[Cin]

This Andrea Gibson post everyone is sharing is on my mind. It still breaks my heart that 70 million people support a man who believes the United States is only for certain people, the rest of us are not welcome. Reading this made my heart feel a little less broken. Civility and compassion is back in the White House. We can all miss the Obamas a little less desperately. I agree, yes, let's leave the light on for each other.

Andrea Gibson-
"When President Obama was in office, I was invited to the White House with a group of teens I had helped select as our National Student Poets. We were in a small room with Michelle Obama.

The students were very excited, but also extremely nervous. Recognizing this, the First Lady began telling the story of her family’s first day in the White House. She described the thrill, but also described how her family felt out of place as they walked through the halls terrified to touch anything. As she shared the details, I watched the students’ shoulders relax in unison.
That moment has never left me because there was so much care in the way she held compassion for the students' fears that they might not belong. So much grace in her awareness of how many people live with the feeling of being unwelcome outsiders.

The Trump administration built its “legacy” on telling marginalized people that they do not belong in the U.S. For 4 years they tore the welcome mats out from under the feet of people whose toes were just beginning to find the tiniest corners to stand on.

I celebrate today for many reasons, but one is faith that we are in the midst of a movement invested in building the biggest porchlight for each other that we possibly can. I believe in the light we are creating, and am so grateful we are here together."