This Spiritual Folklore Reminds Us To Love The Skin We’re In

We know that God is omnipresent and always with us. When a loved one dies, we comfort ourselves when realizing they remain in our spirits forever.

These scriptures and African proverbs prove that God and the ancestors never leave our sides.

Joshua 1:9 - “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” It takes courage to remember to lean on God at all times.  

Proverb #1: “Open your ears to the ancestors, and you will understand the language of spirits.” Connection to the spiritual world comes when we’re unafraid to listen to ancestral messages.

Deuteronomy 31:6 - “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” The Lord is with us in spirit and promises not to abandon us.

Proverb #2: “Silence brings wisdom of the ancestors.” Taking the time to be silent and in solitude brings connection to ancestral wisdom.

Although anti-Black versions of Christianity have tried to erase our ancestral roots, we don’t have to separate the two. God and the ancestors are protectors and providers we can lean on anytime, anywhere.