On Raising Includers

The pivotal experience that changed me, the ways we practice active empathy at home, and some things I hope I'm getting right as a mom.

I’ve always had an enormous heart for others, but I wasn’t always an Includer. And I’m not proud to admit that. I was raised one, through and through. But as a college student / young adult coming into my own faith, a few church leaders told me “this is what is right” and I took that on as my own belief. Besides, these were the beliefs of a believer. Or so I thought…

Until I witnessed “love being love” firsthand. Someone close to our family passed away about ten years ago. We attended the military funeral and watched as the flag was folded and handed to his eldest son. Not to his long-time partner, who sat in the next seat, absolutely shattered.