Today we voted, or at least I hope we all did.  As parents, we hope to choose a leader whose views incorporate a world where natural resources are conserved for our children's future, where family is celebrated and not  considered a punishment, where values encourage life rather than death.  I had a diffficult time getting excited about a candidate this time around, and felt in some ways as if I had to choose the lesser of two evils, politically and morally speaking. Most tout this an historic election, and they would be right if gender and skin color are the history being made.  But if we are truly progressive, we should look beyond superficial taglines like these and examine a person's core values rather than their outward appeal.  That was difficult for me to do this year, because of rhetoric on both sides. 

I would have liked to hear more about the candidates as parents, because at this basic juncture of leadership, a voter can learn much about a person's core values. Not their credentials on being parents, of course.  But what kind of parents they are--what they want for their children, and their children's children. Anyone can espouse talk of peace and change and bucking the party they belong to.  But what sacrifices has each candidate made as parents?  If one's children do not merit sacrifice over career, who are we voting for?  Opportunists? Sell-outs?

The choice for me fell between the lines.  I saw ambition and opportunism on both sides.  I saw claims of a brighter furure on both sides.  But in one candidate I saw the willingness to sacrifice above and beyond.  I saw pro-life rhetoric backed up with a lifestyle of self-sacrifice and hardship, and adoption. When the dust settled, my choice was clear.  I love that Sarah Palin gave her downs syndrome son life when the culture of  convenience in which we live would have approved otherwise. I love that John McCain adopted, even into his later years.

I voted for the parents who most impressed me, when it came right down to it.  At this most fundamantal level of stewardship and leadership, the family, I saw two leaders who exhibited outstanding qualities.  Children are not accessories to a full life.  They are our divine entrustment.