Have you ever woke up and discovered that you do not like the person that you have become? That somehow you are behaving in a way that you find abhorring in other people. Well that happened to me. For the last few years I have had so much anger in my heart and I realized I am not the person I once was.

Various circumstances may take place in your life, but you can’t let it define you. The current political environment has saddened me. It hurts me when I think of the great divide this country is experiencing. It makes me feel as if we have taken 10 steps backward versus moving forward.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent; but it does matter when the respect we are supposed to have for each other has been thrown out of the window. It does matter when we no longer have compassion for the less fortunate. It does matter that you are no longer safe in the place that should be the safest in the world, the place of worship.

I find myself filled with rage when I watch politics and the news in general; tears and anger comes hard and fast when I see this great nation being divided with hate based on race, gender, religion, and who we love. Instead of us coming together as a nation and standing up to those who are tearing this country apart, we finger point and refuse to take responsibility. It is in those moments that I find myself saying and doing things that I shouldn’t do; words that shouldn’t be said are said.

One day things got so bad that I had to figure who am I? I looked in the mirror and said who is this person staring at me? I was tired of the anger, tired of the sadness, tired of just being tired so I began to pray and ask the Lord for strength.

These are troubling times and the devil has a strong hold but the good news is we serve a mighty God. Things may look bleak, but we, as humans, as neighbors, as family, can and will make it through. I can’t say that I don’t get angry anymore, but I can say that I’ve learned to look at all the other wonderful things we as humans are doing and all the blessings God is constantly providing; it causes my soul to ache just a little less.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1. Be bless in Jesus’ name.

Mary Simmons can be reached at marysimmons@embarqmail.com.