My dear family, friends, Liberals, Conservatives, Americans, on November 3^rd, or shortly there afterward (God willing) we will know who the President of the United States will be for the next four years. Some of us will be happy ecstatic, while many of our fellow Americans will be disappointed crushed to the core. It’s wonderful that we all have strong feelings about who should govern our country. It means that we still carry an American pride somewhere in us. Some will have a president they are happy with while others will have four years of a president that will, at best need to be tolerated. Our preferred presidential candidate might be the winner, or he might be the loser. That’s how democratic elections work. Even as children we were taught (or used to be taught) how to be good sports when winning or when losing a competition. We’ve lost that. The anger and hatred that has sprung up and taken hold of so many Americans is a disaster waiting to happen that is happening. In many ways, we’ve become a country of angry people resembling childish brats when they don’t get their way. Many of us need to be put in time-out!

Here’s a suggestion… How about, no matter who wins, let’s accept that he IS our president because the people of America have elected him to be the President of ALL the people of the United States. This, “Not my president!” thing has to stop. If the seat is won by the candidate you preferred, and I disliked, then congratulations to you. I don’t have to like him or agree with him. But I do need to acknowledge that he will be my president, albeit a terrible one, for the next four years. That’s how a functioning democracy works. If my preferred candidate wins, then “Yay for me.” It’s ok to be happy if we win, and disappointed if we lose. I’m just asking that we be civil human beings and not a bunch of rabid animals ruled by hate, fear, and anger.

Whatever happened to all that talk of tolerance? Tolerating others who disagree with us isn’t easy, but that’s exactly what tolerance is.

Tolerance [ˈtäl(ə)rəns] NOUN – the ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with.

It’s easy to accept and be kind to those who think as we do, but that’s not tolerance, that’s camaraderie. Where’s virtue in that?

Someone told me after one of the elections, “Well you couldn’t have possibly been this upset when so and so won the presidency.” That person was shocked, seriously SHOCKED when I said, “Absolutely! But I just picked up my big-girl pants and moved on”, hoping, praying, and doing everything I could do to help my candidate of choice win next time.

And there will be a “next-time” IF we Americans get our act together. If we continue down this path of hate and intolerance that has been exploding for the past few years, WE WILL FALL! That motto “United we stand, divided we fall” is true people!!! And we Americans are falling hard and fast. We, as a democratic country are supposed to be “for the people, and by the people.” But we are not! Many have become “for ourselves”, not “for others”. Democracy fails if we can’t be people for others, those most vulnerable, and those who appear strong. It’s not just the “other side’s” fault, those people over there. It is all of our faults. None of us are perfect, so let’s stop acting and posting like we are. We need to unite in the purpose of healing. The UNITED States of America is anything but united and if we continue in this downward spiral of hate and division, we won’t see another election in four years. We will self-destruct and we will have no one to blame but ourselves. I love this country and the American people too much to let this happen. I love my children and grandchildren too much to leave a ruined country as my legacy to them.

Of course, I think my way is better, and you think your way is better. That’s how it goes. Let’s get down from our high horses and tie our name-calling tongues in a knot. NOTHING good has ever come from these tactics, yet we continue spewing hate and allowing it to grow to the point that we fear for our future. Enough! Stop it! Just STOP IT! We are grown-ups! Let’s stop acting like spoiled children and commit to respect and peace, for the sake of ourselves, our children, and our country!!! Let’s give our children a better example to follow than what we’ve been giving them. Let’s be Americans we can be proud of – those who have differing opinions but can still sit and talk about differences over a cup of coffee, or those who can vote for opposing views and still choose to love one another.

2020 has been hard enough. Let’s not make it worse by destroying our country, our families, and relationships from the inside out. The motto, “United we stand. Divided we fall” has never been tested like it has been these past few years. There is that old song that says, “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.” Don’t blame others for not doing what we ourselves won’t do. Let the healing begin with me. Let peace begin with me. I might not agree with you, but I can still choose to love you.

I want a country where we can be civil to one another. I want a country where everyone, Democrats, Republicans, Conservatives, and Liberals see the humanity in each other. I want us to know and respect that we’ve all been created by God and that we share in His image. That is our dignity and it can’t be taken from us. I want to once again discuss our differences and listen to each other. I want us to work together with others to find a solution to the grave problems of our world, through love. Love meaning, I want the other’s good. Not love, I want what feels good to me. And good as in, that which leads us to be the people we have been created to be – children of a completely sacrificial and loving God. I know everyone has heard or should have heard His words “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  If we start there, then there is hope. Can we please start there?

May God bless you all and keep you safe and sane in this crazy world! With a little effort from all, and through an abundance of grace from our Creator, the States of America can be united once more. Let’s pray for each other and especially for those who are difficult to tolerate. God help us!!!