I know. You want to know about the giveaways first. I’m supposed to wait until the end for the giveaways, because that’s how it’s done. But— I’m so excited about this one, I’m starting here!

What is it? Here are some visual cues:

Yes—Salmon! Smoked salmon!! Canned smoked salmon! I’m going to send out a couple of boxes this week (AND—sending out a gift box each week in my upcoming Your Story Matters Class) along with some Russianberry Marmelade, all from Harvester Island.) I’ll tell you how to enter the drawing below.

As much as we need salmon and jam, we have hungers far beyond this. I have been called too many names this election season. There are people I love whom I cannot call on the phone right now. They will want to argue. They will tell me I am brainwashed. (Yes, for real.) They will say I am an enemy now because I’m not “on their side.”

I can do little about that, but I can do something about me. I can give up anger. Which means I have to replace anger with something else. Here goes:

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9 Ways to Give Up Anger this Election Season

1. *Let us have compassion for one another, for we are all living in tumultuous times. We are all saddened and confused as we suffer deep divisions within our country, our community and among our own families, neighbors and friends. Let our mutual suffering join us together.

2. *Let us confess our own complicity in the uncivil and vulgar discourse that continues to pollute our media, our political process, and even our homes. Wherever there is anger and argument, let us speak words of peace, for we are all called to be peacemakers and reconcilers.

3.*Let us admit that at times we have seen others, even family members and neighbors as a kind of enemy, simply because they belonged to another political party---and we have not loved them. May we listen less to their words and more to their heart, for they carry burdens and fears we may not even know.

4.*Let us confess that we have spent too much time digging out the speck in our neighbor’s eye and very little time on the log in our own. If we must judge, May we start our judgement with ourselves.

 5. *Let us repent of caring more about the advancement of our own political party and its agenda rather than the advancement of the kingdom of God. Remind us daily that we are called to be servants of the one and only King, Jesus.

6. *Let us stop using our energy and our social capital trying to convert others to our point of view, which is mostly pointless anyway.

 7.*Let us confess that at times we have fought so hard for "social justice" for others we have sometimes ignored our neighbors in need around us. Awaken us to the neighbors in front of us.

8. *Let us remember that God calls all of us to unity in diversity, that the body of Christ itself is composed of vastly different members, all of whom are needed for the body to be healthy and whole. Help us to celebrate holy differences.

9*Let us recognize we share a common enemy and it is not a political party, a government or a person. Our true enemy is sin and death, and Jesus decisively won that battle 2,000 years ago. Let this be the only flag of freedom that we wave.

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That is my prayer and my hope for all of us. Do I hear an amen?

GIVEAWAYS!

I’m giving away 2 gift boxes of salmon and jam! To take part in the drawing, just 2 things to do:

1. Would you share these words on your social media? But please, only if you desire to pass on these words of peace. Let me know in the comments that you’ve done this.

2. I will need to contact the winners by email. Either leave your email in the comments or email me your address: Leslieleylandfields@gmail.com

P.S. If you’d like more on peacemaking, 3 other women and I are speaking on this very soon here: