I am in a tither (is that a word?) Today on the day that we celebrate our freedom I am thinking about our freedom of speech. The thought that is on my mind is, Just because you are free to say something, does that mean that you should? My opinion on this is a resounding NO! In the last two days I have been confronted by several examples that remind me just how thoughtless we can all be when we speak to each other. Yesterday I came home in a stew about natural childbirth, obviously just weeks away from my fourth c-section I don't participate in that. However after a talk with a well meaning friend I could only assume that the reason I needed (or chose drugs and/or c-section) was because of my own lack of knowledge about the beauty that is natural child birth. Today I came home looking at my kids and checking to see if they chew their toe nails because of a lady telling me that is exactly what homeschooled kids do. I then took a look at my home, checking for filth because also in her opinion homeschool families live in filth, not just filth but we are talking feces type filth. Shortly after I receieved a call from one of my dearest friends who was having a rough day that I think very much stemmed from others judgement of how she does or does not do things at her house.
Let it be said. I am certain I am as guilty of this as anyone in the world! I get so excited about the things that mean a lot to me that I know I sometimes present my enthusiasm in a way that makes it seem like the world's in the wrong and I am right. But, what the last 11 years has taught me is that there is no one right way to do things. I do believe there are a list of absolute imperatives that apply to everyone (moral character being key), but when it comes to day-to- day living, raising kids and being a family that is between God, you & your spouse and your kids.
I am tired of coming home after speaking to another person (usually a woman) and questioning every single thing I ever felt good about. In the last couple of years I am doing less questioning myself and more just wishing that we could be a little more gentle with each other, a little less judgemental. One thing I have confronted over and over is when you get zealous about something people seem to automatically think that you think something is wrong with them because they don't do it too, when that happens they get defensive and then things get ugly. For example, after my third son I started running because I needed something that was all me. I loved it so much that I decided to run a marathon that year. One friend pointed out that was all well and good for me, but that she loved her kids to much to do that to them. Up until that moment I couldn't see a single reason why this wasn't good for me and my family, but then I started worrying that maybe she was right. In hind sight I see that what really happened is that she felt bad about something I was doing and couldn't let it go past until she made me feel bad about it too. I am challenging all of us to be a little more gentle with each other. Something that may work wonders for you may be a disaster for someone else. For me, for now: the majority of my kids do not leave home to be educated, one of my sons is black as black can be, I happily take myself to the hospital with all the drugs I can get and have a baby c-section, I think that reading & organizing is more fun than most any type of entertainment there is, running (preferably alone) is in my opinion, the ultimate high, and I love heavy metal (although I rarely listen to it because I am wise enough to know that isn't a great influence for any of us). As for those of you who do things completely opposite from me, you are welcome to my world. I look forward to hearing about the things you are excited about and won't ever feel like you have to do it my way to be right. I will have a tendency to get enthusiastic, maybe to a fault, about the above mentioned things, but this is not because I think you have to do it that way, this is just because I love these things. I hope we can be friends...
8 comments:
I have been feeling this exact same way for a couple of days now...oh how you hit the nail on the head! And, furthermore...I am tired of all of the negative energy people tend to cling on to...like grapes on a vine...Well said my friend...Well said!
Thank you for this my dear friend! I love you.
Thanks for the smile! Love this post! Well said!!!!!
thanks for the reminder that we really do need to be more gentle with each other AND WITH OURSELVES! i think that is the hard part. i really can't change what other people do or say, only my reaction to it. interesting to read this post today because i just had somebody come to visit me who said several things that made me think, "does she really not feel that was rude and hurtful towards me???" hmm...i recognize that she has some serious insecurities so i am trying to be more gentle with her but mostly more gentle with myself to know that i have to be me and not worry a bout how she (or anybody else) feels or their opinions about some things in my life because i know i am not perfect. i also realized that i keep doing that dumb thing that i know not to do--i compare my weaknesses with another's strengths--your brilliance with organization reminded me of that one. anywho...great post. you are awesome. i hope we can all be better at cheering for each other and supporting each other. a little more gentleness in this world would be good!
So true! Isn't there a saying about until you have walked a mile in someone's shoes you shouldn't judge? I think that goes for every aspect!
That being said... I know and feel strongly about the evils of white sugar and flour but when do you want to get tohether and consume some???
Yes, homeshooling can be a bit messy at times. If I could only keep the chickens and goat out of our living room, then the feces problem might be alleviated. And chewing on the toenails? I don't mind, except when they do it at church. Regarding NCB, I always wonder...do these people go to the dentist and not have anesthetic? Novocaine is my friend.
That was a great post, a good reminder because we can never control what people say or do but how we react to it is what matters,but really I do have to draw the line at the feces all over so when you start homeschooling do "they" automatically send you a box of it to spread around your house or is it your responsibility to create it on your own if so I have a lot of it at my house if you are ever in need!
cant wait to see you this weekend. Just got around to reading this post. You know that I adore you ...right?
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