The past couple of months have got me thinking, "Why is everyone so angry?" And "Why is everyone so offended?" Can we handle conflict more wisely?
I was in a church choir for 18 years and the most common statement made to me during that time was, "You're so TALL!". I often thought to myself...what if I said back to them, "You're so SHORT!" That's would seem like a cut down, an insult, and maybe they would be offended. Maybe I was offended. Im not sure...but I'm not protesting or marching. I decided instead to start the "tall girls club" as a joke. I would get my point across by being funny and, in the process, I would make friends and make people laugh. I can close my eyes and try to be petite, but that is not going to happen.
Fast forward. I currently work for a great company but, let's face it, I am the oldest person there by decades. I don't pick up 50 pound tables...I drag them. I have just as much to give, and more experience, but I am older and therefore do some of event prep differently. I am not marching or protesting. I am choosing to be the "room mom" to the group and for that, they have more than accepted me. Just because I may want to look and feel younger, that doesn't make me younger. I like nurturing people, coming alongside to see how their day was, etc... Life is fuller when you take what you are and what you have and use it!
Today, just like for the past 25+ years, I am a wife and a mom. My kids are older, but one of my greatest joys is interacting with the boys. I hope we have raised them to respect women and appreciate all of our qualities. I can try to be like a man, but I'm not a man. I can do everything, and be everything...but just not at the same time. Im ok with that. I like the differences between men and women. We're different...so what? That is how God made us. I like being nurturing. I like baking. I like gardening. I like dressing up and even how high heels make me feel (but only for a couple of hours). I like men who open doors. I like being treated to flowers. I like contributing to the family in ways that don't come naturally to my husband and visa versa.
Time "marches" on and one thing I have learned is to take every chance to tell people you love them, don't waste energy on anger, forgive people because un-forgiveness hurts you more than it EVER does the other person, spend your time wisely, and hard work never returns void. Someone once wrote, "People are tenacious when it comes to the treasure of their imaginary independence." We all need people in our lives who love and support us. We are not in this thing called life alone.
Hope everyone is having a GREAT week. I appreciate and love all the women in my life (and the men too!)
Cheers,
CoffeeTalkMom
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