Good Morning. It's time to vote! The 1st Tuesday in November: Voting Day in the USA.
I voted.
I make a point to study up and vote in every election. That is a hard-fought freedom in this country, that I do not want to lose.
It is easy to become negative about elections. Many folks look forward to the election just to put an end to those annoying political advertisements on the radio and television. The amount of junk mail that has filled my mailbox has doubled in the past month, due to all those political flyers, letters, and postcards. To be honest, I find it weird that the flood of information about the candidates comes out in the last month, when money (or the lack of) has already reduced the number of candidates on the ballot.
I would prefer more options on the ballot, and less junk in the mail and on TV.
Regardless of the many faults that can always be found in the system, I still think it is important to exercise our right (and privilege) to vote for the candidate we think would be the best fit for the job.
We take our children with us when we vote. I want them to learn the process when they are young, so that they are not overwhelmed by the unknown when they are grown. More importantly, I want them to understand that I value my freedom to vote. I hope they will learn from my example and also value their freedoms.
The actual activity of taking children to a polling place is a challenge. It is important that I am already familiar with the ballot and its contents before I show up, because children will prove to be a distraction. I explain to the children that the "voting place" is a lot like a library. They need to be quiet so that everyone can concentrate on what they are reading. The Referee tends to hold the least cooperative child (usually the youngest), and I tend to take the remaining children with me and explain the process along the way.
Most of the polling places are staffed by elderly volunteers. I find that generation tends to ADORE children. Our children are often given candy lollipops or stickers, which just add to the fun of going with Mom & Dad to vote. They are complimented up one side and down the other.
This time around, I am glad that the volunteer was sitting in a chair when we approached. She first saw me and 3 kids walk up to the doorway, and she struck up conversation about how blessed I am. She continued to talk and talk about the kids, making me wonder if I was suppose to continue standing there until she directed me, or "seat" myself to fill out the ballot. A 4th child joined us, and her eyes widened. She was in mid-sentence telling me that she could not have handled 3 kids. So, when The Referee joined us in line, with Jersey #5, the volunteer put her hand to her chest, leaned back in her chair, and took a big gasping breath. For a split second, I thought she might be having a heart attack. It turns out, she is just dramatic. For a woman who claimed she could not have handled 3 children of her own, she sure delighted in our 5. She blessed us with comments about how wonderful it was that we had so many children, and how we were going to get to spend all our money on grandchildren in a few decades. Her smile as she shared her thoughts, lit up the room. Clearly, we were speaking to a woman who enjoyed being a grandmother.
Realizing that this woman was not going to stop talking, another volunteer approached to encourage her to let us enter the room with the tables. I scanned the room and found a "booth" at the end of an aisle, where the children could sit on the floor next to me while I voted, without taking up the space of another booth. I instructed them to sit down quietly while I voted. The Referee sat at the booth next to me, with Jersey #5 in his lap. Jersey #5 proceeded to distract us with his attempts at exploring the polling location.
He almost triggered the mechanism to fold up one of the portable booths, but one of the volunteers caught him in time. That man was so amused by Jersey #5. He commented to me that Jersey #5 must be my "rebellious one." He could not contain his chuckle. I am always so intrigued by men who enjoy the antics of little boys. It is as if they remember some of the "trouble" they used to cause, or something, and it brings them joy to see it in another child.
We filled out our ballots and let the kids watch us feed them into the tally machine. Then, we waved to all the volunteers and thanked them as we left.
I used to stress about the outcome of the elections. I wanted my candidates to win. I used to feel a sense of impending doom if an opposing candidate won instead. I used to stress about what consequences would result. It has been real easy to get discouraged about the operations of the government in recent years. My entire perspective changed after a specific sermon from our Pastor. He reminded us that God is in control. He is fully capable of changing the hearts of our government officials. I have a visual image of God's ability to turn the hearts and focus of the government as easily as turning a hand palm-side up or palm-side down, through the air.
So, now, I focus only on the part that I can control.....and I rest knowing that God is in control.
I educate myself on the candidates and issues. I exercise my right to vote in each election. I pray for discernment. I vote my values. I vote with confidence.
I proudly exit the polling location...
appreciating that I am a free American...
influencing the government with my values...
knowing that I do not have to depend on the government to make my life better, because God is on the throne!
I voted.
I make a point to study up and vote in every election. That is a hard-fought freedom in this country, that I do not want to lose.
It is easy to become negative about elections. Many folks look forward to the election just to put an end to those annoying political advertisements on the radio and television. The amount of junk mail that has filled my mailbox has doubled in the past month, due to all those political flyers, letters, and postcards. To be honest, I find it weird that the flood of information about the candidates comes out in the last month, when money (or the lack of) has already reduced the number of candidates on the ballot.
I would prefer more options on the ballot, and less junk in the mail and on TV.
Regardless of the many faults that can always be found in the system, I still think it is important to exercise our right (and privilege) to vote for the candidate we think would be the best fit for the job.
We take our children with us when we vote. I want them to learn the process when they are young, so that they are not overwhelmed by the unknown when they are grown. More importantly, I want them to understand that I value my freedom to vote. I hope they will learn from my example and also value their freedoms.
The actual activity of taking children to a polling place is a challenge. It is important that I am already familiar with the ballot and its contents before I show up, because children will prove to be a distraction. I explain to the children that the "voting place" is a lot like a library. They need to be quiet so that everyone can concentrate on what they are reading. The Referee tends to hold the least cooperative child (usually the youngest), and I tend to take the remaining children with me and explain the process along the way.
Most of the polling places are staffed by elderly volunteers. I find that generation tends to ADORE children. Our children are often given candy lollipops or stickers, which just add to the fun of going with Mom & Dad to vote. They are complimented up one side and down the other.
This time around, I am glad that the volunteer was sitting in a chair when we approached. She first saw me and 3 kids walk up to the doorway, and she struck up conversation about how blessed I am. She continued to talk and talk about the kids, making me wonder if I was suppose to continue standing there until she directed me, or "seat" myself to fill out the ballot. A 4th child joined us, and her eyes widened. She was in mid-sentence telling me that she could not have handled 3 kids. So, when The Referee joined us in line, with Jersey #5, the volunteer put her hand to her chest, leaned back in her chair, and took a big gasping breath. For a split second, I thought she might be having a heart attack. It turns out, she is just dramatic. For a woman who claimed she could not have handled 3 children of her own, she sure delighted in our 5. She blessed us with comments about how wonderful it was that we had so many children, and how we were going to get to spend all our money on grandchildren in a few decades. Her smile as she shared her thoughts, lit up the room. Clearly, we were speaking to a woman who enjoyed being a grandmother.
Realizing that this woman was not going to stop talking, another volunteer approached to encourage her to let us enter the room with the tables. I scanned the room and found a "booth" at the end of an aisle, where the children could sit on the floor next to me while I voted, without taking up the space of another booth. I instructed them to sit down quietly while I voted. The Referee sat at the booth next to me, with Jersey #5 in his lap. Jersey #5 proceeded to distract us with his attempts at exploring the polling location.
He almost triggered the mechanism to fold up one of the portable booths, but one of the volunteers caught him in time. That man was so amused by Jersey #5. He commented to me that Jersey #5 must be my "rebellious one." He could not contain his chuckle. I am always so intrigued by men who enjoy the antics of little boys. It is as if they remember some of the "trouble" they used to cause, or something, and it brings them joy to see it in another child.
We filled out our ballots and let the kids watch us feed them into the tally machine. Then, we waved to all the volunteers and thanked them as we left.
I used to stress about the outcome of the elections. I wanted my candidates to win. I used to feel a sense of impending doom if an opposing candidate won instead. I used to stress about what consequences would result. It has been real easy to get discouraged about the operations of the government in recent years. My entire perspective changed after a specific sermon from our Pastor. He reminded us that God is in control. He is fully capable of changing the hearts of our government officials. I have a visual image of God's ability to turn the hearts and focus of the government as easily as turning a hand palm-side up or palm-side down, through the air.
So, now, I focus only on the part that I can control.....and I rest knowing that God is in control.
I educate myself on the candidates and issues. I exercise my right to vote in each election. I pray for discernment. I vote my values. I vote with confidence.
I proudly exit the polling location...
appreciating that I am a free American...
influencing the government with my values...
knowing that I do not have to depend on the government to make my life better, because God is on the throne!
I still check the results regularly after the polls close, hoping and praying my choices win. But, I know the world won't end just because person I don't like A gets elected.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think taking the kids does teach them so much. At AJU5 and AJU6's age, maybe not so much, but it is a good "habit" for them to see at least.