And, there is our news media. If you just watched the news, you'd believe we were only a country filled with hate and bitterness. I am not naive enough to think that vitriolic hatred, from both sides, does not exist. We seem more polarized in the past several years than I can ever remember. But, that is not ALL we are and I am s.i.c.k. of it... so sad and distressed that my grandchildren are growing up surrounded by this condition-of-the-heart-malignancy infiltrating our country. And every single night, we are pummeled with divisiveness, entitlement, immaturity, irresponsibility, fury and hatred.
I just couldn't do it anymore. I had to take a break. It seems so many would rather tear apart than bring together. I cut myself off of any source of media for awhile.
Zachary about to head to Houston/Beaumont after we loaded every inch of his truck with supplies. He and his friend joined the Cajun Navy... a bunch of fishermen and duck hunters. Rednecks many would disparage. I love 'em. At their core... good country folks... good AMERICAN folks... No race, no religion, no age, no gender, no social status made a difference in the people they reached out to help. They didn't wait for the government to do it for them. They rolled up their sleeves and got it done. That's the best of America.
What I saw for myself in Harvey was a bunch of good, everyday people... people who keep their heads down and work hard to provide for their families... load up, get in the fray, reach out, give what they could... to help ALL people who needed help. I saw the BEST of our country... the heartbeat that keeps us alive. They don't make the national news. They don't stand in the streets protesting. They go to work every day to make our America better... by showing up, by being kind, by doing the right thing, by raising their families the best way they can. They have their own burdens and hardships just like anyone else. YOU DON'T HEAR FROM THEM. They quietly go about their lives. They struggle. They pay taxes. They either can't or barely can afford the "affordable" health care. Still they pitch in to help others in need... I could go on... but, then I become just like the folks that I am so disheartened with...
I'm not sure when it's going to feel right again... But, if anything came out of these terrible disasters for me, it was a reminder that at the very core of our country, there are everyday heroes. I love them. I love what they stand for. I love that they are quiet, strong heartbeats. I love that as long as they exist, there is hope for our country. So, I am going to continue to focus on remembering them in the face of the cacophony of anger and entitlement (from both sides). I am going to hold to the GOOD, the RIGHT, the HONORABLE, the KIND, the HOPEFUL, the GRACIOUS... the JOYFUL.
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me -- practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." ~ Ephesians 4: 8-9
Stand strong.
blessings ~ tanna
