Jesus Without Conditions

by Michele Boy | June 9, 2022

Kids have been asking me questions about the Value them Both signs in a lot of people’s yards. They want to understand. It has brought up discussions with adults as well. 
Like everything else our votes and our opinions are based on our experiences, our beliefs and our humanity. 
I studied communications in college. Media yes but interpersonal communications and I minored in urban studies. 
I have worked in a domestic violence shelter. I have met with young teenage women who stood in front of their mom to take a bullet because the boyfriend was going to shoot their mother. I have met cops who were giving chase and  wouldn’t go into a housing project because they would be outnumbered and it wasn’t worth it. 
I have put my values to the test and discovered some of them were flawed. Or more importantly, 
when my daughter asks me about these signs I explain to her where different people are coming from, what it’s like to walk in their shoes and hope she doesn’t ever have to make those decisions. 
  But she has a better chance. She has two parents that love her. She has opportunities for higher education, tutors if needed, responsibilities and a loving family. She also has Jesus. And if something goes wrong or she makes a mistake she has a loving counselor and hope. 
Not everyone comes from a safe home. Not everyone has food. Not everyone knows God. 
I visited with a man the other day and talked about Jesus. I mentioned how I appreciated his passion for teaching about coming to Jesus without conditions. I mean isn’t that what we are supposed to do. Doesn’t He say to Come to Him and He will change you? 
Maybe our focus should be being His hands and feet. Maybe we should put down our swords and as we discuss these things see the humanity and brokenness and try to help heal. 
When it comes to Value them Both I have my own opinions. I know women who have had these procedures done in back alleys. I know women who were afraid of a man and trying to get away but he keeps getting her pregnant to keep her there . And I have seen babies thrown away  in dumpsters.  It’s not my job to tell anyone how to think what to believe or how to vote. But when we sit with our loving family in our safe home with clothes, running water, a bed and work to do, maybe we can at least admit we don’t know the magnitude of someone else’s story. 
Regardless of your beliefs or opinions, like any issue, the world will be up in turmoil as many fight, unwilling to see another side. 
I pray we can show His light and His love through this season. And maybe we can even reach out to help someone struggling - Jesus without conditions. I like that.