11-9-16

I don't get serious here often.  But this is a place where I share memorable conversations with my daughters. And this morning was certainly one.  After quietly sobbing for hours last night as horror became a reality, this morning I had to find some way to tell my girls that Donald Trump is now president of our country.  I don't need to list his lengthy egregious offenses here.  Either you already know them, or you choose not to see them. Either way - moot point.  But somehow I had to give my children comfort and hope.  So I woke them this morning and sat them down - and told them what had happened.  My six year old was worried that he was the president of "all of the states".  My nine-year old cried and wanted to know how the "bully" got to win?  I told them this:

Donald Trump won the election last night. That means that in January he will become our next president.  I think a lot of people are sad about this.  I am sad about this.  I think what happened is that a lot of folks voted from a place of fear instead of faith - voted for "loud" instead of love.  But like Michelle Obama said, "when they go low, we go high".  That means that we have to love even harder and have even more faith in coming years.  When you go to school today some kids may be saying bad things about Mr. Trump. I do not want you to be one of them.  We need to put as much love as we can out there, support all those people who don't feel loved right now, and have super strong faith that God will step in here.  We have to work from a place of faith and love - not fear and "loud".  Ok?

I don't think I'll ever understand how a man with no qualifications, who repeatedly lied blatantly, who often voiced hate and separatism, who admittedly sexually assaulted women, who is on trial for three various offenses in coming weeks, somehow became president over a woman with 30 years of service.  That is what scares me the most.  Not the man.  The fact that enough people believed in his point of view to carry him to the presidency.  I know I need to take myself by the shoulders, and follow my own advice. To lead with love - and with faith.  I'll try.  Today however I just need a day to mourn.  God help our country.