The Sun Will Still Rise Tomorrow

There are few days I love as much as election day. A bit nerdy, I know, but the idea that we all have the freedom to not only hold our own opinion but to voice it will always fill me with a sense of patriotic pride. These days though it seems that not everyone is supportive of the idea of everyone having their own individual thoughts and beliefs.

For example, I shared facts, actual bona fide facts, on my Instagram story that support my personal opinion and I received several messages telling me I need to keep politics off my social media if that’s who I’m planning on voting for. I’ve shared tweets encouraging people to vote without naming either candidate and was still bombarded with hate mail by folks who assumed who I was voting for. In a past tweet where I did name which candidate I was supporting, a woman informed me that I was “arrogant” for sharing my opinion which was a bit ironic considering her timeline was filled with support for the other candidate. I guess the sole reason she “just couldn’t like me even though she tried” was because we were planning on voting for opposing candidates.

Can I just say, what the heck has happened to us?! When did we become so hypocritical, so bitter toward each other simply for having our own beliefs?

One of my best and oldest friends is voting for Biden, and I voted for Trump. Guess what? We’re still friends. I still know that she is a good person, truly one of the best, and I hope that she thinks the same of me. Now, I know that I’m not a genius or wise beyond my years, but I’ve had a lot of time alone in a tractor to mull things over this fall, and I’ve come to the conclusion that a good majority of us want the same end result.

You read that right.

We want the same result, but we have differing opinions on the best way to get there.

I don’t know a single person who wants kids to go hungry, who wants to send folks to war when it’s unnecessary, who wants people of different races, gender, or sexual orientation to be treated differently, etc. Not a single person has the right to claim the morally superior high ground based on who they voted for, and if they do, then they’re part of the problem.

When God commanded us to love thy neighbor, He didn’t mean love they neighbor…..but only if they agree with you on everything. He meant love thy neighbor

•  even if they run red equipment
• even if they cheer for Ohio State
• even if they vote for [insert candidate here]

Now don’t get me wrong, I’d really love it if you voted the same way I did, but no matter what boxes you checked on the ballot, I hope you exercised your right to vote, and I’ll respect your right to your opinion. Remember, you have no right to complain for the next four years if you didn’t.

If the outcome of this election is causing you stress or anxiety, please for the love of all things holy, take a step back and count your blessings. Whether those blessings be your family, your friends, your dog, or something as simple as the sun shining on a beautiful day, there is so much to be grateful for. There’s so much out there that’s more important than the outcome of an election.

No matter what happens, God is still king and the sun will still rise tomorrow, so let’s all be kind to one another in the meantime.