In a time long ago, there was a society where the roles of men and women were clear, and the balance of leadership rested upon the shoulders of the men. The men were entrusted with the responsibility to uphold the teachings of God, to guide their families and communities, and to be the strong pillars that held everything together. The women, in turn, were respected for their virtues, their roles as wives and mothers, and their ability to nurture the hearts of their children.
In this society, marriages were sacred, and families were the foundation of all things. Men and women worked hand in hand, each fulfilling their purpose in a way that honored the other. The boys were raised to be mentally and emotionally strong, learning from their fathers how to be leaders in their homes and communities. The girls, with their virtues guarded by their families, were taught to value their worth, knowing they were to be cherished and protected. This mutual respect created a positive cycle that was passed down through generations.
But somewhere along the way, things began to change. The men who had once stood strong in their roles as leaders began to falter, and with their faltering came a slow unraveling of the society they had built. The word of God was no longer upheld as it once had been, and the fabric of the community began to tear. The marriages, the values of modesty, and the virtues that had been passed down through the generations started to fade. It wasn’t an immediate collapse, but over time, cracks began to appear, and they grew wider as the generations continued.
As the years went on, the foundations of what had once been a thriving and harmonious society were lost to the winds of change. The elders watched with heavy hearts as they saw the very things they had worked so hard to build slip away. They knew the path ahead could only get harder unless something changed.
But it was in these challenging times that a truth began to echo through the hearts of those who remembered the old ways. The roles of men and women had never been about equality, but about complementing each other. Men and women were not equals, and they would never be. Each had a unique purpose that contributed to the greater whole.
The men, as leaders, carried a weight that the women could not. Their responsibility was to guide, protect, and uphold the word of God. But the women, too, played their role as leaders—just in a different way. Their leadership was not in the same form as that of men, but it was powerful nonetheless. Women shaped the home, raised the children, and provided the emotional foundation for the family and community. They did not do what men did, nor were they meant to. Their strength was in nurturing, in teaching the next generation how to live with honor and virtue.
Both men and women had their roles, but they were not interchangeable. Men could not do what women did, and women could not do what men did. Each was made to fulfill their role, and both were necessary for the community to thrive. When the men were strong in their leadership and the women fulfilled their roles, the society flourished. But when either faltered, the whole community felt the consequences.
And so, a voice spoke—a reminder of Eve and Adam. From Adam, Eve had come, a piece of him, his companion, and his equal in purpose. But Adam was the leader, and the harmony of the world rested upon his strength. In the same way, men were called to lead, and women were called to nurture and support.
Yet, it was in Eve’s story that a deeper truth could be seen. Eve, being the weaker link, was the first to encounter the serpent in the Garden. The enemy knew that if he could lead the nurturer astray, the whole family would fall. If the foundation—the mother, the heart of the family—was broken, the entire structure would crumble. And so, the serpent approached Eve first, knowing that through her, the harm would ripple through the generations.
This truth speaks to the power of a woman’s role. She holds within her the potential to nurture, to lead, and to guide. But if that role is distorted or led astray, the consequences affect not just her, but the whole family. For the woman shapes the environment, the values, and the heart of the family. And when the family falters, so too does the community.
The balance had been lost, but there was hope to restore it. If the men could rise up once more, taking their place as the leaders they were meant to be, and the women could continue to lead in their own way—shaping families, raising the next generation with virtue—the society could rebuild itself.
And yet, we find ourselves today in a world where many communities, particularly the Black and Brown communities, are facing a steady and strong decline. This erosion is not merely due to external challenges, but because of the separation and indoctrination that has been placed upon us through centuries of hardship—enslavement, disconnection from our roots, and all that lies in between. These trials have left scars, and the effects have rippled through generations.
But there’s one truth that stands above all. From my people to all others, I have always observed that the cultures and groups who live by the laws and traditions of good are the ones that thrive. No matter how bad things get or how hard the struggle becomes, those who lean on God and the strength of family will always find peace, clarity, and answers. For God’s guidance and the strength of family will always lead us back to the path of healing and restoration.
This is the truth we must remember, the truth that will bring us back to strength: when we return to our roots—faith in God and unity in family—there is always hope. Through His strength and through our commitment to each other, we will thrive once more.
Tu Paz: A Journey of Faith and Healing 