Today I heard a heartbreaking story, that brought me to tears. A young man, whom I’ve not met, who told his parents over the Christmas break that he is gay, was informed that he has been cut off from them. I don’t understand how parents can turn their backs on their children, like ever? I mean perhaps if my kids took somebody else’s life I would probably need to regroup, and rethink a relationship with them. But not because of who they LOVE. Or who they’re sexually attracted to. This doesn’t even compute with me. Who blocks their child’s number because they find the same sex attractive? What is so wrong with that? I don’t understand this. I truly don’t. What difference does it make in your life if your son, or daughter is attracted to people of the same sex? They’re still your beautiful child. They’re still the gift that you’ve been blessed with. How does the simple thing like their sexual orientation warrant cutting them off financially? If anything, a kid revealing the truth about their sexuality in a time where it still isn’t “safe” for homosexual people, needs your love, support and courage more than ever. Besides, don’t parents like this realize that these sort of reactions last a life time. I mean, somewhere down the road you might take the block of his phone number and reach out to him, he may choose to accept your call, or not. And all for what? Because your politics, your religion, don’t allow you to accept your child as they are. That if your kid isn’t heterosexual they’re not worthy of your love, your time or your money? That is fucked up. That is ridiculous, and I can’t even.

I’ve always told my girls that I want them to be with the person who loves them best. I want them to pick the person who makes them their best selves. It doesn’t matter to me their colour, their faith, or their gender. And I mean this. Life is hard enough, shouldn’t it be spent with the person who helps you through it best? The one who makes you laugh when you want to cry? The other half of you who gets you up and out of bed on the days you have no spunk? Shouldn’t we be happy for them when they finally figure out what fills their souls with contentment? Shouldn’t we be thankful when they figure out one of their life mysteries, like who they love? Isn’t finding love the one thing we all desire? I would say that the desire to find love, and be loved is the thing that every single human being shares. We don’t share much else, but this one thing, I’m sure we all crave. How dare two stuffy, closed minded people punish their gift with their judgments.

That’s not love. Let this ex-women’s ministry leader point you to one of the greatest calls to love in the bible. For those of you who hold your bibles closer to your hearts than your own flesh and blood you might already know this, but I’m going to direct you anyway. Go to 1st Corinthians 13:4-7. Forget about it, let me leave it right here for you…

1 Corinthians 13:4-7New International Version (NIV)

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.