Now that the votes are in, here are a few things I want Donald Trump and his supporters (and Hillary Clinton and hers) to know.

This election season saddened me.

It saddened me because there were times when I thought (about both candidates), I cannot – in good conscience – vote for this individual. 

Mr. Trump, the comments you made in the past about women and other individuals were atrocious. As a mother of boys, I don’t want them to ever think that kind of talk is okay, even in a “locker room.” I hope you are a different man than you were when you said those things. I hope you have learned from your mistakes and will – from this point forward – treat every single person in this country and in other countries with the respect and dignity they deserve.

I believe people can change. Please, over the next four years, show us you have. 

Your acceptance speech last night was full of grace, and for that I say, “Well done.”

I hope that the graciousness and kindness that we saw last night in that speech will be the norm for your time in office.

As you mentioned in your speech last night, now is the time for the people of  the United States to become united once again.

So Mr. Trump, please lead us to that end. Please show those whom you have hurt (whether unintentionally or intentionally) that you do not, in fact, intend to marginalize or demean them.

To those who voted for Mr. Trump, now is not the time to rub your victory in the faces of Hillary Clinton supporters. And to those who voted for Mrs. Clinton, now is not the time to protest.

Regardless of who you voted for, now is the time to come together and to treat each other with the kindness and respect this election season has unfortunately lacked.

Mr. President, I am praying for you as you lead this great country of ours. 

And I’m asking each of you reading this post to join me. You might not like the results of this election, but that doesn’t change the fact that Mr. Trump is now President Trump and needs our prayers.

He has taken on a big job – a job I definitely would not want myself. My guess is, most of you wouldn’t want that job either. It comes with huge responsibility, so let’s stop arguing and start praying.