Oh Yes, I Went There

"Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand." Matthew 12:25 I NEVER talk about politics. Religion? I will go there, but for some reason I steer clear of anything political. Politics stirs so much up inside people and it gets ugly. We turn off our ears and stop listening to one another. We fight for democracy but really want everyone to believe and follow our ways...I mean, our ways are the right ways, right??? I've been stewing over the political feeds I read whether from the media, "trusted" news sources, and friends and one thought keeps flowing through my mind, " I am SO thankful that I know and understand that I really don't answer to this man-made government. I answer to God." I am not saying that I betroth everything our government does or says and live in some bunker somewhere. Not at all. I respect the authority our government holds and the position it is in. I respect our president no matter who he is whether or not I agree with him. I will always respect the position of presidency. I will teach my boys to respect the authorities in their life. Always. I would not want to live anywhere else. We live padded lives even though we complain much about them. We are lucky. We are blessed. We are free. As I was pining over verses looking for just the right one to say just the right thing for that perfect Facebook status, I found the verse above. It struck me to the core. I promise I was looking for something positive and uplifting but this stood out to me as if it was highlighted in bright yellow and written in bold capital letters. This verse prompted me to ask, "Why don't we listen to God?" Maybe if we started to listen to God we'd be more apt to listen to one another. There's a challenge for all of us: listen. Maybe I like justice to much. Call me a rule follower, I don't care. I desire respect, respect at it's core pure form. We don't respect our leadership. Heck, we don't respect each other; even members of our own family. With all this mumbo-jumbo nonsense going on in a world my boys are growing up in I get discouraged and then I get into battle mode. My boys will learn this, "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly[a] with your God." Micah 6:8 (emphasis mine) We will listen to one another. EVERYONE will be heard even if, lo-and-behold, we don't agree with each other. We will love one another and be merciful even when we doubt each other and fight. We will respect one another and each other's opinions even if we don't agree...and yes, this even means I will love and respect my boys even if they tell me they don't believe in God (as gut-wrenching as that is to me). Because you know what? My God is greater. My God is bigger. My God is in control even when everything is in disarray. Friends, we are divided. We are against ourselves. All because we refuse to listen. We refuse to let down the pride and maybe, just maybe, hear someone else's side. When we listen to one another we grow. When we grow, great and mighty things happen. We did not become this great nation because everyone got along all the time. We need to push and pull on one another so that the truest form of humanity can arise. We need to listen to our God because I have a feeling, He just may be right on a few things;) Love & Blessings, Megan