Tuesday, May 4, 2010

I just wanna get this out...

Bear with me through my random rants.

  • Jesus did NOT promise shiny cars, comfy retirement funds & huge houses. Just because you are in His will does not mean that you will suddenly be on Easy Street.*
    "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]" John 16:33, Amplified
  • No single child is perfect, or the absolute best at everything that he or she attempts. Constantly telling your child that they are is doing them a huge disservice. Yes, parents need to build their children up, but the kids also need to learn to deal with disappointment. This lesson is much easier learned at a young age.
  • Just because I want to be your friend does *not* necessarily mean I want to be your customer. Feel free to share the info once, but if I politely tell you I'm not interested, please do not continue to bombard me with brochures, invitations to "opportunity nights," and emails with the latest specials.
  • I like to plan my schedule. If you provide a list of dates, I will transfer them to our calendar at the earliest opportunity. If that schedule changes, please communicate!
  • If you ask my input, I will provide my two cents worth. I will do my best to answer truthfully, in love. Yes, I do think tact is important. In return, I ask that you demonstrate a degree of maturity and respond in a dignified fashion even if you don't like what I have to say.
  • Arguing with someone's facebook status isn't going to change anyone's mind.
  • If you invite me to something and I decline, I don't need to provide further justification. I am an introvert, and desperately crave downtime. Just because I don't have an activity planned doesn't mean I want one.

Deep breath. It's been a crazy couple weeks here. I'm still developing friendships and have been blown away by some of the crazy antics. Admittedly, it's a small percentage of the population, but these folks can be exhausting. As an aside, how do you deal with someone who seems to have no grasp of social norms? When someone stops by and I say, "No, this isn't a good time," I shouldn't have to physically stop them from my entering our house. And how can one politely respond to ridiculously personal questions, or stop the flow of info that you definitely don't want to know...

*On a side note, I just have to share a little "funny." I was shopping for a gift at Ross last week, and came across a stack of plaques with Biblical quotes. One in particular just didn't seem right - Job 22:21. "Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you." Seriously, a quote from one of Job's friends?! Obviously someone took that one way out of context - how about reading chapter 42, when God responds to Eliphaz. I think verse 7 sums it up pretty well: "I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right..." And the sad thing is that I'm sure someone will buy that and hang it proudly on their wall.

2 comments:

Shay said...

First I have to laugh, only because I could so write out my own similar list. Especially the facebook thing, ughh.
I was just talking w/ Rebecca this morning about people who have told their little princesses that they are the best and so forth, and have thus created the type of people you see on American Idol who will NOT believe that they really can't sing. It is truly damaging to tell your kids that they can 'be anything they want to be'. God has given us talents & abilities, but He sure didn't give us ALL of them, lol.
As for the invasion of your house & mind, I will certainly pray for this for you. That's a tough one ♥

Becca said...

Whoa...seriously? Job's friends got plaqued? That's pretty bad. Definitely worth getting feathers ruffled for. I'll pray for grace for you as you seem to have some interesting characters in your new corner of the Earth. Sorry it's hard to be new in town.