Acceptance is an important part of life. I know lately it’s something that I’m not sure if I will ever get or even deserve for that matter. It’s important to all of us not to be excluded whether it be from a club, an organization, or even a certain table in the cafeteria.

This post is not the one I had intended to write. I had a more light-hearted and humorous post that would have garnered a few laughs. (Mainly at my expense.) But with everything that has been going on the last week from racism concerning state flags and the legalization of gay marriage, I wanted to say a few quick words and share some quotes I recently found to express how I’ve been feeling about all the latest current events.

The last few days, my news feed on Facebook has been nothing but hate.  And the hate has been coming mainly from the same people who I see posting bible verses the majority of the time. Now I know that most people are set in their ways, which can be a good thing or a bad thing. But in this day and age, I can’t understand the idea that things have to be one way and there can be no other way but that one. The way people dig in their heels on certain issues and can’t just say live and let live is beyond my powers of reason.

I am well aware that when the Civil War was fought, it was a very small percentage that actually owned slaves and that the overwhelming percentage of people who fought for the South were defending their homes and states from what they viewed as Northern aggression. And MAYBE those flags that were used were not outright symbols of slavery and the oppression of an entire race. But today, they are used just for that purpose.  In the year 2015, when black Americas see those flags, they are offended by them. Take them down. Forty percent of the state of Mississippi is offended when they see a Confederate battle flag. Replace them with a flag that is not offensive to one hundred percent of the state’s population.

As for the gay marriage issue, it’s about time. Some rights are inalienable, endowed upon us by our Creator. Being able to spend the rest of our lives with the people we love more than life itself is one of those rights. And take it from a man who will never be with the person he loves the most, it is a miserable way to go through life. We’re only on the Earth for a short amount of time, and that time is too precious to spend it not being surrounded by people who live and care for us. And as for the people I see on my Facebook news feed, a big slogan is “What Would Jesus Do?” Well the Jesus I believe in wouldn’t be sitting behind a computer spewing hate about other people’s ability to marry. When I woke up the other morning, the sun was shining in my neighborhood just as brightly as it was the day before the Supreme Court ruling.  Also, my balance in my bank account didn’t change plus or minus by one single cent.  Which tells me that the decision about gay marriage, no matter how some of us might feel about it, did not impact my life in any way, shape, or form.

Here are a few quotes I saw the other day that I thought you might enjoy.

LEARN to love with all your heart and ACCEPT the unlovable side of others. For anyone can love a rose, but it takes a GREAT HEART to include the thorns.

-Anonymous

The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love and acceptance.

-Brian Tracy

Tolerance, compromise, understanding, acceptance, patience – I want those all to be very sharp tools in my shed.

-Cee Lo Green

Again, I don’t mean to get preachy on hot button issues such as these. I just get so angry when I see hypocrites preaching peace, love, and hope one minute, and change their tune when it doesn’t suit their agendas the next. If we all spent a little more time loving and accepting one another instead of trying to make everyone around us fit into our little standard, customized, one-size-fits-all box, we would all be so much happier.  And remember what John and Paul said… “All you need is love!”  The Beatles, not the apostles.

Have a great day 😉

A. Failure

P.S. Please help spread the word about the site.  If you know anyone who might be struggling with some of the issues I’ve covered, please share the link/web address with them. Also, share the link on Facebook or follow the twitter account @advice_failure. Hopefully, the more people who know about the site, the more people we can help through rough times.