Getting a Little Bit Political

   Hi friends!  I hope you are doing well today.  I just wanted to share with you a few thoughts this afternoon about politics and relationships.  I normally stay as far away from the politically charged debates circulating on social media, and I don't spout my opinion unless asked for it (for the most part, anyway.)   You see, I used to be a person who liked to argue.  I argued my points with teachers, professors, classmates, friends, and strangers, but then one day I started to realize that all my arguing was not winning others to my side, and in fact, it was probably doing more to push them in the opposite direction.  The truth is, people's beliefs are deeply personal to them and are often based on their experiences.  The majority of the time people will not be swayed to your way of thinking using logic an reasoning.  No matter how many "facts" you give someone, you will not change what their experiences are.
    For myself, my support for the Pro-Life movement stems not just from my belief that God created all humans and we should therefore protect their lives.  It is also solidified forever in my heart because I held my tiny infant girl who was born at eighteen weeks (a time when abortion is still allowed in some states).  I saw her fingers and toes and  looked at her precious face, and no one will ever be able to convince me that a fetus is not a baby because of what I have experienced.  But just because that is my experience does not mean someone else does not have a deeply personal experience which causes them to be Pro-Choice.  Our differing beliefs do not mean I cannot love someone who believes the opposite of me.  I have friends and family who believe many things that contradict my beliefs, and that's ok.  The only thing that means is that we will probably vote for different candidates on election day and support different charities with our time and money.
   Somehow we as a nation seem to have forgotten that it's ok to have different opinions and be our own individuals.  We've forgotten that we can all choose to live with one another and love one another regardless of if you voted for red or blue.  It's not our job to tell others how to think.  But we can share our experiences with one another, and maybe we will start to gain a better understanding of the other side by doing so.  Let's start reaching out hands of healing, not pushing others away and creating division.  Let's learn to bridge the gap between our opinions and simply say, "We think differently, but I still love you."  If we can start to do this, I believe we will all be better off, and our communities and country will be too.  
  No matter what political/social/economical/religious ideas you hold, know that I love you, and I can't wait to see you succeed!  

~K.W.