WHOSE OX IS BEING GORED?

I do not have the words to express how happy I am that this divisive election is over. The rhetoric has been over the top – on both sides. I can’t believe what some of my Christian friends said about President Obama and the very things they complained about him, President Trump is doing the same thing. That’s why this article is NOT about the election but Whose Ox Is Being Gored.
I looked up this phrase and it goes back to biblical times Exodus 21:29-36. It’s as simple as that rather than a given event being seen differently depending on the degree to which a person has self-interest.  I realize perspective makes all the differences, but as human beings can we be respectful to one another, even if our opinions differs?  Of course it takes maturity to do this, but those of us who call ourselves Christians are called to a higher standard than the world. We are to be the example, we are to influence the world and not allow the world to influence us.
Let’s be honest, we really are not as kind as we think we are. I was moved to do a word study on two words during the election, especially when I became so overwhelmed with sound bites, FB posts, and even emails from friends. I became angry and found myself expressing bitterness in these circumstances. I had to STOP, take inventory of MYSELF and worked on my word study and saw that KINDNESS is a learned behavior, not automatic and that kindness goes for myself first. (Charity begins at home – ME)! In just a few days of working on my word study of kindness, I saw how unkind I was – to ME!
I allowed myself to think too long on negative information I heard, and when I put a positive in place of the negative my energy and well-being returned. Even at one point I had to tell myself, I choose to walk in love, and what I want another person to do for me if roles were reverse, I will do to them. Periods of times, I found myself cheering on negativity, then I stopped and put in place Phil. 4:8, at that point my peace returned to me.
Now that I am learning to be kind to myself, I have chosen one person to work on, no matter what, I will be kind in my thoughts and attitudes to this person and in so doing I can now pray for him and his family.  I no longer want to hear any negative comments about him nor the one he replaced.  Years ago Rodney King was beaten very badly, and when he was finally able to talk, we knew he was going to say something so amazing, we didn’t want to miss and pulled our chairs close to the TV. This is what he said: “People, I just want to say, can we all get along?” That day, I laughed out loud, and said, “What, is that’s the best you can do or say after what happened to you?” Today, those words ring so clear and profound even after he is long gone - 2012.
Meanwhile, we are adopting an attitude, “Let the Chips Fall Where They May.” Ox is gored…INDEED!