Is your heart racing? Are the palms of your hands sweating? Are your knees shaking? Are your armpits perspiring and feeling itchy? Okay, maybe that last question was for me, lol!

But perhaps you’re okay. Perhaps you’re full of joy. Perhaps you’re not nervous. Perhaps you’re happy and content. Perhaps you feel safe and secure. Perhaps you don’t feel afraid, discouraged, hurt, angry, or insecure.

Or perhaps you’re feeling numb.

Whatever your “perhaps” may be, maybe you feel nothing at all. And if you do feel numb, I want you to pinch yourself. No seriously, I want you to pinch yourself like you may have pinched your child in church or at the grocery store to silently, yet firmly, get their attention, and I want you to open your eyes.

Yes, you are alive and yes, this is real, and what you feel is real, and it matters to God.

I had to tell myself this story and do these exact same steps when I found out about the killing of George Floyd. My heart started to race. My knees were shaking. My armpits and the palms of my hands started to sweat.

I was afraid. I was nervous. I was even numb at one point. And I literally had to pinch myself to realize that this is not a movie, this is not my imagination, this is not a bad dream, but holy macaroni, this is real!

But my response didn’t come immediately. My response came rushing when I learned that George called out to his mother. At that moment, I had to take several breaths. Because as a black mother of a two-year-old black baby boy, I was afraid.

Before now, I was used to being the only black girl in the room. But as a new mom, I wasn’t prepared to think about having a conversation with my black son about the Goliath he may have to face in this world.

It’s hurtful to have to think about what I’m going to have to say to my son about his well being and how to carry himself so that he is not perceived in a negative light.

Perhaps you know what it’s like to have to think about having hard conversations with your children. Perhaps you understand what it’s like to think about preparing your child for the “real world”.

And even though my son is only 2 years old, as a black woman, it’s essential that I think about these things because even as a child, he will be impacted by racism.

That moment when George Floyd lost his breath, was when I woke up.

Contrary to the horrific realities that we’ve experienced recently, I was awakened to think about what Jesus would say to my son.

Do you know what the Lord told me? He said, “Tell him what I think about him. Tell him that before anyone else had a choice to choose him, that I chose him and called him before he was in your womb. Tell him that he is set apart. Tell him that I’m not ashamed of who he is or embarrassed to call him My son. Tell him that he is the head and never the tail, above and never beneath, a lender and not a borrower. Tell him that he was never born to be hidden, but to shine for my glory. Tell him that he is loved, accepted, and significant. Tell him that he is a blessing and not a burden. Tell him that he is fearfully and wonderfully made in My image and likeness and that he can do anything through Me, who gives him strength. Tell him that I gave him a name, and that name is Son.”

When I heard this, I shifted from feeling hurt to being full of hope. My hope is in Jesus, who is my solid rock. God is consistent. He is unshakable. He is faithful. He is stable. He is infinite. He is all-seeing, all-knowing. He is not here today, gone tomorrow. His love will always remain. So no matter what situations may try to shake me, I have nothing to fear, because my Lord is with me, my son, and my husband.

Perhaps my son was called for such a time as this to be the difference. Perhaps my son was destined to be a catalyst for change in his generation. Perhaps God will raise him up to break racial divides…

And perhaps God called both you and me to be a part of the change in our children’s lives. As mothers, God has given us a gift to nurture the purpose, power, and potential that our babies have to make a difference for the Kingdom of God. Let’s plant seeds of life into their hearts. Let’s collaborate and speak the word of God into their destiny so that they can be all that God has called them to be and not what history labeled them to be.

Yes, let’s make them aware of the realities of the injustices, pressures, and evil that exist in our country, but let’s also remind them about what God says about them.

I’m believing that this next generation will be the chosen ones who will shake the Earth with their boldness to declare God’s Word and works throughout every nation.

Can you believe that with me? Let’s do our work to teach, train, and equip our children to be light bearers, change agents, and vessels of God’s love and grace, without bias or personal preferences.

Perhaps God raised you up for such a time as this, to save the next generation from yesterday’s history. Perhaps, in this very moment, this is a wake-up call to all mamas to unite and unleash God’s love at levels that no one would ever think existed.

Are you ready? Let’s do this!

Taylor Simon is mom of miracle twins, Speaker, Author, YouTuber, and Entrepreneur. I am obsessed with Jesus and passionate about faith and biz, dreams, journals, popcorn, and helping you maximize your potential in every area of your life!