To the Angry American
lled through Facebook this past week, I saw many anger driven posts attacking Trump, his voters, and our country. Questions like "how are you going to explain to the Mexicans, muslims, homosexuals, that they don't matter?" Or pictures of the flag that so many lives were lost to protect being burnt unashamedly by the bitter Americans who aren't so proud anymore. But there was one question that actually caught my attention, one question that got me to stop and think, one question that I think is actually worth answering.
What do we tell our children?
This election has taken a toll on everyone. It's discouraged, degraded, and divided our incredible country. But it has also given all of us the opportunity to teach respect, celebrate our rights, remember who is ultimately in control, and who knows, maybe even learn something from one another.
When I was younger I learned a lot from my parents. I learned how to interact with love and respect, how to support and comfort those who are hurting, and how to be a good sport when I win and knowing that being a sore loser isn't an option.
However, I didn't learn these things by them telling me to do so, I learned them by them showing me.
So maybe the question we mean to ask is "what do we show our children?"
Forgive me as I sound like a broken record for a moment as I ask a few questions of my own.
Do we want to show them how to win an argument or do we want to show them how to have an argument?
Do we want to show them how to cyber bully in a manner that is "socially justifiable" or do we want to show them how to love others who have a different opinion than us?
Do we want to show them how wonderful our country is or do we want to show them it's only great if we get what we want?
Do we want to show them how to throw tantrums when we don't get our way or do we want to show them that even when you don't get your way, you have the opportunity to learn something, to teach something, and to make a difference?
Do we want to show our children that when we win, we gloat? We rub it in and kick people when they're down? Or do we want to show them how to have compassion and show love to those who have different beliefs than us?
This election was a big deal. Is a big deal.
Chances are you're feeling real emotion. You may be scared, hurting, afraid, angry, excited, happy, or who knows what else.
That's okay. Emotions are there for a reason. They're there for a purpose. But please don't let your emotions "purpose" be to cause more strife and more division in our country.
And maybe you did mean to ask the question "what do we tell our children".
In that case my answer is a lot shorter.
We tell them that Mr. Donald Trump will be the 45th president of our beautiful country and we tell them that every person on this earth deserves respect. Also, I would also ask that you remind yourself that YOU are responsible for raising and instilling the values and morals in your children. YOU are responsible for showing your children how to react in love and how to show respect even when you don't want to. They are YOUR children, not the president of the United States.
This election has been hard and I'm sorry for that. But one thing that I can assure you is that the future is in the hands of the One who is much greater than the person who has been elected.
Be kind & be an example.
What do we tell our children?
This election has taken a toll on everyone. It's discouraged, degraded, and divided our incredible country. But it has also given all of us the opportunity to teach respect, celebrate our rights, remember who is ultimately in control, and who knows, maybe even learn something from one another.
When I was younger I learned a lot from my parents. I learned how to interact with love and respect, how to support and comfort those who are hurting, and how to be a good sport when I win and knowing that being a sore loser isn't an option.
However, I didn't learn these things by them telling me to do so, I learned them by them showing me.
So maybe the question we mean to ask is "what do we show our children?"
Forgive me as I sound like a broken record for a moment as I ask a few questions of my own.
Do we want to show them how to win an argument or do we want to show them how to have an argument?
Do we want to show them how to cyber bully in a manner that is "socially justifiable" or do we want to show them how to love others who have a different opinion than us?
Do we want to show them how wonderful our country is or do we want to show them it's only great if we get what we want?
Do we want to show them how to throw tantrums when we don't get our way or do we want to show them that even when you don't get your way, you have the opportunity to learn something, to teach something, and to make a difference?
Do we want to show our children that when we win, we gloat? We rub it in and kick people when they're down? Or do we want to show them how to have compassion and show love to those who have different beliefs than us?
This election was a big deal. Is a big deal.
Chances are you're feeling real emotion. You may be scared, hurting, afraid, angry, excited, happy, or who knows what else.
That's okay. Emotions are there for a reason. They're there for a purpose. But please don't let your emotions "purpose" be to cause more strife and more division in our country.
And maybe you did mean to ask the question "what do we tell our children".
In that case my answer is a lot shorter.
We tell them that Mr. Donald Trump will be the 45th president of our beautiful country and we tell them that every person on this earth deserves respect. Also, I would also ask that you remind yourself that YOU are responsible for raising and instilling the values and morals in your children. YOU are responsible for showing your children how to react in love and how to show respect even when you don't want to. They are YOUR children, not the president of the United States.
This election has been hard and I'm sorry for that. But one thing that I can assure you is that the future is in the hands of the One who is much greater than the person who has been elected.
Be kind & be an example.
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