The day after the election - part 2

Since I got such an overwhelming response to my last post (NOT), I thought I'd do a follow-up. Actually, it's just still on my mind.

This time, instead of imagining that it is the day after the election and your candidate of choice lost, imagine that your candidate won. Now how do you respond?

Most of us have been to a football game and come out on the winning side. When we lose, we often complain about the calls, the bad plays, the opposing fans...and when we win - then what? Maybe we an learn a thing or two from the players on the field.

While there are the cheers of victory, the high-fives among the players and the dumping of ice over the coach's head, it's that time honored tradition of shaking the other team's hand that I love. Nothing makes a mom's heart swell with pride quite so much as seeing her son reach out to someone that only moments before he was going head to head with in battle. These young men know that despite being on "separate teams", they are all still football players with a love of the game. They come together on common ground.

Can we do something like this the day after the election? Can we reach out to those on the "opposing team" and find common ground - love of our country? Can we learn from our children what we try to instill in them every day....how to be a good sport?

Maybe this analogy is a stretch, but there is much at stake here. While we may not be in agreement over the issues, I hope and pray we can come together in our love for this country we call home. 

Ephesians 4:31-32

^31-32 Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.

Colossians 3:12-14

^12-14 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind.