November 4th is a monumental day in our home. It’s a day with eternal significance and impact which will be felt, not only November 4th, but forever.
November 4th isn’t significant in our life because it’s the day that Grover Cleveland, Ronald Reagan, or Barack Obama were elected president.
No, it’s not significant because it’s the day that Mary Todd married Abraham Lincoln.
It’s not significant because it’s the day that the “most trusted man in America”, Walter Cronkite, died.
No, it’s significant, and will impact us the rest of our days, because it’s the day that Savannah, our firstborn, moved from Earth into Eternity. (It feels so foreign every time I say, type, or write that.)
This is our second November 4th without Savannah. I have learned to “NOT” dread this day, but to let this day come expecting to see God soothe us in the perfect ways.
So, how were we soothed? Texts, Facebook messages, tags on social media, and post comments soothed us. Also, this weekend, our friends who also “know” what it’s like to lose contact with a firstborn and sibling came stay with us. We watched Isabella cheer on the SLU Lions, watched EVEN MORE football, shopped, and ATE! Other friends came by Sunday evening to spend some more “quality time” together. We closed the night off with my brother-in-law and great-nephew spending the night after watching the Saints defeat the “undefeated Rams”. I have to say, Isabella getting to come home Saturday night was one of my favorite things about this weekend. Yeah, there were some happy times, but there were some tender times, and a few difficult times thrown into the mix. Faithfully, God soothed us in just the right ways.
Tim and I woke up earlier than our guests Sunday morning and were sitting outside in our spots drinking coffee. The TV was turned on in the background, but we weren’t paying attention to it. Until, I became interested in a segment about the purpose of Civics education. I remember that class in high school, although I really don’t remember anything about it! Statistics were shared about how few people understand how our government is designed and how a large percentage of people could not name the three branches of government. The segment highlighted a teacher who used real-time events to promote thought, debate, and resolution in her students regarding civic matters.
This got me to thinking about a late-night show I watched a couple of nights ago when I couldn’t sleep. It was an interview with a political researcher about the current day’s social and political climate. A statement he made stuck with me. He said that “never before” in our short American history have we been more focused on the debate (or winning our side of the argument) than working towards a solution. He mentioned that we have lost the art of the compromise. He said that today people are more concerned about arguing than resolving and compromising. Ouch!
Have we really reduced ourselves to barking at one another getting ready to pounce at any moment if we don’t get our way?
Are we more concerned with winning than resolving?
Voting is a big deal in our house. A sort of “rite of passage”, if you will. I remember voting with Savannah in several elections once she turned 18. She was excited to “go vote”. (Well, she was excited about a lot of things.) Savannah was inquisitive about who and what she was voting for/against. She didn’t just blindly listen to her parents, she made her own decisions about certain issues. I love that my daughters are independent thinkers!
One precious memory I will treasure forever was when she was in the hospital. We had moved from one ICU in Monroe to the ICU in Shreveport. Savannah had just started communicating more with us by spelling out her words. She had evolved into spelling, not only words, but full sentences and asking questions. One of her first questions, if not THE first, blew us away! We had an alphabet board, we would point at the letters until she nodded, write down the letters she nodded to, and read what she spelled. Lo’ and behold, she asked, “When do we vote?”
Seriously???
My baby, in the hospital, fighting for her life, and she had her sights on voting in the presidential election of 2016! She was looking forward to voting in her first presidential election. That’s my baby. Talk about civic duty! Unfortunately, she did not get that chance. We were “celebrating her life” on Election Day in 2016.
Yet another beautiful example of how we are to live. Savannah did get it right! She knew the value of the vote, the beauty of democracy, and the art of compromise.
I am not a political activist of any sort or kind. To be frank, I must be carefully intentional with what I allow myself to be exposed to … ESPECIALLY during this tender time of the year … regarding politics, social issues, or anything that may be emotionally charged. I must be aware how things affect me and pay attention to my well-being. Politics is always a hot topic, but unfortunately, it feels like it is fueled by venom these days. I can’t allow myself to be pulled into this chaos; however, I believe it is our civic privilege to vote. Our democracy depends on it. So, I research the issues and make my decisions.
Please always vote your convictions.
However, when the results are in … determine to trust in the beauty of democracy.
Those issues and candidates you support get elected? Good. Your work is done.
However, those issues and candidates you support did NOT get elected? Your work begins.
I want to encourage you to remember Matthew 5:9 that says, “Happy are those who work for peace: God will call them His children!”
Find a resolution…a RE-solution… not only on political matters, but in matters of life. On the issues and candidates that do NOT go your way, find common ground and a place to work from, and … get busy. Learn how to develop the art of the compromise. Appreciate the Greater Good. Always have the greater good in mind.
This picture is a lawn flag that was given to me yesterday from one of the sweetest people on planet Earth (she also happens to be the Teacher of the Year at her school this year…so NOT surprised. Yes, I have GOOD people in my life!). Her big-brother moved into Eternity nine months before Savannah. This flag says, “Because someone we love is in Heaven there is a little bit of HEAVEN in our home”. I am intentional these days to invite and provide space for Heaven to be in my home.
I will vote, determine to be part of the solution, strive to promote peace, and bring Heaven into my home and life.
So, I encourage you to think of ways to bring Heaven into your home. Be a peacemaker. Find a RE-solution. Vote. THRIVE!
Stephanie