Need I say more...

    Ella brought this home the other day and it made me smile. To be honest, I am a little relieved that all the clamor  surrounding the election is over. I tried to wade through the issues, to look for truth and justice. I voted my conscience and enjoyed entertaining dinner time conversations with our politically divided children:) It is always so disappointing to me though; the pride, disrespect and divisiveness that inevitably comes out in the heat of political debate especially among believers. I saw some people ecstatic at the results of the election and others acting like it was a national tragedy. We are not one person or one government, we are an entire nation of people. It's my hope that we would start where we are, love the people around us, build something, plant something, work in our communities to take care of the poor, live compassion to all people,  raise our voices against injustice.

As Ella Bella put it. "be kind to peple. and take care of peple."

"John Wesley once wrote the following during a heated political season:

For people who will vote, I urge them to vote for those they judge most worthy, and to speak no evil against the person they voted against, and to take care that their spirits are not sharpened against people who voted on the other side." 

Well said.

Election evening I stood in my kitchen slicing peppers for a big pot of soup boiling on my stove when "America the Beautiful" came on as I was listening to public radio.

"O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!"

I stood at my sink with tears in my eyes, not over anything about the election, but just hearing the words, realizing how blessed I am. I was standing in my kitchen with my full pantry, cooking for my children. I was born in a country where I have never had to suffer not being able to feed my children. I have never had to fear for my life or well- being because I worship Jesus. I have never been denied employment or respect because I am a woman. I have never had to live through warfare or poverty. I am so very thankful for His grace to me, for  the freedom and opportunity I have had. I don't understand it sometimes. I don't deserve all of this. I am bothered by my own comfort compared to so many. Bothered that I don't think I can ever give back enough from what has been given to me.
What an incredible diverse amazing place is our home. God shed his grace.