Our hearts are broken once again. Tragedy after tragedy, and yet it still isn’t hitting home for some people. I hate that I have to write this once again, but to all the families grieving the deaths of their loved ones, prayers are being sent your way. America has become so very broken, and I am so sorry that your loved ones were the people who had to deal with the backlash. Although the pain you are feeling is something unimaginable, find peace in the fact that the ones dear to your heart are looked at as heroes in most of the eyes of America and are now resting with our good Lord.

America woke up this morning to find out that tragedy had struck once again. Three police officers in Baton Rouge were shot and killed, and three others were taken to the hospital. There are many ways I could take this article. I could place blame, question our leaders in D.C., or decide which lives matter more. Instead I am going to ask, what are we going to do?

When I ask this question, I am not aiming it towards our people in office, but instead toward the citizens of America. We are constantly waiting around for someone to do something, but as cliché as it may seem, why can’t that person be you? You do not need to be the president of the United States to start taking action. What is wrong with America has nothing to do with the guns or the color of people's skin. The problem with America is a heart problem from within. Too many people grow up experiencing hatred from one person or another and define everyone who is like that person to be exactly the same.

Picture this.

There were never any bad cops. No one was ever wrongly accused and no one hated cops. If that were true, then these good cops would not be paying the price for the ones who weren’t as great. Say there was no bullying in school. That one weird kid never had to eat alone. Suddenly, school shootings are nonexistent. There are many other examples that can be portrayed.

This entire tragedy is an effect from a cause that happened earlier in life. So how about you stop waiting for someone to lead the way and start your change? Most of this hurt could have been prevented by showing constant love to others, just as we are called to do. Hatred is an evil thing, but love is more powerful than all. With love, we can change the hearts of America.

So with this, I will end with a challenge.

In this broken world, it is so easy to be caught up in the madness. You look at one person and assume they are just like the rest. Instead, come at everyone with an open heart. Understand that not everyone is the same, and in the end, we all just want someone to give us the love we long for. Be a little extra nice, force a few more smiles and hug a little longer. You never know if the kindness you are showing right now is preventing tragedies in the future.

I pray now that America can come together once again and be the place where dreams come true. A place of unity and love. A nation under God, one and indivisible.