Why I Know It Will Work Out
I was sitting with two of my white middle-aged friends at Zaxby’s. Laughing, chatting, eating.
When she came up . . .
She was a 20ish black lady. She asked if she could ask us a question.
Of course, we said.
It was about hair. She was in cosmetology school and was wondering about certain perms that white ladies use.
But was it really about hair?
No. It was much better than that.
This brave young woman was bridging a gap. Intentionally.
She said she’s always known about one kind of hair from just one kind of friends. She wanted now to branch out, to learn more about other people.
It made my heart soar.
This is why we’ll make it.
This I how I know it will all work out.
When one person approaches another person not just despite their differences, but because of their differences, we’re going to be okay.
We had a lovely chat. We did talk about hair. But we also talked about her little boy, our “strong” laughs (she said), and about our desire for her success in her upcoming career.
It may have looked like just one black woman and three white women at Zaxby’s.
But, oh, it was so much more than that.
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How have you been encouraged lately? Please share in the comments.
I love this Lisa. You pegged it right when you said it wasn’t about hair. It was about life. I’m even more excited that you and your lady friends included her in your laughter and discussion. Shows who you three are.
These are exactly the moments that give us hope. Thank you for sharing that hope with us! (stopping by from Holley’s)
I love that she broke social norms and struck up conversation. It’s a great reminder to me to always be friendly to others around me instead of being so focused on what I’m doing.
Hi Lisa,
I’m laughing at you being at Zaxby’s (I do love their little slices of Texas toast that come alongside a salad!) and what a delightful conversation you had! Encounters like yours do give us a fresh dose of hope and encouragement to keep connecting, keep reaching out and to keep moving forward trusting that things will work out!
This is beautiful, Lisa. Comments about hair are such good conversation starters, aren’t they? 🙂 It sounds like all of you were encouraged by that sweet encounter!
What a sweet encounter and a brave young woman!
Happy Anniversary to you!????
Wow!
Love the quotes and this post too….what do you know…bridging gaps with hair. Lovely idea.
Blessings to you friend
What a wonderful, uplifting and hopeful vignette you’ve given us, Lisa!
So thankful for glimpses of HOPE like this! I’m really glad you shared this story. How easy it would have been for the young woman to stay disconnected—to not step out of her comfort zone… and for you ladies to not invite her in. Kudos to all for bridging the too-deeply-dug chasm!
Lisa,
What a great story! And thanks for the 31 quotes of grace and CONGRATS on 8 years…Wow! And yes, it is always more than just hair 🙂
Oh, how deeply we need more people to bridge these gaps. I love hearing a beautiful story of brave women who see the outside and press forward to know the inside!
That’s awesome, Lisa. Those are the little things that give us hope. It’s great that she had the wisdom to ask about things on the outside that have zero bearing on the inside… which is all our Father really cares about anyway.
What a neat experience! May we all be intentional about focusing on learning about others and bridging that gap!
Amen! I *love* this Lisa! and I loved seeing Simone Biles and Aly Raisman embracing each other, celebrating their amazing accomplishments last night in Rio. Their sweet, juxtaposed, faces will stay with me a long time. To me, they are a symbol of what this country CAN be – who we ARE as Americans. Those two sweet little girls gave me hope. (Eight years, WOW – good for you!)