Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference
I think we can all agree that this has been a long week. Nobody really expected everything to unfold the way it did. I had a sneaking suspicion that mainstream media was incorrect and that Trump was closer to a win than we expected. I mean when they first announced his interest in the office, we said “He’ll never get nominated” and to our surprise not only did he run but actually won the Republican nomination. So going all the way and winning didn’t seem that far-fetched. Well, here we are. On the verge of civil unrest and chaos because none of us can understand how a man who managed to offend every marginalized group in America, who had no real clear cut plan on issues really managed to win the election but not the popular vote.
The people are angry, and rightfully so. We feel bamboozled, hoodwinked, and led astray. For some of us, the bad guy won. It was like watching a movie and thinking that the underdog would win, only to realize that not only did the mean kids win but they won unfairly. Hate won on November 9, 2016. Now it’s rearing its ugly head everywhere we turn. Children are taunting other children, Trump supporters harassing black people, and even black people harassing Trump supporters. Social media is all abuzz with so much opinion and shady facts. As I write this, people are gathering in protest about the Electoral College voting Trump into office. That’s what I wanted to talk about, expressing our disappointment through social media and rallies.
I created a post talking about the people who were out protesting and someone commented: “Get over it.” At first, I was going to just let the comment slide by because honestly, I’m tired of talking about it. Instead, I decided to speak up. I understood her frustration with hearing about it but I think getting over it is the last thing we need to do. We need to keep the conversation going. We need to understand and question the process of the Electoral College and understand why they had the right to override our popular vote. Getting over it is not what brought about change in our society.
What if blacks just decided to “get over it” and allow the Jim Crow laws to continue to govern our country? What if women just decided to “get over it” and not fight for equal pay, voting rights, and sexual health freedoms? What if the LGBTQ+ community just “got over it” and never fought for the rights to get married or carry their mate on health insurance. Getting over it is like sticking our heads in the sand, refusing to deal with the issues that have the potential of redefining our lives and our country as we know it. The people of this country are not wired to just “get over” injustices, they stand ready to fight for what they believe in. Why should we go quietly in the night? Why should we just sit back and let our voices go unheard?
The answer is we shouldn’t! We should question the very systems that continue to ignore our voice. The systems that continue to oppress us and keep us bound. We should question those that encourage our division and encourages us to hate. Sitting back and “getting over it” is not the answer and never the solution. I thank God for the women who decided not to “get over it” but fought for my fundamental rights as a woman. I thank God for the men and women who fought for my rights as an African American and didn’t just “get over it”. We can’t afford to just get over it, we have to fight and stand up for what we believe in or the system will never change. I’m 99.9% sure that Trump will remain our president for at least the next 4 years, but with those who just refused to just “get over it” they may change the very nature of our electoral process and for that, I’m forever grateful.
Hagar’s Affirmation
I am a Daughter of the Most High. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am beautiful, whole, and complete. Everything I need can be found in and provided by my Father. I don’t have to beg for anything or anyone’s attention. I realize that I am the prize, the good thing to be found. I will not beg for scraps when I know that my Father has prepared a table for me. I am empowered, encouraged, educated and edified. God has opened my eyes to see that I can do all and be all I’ve been called to be through Christ who strengthens me. I will allow the Holy Spirit to guide and direct me as I begin again the kingdom way and receive all that my Father has for me. I am beautiful and whole and perfectly me. I am a Daughter of the Most High, just who I’ve been called to be
