FRESH THYME
So, You Lost
by Marcy Lytle
The election for President of the United States is over, and someone lost. Those that voted for the other candidate have reactions that went from one extreme to the other, but it seems that these days the extreme responses are more common. In-your-face responses from those that are happy with the outcome are prevalent on social media, and backlash and harsh words are present from those that lost their vote. And America again is at odds among its people.
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I’m not a huge sports fan, but of course I watched my kids play and now my grandkids, and I sit with my husband to watch our favorite college football team sometimes, although I always have something on my lap to divert my attention. I don’t like the yelling at games at the umpires or referees, I don’t enjoy the commentary by the sportscasters on how well or poorly the players are performing, and I really don’t like it when a loss occurs for the team we’re rooting for because those I’m watching with get mad…
However, as parents and grandparents, we make sure that we affirm our little players after the game. Seeing our grandson hang his head at another loss for the team isn’t heartwarming.
photo courtesy of Doug Gephardt
And I remember so many times observing the responses of my kids when they lost. I recall my brother going to bed with a headache when the UT Longhorns lost a game. And I’ve heard harsh words and name calling at coaches and players when the score isn’t in our favor.
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So now that the election is over, in my opinion, there are proper and healthy ways to respond, and we have to be careful that we respond well…because these little kids I just referred to that play on a grass field and not on the American dream field…are watching:
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First, we can pray for the winner. Prayer always moves mountains, and it’s also an act of obedience, so we can pray for the winner and the loser, and for our friends that voted differently than we did.
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Secondly, we can keep our mouths shut and stay away from slander. That’s the worst part of the campaign, isn’t it? All the back talk and digging up dirt and mean and nasty language used against each other? Slander is never pretty, or appealing, or anything our children should hear.
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Thirdly, we can let it go. Anger and hate arises in election years. We are angered at those that voted differently and appalled at the fact that they did. We begin to hate what the other candidate stands for and his/her character, and that hate spills over into our every day life. Anger and hate – it’s got to go – in favor of rest and trust.
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Trust in what? The dollar? The government? The weather? The future?
Nope.
Those change with the wind.
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But God never changes, and thankfully if we believe and love Him with all our hearts, our future is secure, no matter who’s the winner of the game we just played down here.
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Enjoy the Christmas season without a worry about the next four years, and rest in the security that is yours and mine.