One Nation - or at least that is the hope

My daughter looked at me the other day, smiled sweetly and asked, “Momma, what is the most important thing to be?” I easily responded with “Kindness my love. Love and kindness are hands down the most important things in this world. God is love and he asks us to show love even to those we don’t agree with or even our enemies.”

“Okay…yeah I thought so.” Smiled back my daughter with that smirk that told me there was quite a bit more circling around in that beautiful brain of hers. You know what happened next, she called me out. “Mom, then you should be kinder to people who voted different.” She smirked again. Yes, I know I am in for it when she is in her teens. But really, I am so very proud of her for calling me out. She knew the answer, because I preach it all the time. Yet, I have not been the best example.

This election has been so very intense. Possibly because of everything else going on but also, I feel very personally tied to which president will be able to help create a healthy and safe place for my interracial children and my family. I mean, anxiety up so high, I promise you, my health has been affected.

There were days on end that I couldn’t even interact with someone who I knew voted for the opposition. Not because of hate but for protection over myself and my wellbeing. I just couldn’t. It made my heart hurt, like in the heart attack kind of way. And although I have had a tremendous sigh of relief, I may not understand it, but those who voted differently have the opposite.

I am not hear to gloat, I do not want to be an asshole, and I don’t have to understand you to feel your pain. I don’t have to coddle you, I don’t have to change my mind on anything, but I do need to show some love.

I don’t think you need to stop celebrating or diminish one’s happiness to still be a decent person to the other side. This election has brought out truly the worst in people. My daughter calling me out, gave me a much-needed reminder that I do not want to allow it to bring out the worst in me.

We preach time and time again as parents to “Be a good sport”. Well that mantra goes both ways. You need to congratulate the winner even if you have lost. You need to be able to celebrate yet respect the losing side. You need to show empathy for that feeling while embracing the feeling of victory.

Even as I write this, it is hard for me. I know just how passionately I felt about this election, and regardless of side, I know I was not alone in that. Now more than ever though, as a nation, as in my case a woman of God, I need to be better. I need to show kindness, and minimally, I should at least try.

So, this is my peace offering to anyone who voted for Trump. I am a Biden girl all the way, and I am proud of our democracy that has risen yet again. I am SO proud to have a woman sitting next to the oval. And even more so, a woman of color. I do not agree with you on a lot of things, but I am sure that we can agree on this (unless your racist), that love endures all things, cover all things, and hopes all things. My hope is that I can show love and find peace in a world where it is so very much needed. My hope is that you can read this and find love in your heart as well, even though I am a Biden girl. My hope is that through kindness and love, the most simplest of things even my 6 year old can call me out on, can endure and this nation can once again find peace and unite the United States of America, ‘one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” And if you need mojitos to help your do it, like I do sometimes, there is a good recipe on the main page of my blog.