Politicians wondering how
Dolly Parton won the hearts
Of Americans across the
Political spectrum should
Take a page from her book:
Help children.
Promote early child literacy.
Feed families.
Care for people.
Stay humble.
Listen when you get something wrong.
Use your power to make people’s lives better.
It’s not that complicated.
My Commentary:
Dolly Parton offers a wonderfully simple lesson about influence: if you have been given power, use it to make someone else’s life better.
Her approach is not complicated. Help children learn to read. Feed hungry families. Care about people who are struggling. Remain humble. Admit when you are wrong. Listen. Give back.
That sounds remarkably close to the Gospel.
Jesus never told His followers that greatness came from popularity, wealth, political power, or being on the winning side. He said, “Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant.”
Dolly Parton has understood something that our divided world desperately needs: you don’t have to ask someone’s politics before you help them. A hungry child is a hungry child. A struggling family is a struggling family. A person who needs encouragement is a person who needs encouragement.
Perhaps that is one reason she has earned affection across so many boundaries. She doesn’t merely talk about caring. She does something.
Jesus said, “By their fruits you will know them.”
Imagine if every person with money, fame, authority, or influence followed that standard.
Help somebody.
Lift somebody up.
Listen to somebody.
And when you have been blessed, become a blessing.
It really isn’t that complicated.
Love God. Love your neighbor. Then put that love to work.
Am I being overly simplistic when I say, “It really isn’t that complicated?” When your overriding task every day as a politician is to keep your party members happy, we will never find Dolly Parton’s in public office. So where do we then find the Dolly Parton’s that we need? Or have we created a political and a moral system that can no longer give us a Dolly Parton?
GOD’S LOVE IS THE ONLY THING THAT CAN TURN YOUR WORLD UPSIDE DOWN AND MAKE IT A MILLION TIMES BETTER!
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