It started as a whisper or a gentle breeze. Perhaps it was from the sigh that escaped late Tuesday night. The embers that wear barely glowing started to flicker. And then flame. Until the warmth had surrounded my whole being and all I could feel was pure joy. By the end of the night Friday, I remembered the phrase, “Not this time Satan” from the shirt of a voter. And I was ready.

I went to work numb on Wednesday and Thursday. There was no school Friday so I went grocery shopping by myself. I do a lot of deep thinking in the car. As I drove it hit me. It felt like I had experienced another death. The majority of people who have the same faith as me voted for a man who speaks hate. I felt lost, empty, and alone. And then the fanning of flames slowly started to happen. It started with several private messages from people all over the country standing together. Messages from college friends, high school friends, past church friends, direct sales friends. Messages came from literally every part of my life past and present from men and women. Then an invite to get together and have fellowship and pray. I could feel the warmth and the love start to take over the lonely fear.

I decided to post on a site I’ve never posted on (I only post to my fb page) to help other moms who might have explaining to do and not just about the hate. We have to explain the fact that a clearly qualified WOMAN ran and an unqualified man who speaks disrespectfully towards women ran and…he won.

So on a whim I posted this:

And within ten seconds my fb notifications were on full speed. Other women and men giving encouraging words to my daughter! Telling her she is smart, she isn’t alone, our country respects women! My tears finally arrived. Over 4 thousand people giving my girl encouragement and over 150 comments offering love and support. Some posted pictures of their daughters. One suggested we start calling our daughters “President” instead of “Princess”. Comments from both men and women filled my post. I showed it to my girl. I told her that more people in our country voted for HRK than for him. I told her that hate did not win. Did I need all that support? Did my daughter? No- we have a strong family and a strong sense of worth. Did it help? It sure did. It takes a village my friends. And when you are afraid your village isn’t speaking the love you are speaking at home, it’s a little scary. Our village filled up our buckets with love and compassion.

Friday night I arrived at my friends house. It was dark. I wasn’t sure what to expect. We just needed a place to express our hurt. All Christians, all feeling the same things. We ate, we talked, we got mad, we prayed, we fanned the flame. I left knowing that we are not alone. I left knowing we have each other’s back. We won’t sit by and watch hate win. When we see it, we will stand up to it. When we hear it, we will call it out. When women get together, great things happen. When communities seek to build bridges instead of walls, great things happen. Our nation is already great, we are going to keep it great. 
So to all you fellow “nasty women” keep on encouraging each other. Get together. Offer ideas on how we can change things for the better. Remember a quote from Bush that applies still now, “The resolve of our great nation is being tested. But make no mistake we will show the world that we will pass the test.” 

In Solidarity,

J.

PS: Thank you for all the comments, messages and support the past year. It’s been a doozy!