Make love, not war

This week I joined Twitter and am still slowly trying to figure it all out.  I mean, I understand the basic principles of the thing, I just don't really know how to use it in a practical sense for my life.  I have 'met' many new friends and connected with some old ones.  I have found new sites to visit and new blogs to read.  The blogs are where I started to struggle... Through many of my readings, I have found so much sadness. People who are dealing with the loss of a loved one, people who are being tormented because of their lifestyle or beliefs, people who are just plain mean for no comprehensible reason. Between the blog posts, twitter, facebook, and the news, my heart began to ache. Then I remembered, it's supposed to be the best week ever. And it is the best week ever. I know to people who are dealing with pains, this sounds so trivial, but just go with it until I reach my point.

My son turned 2 this week. When he is grown, will I tell him about the off-color jokes that were made about the Chilean miners rescue, or will I tell him about how people came together to save lives? Will I tell him about the ignorant gay bashing, or of how proud I was of the friends who had the courage to come out this week.  Will I tell him of the meanness, or of the love?

I pray daily for a future where all people can live without fear.  I hope for a time when ignorance is trumped by intelligence and intolerance is trumped by tolerance LOVE.  I am not naive enough to think that people will start changing overnight.  However, I am going to do my part.  I am going to teach my children to love.  I am going to teach my children that it's not about right or wrong. It's about loving and loving well. 


Ok, I said I would get to the point and this is it: I don't know with 100% certainty that I will be able to take back anger tomorrow.  I can't fully say that I can put off teaching my child about love because tomorrow will be better. I can't control any of that. I also can't control the meanness in others. I can't make the world start acting with kindness. I can't take away other people's pain. What I can control is my attitude.  What I can change is the way my children view others.  I can make sure that my life keeps them from perpetuating this system of hatred towards others. I can make this week the best week ever, because I want my children to have the best week of their lives EVERY week. And, while I cannot guarantee that every week will be perfect, I can work like hell to make it the best for them.

This week is the best week ever because when my son grows up, I can tell him the week he turned 2 was a week we chose to focus on love. It is the week I made the conscious decision to not only to try to keep him from harm, but also to do my best to teach him not to harm others. 

(I promise, not all weeks will be this heavy, but it was what was on my heart... next week: Halloween party!)