When I was growing up I never knew who my dad voted for. Well there was this one time...he was running for Board of Education (I think)...so I feel pretty confident he voted for himself. haha! Otherwise...couldn't tell ya! Oh I had my guesses...but usually he would neither confirm nor deny. I can honestly say that has never changed. I don't live with my dad...or even in the same state for that matter...so the conversation comes up even less than it did when I lived at home. haha! But like I said, I had my guesses.
I don't look back at this as a bad thing. I personally felt like he wanted me to do my own research and form my own opinion. He also wanted me to respect the office regardless of my opinion. (Well at least I think that is what he was going for. lol) My parents both taught me the importance of respecting authority and anyone that held an official office. Respect. A couple of years ago Obama came to visit Asheville. It was a Sunday. I did not vote for Obama...but the buzz of him being here was a bit exciting. Respect the office. We actually drove out towards Swannanoa because we knew his barricade was going to be coming back through and I wanted to show the girls. So, on the opposite side of I40 we pulled over and watched his barricade go by and head back to the airport to leave. We were within 100 yards of the President of the United States of America! Very cool! Respect.
I am trying to figure out how we got to 2017. How we got to be a country that has lost respect. A country that can't "agree to disagree". A country that riots and protests at the drop of a hat. I honestly do not want to argue with anyone. I really, really don't. I truly am just blown away by what is going on in our country. It saddens me really. I don't want this for my daughters, for my neices, or for anyone.
Let's be honest. Neither of our presidential candidates for this election were worth bragging about. We all deserved better choices. We deserved the best that America had...and we didn't get it. (Unfortunately in politics...there seem to be very few of those.) There were things on both sides that were blown out of proportion (and context) by the media. To be honest, if there is any one entity that Americans should collectively be angry at...it should be the media. Splice it, dice it, any way you like it...you can't believe anything anymore unless you heard it yourself, in person. The media are a crafty little bunch.
Quick side note. Just to be fair, there were a few additional candidates. Unfortunately, we all knew that voting for one of them was not going to get them a win. It was more voting your conscience.
Why have we become so filled with hate and anger at one another? Why would you hate a person that doesn't vote for the same person as you? Why? We can't all agree on everything. It isn't humanly possible. I don't care which side of the fence you fall on, you can't possibly condone all of the negativity and just hate filled posts that are popping up everywhere on social media. (I will be honest, there have been some funny memes that I have gotten a chuckle out of. haha!) There have been violent attacks on individuals. And can someone help me out with all the state representatives that do not plan to go to the inauguration? All the protests that are planned. Oh wait...and a celebrity actually calling for martial law? Oh mercy! What have we done? Where did we go wrong? As a country!?
We have become a country that, when we don't get what we want, we pitch a tantrum like a two year old. This is not Upward! We do not all get to be the winner. Not everyone gets a trophy. Why do college students (that are adults mind you) need counseling, pizza, or a break from a test all because their person didn't win the election? We have failed as a nation if we are raising young men and women to believe that if you don't win, you roll around on the floor and kick and scream. Nowhere will you hear me say that you can't be upset. Nowhere will you hear me say that you can't own your feelings...or that you don't have a right to feel that way. But please know...it is not okay for anyone to ruin a business due to rioting. It is not okay for a college to let you out of taking your exams because your candidate didn't win the election. We are not teaching our kids to grow up! To cope with disappointment! To deal with life!
I wish more than anything that we, as a country, could all try to move forward. I wish more than anything that we could see the negativity stop. I just wish we could all...try. Donald Trump is our President. It is what it is. Whether you or I voted for him or not. Is there anything good coming from the negativity? Does anyone really win if people keep fighting? My fear is no and this will continue to get worse. If nothing else, respect for the office, whether you voted for him or not.
Life is challenging. Life doesn't always give you what you want. We all fail at some point. We all get dumped or rejected. We need to be teaching our kids how to deal with these disappointments. To deal with life! Whatever you choose to believe in. We must somehow teach our kids to cope with what life throws them!
Monday, January 16, 2017
Friday, October 21, 2016
Lumberton
I am so overwhelmed by the generosity shown this week for Lumberton. I am blown away. God moved in a big way to provide a lot of great things for Lumberton. I am so grateful to have been able to be just a small part of it.
For years I have felt a strong pull to do mission and disaster relief type things. I haven't been able to do any relief trips yet and as Hurricane Matthew came in, my mind began to churn. I really wanted to do something. For a few days I tried to play out every scenario in my head to try and make it work. I was going to go work in one of the areas that had been devastated by the flooding. I didn't care how...but I was going! I prayed and asked God to make this work. haha! Well long story short, God helped me to see that that was not His plan and that this was not my season for going and doing. While I am coming to this realization, I am seeing all of the posts from my friend Shannon, whose husband had family in Lumberton, NC. I don't know that I had ever heard of Lumberton before that. So I followed her page very closely and I truly feel like God wanted me to do a drive for Lumberton...by way of Shannon and Kelvin. So this is where my season is...helping and providing for others to be able to go and do.
My heart breaks for the people of Lumberton and the other areas that were effected by Hurricane Matthew. I can't imagine how devastating that must be to lose everything you own. It seemed like everything on TV was still focused mostly on the election, and just about all of the negativity and hate in the world. I really wanted to see more on the flooding. I felt like they were being pushed aside.
Ya know...here's the thing. Lumberton is not Republican or Democrat. Lumberton is not white or black, hispanic or indian. Lumberton is not gay or straight. Lumberton is not christian or atheist. Lumberton is not pro-life or pro-choice. Not right now anyway. Lumberton is/was under water. Lumberton is out of jobs. Lumberton is without homes. Lumberton is without clothes. Lumberton is just plain without. I obviously don't know anyone there nor am I going to pretend to know what they are thinking or going through. But I would venture to say that none of those things matter to Lumberton right now, but what does matter is where is the next meal coming from; where are they going to live; or how are they going to take care of their children.
You see...I needed to follow what God wanted me to do. (And man what a blessing it has been to me.) I wanted to be something positive with all the negative things going on. I wanted for Lumberton to know that they were not being overlooked. I really do want them to know that people care about them and haven't forgotten. I want them to know that we stand with them even if we can't go and serve beside them.
So...here I am now...with a full Uhaul sitting in my driveway waiting for me to take to Fort Mills and then it will go on to Lumberton. I am beyond honored to have been given the opportunity to help make a difference. There are so many people that donated and I am forever grateful! Lumberton, we love you!
For years I have felt a strong pull to do mission and disaster relief type things. I haven't been able to do any relief trips yet and as Hurricane Matthew came in, my mind began to churn. I really wanted to do something. For a few days I tried to play out every scenario in my head to try and make it work. I was going to go work in one of the areas that had been devastated by the flooding. I didn't care how...but I was going! I prayed and asked God to make this work. haha! Well long story short, God helped me to see that that was not His plan and that this was not my season for going and doing. While I am coming to this realization, I am seeing all of the posts from my friend Shannon, whose husband had family in Lumberton, NC. I don't know that I had ever heard of Lumberton before that. So I followed her page very closely and I truly feel like God wanted me to do a drive for Lumberton...by way of Shannon and Kelvin. So this is where my season is...helping and providing for others to be able to go and do.
My heart breaks for the people of Lumberton and the other areas that were effected by Hurricane Matthew. I can't imagine how devastating that must be to lose everything you own. It seemed like everything on TV was still focused mostly on the election, and just about all of the negativity and hate in the world. I really wanted to see more on the flooding. I felt like they were being pushed aside.
Ya know...here's the thing. Lumberton is not Republican or Democrat. Lumberton is not white or black, hispanic or indian. Lumberton is not gay or straight. Lumberton is not christian or atheist. Lumberton is not pro-life or pro-choice. Not right now anyway. Lumberton is/was under water. Lumberton is out of jobs. Lumberton is without homes. Lumberton is without clothes. Lumberton is just plain without. I obviously don't know anyone there nor am I going to pretend to know what they are thinking or going through. But I would venture to say that none of those things matter to Lumberton right now, but what does matter is where is the next meal coming from; where are they going to live; or how are they going to take care of their children.
You see...I needed to follow what God wanted me to do. (And man what a blessing it has been to me.) I wanted to be something positive with all the negative things going on. I wanted for Lumberton to know that they were not being overlooked. I really do want them to know that people care about them and haven't forgotten. I want them to know that we stand with them even if we can't go and serve beside them.
So...here I am now...with a full Uhaul sitting in my driveway waiting for me to take to Fort Mills and then it will go on to Lumberton. I am beyond honored to have been given the opportunity to help make a difference. There are so many people that donated and I am forever grateful! Lumberton, we love you!
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