Weekly Outlook - A prayer for democracy on election day

This is Dartinia, filling in for Rose Taylor while she’s on family leave.  Baby Outlook is here. We are all elated for this new little family. While it’s exciting to see a friend and a truly good person become a parent, I’m also thinking about the early days with my own children: 11 p.m. grocery-store trips because we were ALL awake, diapers so full they could fell a dinosaur, and doubt. I actually argued with my maternity-ward nurse.  “I need a fishing license. And a driver’s license. Right?” “Yes,” she said. “So why don’t I need a parenting license?” She smiled. “The best parents are the ones who ask that question.” I wouldn’t ask the license question these days.  In-the-trenches parenting takes more hope and faith than I sometimes had, especially while walking the peanut butter aisle at midnight. Hope that the world would be kind, faith that I could help my kids discover the people God made them to be.  When my oldest was three, she took her Rug-Rats Chuckie “packpack” to church with my mom-in-law. The pastor made the altar call, his booming voice and the organ-and-drum set irresistible, and Alex ran to the front of Trinity United Methodist and danced joyfully with the packpack. The pastor insisted she bring Chuckie to every service.  My colleague’s faith is buckets beyond my mustard-seed sliver. Whatever questions she has as a parent, she never questions God’s grace, presence, and faithfulness.  Rose’s faith gives me hope. It is a gift to all, and especially to her precious little one.  Peace, Dartinia Hull Managing Editor Presbyterian Outlook  P.S. Have you started your Advent plans? We've got daily devotionals and a plethora of liturgies to make your life easier. Learn more.

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