Just my OPINION.

Take a moment before you press Enter and spew hatred through social media.  Take a moment PLEASE and look at the numbers here.  HALF OF AMERICA is devastated, the other half is gloating.  Do you really think HALF of our great nation is “stupid” or “naïve” or “deplorable” or any number of things Donald Trump has called people?  Really?  Can we please just take a freaking moment and look at OURSELVES?  We all have inherent biases that make us SO SURE that our ideas, our opinions, our beliefs, or our candidate are what’s RIGHT.  But FIFTY PERCENT OF THE POPULATION DISAGREES WITH YOU.  No matter what side you’re on, please let that soak in for a moment.  

A gigantic chunk of our population believes that Barack Obama has been an amazing President, one of the best; another gigantic chunk thinks he’s the absolute worst thing that’s ever happened to America.  Based on last night’s numbers, HALF wanted a change.  The other 50% wanted Clinton to continue with policies similar to Obama’s.  That popular vote was almost split perfectly down the middle!  That says something.  But what it doesn’t mean is this…

It doesn’t mean everyone who voted for Trump is racist; it doesn’t mean everyone who voted for Clinton is dishonest.  It doesn’t mean that anyone who voted for Clinton must not care about or understand economics; it doesn’t mean that anyone who voted for Trump must not care about or understand the significance of prevalent social issues.  It doesn’t mean that anyone who voted for Trump doesn’t acknowledge that he has said and done some horrible things.  It doesn’t mean that anyone who voted for Clinton doesn’t acknowledge that she has said and done some horrible things.  It doesn't mean that all of those millions who voted Clinton don't care about the lives of unborn children.  It doesn't mean that all of those millions who voted Trump don't care about foreign people trying to make a better life for themselves and their families.  It doesn’t mean that Trump supporters don’t care about Black Lives Matter or single women struggling with abortion/adoption/raising a child on their own in our broken system.  It doesn’t mean that Clinton supporters don’t care about rights guaranteed by our Constitution.  It doesn't mean that people who voted Trump don't think there are bad apples in the police force and that the unprovoked killing of innocent people of color isn't a problem.  It doesn't mean that people who voted Clinton don't see that retaliation by killing innocent cops isn't a problem.  It doesn’t mean that those who voted Clinton voted for her to break the glass ceiling and push a feminist agenda.  It doesn’t mean that those who voted for Trump voted for him to set us back to a segregated America.  It doesn’t mean that everyone who voted for Hillary is corrupt.  It doesn’t mean everyone who voted for Donald is an embarrassment.

Eight years ago much of America said President Obama won because the black people came out and voted like never before.  Today much of America is saying Trump won because the white people came out and voted like never before.  This is the unfortunate reality of our country.  Racism exists.  Corruption exists.  Sexism exists.  Hypocritical Christians and Evangelicals are everywhere.  Bigotry is prevalent.  There are really BAD people of all races.  Acknowledge it and let's work to fix it.  Because there are also so many people who love unconditionally, who are good and working daily to be better.

Eight years ago half of America got the change they wanted.  Last night half of America got the change they wanted.  But why does it keep coming to this?  A complete divide?  Because we’ve put ourselves in a position that we are completely split in our beliefs because of the absurd amount of intolerance we show one another and the inability to consider the views of others as just as significant as our own.  Acknowledge it and let's work to fix it.

“Never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it.” – Hillary Clinton just said this and her supporters ROARED, but I would put money on the fact that the 50% of the population who voted for Trump truly, TRULY believe, too, that they were fighting for what's right.

We all have opinions.  We all have beliefs.  We all have biases.  I really feel like the sooner we acknowledge that half of the population of this great nation disagrees with us, and for their own reasons that they so passionately believe, the sooner we can get to work on coming back together.  If we all continue to act like intolerant and persecuted peoples we will never get anywhere.  Acknowledge it and let's work to fix it.  Don’t put all of this on the President or the President-Elect.  Take some responsibility to be better.  Show grace.  Be like Christ.  Love like Christ.  Be tolerant.  Don't spew hate and spread lies.  Work to make tomorrow a better day for our kids.  For Tate, y'all.  Come on.

I'm so imperfect.  Lord help me.  But I truly want to learn from opposing views, I want to educate myself and continue growing in my own beliefs while raising a child to think for himself.  Admittedly, I am biased.  Hell yes.  I believe certain things will make this a better place to live and want things to be a certain way...just like everyone else.  But I will not be hateful.  I will not be intolerant and cruel.  I will listen, I will learn, and I will love.  Because that's what Jesus called us to do when he died so that we could live.  Because too many people have died for our rights and our freedoms to take that for granted.  Something's gotta give.  

PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT before making that post on social media and really ask yourself if you want what’s best for this country, or if you just want what YOU think is best.  Are you part of what is causing this massive divide?  We can change.  We are all flawed.  We are all sinners.  But by the grace of God, we will be forgiven and we CAN move forward.

This is not me saying that I don't think we should all stand for our beliefs and work to protect our rights and our freedoms and elect officials who most closely align with our ideals.  This is America for crying out loud, of course we need to do that.  But we suck at doing it with grace.  If your candidate won, by all means, BE EXCITED! BE HOPEFUL! BE RELIEVED! But why be mean? You've already won, and in all my MANY dealings with competition in this lifetime, nobody likes a mouthy winner.  If your candidate lost, you can still be hopeful.  The sun came up today, and by the grace of God, it will again tomorrow.  Be graceful.  Were you one of the ones that was telling people to get out and vote?  Well, they did.  And so it was decided.

Campaigns are divisive.  Period.  

But today, this nightmare of an election is over.  Acknowledge the problems and let's work to fix them. 

I realize with 100% certainty that I will be called naive or unrealistic because of this post.  But I don't care.  You call it naive, I call it hope.  I have witnessed God's great miracles firsthand and I refuse to believe that He can't fix this.  There's absolutely nothing He can't do!  But for that to happen, we must work on ourselves and work on this country.  It’s time to PRAY like we never have before.  Don't just say it.  DO IT.  Talk to God.  Tell Him your fears.  Ask for His help!  It’s time to put God before man.  Put others before ourselves.  If we can do that, there is hope for all of us, no matter our OPINION of the outcome of last night’s election.

Two of my favorite verses perfectly sum up where to go from here.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. – Joshua 1:9

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. - 1 Peter 5:6-8

Don't let Satan get the best of this great nation.