Yes, this election cycle sucked. But I still have hope, and here’s why:

I’ve decided that I don’t want to see any other humans today. I don’t want to go to the store. I don’t want to go to the gym. I don’t even want to go through a drive-through.

Nope. I am not ready to engage with the world around me yet.

I assumed that Clinton would have Trump beat soundly yesterday, or rather, this morning, because that’s what all the polls said.

Let me be clear: I do not like Clinton. However, I also do not like Trump.

Both were distasteful candidates in my opinion and I have no idea how either of them became the major party nominees. Regardless, they did.

So, when I was heading home from class last night and my husband was telling me that Trump was ahead with electoral votes, I was shocked. Confused. And, while I was glad Clinton wasn’t winning, all of the sudden it dawned on me, Lord in Heaven, if Clinton isn’t winning then that means Trump is winning.

Trump. The man whose candidacy I thought was a cosmic joke. The man who I’ve thought of as a pig, on many occasion. Many words concerning Donald Trump have often run through my head; none of them complimentary.

So even though I’m glad that Clinton didn’t win last night, I’m not happy that Trump did.

Seriously, how the heck did Trump win the election?

The media has speculated that his success was fueled by people’s anger with the government. And that voting for Trump was the people’s way of saying, “Screw you! We want something different!” They’ve also speculated that it’s not because people actually like Trump, but that they just dislike Clinton more. So a vote for Trump was really just a vote against Clinton. And maybe vice-versa.

With Clinton, I feel like people knew what they would get. Trump, on the other hand, is a total wildcard. He’s like a bull in a china shop, a live grenade. We have no clue what is going to happen. And either he’s going to absolutely ruin this country or he’s actually going to do something constructive. We really have no idea.

And that terrifies me.

I have experienced a range of emotions this morning (and I did not sleep well last night, as I fell asleep before the results were in). I’ve experienced confusion (many times), surprise, sadness, deep discouragement (almost moments of depression), grief, fear (almost anxiety), and I’ve had no desire to talk to anyone other than my husband and God.

But God and I have already talked about this. Last year, in fact. Right around this time, during the primaries in Illinois.

Last year, during the primaries, I was completely distraught when Trump won Illinois. I was shocked, confused, indignant. I think I might’ve cried. I was so angry and dejected when he won in Illinois that I stopped paying attention to the rest of the state primaries. I was so disappointed with my fellow Illinoisans.

And around that time, probably the next day, I was praying about it as I drove down Perryville. I was praying and worrying to God about what in the world would happen to our country if Donald Trump won the primary and even, God no, won the election.

But God comforted me in that moment. He stopped my worry and my fear in its tracks. I felt as though He was saying, “I even have a purpose in that.”

Through my struggles this morning, He’s re-iterated that sentiment.

Yes, Trump won the election. Yes, he could be the worst president in our nation’s history. Yes, things could go from bad to worse very quickly.

However, and with God there is always a back-up plan, God still has a purpose. I don’t know what it is, but no matter what, that purpose is still in effect and it will still be fulfilled somehow.

And I will trust in Him today. I will put my hope in Him today.

Not in Trump. Not in any man or woman. But in God.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will trust in the name of the Lord our God. ~Psalm 20:7

 

 

 

Here are a couple things that I’m doing to improve my marriage this week:

Last week, I wrote a post about one thing my husband and I were doing that was improving my marriage. This Friday, like the last, I want to write about a couple things I know I need to do to improve my marriage. Now, I get the feeling that I’m not alone in these things.

So, as my husband and I have been wading through the murky waters of communication, a few things that I’ve needed to work on have occurred to me.

1. My husband communicates love in a way that I do not get.

I just don’t get it. My husband isn’t much of a talker. For those of you who know him, you probably know that I speak the truth. And although he’s become more of a conversationalist over the past 8 years or so, talking is not always instinctual to him.

So, the other day, I was trying to explain something to him that bugged me. (I know, guys love it when their wives tell them that something about the relationship is bugging them!) And he says, “Well, I let you sleep in this morning. And I kept Savannah out of your hair. Because you’re always saying how you can’t get things done because you never have time to yourself.”

At this point, I literally asked him what that had to do with my issue. I stared at him cluelessly. He stared back with wide-eyed confusion, borderline shock. He couldn’t even find the words.

Luckily, over the course of the next few minutes, it became clear: my husband was trying to communicate his love to me through his actions.

Oh. Duh.

See, I’m a talker, a strange extroverted introvert. I’m big on words.  And sometimes, if actions are not accompanied by words when said actions are being committed, I just won’t get it.

Therefore (that’s one of my academic-paper-words), I need to start reading between the lines and listening to what his actions are telling me.

2. I kinda need to stop getting offended so easily.

So, I don’t know if anyone else out in the blogosphere ever does this, but I certainly do get offended about weird stuff.

I think something I’ve realized about myself though, is that when I get offended by little things, there is a deeper issue at work. Now, that issue may be mine alone, or it may be an unresolved issue between my spouse and myself, BUT there is a deeper issue nonetheless.

And this “being easily offended” can happen in any relationship, not just a marriage. It can happen among friends or family members or co-workers. So don’t think that if you aren’t married, you’re safe. Nope. Not safe. (I know. I’m so mean!)

So next time you find yourself offended, ask yourself if you are being too easily offended. Ask yourself: Is this really that big of a deal? Am I going to start a war over something petty? Am I taking this the wrong way? Or am I twisting someone’s words into something they were never intended to be?

The truth is that we have all been here at one time or another with someone we love.

And that’s kind of the point, isn’t it? We love these people. I love my husband. So, why am I being offended easily? Why am I not intentionally trying to understand him better?

In 1 Corinthians 13, the Bible talks about how we are to love each other. It talks about how love isn’t easily angered (offended), how it is kind, honoring, forgiving, unselfish, and perseverant. (You can check out the passage on love here.)

Sometimes in the day-to-day bustle, we grow complacent and unintentional in our relationships. We forget to love the way 1 Corinthians 13 indicates that we should.

This week, I need to work on a couple things mentioned in that passage. Maybe you do too.

So, how about you? Do you think you’re intentionally loving the people around you?  Please leave a comment below!

Also, if you haven’t already, please subscribe to get an email each time I send out a new blog post! 🙂