Delay. Sometimes it’s divinely ordained, but most times it’s due to our negligence or obstinance. There are sins of commission (those we do) and sins of omission (when we fail to do as we ought).
Some delays are unconscionable. A heinous example of this is the slow enactment and delivery of the Emancipation Proclamation message that declared freedom for slaves in America.
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Juneteenth, our new national holiday observed on June 19 that celebrates this freedom, was long overdue when finally signed into law on June 17, 2021.
Juneteenth commemorates Union General Gordon Granger reading General Order 3 in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, which informed people of the Emancipation Proclamation. However, that news came two years after, the date Abraham Lincoln had declared it was to take effect (January 1, 1863), and two months after Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his troops to Union General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, at Appomattox, Virginia. That unconscionable delay was because the Emancipation Proclamation depended on the Union winning the Civil War and applied only to some states. Finally, the13th Amendment abolished slavery for all in America in 1865.
June 19 became known as Juneteenth, otherwise called Emancipation Day or Freedom Day. It’s recorded as first celebrated in Texas on June 19, 1866. Consider, though America gained her independence in 1776 and was founded on principles of freedom, it took almost 100 years before those rights were made available to be enjoyed by our Black brothers and sisters. And even then, many slave owners withheld that information after the 13th Amendment passed. An unconscionable delay.
How heartbreaking that many African Americans taken captive and robbed of their rights continued to live as slaves after being declared free because delay denied them.
How tragic that they or anyone else is ever a victim of the evil of slavery, whether in the past or modern-day anywhere in the world. We must not turn a blind eye or deaf ear to oppression. Left unchecked, these sins spread like cancer.
Have we become complacent, content in ignorance, unaware of our history, and of others’ needs today?
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Let us, as Americans, not settle for less than full victory or tolerate the hinderance of God-given unalienable rights and those granted in the Constitution of the United States.
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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led the way with peaceful protest to bring about positive change during the Civil Rights Movement. He did not falter because the road was long, nor fall for the riotous snares of violence and hate which lead to division, disaster, and death. May we as a nation carry on the cause, for there’s more work to be done.
We become more effective at finding solutions if we inform ourselves before we form opinions. A good starting place is to pray for and listen to each other.
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God has not called us to comfort or convenience, but to the cross, to bear one another’s burdens. Do we heed when called to charge into battle with the banner of truth?
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Let us not delay, but rush to bandage the wounded with the balm of God’s love, defend the innocent, and help establish justice and righteousness.
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Scroll for Timeline Featuring Highlights from American Black History
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Today there’s a prevalent delay in declaring freedom from another type of slavery. This slavery and not only cripples and destroys lives in every nation, but, unless conquered, results in eternal death of the soul. The Bible calls it sin. It is an inherited condition of all humanity, our inborn nature, and accounts for the sins we commit, whether in secret or openly.
“Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.’” (John 8:34 NLT)
However, the good news is Jesus also said, “If the Son sets you free, you are truly free,” (John 8:36 NLT).
Jesus is the ultimate freedom fighter. He paid the penalty for our sins more than 2000 years ago on Calvary, securing victory for all who repent, ask His forgiveness, and accept Him as Savior and Lord of their life.
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Yet many have not heard this message so they continue to live as slaves to sin, to addictions, to past hurts, and in bondage to bitterness.
Jesus offers the gift of salvation—freedom from slavery to sin and adoption as sons and daughters of the King.
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How is it that sometimes those of us who live in the blessings of salvation hesitate to deliver Jesus’ message of freedom to all?
If we believe the Bible, why do we delay warning of the perils on the wide destructive road that leads to Hell? Why are we slow to show the way Jesus paved to abundant life here and eternal life in Heaven? Unconscionable delay.
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Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation,” (Mark 16:15 NASB).
The Bible says, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20 NKJV).
Forgive us, Lord.
Let’s celebrate Juneteenth with our brothers and sisters and continue to fight for righteousness and justice for all. Let us speak the truth boldly and declare the love, forgiveness, salvation, and freedom to flourish that Jesus offers to all. Don’t delay.
Timeline Featuring Some Highlights from American Black History
(Pre-Emancipation Proclamation through the declaration of Juneteenth as a national holiday with links to the U.S. National Archives.)
September 22nd, 1862, Pre-Proclamation of Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln, stating it would go into effect on January 1st 1863 contingent on the Union winning the Civil War.
January 1, 1863, Emancipation Proclamation
April 9, 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his troops to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, VA.
On June 19th, 1865: Union General Gordon Granger read General Order 3 in Galveston, Texas, which informed the people of the Emancipation Proclamation made by Abraham Lincoln which he declared effective as of January 1863.
From General Order 3: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, [President Abraham Lincoln] all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor.”
View the original Juneteenth (General Order 3) document HERE.
December 6, 1865: The 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the United States: *PASSED by Congress on January 31st, 1865, and *RATIFIED on December 6, 1865, the 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the United States.
“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”
April 14th 1865: President Abraham Lincoln assassinated (April 15th died.)
President Andrew Johnson assumed the office of President of the United States of America following the assignation of Abraham Lincoln in April 1865.
June 19, 1866: Freedmen in Texas organized the first “Jubilee Day” to commemorate freedom from slavery.
August 20, 1866: Official End of Civil War Declared: Sixteen months after Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender of his troops to Union General Ulysses S. Grant in Appomattox, VA on August 20, 1866, President Andrew Johnson formally declared an end to the Civil War.
July 9, 1868: Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution — Civil Rights
“Passed by Congress June 13, 1866, and ratified July 9, 1868, the 14th Amendment extended liberties and rights granted by the Bill of Rights to formerly enslaved people.”
1954: Supreme Court case of Brown vs Board of Education rules to desegregate schools.
September 6th, 1955: Eighty-five students, now known as The Scarboro ‘85, from Scarboro, TN integrated Oak Ridge High School and Robertsville Jr. High. (This is the neighborhood the government created for the Black community in the city of Oak Ridge, TN at its inception in 1942)
Links to my series of articles to date in Mr. Ray Smith's Historically Speaking column in the Oakridger newspaper:
Part 1: The Integration of Oak Ridge: A unique perspective
Dr. Spicer’s commentary
Part 2: The Integration of Oak Ridge: A unique perspective
Part 3: The Integration of Oak Ridge: A unique perspective
Memories of James Edward Spicer Who Fought Against Racism in Oak Ridge by John Job and Rachael M. Colby
August 26, 1956: Twelve students integrate Clinton High School in Clinton, Tennessee.
September 1957: Nine black students integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.
November 14th, 1960: Six-year-old Ruby Bridges integrates William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana.
November 22, 1963: President JFK assassinated
June 1964: The Civil Rights Act President Lyndon Johnson legally ended segregation and Jim Crow with the Civil Rights Act.
1968 Fair Housing Act: (A passion of my father-in-law Rev. Roy D. Colby Sr, which he worked toward as a Civil Rights activist in the 60s.)
April 4th, 1968: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) assassinated.
February 3, 1870: Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution — Voting rights for African American men. *Passed by Congress February 26, 1869, and *ratified February 3, 1870.
1980: Texas was the first state to officially recognize Juneteenth as a holiday. Other states followed.
1983: Martin Luther King Jr. Day declared a federal holiday by President Ronald Reagan–but it wasn’t put into effect until January 20, 1986. (Celebrated on the third Monday of January.)
June 17, 2021: Juneteenth (June 19th) became the first new federal holiday since MLK day and was signed into law as Juneteenth National Independence Day by President Joe Biden.
RESOURCES
National Archives https://www.archives.gov/
Docs teach: “the online tool for teaching with documents, from the national Archives.” https://www.docsteach.org
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NEW RELEASES
A father and hero I had the honor of interviewing: Retired U.S. Army Chaplain, special needs parent and writer, Brad Lee is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a certified professional life coach. He and his wife Lori have six children. Their second youngest, seven-year-old Kayden, was born with Down Syndrome and autism.
In his newly released book. (6/2025) titled Walking with Kayden: A Journey of Faith, Struggle, and Hope, Brad Lee shares their journey through the world of special needs.” Recognizing the impact and strain on couples with special needs children, his heart is to minister to their marriages.
By one of the most gifted authors and beautiful souls I’ve been blessed to know.
NEW RELEASE! Gideon’s Book by multi-award winning author Maureen Miller.
Three souls searching for purpose and healing. From the sun-soaked beaches of Myrtle Beach to the quiet streets of Eden, North Carolina, Gideon’s Book traverses both time and place, exploring the transformative power of faith and self-discovery. A time-slip novel, Gideon’s Book invites readers to pull up a chair and have healthy, heartfelt conversations about tough issues. Mostly, it points to God’s redemptive character in a broken, imperfect world.
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Jesus told us not to worry because he knew we would and thus need this counsel. God gave us His Word not for us to use it to bludgeon ourselves or each other, but to instruct, encourage, correct, redirect our missteps, and … Continue reading “The Futile Pursuit of Worry” - Unconscionable Delay
Delay. Sometimes it’s divinely ordained, but most times it’s due to our negligence or obstinance. There are sins of commission (those we do) and sins of omission (when we fail to do as we ought). Juneteenth, our new national holiday observed on … Continue reading “Unconscionable Delay”
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Tattoo It On Your Heart 
Hi Rachel,
I hope you and family are doing well.
Thank you for this one. I really enjoyed reading it. It tugs at my heart to be reminded of the slavery that took place many years ago.
Take care!
Sincerely,
Margarita Gomes
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It tugs at my heart too, Rita. It’s crucial we know our history so we can start to understand, bring healing, and use the past to inform us to create a bright future.
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Thank you, Rachael, for helping me to grow even though I’m 75! Lord bless you!
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Thank you for reading, Maria. Honored to be of help to you. And 75 is young!:0 God bless you.
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Thank you for encouraging me, Rachael!
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Rachel,
I loved your article. I just had a conversation with my oldest son Peter about loving God correctly. Our greatest challenge is to love the Lord, our God with all our heart, soul and mind, and to follow his word circumspectly, therefore truly being a light in the dark world.
Thank you for your heart to share His truth.
Ruthanne
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Thank you, Ruthanne, for your heart to share God’s truth! Amen. Great conversation with Peter. Thank you for your encouragement and for reading.
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