Hope, Not Hate

I've contemplated this all morning.  I understand this will not be a popular post, and I'm okay with that.  That's not why I write, anyway.

This past year, and especially in the past 24 hours, I've watched, sadly, as the enemy has divided.  He has come to conquer and ruin and destroy--and he's getting away with all of it, and we're letting him.  Families, friendships, working relationships, complete strangers--ruined by words, by hate, by differences in opinion and beliefs.  Rather than being kind to one another, everyone only wants to be right, consequences be damned. The enemy has brought hate and vitriol with him, and we fell right into his trap. Rather than fight against him, we are chanting along with him, BURN IT DOWN!  And yet--do we even know, or care, what we are burning down?

The thief enters only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest.  John 10:10

I am saddened by this.  There's just so much hate, too much hate.  I turned off my social media today because I couldn't take it anymore.  I'm weary.

I can't live this way.  As a Christian, as a human, a wife, a mom--as a friend.  My best friend and I are polar opposites.  I can't imagine my life without her!  We bring variety to each other's lives! We force each other to consider opinions different from our own!  One of the first things I did this morning was thank her for her, and tell her how grateful I am that we have always been able to agree to disagree.  This is part of what makes our friendship last.

What happened to being able to do this as a country, as humans?  Just agreeing to disagree, and moving on?  Shaking hands, and honoring one another's opinions?  What is the point to a democracy if we are all forced to think alike?  I don't care who you voted for, and it's also none of my business (which is another problem--social media has made everyone's politics everyone else's business, but that's another post)!  What I do care about it is how you treat other people (and animals).  Your opinions matter to me, because you matter to me!

We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Listen, we woke up this morning.  We are breathing.  We are blessed to live in a country with choices and freedoms, where our opinions are valued, and we are not persecuted for our beliefs.  There are people who do not have these blessings, and unfortunately, lack many others as well.

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.  Psalm 119:114

Most of all, we will always have hope, and no matter who our president is, I have my Father, the King who reigns over all.  I will stand on the hope He, and He alone, gives.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; And let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." 1 Chronicles 16:31