Black Men Who Pray

by Dr. Michelle Johnson
Great black fathers and husbands do exist. Some of them write for this website, while others you will never know. I grew up with a great father who adopted me and my brothers when we were just infants. He didn’t let the fact that we were not “blood” keep him for loving, providing for, and praying for us.My husband plays a similar role in my immediate family today. In particular, I love it when he prays for our daughter, when he lays his hands on her asthmatic chest and speaks healing into her body. I love it when he walks into her bedroom at night just to make sure she is sleeping peacefully. Or, when he drops her at school and repeats the same blessing day after day: “May God bless you.” For me, there is nothing more enduring or attractive about my husband than his faith in God and his fervent prayers for his family. I know in my heart that God hears him and that he hears from God.My husband is not unique. There are millions of black men who are praying husbands and fathers, one of which is Craig Varnado, a fellow church member and Facebook friend. About a week ago, Craig posted a happy birthday message to his daughter. But this wasn’t the “traditional” Facebook birthday greeting. It was a prayer. Check it out:
Happy Birthday to my daughter Christen who just turned 1 year-old. Here is my prayer for her:Lord, thank you for bringing this little girl into our lives. Thank you for one year of life. There are many babies that didn’t make it one day, one week, or one month, but we are blessed that she has been here for one year in perfect health. I pray that she continues to grow and flourish in everything that she does with her life. Please remove anything that is negative from her life in the present and in the future. Any negative stereotypes that might affect her I ask that you get rid of them RIGHT NOW. Let her know that she is Beautiful, Intelligent, and Smart, and that she doesn’t need the pressure from society to feel that way. Allow her to go about this life with her Head Up and feeling good about herself. With her brother and all her boy cousins, she has a ZONE defense to protect her, but I know you will be playing PREVENT defense and protecting her. Let her know that she “can do all things thru Christ who strengthens her.” I ask that you continue to guide her life, and whatever it is that she wants to do with her life, she seeks You first for guidance. I ask all of this in Your name……AMEN!!!!P.S. PLEASE KEEP HER OFF THE POLE!!!!!Don’t you love it when black men pray, and pray in their own way? They don’t have to use a lot of religious words or sound preachy; all they have to do is speak from the heart, be real, and believe.