Americans. For years in Mexia, the Comanche Crossing (Confederate Reunion Grounds, Old Fort Parker – The Old Fort – Fort Parker, is a place where Black people came to Texas.)
Long ago (to keep the family unit closer and in tact) families came together; they were not necessarily calling it a “Family Reunion” but they came together to catch up on family news and to support one another in any way that was needed.
When Alex Haley wrote “Roots,” searching family history and family reunions became very popular. Many folks, especially African Americans wanted to know more about family members other than their grandparents and first cousins. They gathered with their families to discuss their ancestors, their heirs, meet new family members, cousins getting to know cousins, etc.
I believe that “The Family Unit” is one of the greatest institutions that God created; and when it is working properly (each member doing his or her part) there is nothing better to give strength and unity to the family, to help the family nurtured, grow, and keeping the world in balance for each member.
Families are: One of God’s greatest treasures and the embodiment of all there is important in life.
Families are a refuge in good times and bad; a warm place of peace where acceptance reigns.
It matters not what you do or where you are, one thing you never doubt is your family. The members are always there, arms ready to embrace with healing hugs, and hearts with unconditional love to share.
A family is a gift that’s never completely unwrapped; it is a present for which each is eternally thankful. –Becky Speckels Hare.
The Family Tree: I think that I shall never see the finish of a family tree. As it forever seems to grow from roots that started long ago; way back in ancient history times, in foreign land and distant climes; from them grew trunk and branching limb that dated back to times so dim.
One seldom knows exactly when the parents met and married then, nor when the twigs began to grow with odd named children row on row though verse like this is made by me; the end’s in sight as you can see; “Ties not the same with family trees that grow and grow through centuries!” –Author unknown.
Now is the time to forget the bad things that happened in the past; you can’t bring back yesterday and its problems; the future is not here; you might not live to see the future; but today, you have the chance to bridge a gap, to forgive and to love each family member.
As a young cousin of mine asked this year, “Why dos the younger generation have to suffer because of things that happened long ago?” Get together with your family and your extended family; get to know each other; learn of new members that have been added to your family tree
Kudos, accolades, praises etc. to Sis. Tarpley for this work on the family and its’ importance…now for a little friendly, historical nitpicking; First,as a side point, let us not forget that Mexico (of which Texas was a part until 1836) had outlawed “slavery” in 1829. After Texas joined the union in 1845, slavery was essentially legal. Now, for my main point, “Freedom from slavery” was not signed into law two years before June 19, 1865. What you may be referring to is the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Lincoln on January 1, 1863. The 1863 proclamation could have brought freedom to slaves in some states if the states had agreed to obey Lincolns’ words. However, the Confederate states like Texas did not accept the proclamation until they lost the war and surrendered. The Confederate general over Texas did not officially surrender until June 2 of 1865. The Union general did not get to Texas with “new” rules until June 19, 1865. U.S. slavery was not officially outlawed unil the ratification of the 13th U.S. constitutional amendment on December 6, 1865. Of course the passage of the laws did not necessarily bring freedom to some slaves at that time according to some reports about areas where the laws weren’t necessarily enforced.