Politically Speaking - Life is Like a Metaphor

So the Inauguration happened, did you know? I'm trying really hard to be supportive and to lose some of my bias. I want to. It's just really hard. Yesterday in wal*mart, a lady got excited talking to her friend and said,"We're taking over!!!" I heard that right after hearing a bunch of people BOO President Bush and sing,"Na na na na! Na na na na! Hey! Hey! Hey, goodbye!" as he left the White House. Tacky. It hurt my heart. As unpopular as it is, I have a strong love for President Bush. We had a Family Home Evening about him last week. We told the kids about integrity and standing up for what you believe even if it's hard and unpopular. We told a story about President Bush stopping at a refueling in Alaska and spending a great amount of time with the family of a fallen soldier. We read some of his personal testimony of Jesus Christ and also his own conviction that he was called to do what he did and that he knew he'd have to make tough decisions. Even before he was elected he made a promise to never move from his morals - no matter how much it hurt his standing with the majority. We ended the evening writing him "Thank You" notes. Camryn's said,"I like how you don't try to be cool, you try to be good" and it was signed "your biggest fan". Ha ha. Sienna's said,"We are sorry you can't be president anymore and hope you can have a good break. Keep in touch!!" I don't know if he will, but, you know, maybe. 

I believe history will be kind to President Bush. We don't have all the facts. What we do know is that he is a man of faith. He prays daily and millions prayed for him. We were kept safe while he was in office. A ruthless dictator was taken out of power saving many lives. A form of democracy was taken to a place that would have never gotten it on its own. Millions of people risk their lives to vote in Iraq. That tells me that there are many grateful people there. Quite a few of my friends have been deployed there and they come back glad we're doing what we are doing. Like I said, we don't have all the facts. What I do know is that a man I believe to be good spent many a sleepless night trying to keep me and my family safe. He worked hard at an impossible job for eight years only to be received with hatred and mocking. Moses freed the children of Israel from the Egyptians and led them around in the wilderness for 40 years. I'm sure he was not very popular most of the time. He was not well-spoken and I'm sure that lead many people to believe he was stupid. He condemned the eat, drink and be merry attitude of his followers and begged them to take responsibility for their own actions. Sounds familiar. 

I'm grateful for President Bush. I hope he can relax and be happy. He deserves a bunch of hugs and a long nap. I hope the Lord blesses him with peace, understanding and the ability to let go of his mantle and be freed from the worry he has carried around for the last eight years.

So on to my metaphor. Always metaphors with me... well, sometimes I'll employ a good simile. This is what I feel about the whole OBAMAMANIA!!!! Wahooooooo! situation we've got going on. I feel like a parent watching my thirteen year-old daughter experience infatuation for the first time. (Have you seen the people crying and passing out if Obama even looks at them? Wow.) And maybe the boy she's sure is the one forever and ever isn't really the boy I would choose for her. "He's DREAMY!!!" she says. She's sure they will get married someday and live happily ever after. I have been infatuated before. I understand those feelings. But those intense feelings either die or change into something more real. Infatuation itself doesn't last. It's thrilling and exhausting. I'm watching my daughter (metaphorically) go crazy for this boy and I know it can turn out one of about three ways: 

First, he may prove me wrong. Maybe he is a great guy. Maybe he treats her well and she's a better person when she's with him. I hope so. I've seen the kids he hangs out with and I've heard some of the things he has said and I don't think that's the case, but maybe? That would be great.

Or, secondly, he might do something horrible and her bubble will burst and she'll come home, throw herself on her bed and cry her eyes out. Boys are fickle. He might change his mind. He may have promised her one thing but have done another. After a mourning period, she'll walk away wiser and hopefully choose better next time. Also not a horrible reality.

The third option is the one I fear. In the heat of the moment, basking in all this infatuation, she could let her guard down and let him have his way with her. She could end up with a disease or pregnant. She might let him ruin her and her chances for future happiness. This is the reason her immense, quick, die-without-you love is so scary to me. She's jaded by the fact that this dreamy guy is in her life and she's not thinking clearly. He pretty much has a green light. I hope he treats her well or she figures him out before it's too late.

So that's it. I'm sorry for those whom I may have offended, I didn't mean to. I just felt a need to get my feelings out. I love America. I'm happy to see everyone feeling positive about the President and the government for a change. I hope everything turns out better than I have a feeling it might. As metaphorical parents, there's no stopping this love. Let's not lose our heads. We just have to hope, pray and try to set a good example for our daughter America. Let's just love her the best we can. It's all we can do.