grown-up bullies

Tonight I'm addressing something that is on my heart.

One of my dearest friends, who has a heart of gold, shared something with me tonight that made my heart hurt. Let me clarify...it was not the sharing, it was the content of what she shared. And I appreciate that she did. She was watching out for me. Those in my inner circle, and believe me that inner ring is a {small} circle, have always watched out for one another. We are blessed by and invested in the friendship we share and we don't take a minute of it for granted.

I refuse to give a forum to elevate hate/bashing/gossip so I will speak of this without linking the content of what she shared with me.

It amazes me that people are so small-minded to find joy in bashing others. I realize not everyone was raised with "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all," but boy, what a better world this would be if that were the case. I don't mean hiding behind society's ills or allowing discrimination, but I mean just plain, common courtesy for a fellow human being.

It's no wonder to me that so many children - ahem, make that "littles" - grow up to become close-minded adults who perpetuate the cycle against others, when they have the example of "grown-up bullies" as their parents.

"Haters gonna hate" or so the expression goes, but what a waste of time. You don't like what you see on my blog...move on! Find something more your taste.

• If humiliating your children in social media is being "real", then I don't want to ever be real.
• If putting down your husband is seeming "authentic", then I don't want to be authentic.
• If remembering the moments that capture your mama heart is "staged", then let me be a first-class actress.
• If choosing to remember the good, forget the bad, pray for wisdom, and try-try again a "front", then let me be in the front lines of combat.

Do I make mistakes?  Who doesn't.
Do I lose my patience and yell at my children?  More times than I wish.
Do I wish to be a better wife to my husband at every stage of our lives?  Absolutely.
Do I second-guess myself and the parenting decisions we make?  At times.
Do I pray for God to equip me with "wisdom for the journey"?  Every.single.day.  
Do I thank God that His grace and mercy are new every day?  Without fail.

My husband sent these to me at work this morning. It made my day. It was completely unexpected and put the biggest smile on my face, and a couple of tears in my eyes too. Tears that I'm sure other mothers of little children and wives can relate to...tears of "my work means something to those I love" and "they can see past my imperfections to the love in my heart". Everyone needs that reminder from time to time. This business of raising littles and being a good spouse to your life partner is at times so exhausting, rewarding - absolutely, but exhausting at times - you betcha!

I think it is no coincidence that I received these beautiful flowers at work today, and the "bad news" this evening. Almost like God sent me a lifeline long before the ship hit rocky waves. And yes, there I go finding "miracles" in "boring, everyday stuff". I'd rather look for the rainbows than wither in the rain.

"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive."
Genesis 50:20