I want to know better, so I can love better.

People of color, I know that while I have black and Asian children, I'm still white. Please, feel free to call me out or correct me if I'm ever speaking from white privilege instead of learned knowledge.

Those of you with disabilities and/or mental illness, I live with physical damage and ongoing issues from rheumatoid arthritis as well as PTSD, and I parent children with a range of diagnoses, and I taught special education for several years and then trained special educators for a while, and I have a MAEd in Special Education, but that doesn't mean I'll always get it right. Please, feel free to chime in whenever I say something about disability or mental illness that doesn't match up to your lived experiences.

Immigrants, I am parenting four children who traveled here on orphan visas, and I taught mostly children of immigrants in my first two years as a teacher, but I haven't lived that life. Please, speak up if I'm getting anything wrong about your realities.

Those who are struggling financially and unable to meet all your needs, I am sorry that so many in our country have accepted the lies that you are lazy or criminal or not worthy of love and belonging and help. As my kids received reduced lunch benefits until recently, I know a little of your experience, but our lives have still been more privileged than most. If I ever speak out of turn or post anything that's condescending toward you, let me know. Please.

Native Americans, I've been mostly silent about my privilege here, even as my kin arrived shortly after the Pilgrims. My ancestors contributed to your ancestors' decimation. And until #NoDAPL, I didn't say or do or care much. I will do better. And if I don't, please call me on it.

Those in the LGBTQ+ community, I probably know the least about you, to be honest. I have neighbors and friends among you, but I'm in the stage of mostly listening and not speaking much yet, so I can learn. If my silence becomes hurtful or my speaking - once I do - shows my straight and cisgender privilege, I want to know. I want to learn. I want to love better where so many straight cisgender Christians haven't.

Women, I'm one of you. I'm with you. Rape and abuse survivors, you too. But I know my one voice doesn't represent us all. All of our stories create a beautiful book, and we need each other. So if my story and yours don't match, that doesn't make either of ours invalid. Your voice is valuable here.

Muslims, I am a woman of faith too, but when someone professing the same faith as I do commits a murder or other crime, I'm not blamed for it. I don't know what it's like to be treated like I am. I will speak out for your fair treatment and honor, because our humanity isn't based in who we worship. If I ever represent you poorly, remind me that I aspire to be better than that.

Jews, my privilege is showing here, because I honestly didn't realize until recently than anti-Semitism was still a thing. You are loved. And I am paying attention now. Please engage with me if I show that I'm remaining clueless instead of learning.

Those who fit into multiple of the groups listed above, I understand the concept of intersectionality, but I don't always get it in a personal way. Please let me know when I'm wrong. (And specifically, black women, if I start to sound like the sort of white feminist who acts like you don't exist or like Susan B. Anthony stood for all women when she didn't stand for you, put me in my place, please.)

And if you're among a marginalized group I failed to include here, send me an email or comment below. I'd be happy to revise this to include you.

And, finally, Christians, I am one of you. Please be mindful that Christ spent most of his time with those who were marginalized wherever he was. (And no matter who rants to you about a supposed war of Christmas, please admit that we're not the marginalized ones here in the US in most places.) Consider the groups listed above when you read "love your neighbor as yourself" (in Leviticus 19:18, Mark 12:31, Matthew 22:39, or Romans 13) or "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (aka the Golden Rule, found in Matthew 7:12) or "let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:4). Compassion is central to our faith. Please live that out with me. Let's all be more like Jesus, together, and spur each other on to do all things for the glory of God and the good of all those he created.

We are all human. We are all welcome here. We are all masterpieces. We are all valued and valuable and worthy, and our differences enhance the beauty of our communities. I need you. We need each other.

And we'll all mess up from time to time. (Or maybe a lot of the time.) We all need grace, but sometimes we need correction as well. Please offer both to me.

All, thanks for being here and for joining me in this work of loving and living well. You are loved. I'm thankful for you.

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And those of you who are as privileged or more than I am, thank you for getting this far in a post that isn't really for you. My words might make you uncomfortable at times, but that's where the growth opportunity is. Thank you for being here and for listening and for asking questions and for weighing in with kindness and humility.

And, you know, for putting up with me when I go on a binge of political posts.