“The world is a rainbow”

My heart is broken and cries for peace and comfort for the families and friends of victims whose lives were stolen for an ugly act of hate. My heart has transformed from this loss: now red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. I pray there’s more rainbows to go around.

I’ve watched news coverage and social media giving their rants over facts, opinions, politics, and the hate– the immense amount of hate. I can no longer just sit back and watch the world endure another tragedy, only to use it as a reason to degrade each other and argue over legislation, racism, and sexism.

Instead, I choose to take action. No, Im not going to protest gun laws or target people for their religion or beliefs. I’m going to do three things: pray, educate, and love.

I’m praying for peace and understanding. I’m praying for God to again take control over this country and offer people hope in humanity. I bow my head to ask for discernment on comforting those affected and those around me who are in the same emotional place: at a loss for words for how people can treats others so cruelly.

I’m praying for my own convictions when I’ve absent-mindedly laughed at a vengeful joke or ignored others who judge so easily and angrily. I’m praying for our world to believe and have faith in God’s healing power… In His ability to unite us all, to battle evil with love, and overcome hurt, disaster, and disbelief together.

I ask God to help us lay aside sexual preference/orientation, race,  denomination, political stance, background, and opinion to simply love on each other and love on a community that really needs us right now. My prayer is for God to give us strength, courage, and bravery to stand up for what’s right: respect for any and every person, hope in a future with Him as our guide, and loving one another as He loves us.

Im praying for God’s intervention in the evil transpiring among us. I trust Him to overcome Satan and bring us to a place where we are better equipped to combat evil forces and injustice. I’m praying we are void of naivety, but not quick to persecute based on assumption and cultural and familial differences. And finally, I’m praying for restoration: of our homes, schools, churches, communities, and our hearts; that we may be redeemed with Gods grace and mercy every time we fall short and use hate instead of love.

I also opt to act with education. I will not be educating others on my opinions, beliefs, or political decisions. But, I will teach our next generation to treat each other with respect, love, and grace. I vow to teach my children to hold the hand of those shamed for their differences, to stand up to the playground bully, and to show courage in praying openly for their school, friends, and community. I will instill honor and ethics in handling diversity; I will act to reflect Christ-like love for all people via leading by example. I’ll encourage them to choose hugs and support instead of taking any open opportunity to voice their biases or dispute the sorrow/disrespect others feel or experience.

I choose to inform my children of God’s all encompassing love for His  people (who often fail to give it in return.) I plan to direct my children’s actions toward empathy and compassion, instead of entitlement and indiscretion. I promise the next generation to help mold, encourage, and uplift their spirits and faith in what God can do for our world, -instead of teaching intolerability and self-righteous actions (like taking judgment and hatred into their own hands and hearts.)

Finally, I’m going to act with love. Each day, I want to do something good for my fellow man despite difference or dispute of opinion. I want to serve as part of the body of Christ. I choose to offer patience, kindness, humility, and respect, while laying down my own inhibitions and questions to openly offer myself as a friend and a sister in Christ [1 Corinthians 13].

Fellow man, I will neither neglect or ignore the strife, struggle, or feelings of inadequacy that myself or others may accidentally bestow upon those of different skin color, belief, or background. But, I will acknowledge my lack of understanding and grace. I hope to ask for Gods forgiveness when I do anything besides love you for who you are and befriend you as Jesus did to so many. I will honor you and show mercy when I’m not treated with kindness in return. Furthermore, I will seek out opportunity to put belief back in mankind; I’ll attempt to convince [by action] that God loves us all without hesitation, without discrimination, and without expecting anything in return…Except to share His love with others.

With action, prayer, education, and love, I hope for more rainbows, more flashes of color of all walks of life, and more heart to spread those arcs of promise forward. When the flood of the earth ended and Noah looked for a sign of God’s promise for hope and peace… It is NO COINCIDENCE that He sent the rainbow. With every color, fiber, and prayer in me, I know He will eventually use this tragedy to bring us all together after the flood of pain, disrespect, and conflict this tragedy has brought on. We can and will enjoy the promise He gives us with all the colors and love of the world…

if we simply chose the right steps of action, faith, and love.

“The world is a rainbow with many different people. It takes all kinds of people to make the world go round.

The world is a rainbow, with many different colors: red, yellow, black, and white, and brown. You see them all around.

Now you be you, and I’ll be me. That’s the way we were meant to be. The world is a mixing cup. Just look what happens when you stir it up.”