I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.
-Thomas Jefferson

I've got conservative friends, liberal friends, libertarian friends, black friends, white friends, Hispanic friends, Asian friends, immigrant friends, foreign friends, gay friends, straight friends, lower-class friends and upper-class friends. I disagree with many of them. I don't like some things they do or believe. The thing is, Scripture doesn't say that I have to like my neighbor, but it does say that I have to love my neighbor. Not only that, but Christ tells me to love my enemy while I'm at it.

So, to the person who told me to "f*** off" because of my vote, I forgive you. To the person who told my best friend to "burn in Hell" because of his vote, I'm pretty sure he forgives you too. To every person who calls someone else racist, misogynist, sexist, homophobic or bigoted because of their vote, I hope they forgive you too.

I thought we were better than this. And, no, I don't mean better than voting the way we did. I'm talking about being better than the way we reacted to it.

Rioting will not help. Negative rants will not help. Calling people things that they aren't definitely will not help. The other day, I saw a video of a man being dragged out of his car and beaten for voting for Trump. Trump voters across the nation have been essentially told on Twitter, Facebook, and protest signs to "go die in a hole." Is this the America you want? Aren't people who do and say these things exhibiting the same qualities that they hate Donald Trump for — hate, bullying and stereotyping?

Donald J. Trump is the president-elect of the United States. Did I expect it? No. In fact, I was entirely ready to post something on Facebook about praying for Hillary R. Clinton, our president-elect. No matter who our new president was going to be, even if I voted for the other candidate, I was prepared to do my best to accept the result and see the silver lining. I would not blame others, I would not insult them and I definitely would not lose friends. What kind of a friendship is one that can be so easily broken by politics?

In talking with many of my friends, we discussed the fact that we did not vote for a person. The truth is that our vote for president was based on a lot of people and a lot of policies. We didn't vote unconsciously. One of my best friends spent election day morning in agony because, after all his research, he was still not sure what to do. He cared deeply. We care deeply. We care about each and every one of our friends, of any and every background, and we took that all into consideration with our vote. There are a lot of people out there just like us. Please, think twice before calling someone sexist, racist, homophobic, etc.

Now to address the man himself. If Donald Trump says racist and sexist things, he should be held accountable. If he speaks crudely, he should be held accountable. If his actions are inappropriate, he should be held accountable.

But me and my friends are not Donald Trump. He is our president, but we are not him. He is our president and we will (and we all should) respect him as such, but we are not him. Our job now is to collectively hold our president accountable, not the voters.

This nation is never going to heal from the top down, but from the bottom up. Trump cannot save us. Families and individuals across this nation have to decide for themselves who they are going to be. It is my and your responsibility to be informed citizens, loving friends, caring family members, hard workers, honest people and good neighbors.

I was reminded by two of my professors recently that, although we are citizens of this earthly nation, we have a far greater citizenship in the kingdom of heaven. Far more important is it that we recognize our true King and our true Savior. As Christians, there is a time and a place to set aside our political predispositions and see each person as they are, made in the image of God. It doesn't matter if a fellow Christian voted the opposite of you, they are your brother or sister in Christ.

I pray that God would use Donald Trump. Turns out that God works how He chooses, often through broken vessels.

But, more importantly,

I pray that the love and peace of God would permeate the hearts of the people of this nation.

May God bless this nation.

Much love to all.