Rev. Monica Jones, Contributing Writer

I must begin these very brief remarks by thanking God for delivering me to this point in my professional journey.  My life has been blessed beyond measure, and I do know that one can only come this far by faith.

February 25, 2022

First, as always, I have to give thanks to God for delivering me as promised–(applause)–and for sustaining me throughout this nomination and confirmation process. As I said at the outset, I have come this far by faith, and I know that I am truly blessed. To the many people who have lifted me up in prayer since the nomination, thank you. I am very grateful.

April 8, 2022

“I thank God….”

No one could have been more proud than I when the Honorable Ketanji Brown Jackson was nominated and confirmed as the first Black woman to sit on the United States Supreme Court. As an African-American, I was proud. As a woman, I was proud. But most of all, as a Christian, I was so very proud. 

As a rule, we as Black people, whether for an Oscar or for winning an Olympic race, remember to give thanks to God. Typically, when giving an acceptance speech, the individual will begin with, “Before I thank anyone, I want to thank God.” It is something that I treasure and look forward to hearing. 

Yet, my heart warmed even more when I heard the next Supreme Court Justice essentially say in her speeches (that acknowledged her nomination and celebrated her confirmation), “I thank God.” She is so very far removed from most of us in her career milestone. She has achieved a career success that most of us will never see. Almost overnight, she has become an icon on the national landscape. Yet, she did not forget how she got there. Certainly, Sis. Ketanji’s hard work paid off; her efforts to be the best paid off. But what really paid off for her were the prayers that went up on her behalf, prompting God’s grace to smile down on her.  I was so glad that she did not forget to say thanks for that, too.

At times, it is so easy for us to consider ourselves fortunate or privileged and even lucky when we achieve our goals. It is easy for us to take credit for something God did for us. However, when we have moved beyond the ordinary to the extraordinary and recognized a milestone that is so very special, we must not forget. 

We must not forget that our intelligence, our resources, and our success stories have come to us by way of God’s mercy. We must not forget that even when we fail, it is not God’s way of torturing us; it is God’s way of teaching us. We must never forget that our foremothers and forefathers did not have the same opportunities that we do and that now, it is our job to carry the banner high. The only way to maintain that banner is to give God the glory for what God has done. Just three simple words; it is a part of our witness, no matter where we are in life.  

I hope that Justice Brown Jackson’s career will be long and distinguished. I pray that all that she does will be successful and just.  I pray that the judicial decisions she makes will change the trajectory of humanity and the progress of social change.  However, if this does not happen, I hope and pray that she will still give God the glory and never forget that she and we have come this far by faith.

The Reverend Monica C. Jones, PhD is the director of Christian Education at Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia.