Yesterday, I exercised my right and privilege to vote. Before I go, I research the candidates, learn about what they stand for, and pray about who I should vote for. But even before I pray about that decision, I try to pray for the people themselves. Whatever letter is beside their name, they need prayer.
Every time I vote, though, I remember something that doesn’t have anything to do with what’s on the ballot. I remember the very first time I went.
I was really excited and a little nervous, which isn’t typical for me. I understood the weight of what I was doing, but I didn’t know exactly what to expect. I hadn’t gone with my parents growing up, although Chuck and I took our children with us.
I was voting in the old community center where I grew up. The building was familiar, but the experience was new. I remember scanning the room, looking at the ladies and gentlemen sitting at the tables, and seeing a sweet, familiar smile. One of my high school teachers was sitting there.
She was so kind and so excited to see me, and I was just as excited to see her. Her smile made me feel more comfortable. I remember thinking, “When I get older, I want to do that.”
Every time I go vote, I think about her. Helping at the polls is still something I want to do, and I’m getting closer to the age I had in mind! I don’t know exactly what the process involves, but I want to find out and follow through.
Yesterday, I was holding the door for people, and people were holding the door for me. Some of us were probably about to vote very differently, but that didn’t stop us from being kind to one another.
People are people, and people matter. I don’t want to get so caught up in which box someone checks that I forget that.
I care about who leads us, what they stand for, and their character. I also know that no candidate will get everything right. We can hold people accountable and still pray for them, whether we voted for them or not.
If you aren’t registered to vote, I would encourage you to get registered. Learn about the candidates, pray about your decision, and follow through. It’s an important responsibility and a privilege.
We’re going to disagree about things that matter deeply to us. But I don’t want those disagreements to keep me from seeing the person in front of me, someone created by God and loved by Him, just as I am.
All these years later, I still remember how my teacher welcomed me. I want to remember that in the way I treat people, too.
I want to love people well and point them to Jesus. Whatever boxes those people checked yesterday, I would love to know that one day we’ll be worshiping in heaven together.