| In her quest to find ethnic diversity at what would | | | | As Titus Chapter 2, Verse 7 states, In all things |
| be her home for the next four years, my | | | | showing thyself a pattern of good works: in |
| daughter did extensive research on a small | | | | doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, |
| number of colleges, praying to find the perfect fit | | | | sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he |
| for her Christian beliefs, personality, and values. | | | | that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, |
| Growing up in a neighborhood where there was | | | | having no evil thing to say of you. |
| very little diversity, was an experience my | | | | It was interesting and important for my daughter |
| daughter will forever cherish. Spending her | | | | to see how her classmates lived; it was also very |
| childhood years being educated in school settings | | | | important for my daughter to share her life with |
| where she was the only one who looked | | | | her friends in a way that they would become like |
| completely different than her classmates, was | | | | family. My daughter always took time to express |
| truly an enlightening experience my daughter can | | | | her feelings and deep seeded thoughts to me and |
| never forget. In her home where she was taught | | | | this was important to her. She spoke these |
| to love, regardless of the one's skin color, is the | | | | words to me; why should she limit herself to |
| life long lesson that proceedeth and poureth from | | | | learning all she could from the friends she had |
| the Word and Heart of God from me to my | | | | come to know and truly love and those she was |
| daughter. I am so thankful to God that He chose | | | | preparing to meet. Why should she close the door |
| and entrusted me with the life of such a special | | | | to a lesson that she will never learn in a |
| daughter, truly a remarkable human being; one | | | | classroom. All the degrees in the world could not |
| who has opened her heart to receive His love and | | | | compare to the life lessons she has learned thus |
| His Wisdom, which is greater than anything I could | | | | far, called experience. There has never been and |
| ever imagine. | | | | never will be a degree that teaches us how to |
| In her search for what would be her home for | | | | love, respect and honor those who look different |
| the next four years, my daughter visited a | | | | than we do; that is a lesson that is learned as we |
| college not far from our home which offered | | | | live our life. |
| ethnic diversity, but very little. Upon her arrival | | | | My daughter refused to choose her friends based |
| and visitation to this school, she noticed how | | | | on the color of their skin. She refused to accept |
| racially divided this school was; the environment | | | | being separated because of her beautifully glowing |
| that she found herself stuck in for the moment, | | | | permanent sun-tanned skin that God had |
| created an unwelcoming environment; an | | | | graciously painted her body with. He choose the |
| environment that quickly turned her off and | | | | right color for her and of course, this gift from |
| turned her away from a place she thought may | | | | her Father was a gift that she so treasured |
| potentially be a nurturing and welcoming haven for | | | | because it was from Him. He was special to her |
| the next chapter in her young life; it was not to | | | | and she knew that He loved her and she loved |
| be. The students at this particular university were | | | | Him. She trusted Him to place her in a loving, |
| so divided that one group of colored students | | | | nourishing Christian environment; a place where |
| drank from the ice cold refreshing water fountain | | | | she would be accepted regardless of her amazing |
| where the other group of colored students were | | | | skin color. |
| told they could not. Upon my daughter's return | | | | As my daughter's college search continued, she |
| home from visiting this ungodly place, she | | | | found a college that welcomed her with opened |
| immediately deleted this college from her list. She | | | | arms. It had almost everything she was looking |
| politely called the Dean of Admissions and | | | | for. My daughter wholeheartedly reciprocated her |
| withdrew her application and removed this heavy | | | | invitation of acceptance and embraced this school |
| burden from her heart. If she was to continue | | | | with joy. They have closed arms with each other |
| learning all the lessons God has planned for her, | | | | and are getting ready to journey on a relationship |
| she knew that she had to find a school that | | | | that will forever change my daughter's life and |
| offered diversity and everything else she longed | | | | my daughter, again, will in turn, touch every |
| for. A racially divided school did not appeal to my | | | | professor, student and staff member by her |
| daughter and most of all, it was unacceptable. | | | | joyful presence and every gift God has equipped |
| My daughter was not used to congregating to | | | | her with to be a blessing to someone else. |
| just one group of students simply because they | | | | My daughter has embraced the Word of God for |
| looked like her and she had no intentions of ever | | | | her life. She has embraced Jesus, her Lord and |
| starting. She enjoyed being around a diverse | | | | Savior and walks in the light. She realizes and is |
| group of young minds; she was challenged by her | | | | sincerely so very thankful that Jesus is not like |
| classmates and was a teacher to her friends | | | | man. When Jesus walked upon this earthly land, |
| teaching them life long lessons through her | | | | He did amazing things that glorified His Father in |
| actions, conversations, gifts and abilities that would | | | | Heaven. Jesus performed amazingly awesome |
| take them on a journey they could treasure for | | | | miracles without thought to what people looked |
| the rest of their lives. She taught her friends that | | | | like; the lives He touched He touched because He |
| not all people are the same and that people should | | | | loved, loves and He saved, and to this very day |
| not be judged because of how they look, where | | | | continues to save. Jesus is the Only One Who has |
| they live or how much money they have. This | | | | the power to save and He saves regardless of |
| little old soul, my daughter, quickly became the | | | | the color of one's skin. Jesus never thought once |
| principle focus in the lives of her classmates in and | | | | or twice if someone looked different from Him or |
| out of school. My daughter's Christian conduct | | | | His disciples. Jesus' heart was the cup that was |
| was important to her and she shared, in actions, | | | | filled with God's love; love knows no skin color and |
| her love for the Lord with her pattern of good | | | | Jesus loves us all. |
| works. | | | | |