Our focus this year at St. Victor School has been to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly. We have been trying to catch our students doing these acts and then identifying them with our new “magnifying glass” award. We came up with the magnifying glass because we catch the students doing something small that really is important in the way they learn and grow, but most importantly the way they treat other people.
We continue to use the beautiful quote from St. Mother Teresa, “we all cannot do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
For many of us, Nov. 3 cannot come soon enough. The ads, mailings, and social media are completely overwrought with political ads and political opinions. Never in my 51 years of life have I ever been witness to such a political polarization in our country. If you believe that this hasn’t taken a toll on our community and country you are completely wrong. Politics have torn our country apart. The political system is to work for the people, the only thing I feel it is accomplishing is tearing the people it is supposed to work for in two.
I used to watch the news so that I could become aware of what is happening in our world, but lately I won’t even turn the TV on. I can’t handle the pure evil that is presented through ads and news programs. I find myself escaping to Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and Amazon Prime. It seems now more than ever so many of us are choosing to escape the reality that is our country right now.
But is that truly what is best for me? You? We the People? It is not. The reality is we have been given a wonderful gift. The gift to vote. The gift to have a say in what is happening in our government and community. Many people have fought long and hard to give you this opportunity to vote. A chance for you to make a difference in the world we live in. There are many folks who oftentimes will say, my vote doesn’t matter, I am only one person. But again, remember what St. Teresa tells us, we cannot all do great big huge things, but we can do small things with great love. Currently I can’t think of anything more important and heroic thing to do then taking the time to cast your vote, whether it be in person or via absentee ballot. As a parent, grandparent, Godparent or significant adult in the lives of children, you must model this behavior. You must exercise your right to vote. You need to show these young people that this gift is something they will get to experience when they turn 18, a gift that should never be taken for granted. It is your job to show them that your vote counts. Now more than ever.
On Nov. 4 there will be many disappointed as well as happy people in our country. There will be anger and joy, and unfortunately there will be a lot of blaming. A lot of “could haves and should haves.” But one thing I want to remind you is this, if you have children or grandchildren how you react to these results is going to speak volumes to your young ones. If we want our children to be better leaders than the ones that are representing us in our government then you need to teach them how to do it. You need to teach them as the most important leader of all time, Jesus, taught us. You need to teach them to act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with God. Trust me, they aren’t seeing this on the TV ads and news programs. So, whatever the outcome on Nov. 3 is, it is your job as parent and grandparent to teach your children the idea that some will win, some will lose, but what you do from that moment on is what will define you as a person.
If things don’t go your way (and trust me for most of us most things have not gone our way in the past six months) it is what you do with every single day that counts. How we treat others, no matter how different they are then us, that is what matters. It is about creating solutions to problems, not dwelling on them. It is the ability to work cooperatively together for the good of all people, no matter what political party they are a member.
St. Teresa reminds us again we don’t need to do big things, but small things with great love. Vote. Work together. Act Justly. Love Tenderly. Walk Humbly. Be Respectful. Choose Kindness. Start cultivating in our children the leaders they need to be for the future. Show them by your example what it means to be a leader: the leader of your family, the leader at your work, the leader in your community. The power you have as a parent and grandparent is truly amazing. It’s time to show off this power to do good for others. The power begins with you exercising your right on Nov. 3. Vote.
— Joe Peters is the principal at St. Victor School in Monroe. He can be reached at joepeters@stvictormonroe.org.
