On New Year's Day my mother was taken to the hospital, sick and confused. CAT scans revealed that she had a large malignant tumor on her brain that had spread to her stomach. Not healthy enough to endure treatment, my sister and I had to make the decision to “let go, and let God.” Thirteen days later we held her hands, as she walked into His arms. My mom was the kindest, most loving person I have ever known. Because she taught me things like unconditional love and the importance of peace and forgiveness, I can strive to be half as good a person as she was. All of the hatred in this world breaks my heart, but I refuse to become what so many people have given their lives to fight against.
The political arguments and social differences that so many people are willing to, give up one another over are so small in the scheme of things. I have lost friends, relatives, a job, and other things to speak out against hatred, racism, and prejudice of all kinds. I will not become the hate that I cannot endure without a sick feeling in my gut. I will not call people names that taste disgusting in my mouth. I will not teach hatred to a new generation of youth who are born not knowing it. No matter what, or who, I have to give up, I will continue to speak in favor of peace in life's storm.
(Reposted from my LinkedIn account from 2016)