b'GRAY . from page 6 POLITICSfleeting and hard to grasp. I love theThe Jobless Rate for Blacks Drops Againimagery of trying to catch a puff of air as it is both mystical and comi-cal.Laterwhenusingafaith-based view,SolomonunderstandsthatBy Fredrick H. LowethecyclesoflifearesetbyGod, intentionally created by the CreatorT he jobless rate for Blacks dropped, but not far Himself.Ourpurpose,herealizes,enough to catch up with other ethnic groups.is closely connected to God\'s plan. The August jobless rate for Black men fell to 5.0 I now appreciate each chapter ofpercent compared to the seasonally adjusted aver-thejourneythathasbroughtmeage in August 2022 to 6.0 percent, according to the to this point and the people that IU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.was blessed to meet along the way.The unemployment rate for Black women was a Denise\'s life and our sisterly bondseasonal adjusted 4.7 percent in August compared have helped mold me into the per- with 5.9 percent in August 2022.sonIamtoday.I\'velearnedthat embracinggracefulagingisnotEmploymentcontinuedtotrendupinhealth aboutdreadingthepassingyearscare, leisure and hospitality, social assistance, and but celebrating the lessons, memo- construction.Employmentintransportationand ries, and love that accompany them.warehousing declined.I smile as I am reminded of the boxThe unemployment rate for Blacks compared with of dark brown hair dye that I onceWhites, Hispanics, and women was much higher.purchasedwhenIfeltpressured byfriendsandsocietytoconcealThe jobless rate for Whites is 3.4 percent, and for my gray hair. I just could not bringAsians is 3.1 percent; the rates for both groups roseThejoblessrateforadultwomenstandsat3.2 myselftohidetheverygrayhairinAugust.TheunemploymentrateforHispanicpercent, for teenagers, 12.2 percent, for Blacks, 5.0 thatIhadrequestedfromGodmenis4.3percentand4.4percentforHispanicpercent, and for Hispanics the rate it was 4.9 per-yearsearlier.Icouldn\'t"coverup"women. cent and 4.3 and 4.4 percent for Hispanic women.the manifestation of my little prayer thatHesograciouslygranted.I held onto that box of dye for several yearsbeforefinallydiscardingit,SERMONand I have never regretted my deci-sion. solace in the gray hairs thatThe Morning After As I reflect on Denise\'s influence, I find now grace my head, each one sym-bolizing a milestone in my journey. Thosegrayhairs,unapologeticallygo to see what the end will be, claiming their space, were a remind- By Sister Carrie McElroy the moment this life is over you er that life\'s imperfections and sur- knowtheMorningAfter,death prises often hold the most beauty. Andso,IembracedthemwithaY ouknowyouhavethevic- did you repent, did you believe smile, grateful for each strand andtorywhenyouarefreeandthatGodheardyouandclean the lessons they carried with them. clean because God has forgivenyouup,sothatthemorning I carry the memory of my big sis- you. Wake up with a smile andafterisanewdaythatwewill ter Denise M. in my heart, forevera happy face because of the loveneverseeagain,youareclean grateful for the time we shared, andof Jesus for our soul. All I canandwashedinthebloodof I am inspired to live each day withsayisthankyouJesus.GodJesus, with a new clean day to the same resilience and zest for lifeneverforgetshebroughtbackrejoicein the Lord.that she embodied. tomemberyatimeinmylife that I told him I will go, I shellSister Carrie McElroyCOLORADO SPRINGSBODY OF CHRIST NEWS SEPTEMBER 2023 follow us onfacebook 13'