Modulating Tones

  History can be painful, but denying it does not serve the greater good. Whether we are discussing our families, neighborhoods, faith communities, or our nation, the past must be approached with a spirit of learning, love, and forgiveness. For example, my sister and I often remember our upbringing differently. Today we can discuss those differences without tension, but that was not always the case. In the past, when I spoke about some of the painful or difficult parts of our childhood, she sometimes felt that I was overlooking or dismissing the love, sacrifice, and care our parents provided. That was never my intention. I love my family, and I honor the sacrifices our parents made. However, there were experiences that affected me deeply, and in some cases my sister denied that those experiences occurred or viewed them very differently than I did. While she focused more on the loving and sacrificial aspects of our upbringing, I felt the need to acknowledge both the good and the pai...