I remind our students often, their voice matters. They can walk in a room and change the entire dynamic with their energy, love, and grace. When using their platform, whether it’s a simple smile, hug or encouraging words, they matter.

I’m a huge country music fan. This October, the CMT Awards recognized Kane Brown as one of the Country Artists of the Year. His acceptance speech was overflowing with emotion, as just days before, he lost his beloved drummer, Kenny Dixon, to a car accident. Kane showed up that evening, as he mentioned, to receive the honor in his friend Kenny’s name. It was a touching tribute and something we can all relate to. The inspirational evening was just getting started.

Thomas Rhett also received the honor of the CMT Country Artist of the Year later that evening.  Thomas took to the stage and, instead of taking the time to give his acceptance speech, he asked the entire audience, which he hoped to include 2.7 million viewers at home, to pray for Kane, his band and his friend Kenny. Rhett’s prayer was timely, inspiring and an amazing reminder of exactly where we need to go when something so heavy is on our hearts. He knew praying on TV could be seen as controversial and possibly not aired. Producers and editors could be cutting his prayer out...but he used his platform and did it anyway!

The next turn of events was simply amazing. Country music icon Reba McEntire was honored with the CMT Artist of a Lifetime Award, the highest award of the night. In the middle of her acceptance speech, she referenced Rhett and his prayer, making it nearly impossible to edit the possibly controversial prayer. Many of us fans remember the plane crash that took the lives of seven of McEntire’s band and her tour manager in 1991. She knows the pain Kane, his band and Kenny’s family are going through. Prayer is simply the only way to survive and move forward.

I encourage you, today, to use your platform. Take the time and send a text/email/snail mail note to someone that you love, stop, and pray for them. Post a note on your community mailbox...God Loves You.  Shake a hand at the grocery store and share “God’s peace”. Don’t save our love of Jesus for Sunday mornings. Use it Today.

May you find peace and passion in our Lord and use your platform to share the love and grace Jesus provides. Amen