Tolerance

I spent some time with a close friend of mine last night.

I can easily say that she is in deed my best friend.

We have a lot in common, and share a lot of memories.

As much as we agree on, we disagree on that much more.

Even with such differing beliefs we remain the best of friends.

Sometimes I wonder how we have been able to remain friends in the midst of such differences.

Then I realize that regardless of whether or not we agree... we still love each other.

We practice tolerance.

Tolerance is not something you are born with.

It is something that is learned.

Last night the topic of homosexuality was brought up.

I won't go into details of our conversation, but the thought of "how would I feel if my own son told me he was gay?" was brought up.

With out a skip in breath, and with no question in my mind, my only response was:

I'd tell him I love him.

NO. MATTER. WHAT.

My love for him does not come with exceptions.

There is no fine print with the love I have for him.

There is NOTHING that could separate him from my love.

He KNOWS this. (as much as a three year old can.)

He will continue to know this.

FOREVER.

I will TELL him this often!

I will remind him until he just knows it.

No question in his mind.

I want him to know this so that if he walks into an environment where he is told that he isn't good enough....

if he is told he doesn't belong..

if he is told that there is something wrong with him..

That he KNOWS without a doubt that he is AWESOME...

That there is someone out there that would miss him more then words can explain...

That there is someone who is there to listen..

to comfort..

to talk to..

That there is NOTHING he can't come to me with.

Because I NEVER want to be standing at his casket regretting not telling him all of these things.

When I mentioned that tolerance is a learned behavior it is because it was taught to me.

I knew from the moment that I was born, that I was loved.

That my mother and father wanted me.

I knew that I could come to them with anything.

I knew that no matter what ANYONE else said or thought.. that at the end of the day I was loved.

They taught me to love others.

They taught me to respect others.

They did not try and hide the differences of others, but embraced them.

I learned to do the same.

In light of the many recent suicides due to harassing and bullying for WHATEVER reason it has brought heartache to my heart, and the sense of wanting justice.

BUT where do you start?

How to get justice for a life lost too soon?

I think it is by starting in our homes.

It is by teaching tolerance for people and NO tolerance for bullying or disrespect.

Its is by listening.

It is by being AVAILABLE to listen.

The only thing that would be harder then losing my son, is knowing that he caused another child to take their life.

Recently at the dinner table, my niece turned to her brother that is a different color of skin, and said "I like the color of your skin Jordan."

My son followed with the same words.

I love that they are only three, four, and five and yet they are aware and accepting of differences.

Because when you teach tolerance you not only teach acceptance.. but you teach love.