walter_t._richardson_4.jpgI am the Lord who heals you! – Exodus 15:26. February is Black History Month and is also known as African-American History Month in America and is appropriately observed in the United States and Canada.

Black History Month is also observed in the United Kingdom but in October.

During this important time of the year, people are urged to learn and remember the important personalities and events in the history of the African Diaspora. One of the activities I engage in annually during Black History Month is a review of black culture and this year I’ve been reviewing the evolution of church music.

Before the introduction of musical instruments, most houses of worship featured just voices for music. Many times the congregation sang melodies without harmony. Some of those songs we now call Negro Spirituals. One of them is Fix me, Jesus.

I love this song because it speaks to all of our contemporary situations.

There are so many things that need fixing but in our human arrogance we sometimes think we can fix everything but as intelligent and influential as you or I may be, we just can’t fix everything.

Broken trust, broken hearts, broken family ties cannot always be fixed by human intervention. Life changes that result from life-altering decisions and split-second tragedies can’t always be fixed by us. 

Some things get damaged and broken in the snap of a finger and others build slowly over years. And we are surrounded by brokenness.

While there are many areas of brokenness around us, one area that seems to be foundational to communal and institutional brokenness is family.

The closeness, distance, toxicity or indifference of a person’s family is at the foundation of his or her world.  Every person develops some part of himself or herself in relation to family. And that’s inevitable because we are social creatures.

We are made to be exceptionally vulnerable for a long time so others must care for us. We are dependent and crave personal connection. 

When things go well, a person has a terrific chance to develop into a confident, unique individual. And when they go wrong, it can take quite an effort to right the ship.

There are some things and thinking in family that seemingly cannot be fixed. People who are divorced usually stay divorced. Trust that is lost may never return. People who are hurt too many times may not want to be part of the family or group anymore.

That wasn’t His original priority.

His original focus was creation. But Satan, His created being, turned against Him and brought deception, dejection, blame, shame and brokenness. That was what Satan intended but God, through Jesus, was and is the answer to broken things. God fixes and heals broken things.

So, if your family is fractured, He wants and can mend it. If your once healthy relationship is broken, He wants to bring wholeness. If your soul is damaged, He wants to repair it. Even if your body is hurting, He wants to heal you.

Whatever area of your life is broken and in need of repair, just say “Lord, fix me.” Remember, God says to us now as He said to our ancestors in Moses’ time, “I am the Lord who heals you.”


*Dr. Walter T. Richardson is pastor-emeritus of Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church in South Miami-Dade County and chairman of the Miami-Dade Community Relations Board. He may be contacted at wtrichardson@Bellsouth.net. Website: WTRMinistries.com