TODAY

In this great democracy we are blessed to live in, we will once again have a peaceful change of the office of the presidency today.  The turmoil that has surrounded the change by the simple recitation of an oath has escalated to the point of pandemonium during my lifetime.  It deeply saddens me that we have lost the ability to disagree peacefully about what is best for our country.  The growing phenomena of social media and the powerful influence of the news conglomerates have successfully stirred us into a frenzy of name calling, hatred, and total loss of civility.  The concept of peacefully disagreeing seems to be a thing of the past.  We have lost sight of the fact that we form our opinions based upon the eyes we gaze through.  Our environment, our heritage, and our current economic situations greatly influence who we are politically.  We loose sight of the reasons we are different that causes a difference in our philosophies.  

I am praying for our great country.  I fear for my children and my grandchildren.  We seem to be headed for the slippery slope of decline of another great civilization.  Unless we manage to break the cycle of decline, there is no stopping the escalation.  Read your history books---remember-history repeats itself--UNLESS God redeems it.

It does not matter what side of the political spectrum I am on.  What matters--and matters greatly is how I react and how I use the limited influence I have to bring a renewed sense of patriotism and love for our country.

NO matter WHO is in office, we are all Americans.  There are times we need to put aside our differences and agree to look for our similarities.  When we talked about our families this week, we were glancing at a microcosm  of our nation.  We need to back up and remember the price that was paid to allow us to live in this great nation.  We need to focus on those things we agree on and work to compromise on those we disagree.  We need to remember the love we have for our great country and renew the sense of patriotism which is a core necessity for success.

Pray for our country and our leaders--no matter what side of the equation you sit on---commit to pray and love your fellow Americans as you love your family members--not looking at our differences, but focusing on our mutual love for our country.  God Bless the USA!

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.  Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

I John 4:7-8