It's the day after the election. And I'll be honest, my last 24 hours, like many of my friends and colleagues, have been filled with all sorts of emotions. And no, this is not going to be that type of post, filled with an opinion that, depending on what your choice looked like, will cause you to comment or unfriend me or praise me with the newest political meme. I just need to write a bit.
I feel like have a unique viewpoint. I see and understand why people are thrilled right now, coming from a smaller town in the South and seeing how the loss of jobs, corrupt government influence, and despair at the prospect that God & Amendment-given rights were in potential jeopardy. I am proud to come from a deeply conservative family whose faith is a driving force into the political decisions they make. I've also had the privilege of living in 2 of the largest cities in this country over the last 6 years and have witnessed the glaring need for the social and government programs focused on recognizing minorities and healthcare initiatives, the unhealthy treatment of women in the workplace, and the need for reform on so many levels. While I personally wasn't particularly motivated by either candidate I got why people were so motivated by both, depending on their viewpoint.
I guess what I'm trying to say is I get it. You may be thrilled. You may be scared. You may be feeling like you're gaining control back, or you may be feeling like you are losing your personal choice. What I don't get is the amount of angry, biased, polarized statements that are flooding my social media feed from both sides of the aisle. It makes me sad to see people I highly look up to reacting in a way that could be so misread by others.
If you are thrilled, inspired, and hopeful based on our election results, I am thrilled for you. I'm glad you are empowered that your choice has resulted in what could be true economic and global change. This election did show that every vote counts and people's voices could be heard and that is a victory.
On the other end of the spectrum, I have friends and co-workers who are women, African-American, Hispanic, gay, unemployed, self-employed, Christian, Muslim and, living in the big city I live in now, I have already witnessed the true distress and fear that some are experiencing right now. And if you are reading this and you are confused and scared, I want you to know and feel support and love from me. Regardless of your choice and regardless of who is President, it's my goal to show the love of Jesus to all of you without reservation. I'm not going to mock your pain, and I'm not going to diminish what you are feeling. Many of you are young. Many of you are experiencing your first election and you are emotionally feeling what you've never felt before. These feelings are valid, and if you need support and want to talk it out, I want you to reach out to me.
I think a lot about our birthmother. She could already be pregnant. She could already be facing serious decisions. Based on her viewpoint, she could be excited about this nation's future, or she could be so scared. She could feel pressure to make a choice other than adoption in fear that her choices will become more limited based on our political horizon. I hope someone is reaching out and showing her love and support. I hope she's not just reading rhetoric that continues to cause her distress. I hope there's someone within her network who can encircle her in their arms.
This isn't quite an adoption post. But it is a post about choice. How we choose to react and speak about what's going on in our country. How we choose to love our neighbor. How we choose to celebrate our victories. How we choose to manage and move forward in our disappointment. How we choose to speak what's on our minds and hearts. How we choose to acknowledge that our words and actions do matter. This is not a post that is intended to spark a debate or provide direct opinions on the outcome of our political choices. This isn't intended to incite political comment either, so I hope you will not take any of this as anything other than the fact that we need to support each other so much right now. I apologize if it offends anyone, as that is not my intention at all.
You never know what you say, post, tweet and respond to will be interpreted so I pray we all exercise some love and discretion as we talk about our nation's future. We all made a choice yesterday, but our choice of reaction is still in our hands.
I love you all. Be good to each other.
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2
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