Lately I’ve been viewing the world through jaded eyes. I’ve been feeling at a loss about all the events going on in our country. I’ve been completely and utterly bewildered by the fact that racism could still possibly exist in the 21st century. I’m shocked that anyone would ever want to shoot a police officer. I’m heartbroken that there is SO much hatred in this world, when really all anyone wants to feel is LOVE.
Take one look at the comments on any new station’s social media channels and you might literally feel your heart break in two when you see the kinds of things that people will say when they feel anonymous. One particular comment really struck a chord with me in regards to last week’s police shooting in Dallas. There was a video of a young boy saying his final goodbyes to his father who was one of the five officers killed last week while on duty. I couldn’t watch it without weeping like a baby and imagining the pain that family must be feeling. I couldn’t fathom how deep the hurt must be in knowing that life as they knew it will never be the same. Yet there were still cruel comments about the slain officer (how is that possible?!)
Instead of feeling completely defeated, I asked myself these questions: How can I make the world a better place? How can I love deeper and with more grace? How can I rest assured that my kids will know that every life matters and that every person on this earth deserves love and respect? I mean, I’m doing the best I can to show my kids how to love and to show them how to treat people, but what happens when I set them free into this world? What happens when they go to school and are exposed to things beyond my control?
It got me to thinking about unconditional love and the type of love we have for our kids (and the love our kids have for us!). It’s pretty incredible how we have this innate ability to endure and forgive because we love our kids so much it hurts. Our kids could say the most hurtful thing in the world to us, throw the biggest fit or even smack us square in the face and we forgive them. We are always going to be there with open arms waiting to love them. And we will always see the BEST in them despite any flaws. I don’t see any reason why this can’t be true of relationships with people outside our family as well. What if we start to show more understanding and grace towards others because we WANT to? What if we could look past each other’s flaws and weaknesses and see the beauty and wonder in one another? What if we remembered that none of us are perfect or made the same, but that because of grace we are capable of having deep and meaningful relationships?
A mother’s love is something special. And I’m convinced that those who live and love unconditionally experience a more enriched life AND higher level of overall happiness than those who pass judgment and hold grudges. Hate perpetuates hate – but the same can be said for kindness and love. May we all judge less, and LOVE LIKE A MOTHER. No one EVER regretted being kind – and you never know, an act of kindess could change the trajectory of someone’s life and it is certain to be a blessing to you, too!
