The love-filled breakfast at Mama’s house during the 1980 Shaw/Boykin family reunion
Posted Feb 16, 2017
Annie Shaw-Barnes, Ph.D.
Author and Speaker
Cultural Anthropologist
Family Specialist
Family Education Specialist
Spousal Abuse Specialist
Christian Church Specialist
Racism Specialist
Hi everyone,
The next morning, Bennie, Mama, Trina, and I prepared breakfast. That was the first private meal at Mama's house. To me, it was heart-wrenching. After filling platters and bowls with sausage, bacon, grits, eggs, and biscuits, it was time to pray. The momentary silence was quickly broken by Daddy. He prayed so long, until the food got cold. We all knew Daddy could pray, but that morning he was especially long-winded. He prayed his favorite lines about “love running from breast to breast and from heart to heart.” He confessed forgiving Mama for leaving him thirty-five years before and pledged his undying love for her and me. Then he gave thanks for the opportunity to visit Mama and me. When Daddy ended his prayer, it was clear that he had been waiting to see Mama. Yet, he never disrespected Beulah, my stepmother and peer, who agreed for him to attend our family reunion up north. After breakfast, we sat around and talked and Bennie, Trina, and I served lunch. Late in the afternoon, we, except Mama, returned to our home in Virginia Beach. We talked for hours, before they, not Daddy, left our home to travel to Toledo, Ohio.
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©
Posted Feb 16, 2017
Annie Shaw-Barnes, Ph.D.
Author and Speaker
Cultural Anthropologist
Family Specialist
Family Education Specialist
Spousal Abuse Specialist
Christian Church Specialist
Racism Specialist
Hi everyone,
The next morning, Bennie, Mama, Trina, and I prepared breakfast. That was the first private meal at Mama's house. To me, it was heart-wrenching. After filling platters and bowls with sausage, bacon, grits, eggs, and biscuits, it was time to pray. The momentary silence was quickly broken by Daddy. He prayed so long, until the food got cold. We all knew Daddy could pray, but that morning he was especially long-winded. He prayed his favorite lines about “love running from breast to breast and from heart to heart.” He confessed forgiving Mama for leaving him thirty-five years before and pledged his undying love for her and me. Then he gave thanks for the opportunity to visit Mama and me. When Daddy ended his prayer, it was clear that he had been waiting to see Mama. Yet, he never disrespected Beulah, my stepmother and peer, who agreed for him to attend our family reunion up north. After breakfast, we sat around and talked and Bennie, Trina, and I served lunch. Late in the afternoon, we, except Mama, returned to our home in Virginia Beach. We talked for hours, before they, not Daddy, left our home to travel to Toledo, Ohio.
Please join the conversation and follow me on:
Website: anniesbarnes.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/annie.barnes.56
Google: plus.google.com
Twitter: twitter.com/AnnieShawBarnes
©