So many emotions today. Sad… Distressed… Outraged…. Disgusted… And frustrated because there isn’t a damn thing I can do to solve any of these issues. But joy… not so much.
I look at families in our circle and our community and there is hurting beyond belief. A young family we know lost their baby today. A friend of ours buried her mother Monday. In church last Sunday at least 4 families mentioned the loss of a loved one. So many sick and dying from COVID. Thousands every day across this country. Then there are others fighting other illnesses – heart disease, cancer, and so forth. And then you add to that the thousands of families economically impacted by COVID and efforts to slow the spread. The sorrow and hurt weighing on this country and her residents is simply unbelievable and, for some, nearly unbearable. I feel their sorrow while fully understanding how blessed we are having economic stability and a reasonably healthy family.
My outrage and disgust has these families as the backdrop. Today purely out of spite President Trump vetoed the defense spending bill meant to support our military families and protect our nation. For 59 years this bill has had bipartisan support because, despite all of the ridiculous back and forth in Washington, supporting our military is one area where there is unilateral agreement. And now to hear that some of the Republicans who previously voted for the bill many not vote to override the veto – are you freaking kidding me!! They would rather stand with the man who has less than 30 days remaining in office and support his temper tantrum at the expense of our men and women in the armed forces. I continue to be amazed at the power Donald Trump wields over these people. Any of them who change their votes are clearly too busy trying to keep their job than actually doing their job. Our military should never be used as a pawn in a selfish, vindictive effort such as this.
I am so frustrated by my limitations as one person in a small Oklahoma town to take people’s hurt away and make it better. We are doing what we can to support our local businesses and local agencies helping families in need. We vote with hope of influencing who leads our state and nation. Prayer is the most powerful tool I have, but sometimes it doesn’t feel like enough – especially when nothing seems to be changing.
With all of this storming through my head and heart comes the realization that tomorrow is Christmas Eve. I think of the young family mourning the loss of their baby so close to Christmas contrasted against the celebration of Jesus, our Savior, coming to us as a baby. The tears flow for them. How blessed are we, though, to know that Jesus weeps with us in our hurt and loss. Jesus walks with us when we can walk and carries us when we cannot. To this promise I am clinging tonight as I try to find joy for tomorrow.
Discovering Grace 