Locked Out on a Porch

Good morning,

I was watching a Christian show last night and the gal told a story she heard on the news about a little four-year-old girl whose parents locked her outside on a porch for days without food, comfort, or a bathroom as punishment. When the neighbors called the police and they came and got her, they asked her what her name was and she said, “Idiot.”  This story just breaks my heart on so many levels. This little girl being spoken over like that, abuse at that level, what happened to the parents to have so much hate in their heart…

I feel like our country is a relatable story to this precious little girl. I have heard so many stories about daughter and father fighting on Facebook for all their people to witness; sisters, mothers, daughters sending emails and texting awful things to one another; coworkers refusing to speak to one another; our friend’s dealership in Portland was by the protest and his cars were smashed with bats and crowbars.

There is a proper way to discipline a child! We all would run to her rescue if we could. We would tell her she is not an idiot, she is precious and wonderful and a strong, filled-with-potential girl. We can imagine how scared and hungry and cold she was, not understanding why she was in this circumstance. No matter how you feel about this election, it is over! Everyone is allowed their right to vote. We need to show our little girls and boys that a free country and election is good. We need to love, have respect, be humble, and kind. Be good losers or winners.

We are doing more damage to the ones we love by continuing to be angry, mean, and hurtful. There is a proper way to behave and it is forgiveness. Forgiveness is for you!!  Forgive and pray. Pray that our country will be unified. Pray for the next president and cabinet members. Be hopeful and turn off all the discussion that just wants to further a fight. When you keep replaying your argument, stop!!! Think of a song that is joyful and like “Humble and Kind”…

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Love your family. Be grateful you have friends and coworkers. Be the peacemaker. Be the one who sees the abuse and looks inward and does not want to treat a loved one that way. Your children are watching your behavior about this election. Name-calling like “idiot” and any other mean opinion you have about the way someone voted is hurtful and not in any way what Christ wants out of His church.

Thankfully, the little four-year-old girl is out of that horrible abusive environment. Praise God her healing has begun!! I hope she gets hugs, kisses, words of encouragement, games, toys, laughter, songs like “Jesus Loves Me,” a Christ filled family, and most of all, LOVE!

Love you, Teri