In trying to find the pictures of our Family with John Lewis, I realized how hard it was to find photos without me crying in them (messing our photos Up!!) ......
All I could think about was the image of John Lewis & Hosea Williams standing on that bridge in Selma, Alabama waiting on the State Troopers to beat him mercilessly. His stature embodies the sentiments of the Hymn "I Surrender All".
Therefore, in response to our gracious encounter with John Lewis I wrote "Sacred Sacrifices" as a tribute to him & it was printed with our Family photo in our local newspaper in 2013.
"Sacred Sacrifices"
Dear Congressman Lewis, August 23, 2013, the day before the 50th Anniversary March on Washington, was one of the most humbling experiences in my life.
We still cannot believe that in the midst of all the global news network specials and calls from the likes of Harry Belafonte, you took time to meet my family and give us the tour of the Capitol. I was so overwhelmed that I didn't get to say “thank you".
Up to the moment you greeted us in your office, I admit that I had never been able to wrap my mind around the philosophy of nonviolence. In fact, my philosophy was, "if you hit me you better duck."
I surrender all knowing we may never be able to express the power that partners your presence. Something shook the stone walls that defined me on that Friday afternoon. We were enlightened and our lives will never be the same.
Mr. Lewis, you put your life on the line in hopes that one day our nation would not consider our humanity, in itself, a sin.
Mortal gratitude will never be able to even stain the debt of the sacrifices you made to reshape our nation and to transform this entire world.
We were so Blessed to have met our hero & "Thank You" from the Sims Family.
Love, Barnard Sims
