A Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, “A republic, if you can keep it.” (www.ourrepubliconline.com)
By 7:30 am our family was showered, dressed and out the door to cast our ballot in the 2016 Presidential Election! Daylight Savings has been a nightmare in our household, so when everyone woke early this morning, we decided to make the best of it.
No fuss, no lines, just in and out and a detailed explanation to my boys about the election process. Now, before you turn away….this has nothing to do with Presidential candidates!! This has to do with the reason voting in America is so important.
You see those boys right there with their goofy grins and cowlicks. Those three boys are just like thousands of boys all around the country that play with Matchbox cars, play video games and scrape their knees when they fall off bikes. But what this mama knows all to true is that one or more of those boys may grow up and don a uniform. He may carry a rifle, endure boot camp, eat in a mess hall, make “brothers” and possibly lay down his life to serve and protect the people of this great land.
This awareness is ever real every time my boys play with their army men, or when we see soldiers in combat boots and uniforms out and about in town. With every Veteran hat I see, I am reminded that for every solider who made it through his/her service there are so many more who did not.
Tonight, as we count electoral votes and rally around televisions to await concession and victory speeches, there are soldiers overseas and on the home front guarding posts in the wee hours. They’re doing the very dirty work of freedom so we can sit behind teleprompters and computer screens and voice our opinions with freedom. Those soldiers work tirelessly for those they will never know, to be afforded the freedom to cast ballots and “make their voice heard.”
So this mama will wake early, have her ballot choices ready, and bring her boys to go vote. Because I know all too well there are mamas out there who voted today and their sons and daughters made the ultimate sacrifice for my right to vote.
As a Christian, this rings ever true. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 ESV
You see for me, voting as an American isn’t about the “perfect candidate” or a party affiliation. It’s about an awareness and understanding that this Republic of ours is precious and fragile and built on the sacrifices of so many who have gone before.
Regardless of who wins the Presidency in America tonight, the Jesus who was real to me in my sorrow yesterday, is the same Jesus in my peace today, and He will be the same Jesus of my hope tomorrow. {Hebrews 13:8}