2020 Election Thoughts

My oldest son has just voted in his first presidential election. His younger brother, although wise in his 14 years, is still an impressionable young teenager who is watching how his parents and siblings react to current affairs.

At 16 and a junior in high school, my daughter has become very opinionated about what she hears about or reads with regards to politics and social justice issues or sees on social media from the influencers that she follows. I don't mind her having a different opinion than me, I just prefer it to be an educated opinion that she has fully researched for herself to form an opinion, rather than what she reads and hears from social media, which is what I see her doing.

My kids aren't oblivious to the reactions of people in the world: they've seen the protests, riots, and demonstrations on the news along with the phrase coined after the 2016 election of "not my president".

Last night, Lil' Dude asked me how I would react if the candidate that I voted for doesn't get elected. I wasn't sure that I understood what he meant, so I asked him to repeat himself.

"You know, if the person that you want to win, doesn't. What will you do?"

(wow....insert deep breath and pray. Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for this teachable moment.)

I won't pout. I won't cry. I won't throw things. I won't go out and burn anything down, protest or revolt.

I WILL recognize the individual as our president. I WILL pray for the elected president and vice-president because our leaders need us to pray for them, and as a Christian I am commanded to pray for my leaders.

I WILL hold them accountable by reaching out and having the conversations that I've been having for years with my legislators. And in 4 years...I will vote again. I may vote to re-elect them. I may vote for another candidate. That is the process and that is my right. Do not for a single minute ever think that I will take the privilege of voting for granted, and It is a right that we have in this country as a US citizen, to participate in the election process, because that's how a democracy works.

And in the end, whoever wins, they will be MY president, and they will be YOUR president.