The thing is, I'm raising children that may not look the same on the outside. But, I hope I'm raising children that see beyond color, social status, or occupation. I'm praying that they love people the way Jesus loves them. I pray that they see people the way our Creator sees them. I stay mostly silent on these issues because quite honestly, I'm not there and I do not know. What I do know is this, I can speak truth into the people around me. I can love the ones in my life. I can smile, hug and pour into my children. I can model behaviors, speak love and pray for the days I have been given. I can touch lives. I can make a difference, one life at a time. I'm starting at home. Because we have the most influence over our own family.
I know that someday my children will probably be faced with a harsh reality. Someone, someday will probably crush their sweet innocence. It's absolutely beautiful the way my children see each other. They are siblings through and through. They fearlessly love each other. They desperately miss each other. They defend each other. They fight with each other. They are siblings. They are brothers and sisters. They have a beautiful, amazing, relationship with each other. But someday I know someone will tell them it shouldn't be that way. Someone may point out their differences. But let me tell you, they are more alike than different. They are all my children. And as much as I fiercely love them, I cannot protect them from everything. There is much evil in this world, but it's not really about color, social status or occupation. To me, it's about a fallen world. A world that needs hope and grace and forgiveness and love. A world that needs Jesus.
So no matter who you are or where you are. No matter what is going on around you. One thing remains the same: we all fall short. We all desperately need Jesus.
There are families who lost loved ones. It doesn't really matter how or why they died, it hurts all the same. It hurts because there is loss. It hurts because I know that kind of pain. Losing someone so dearly loved. Life will never be the same. As a nation, as outsiders looking in, we will move on. It may take days or years, but eventually our lives look somewhat normal again, no matter how shaken we are. But for those families though, normal will never be the same again. For this reason, my heart aches.
Today I pray for families, for children, for spouses, for parents. I pray for our nation. I pray for our future. But I will not worry. I will trust in the one who holds the future. I will trust in the one who created the world. I will play with my children. I will smile and laugh. I will speak truth into their lives. I will show them that forgiveness and grace is better than bitterness and hate. One day at a time. One life at a time. I will do my part.
