Big Huggies

For my nephew Terrell, our Bubbie,

and every Black man who learned to smile through pain,

carry the weight and still give love away.

Bubbie, Auntie sees you now.

You gave the world big huggies

even when you needed one too.

Walks to the store, open fire from cowards,

but God covered and protected you.

You made it out, bounce-back ability,

but surviving don't mean trauma sets you free.

Still you pressed on, danced on, laughed on.

Me and you jamming Jonnell Jones,

“Knock Me Off My Feet,”

dancing like nobody could see.

Terrell, our Bubbie,

you gave the world big huggies.

Despite the pain,

you navigated anyway.

Terrell, our Bubbie,

God covered you and loved you.

Through every storm,

you kept finding your way.

My Terrell, our Bubbie,

giving huggies through the pain.

I witnessed your first love,

then watched you become a dad.

Then the woman who carried your seed

was taken too soon,

a grief no man should have.

They tell Black men, “Be strong, keep moving,”

but who gives the strong man somewhere safe to land?

Who says, “Cry here, hurt here,

you can be human and still be a man”?

RAP – REFLECTIVE]

Life gets hot, pressure gets heavy,

grief takes the front seat while you say you're steady.

Your final walk for water, they say extreme heat,

now Auntie fights coulda, woulda, shoulda on repeat.

One more call, one more prayer, one more pause—

could love have changed that final walk?

But it ain't my will, God's will be done.

You said, “Auntie, I'm not lost.

I know your number by heart, I know I can call.”

Your last text? You ministered to me.

Beyond Auntie's number, you knew to call on the Lord.

GOSPEL BRIDGE

Rest, Bubbie, where the weight can't follow you home.

No more struggling, no more carrying pain alone.

What we don't understand, we place in God's hands.

He knew every tear behind your smile,

every wound we couldn't see.

When your strength couldn't carry you,

grace carried you into eternity.

[FINAL

Terrell, our Bubbie,

you gave the world big huggies.

Despite the pain, you navigated anyway.

Terrell, our Bubbie,

God covered you and loved you.

Every life you touched carries you today.

Lord, cover his children, parents when the silence gets loud.

Strengthen Grandma, cousins, aunties,

and every heart asking why right now.

Turn our tears into memories

and our questions into trust.

Bubbie, save us some huggies.

This one got Auntie thuggin',

but through these tears, I'm trusting

Until God brings us together again—