If you knew who I voted for ...

If you knew who I voted for would it change your view of me? If I suddenly posted #ImWithHer or #TrumpTrain, would you see me in a different light? Would the meal I brought you when you were sick, now not mean a thing? Would the gift I made with my very own hands to celebrate your new little one, now be unwelcome? Would the times I liked your pictures or posts now be viewed with suspicion? Would the times I laughed and cried with you suddenly not matter? All because I voted differently than you? Would you really lump me in the group of the extreme of either candidate and assume that now, after all these years I am not who I appear to be? I hope not. Because that is not how I see you.

See some of you, my friends and family, voted differently than me. And I still care for you the same. Whether you choose the same candidate as I, I still value your friendship and the ways you speak into my life. How you affirm and challenge me. How you love and support me in my times of joy and great need. As we live in community together, celebrating or grieving, walking this journey called life. I doubt we have ever seen exactly eye to eye, and that has no mattered. Until now it seems. I hope I am wrong. I hope the bonds we have built over the years, either online or in person, are stronger than the division this election would like to bring between us.

I have watched, as many of you have both rejoiced and grieved during this past week. Some of you are over the moon, while others are in the depths of fear and despair. And you know what, my heart is broken. For our country, for you who are so afraid. And my heart is angry, at how both sides have spewed such awful things in the name of their party/candidate, and in the name of God. That one is the worst I think, for me, as a believer. To see the ones who claim to love God, and his Word, spew forth hate on those they should know that he loves. To speak with such high and mighty pride, with snark and rudeness, poking fun and calling names. It makes my heart break all the more.

So, no, I won't be telling anyone how I voted. And I hope that to my true friends it really doesn't matter. I hope what matters is how we have interacted in the past, and how I plan to interact in the future. I still plan to bring food if you are sick, make blankets if you add a new baby to your family, and hug you if you are grieving. I will love your pics and like your posts. And I will still love and like you. I hope you will do the same.