Today

I am not a Democrat, or a Republican, a Protestant or a Catholic, an American or a foreigner. I am not a mother, a wife, a woman, a daughter, or a friend, I AM, a human being. Why do we feel it necessary to categorize ourselves, to limit ourselves to attack one another and to inherently disagree and fight?!?

There is neither Jew nor Greek, their is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

I have been disgusted and hurt repeatedly by comments and posts and news reports. The “funny” postings that people share to take jabs at people that think differently than them. Political satire has gone to an inhumane level in my opinion. The shows on television that are glamorizing drunken, reckless, ignorant, promiscuous behavior as if it were beneficial and healthy, news reports showing protestors on the streets demanding death to their enemies. Generations full of hatred towards people they don’t know simply because for centuries their tribes, or cultures or religions have clashed. 

How did we get here?!? Do you ever just stop and ask, when is enough going to be enough?!? My friends, I ask you to make TODAY the DAY! The day we stand up and say, “We are better than this! We owe MORE than this to our God, to our Nation, to our Family, to our Friends, to our world and to our Past AND Future.” 

“A sense that with the blessings that God bestowed upon this land, came the responsibility to make the world a better place.”

-Marco Rubio

If we met someone in our community and became friends, if we had NO idea what religion, what nationality, what political opinions they had and we found that we loved them, enjoyed their company, hurt when they hurt, laughed when they laughed, wanted the same beautiful, prosperous future for our families, what if you found out this person was everything you hated? But you love them?!? You wouldn’t attack them to their face, they are your friend and companion. Someone you admire and respect. Why is it then, we feel it is acceptable to criticize, to insult and to down right attack one another on Facebook, in jokes, or  in life? 

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. 2Corinthians 13:11

What matters is how we treat one another. What our voter registration card says doesn’t define who we are. The pew we sit in on Sundays doesn’t make us better than our neighbor. The color of our skin or the country our ancestors originated from does NOT make us superior or “entitled” to a better life and to believing we are the “right” thinkers! 

I write weekly about my faith, about the gratitude I feel towards others and towards God for the life I have been blessed with. I don’t think that my faith makes me more blessed than the next guy or gal, I am simply sharing my thoughts and feelings in hopes that it helps someone else see how blessed they are. Maybe by sharing what I have learned throughout my life and my struggles and triumphs it will help another person overcome  hard times, or be introduced to The Word of God, maybe my words will be a source of comfort or an eye opener. I don’t ever intend to lead others towards a life like mine, I simply want to encourage all to live a life on purpose. To DO for others, to LOVE others, to THINK before acting or speaking, to MAKE our world better than it was yesterday and to BE a better version of YOURSELF, every day. 

“The things I do, I do from the heart and out of love and respect for our planet and all living things. And I draw my courage from my love for justice and truth, and I calm my fears by comforting those who are more scared than me. And I try to do my best to make the world a better place, one small action at a time, as good as I can.”

-Q’orianka Kilcher

So, before you post a rude comment, a complaint, a racist joke or cartoon, brag about another drunken exploit, think about how it may be effecting the world around you. Think how you would feel if someone said the same about you, your spouse or your child. Ask yourself if your behavior would make you proud were it coming from your son or daughter. We will all make mistakes, we will all have bad days and reach breaking points when we will lose our tempers or speak illy of someone, but what if today we didn’t and we stopped to think how we could make the world a little better and love our neighbor…just for today. 

“For me, the difference between an ‘ordinary’ and an ‘extraordinary’ person is not the title that person might have, but what they do to make the world a better place for us all.”

-Jody Williams

Today, let’s be extraordinary!

Blessings!

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Articles by Traci Runge

Traci Runge

Traci was born and raised in San Diego and has called Kearney, Nebraska home for the past 18 years. She is married to Darby Runge and together they have 6 children. They own and operate Pro-Tint, a window tinting business. Along with being a full-time mom, Traci is also a Manager and Certified Trainer with SendOutCards, she works with businesses and individuals to build relationships and grow their income through Relationship Marketing. Traci works hard to balance her roles of mother, wife and business owner. She strives to help make the world a better place through kindness and love and leading by example. Traci is committed to her family, church and community and can often be found volunteering in some capacity. www.sendoutcards.com/tracirunge