I wanted to check in today and nothing profound is in my head at first and then this hit me...

I wish I had more insight into how people look at law enforcement and why they loathe them so much. I see lots of my "friends" still posting, mentioning, and writing negative information about them. I don't think that when I was not a LE wife I had such negative thoughts for this profession. I asked John the other day why he thinks people hate his job and he tells me that for most people it's the idea that they can get a ticket for something he can get away with. Yep, it starts with his ability to give you a ticket.

Before you get all up in my space about it, let me try and explain. Law enforcement officers have the opportunity, at certain times, to go over the speed limit. So, you get a ticket for speeding down the local road and he can do the same with no consequence. Slow down there and let me give you some examples, please. First, he goes over the limit on the way to a call. Second, sometimes it's necessary for him to speed to a call without lights and sirens (which seems to be the biggest gripe). There are many reasons but let me just give you one scenario.

There is a burglary in progress and lights and sirens give the suspect ample time to hear or see the lights or sirens and he is able to get away. You think, so what. This guy gets away but the general public is safe from the speeding officer. Maybe. But maybe this guy is holding a hostage, or maybe there is a young child in the house he is in, or just maybe this guy has a plan and the officer stopping him will divert more disaster. You never know what is at stake when going to a call.

I know of a situation where a group of kids went on a burglarizing spree to acquire items to help them kill people and then flee the country. I guess this situation is probably the extreme but if the officer had been able to catch them in the act and jail them, lives might not have been lost. And lost they were. So, you see, there are reasons for doing what they do and it's not just about speeding.

The biggest problem with the hate boils down to fairness. For whatever reason we all believe in a system that is fair. "It's only fair" and "Let's be fair" are things I heard all the time as a young kid. Crap, I hear it now all the time. I grew up thinking that everything in life should be fair. In a perfect world it would be fair but our world is anything but perfect. I don't understand why we would even teach kids that anything is fair. I know I have lots of occasion to explain to my kids that life is NOT fair and that the sooner they learn that the better off they will be. LIFE IS NOT FAIR.

So, when it comes to humans in general not liking law enforcement I think it really boils down to fair. It's unfortunate because there is no way that this life will ever be fair. I was blown away by this revelation as John talked about why his job is so hated. And it's not just the job but the officers who are also hated. If you choose this job, it's just common knowledge that you are hated. It really makes me sad. I know there are some "bad seeds" so to speak but in general, most officers are incredible and need the same things that you do. Approval, love, acceptance, and praise.

This hate is true in any unfair situation though so maybe it's just a human flaw. If you are poor you hate the rich. If you are driving a horrid car, you hate the person driving the nice one. If you can't afford a vacation, you hate the people who can... Oh, but here is the kicker in all of this. The Tenth Commandment says that You Shall Not Covet. If we are truly trying to make ourselves in the image of God, then we are all failing miserably. I am not exempt and neither is anyone this planet.

We all spend far too much time hating and coveting things. This is a HUGE part of why so many people are so depressed, mad, sad, and just plain unhappy. I want each of you to go out in the world today, tomorrow, and every day and make it about being happy with what you have. Look at your life and find something, even a small something, that is making you happy every single day. There is something. Find it. Be happy for others who have more, be happy for the unfairness of this world, because you can't change it, and just be happy to be alive! Go out in this world and make a difference :)