I have so many topics I want to write about, yet can't seem to find the words at the moment. Maybe this is God's way of telling me, "not now." So many of my words find themselves scattered about a page, some loving, some insightful, some...not so much.
The longer I sit though and think about what it is I want to write, the more I realize I'm trying to think of things that other people want to hear. I think, "Well, I'd like to write about placing judgement on other people," or "I'd love to write about the importance of reading the Bible," or even, "I'd really like to write about how we're doing great as moms even though EVERYONE writes about that."
But then I stop. I have a really great idea and then I think, "Oh wait, no...you can't say it like that. Because someone will immediately be offended."
I simply don't understand why we do this, all of us. I'm not innocent of this either.
Recently, a friend of mine wrote about what her typical day with her daughter looks like. She made the comment that her daughter doesn't watch maybe more than an hour of television a week. My first thought was, "Well that's just great. I'm not raising Mira right because we watch WAY more than that. What, are they perfect?"
How wrong. Wrong wrong wrong.
Instead of reading it for what it was: "This is what WE do," I read it as, "This is what WE do, and shame on you for not doing it too." Why did I add that little bit at the end?
Maybe because I do feel a little guilty about how tv-centered our family can be. Maybe because I was in the middle of looking at my phone while feeding Mira while watching tv ;-)
But it is ultimately this: I tend to project my insecurities onto others, and then am surprised when I see a negative reflection. My friends aren't perfect at raising their children, and neither am I. My family and friends aren't perfect when it comes to practicing their faith (whatever that would look like), and neither am I. My friends cannot do it all, be everything, or be everywhere. And neither can I. But when I see them doing or being something that I'm not, I tend to be offended. Don't lie, you've been there too. If we weren't, we wouldn't see as many arguments as we do today.
I notice that we're constantly taking care of our children, practicing our faith, and any number of things, while looking in the other direction. We've got one hand holding a spoon trying to feed our babies, and the other on our smartphones trying to keep up with what kind of spoons and food others are using. I am so very guilty of this.
God gave us two hands, yes He did. But not to have them in two different worlds at one time. He gave them to us so we could be fully invested in what we're doing. Flipping the pages of our Bibles AND highlighting the verses that speak to us that day. Feeding our babies AND keeping the applesauce/peas/sweet potatoes out of their hair. Stroking their cheeks, coaxing them to take another bite, and getting them to smile.
I want to live the kind of life pleasing to God...not to anyone else. So I don't know why I'm so worried about how anyone else will respond to the way I'm living it. I think it's time I take a step back from this world of negativity and offense, and step into one of proactivity, encouragement, and faith. I need to remember that the world does not have to believe the way I do in order for it to be true. If I based my beliefs on how much proof others needed...well, I guess I would never believe anything.
I'm not here to please the world. I'm here to please Him. And that's the Truth.
The longer I sit though and think about what it is I want to write, the more I realize I'm trying to think of things that other people want to hear. I think, "Well, I'd like to write about placing judgement on other people," or "I'd love to write about the importance of reading the Bible," or even, "I'd really like to write about how we're doing great as moms even though EVERYONE writes about that."
But then I stop. I have a really great idea and then I think, "Oh wait, no...you can't say it like that. Because someone will immediately be offended."
I simply don't understand why we do this, all of us. I'm not innocent of this either.
Recently, a friend of mine wrote about what her typical day with her daughter looks like. She made the comment that her daughter doesn't watch maybe more than an hour of television a week. My first thought was, "Well that's just great. I'm not raising Mira right because we watch WAY more than that. What, are they perfect?"
How wrong. Wrong wrong wrong.
Instead of reading it for what it was: "This is what WE do," I read it as, "This is what WE do, and shame on you for not doing it too." Why did I add that little bit at the end?
Maybe because I do feel a little guilty about how tv-centered our family can be. Maybe because I was in the middle of looking at my phone while feeding Mira while watching tv ;-)
But it is ultimately this: I tend to project my insecurities onto others, and then am surprised when I see a negative reflection. My friends aren't perfect at raising their children, and neither am I. My family and friends aren't perfect when it comes to practicing their faith (whatever that would look like), and neither am I. My friends cannot do it all, be everything, or be everywhere. And neither can I. But when I see them doing or being something that I'm not, I tend to be offended. Don't lie, you've been there too. If we weren't, we wouldn't see as many arguments as we do today.
I notice that we're constantly taking care of our children, practicing our faith, and any number of things, while looking in the other direction. We've got one hand holding a spoon trying to feed our babies, and the other on our smartphones trying to keep up with what kind of spoons and food others are using. I am so very guilty of this.
God gave us two hands, yes He did. But not to have them in two different worlds at one time. He gave them to us so we could be fully invested in what we're doing. Flipping the pages of our Bibles AND highlighting the verses that speak to us that day. Feeding our babies AND keeping the applesauce/peas/sweet potatoes out of their hair. Stroking their cheeks, coaxing them to take another bite, and getting them to smile.
I want to live the kind of life pleasing to God...not to anyone else. So I don't know why I'm so worried about how anyone else will respond to the way I'm living it. I think it's time I take a step back from this world of negativity and offense, and step into one of proactivity, encouragement, and faith. I need to remember that the world does not have to believe the way I do in order for it to be true. If I based my beliefs on how much proof others needed...well, I guess I would never believe anything.
I'm not here to please the world. I'm here to please Him. And that's the Truth.
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