Vote

Why are some, seemingly insignificant childhood memories seared into our brains? Perhaps because sometimes those childhood vignettes help clarify our thinking as adults.

I was in third or fourth grade, standing in the lunch line and listening as a fellow student told us who his parents planned to vote for in the upcoming presidential election. Not to be outdone, I told him who my parents were voting for. After school I proudly informed my mother of this very important, adult conversation. Her response floored my little mind.

"Sharon, you had no business telling anyone who we are voting for. That is a sacred right, that we can vote for whomever we want without threat of punishment."

Her anger shocked me. Why was their voting choice a secret? Why wouldn't they want everyone to know their choice?

As an adult I better understand the sacrifices paid for the right to vote privately. I recognize the pressure millions of people feel from their employers and unions or friends and family to vote a certain way. The value of the right to vote with a secret ballot has become even more clear as we have watched the millions of people in Iraq risk their lives to influence their governments. That value cannot be measured when we consider the lost lives required to gain that right and keep it.

I saw this quote from Stalin on Facebook: "The ones who determine the outcome of a vote are not the ones who cast the votes but the ones who count it." I think a truer statement for America is, "The ones who determine the outcome of a vote are not the ones who cast the votes but the ones who do not."

If you have never voted or have no intentions of voting, please reconsider the price tag paid for this right. Cynical young people, do not neglect this privilege and responsibility. I won't bore you with all the reasons why people give for not voting. There was a season in my life where I probably would have agreed with you. Instead, take it from a "seasoned woman." I urge you to vote values. Determine who best (I didn't say perfectly) represents your worldview. And then pray as you pull the lever, as God commands us to, for our government.

See you at the polls.

In His grip,

Sharon