Voting entails a higher office

CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON

“Act as if the whole election depended on your single vote ... “

-- JOHN WESLEY

“Every private citizen has a public responsibility.”

-- MYRA JANCO

DANIELS

“It’s not the hand that signs the laws that holds the destiny of

America. It’s the hand that casts the ballot.”

-- HARRY TRUMAN

“Voting is the first duty of democracy.”

-- LYNDON B. JOHNSON

The multicolored leaves of autumn have fallen almost as quickly as

the many different campaign signs have sprung up around town. We have

all been inundated with more information than we can process by every

form of media, offering differing views of people and propositions.

We’ve heard the presidential debates, heard varying views on just

about everything, and now it’s time to voice our views. It is time to

vote.

Many have called this election a defining moment for our nation,

and all of us who are eligible to vote need to realize that our

ability to vote is not only a freedom, it is a responsibility. It is

time to vote.

It is also time to pray. We need to pray for God to give each of

us wisdom and guidance as we fill out our ballots. We also need to

pray for everyone who is elected. We need men and women in office who

are people of honesty, integrity, responsibility and accountability.

We need to let our children know that the freedom and democracy

that we enjoy needs to be protected, prayed for and continued. We

need to show our thanks to those in past generations, model to the

next generation that we all have a part to play and take our roles

seriously.

One year, I walked up the steps at our nearby school to vote, and

I passed a young boy on my way into the building. The boy was

probably in first or second grade, judging by his size and missing

teeth. I remember that he wore red, white and blue, and I’ll never

forget what he said. At first, I thought he was just talking to

himself, but then he looked up at me and smiled and said, “My mom and

dad are voting today, too. And I’m voting for God.”

I think I said something to tell him that he was wise for such a

young age. I could imagine him drawing a sign that said, “Vote for

God.”

We all know that we can only make our votes count if we vote so

that they are counted. We may vote “yes” on some issues and “no” on

others. We will vote for people we will be trusting to make decisions

day in and day out that will affect us and those who follow. We need

to vote, and we need to pray. We can also vote “yes” for God each and

every day.

And you can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at

cindy@onthegrow.com or through the mail at 537 Newport Center Drive,

Box 505, Newport Beach, CA 92660.