Love, Patience, Gentleness

     So I wasn't quite sure what to write about today there's been a few things bouncing around in my head but I was going through my facebook news feed and this popped up...

 

 





     There's just so much truth in it for my life these days, when it seems there is constant judgment around us, the "I'm better than you" mentality. No matter what we think about a situation/person whether its close to our heart or not, it is not about judging, yes its important to state your opinion or view and its ok to express your thoughts on something but ultimately you don't know the battles going on inside someone. Its ok to lovingly and with gentleness state your thoughts, standing your ground in your belief system, however all to many times I see or even feel constant judgment. I am also of course not perfect and sometimes I am the one doing the judging. That continuous judgment is not really the answer, in my eyes its God's job to judge. We cannot see or even begin to understand someone's heart. Our job is to LOVE, FORGIVE, and live OUR life with God. For me it goes back to Actions Speak Louder Than Words. It is about living positively, truly taking in God's love, patience, and grace and letting our life and God's blessings show through and shine. Hopefully, leaving an impact, much stronger than our words. Sometimes that's really hard as we have our own battles, and we want everyone to see the world as we see it, especially if we see someone going through a similar struggle we have been through. Its hard not to just push them through to the same outcome we ourselves got to, without the pain, and while its good intentions not everyone is in the same place. Everyone has to go through their own journey. God is patient, gentle, loving and forgiving with us, and yes even when he is judging us. So that's what I want to strive for that same gentleness God has. Sometimes we have to walk away from a situation/person but that doesn't mean we can't continue to pray for that person and ask God to give that person guidance. We can still be there in love. We don't have to go spread rumors, gossip, and hate.

 

     As a wife I have had to watch my husband go through some tough times and there were times I thought about walking away some prior to getting married and some after, but it is with love, gentleness, and patience that we got through. Now I won't say we are perfect but those struggles are not at the forefront anymore and we are able to put them behind us in a big way. Had either of us given up we would not have been able to get to where we are now today, which is getting to be a great place. We are becoming more comfortable with ourselves, as a couple, as parents, and as a family. I truly believe God has had immense patience with us during our journey. His timing is perfect.

 

     Right now, as a mom I feel like we are in a generation of judgment and maybe I'm wrong and just never saw that judgment before becoming a parent, but I feel no matter what you do someone out there is going to judge you for it. Not too long ago I was yelled at by a woman at Discount Tire for not having my air on 100% when Dakota was in the backseat. I was in the car with her and turned the car down to accessory, she was content and happy, but for some reason that woman was convinced I was endangering my daughter. We are also constantly judged for trying to live a natural life including buying organic, refusing certain meds unless all options are exhausted and the biggest choosing not to vaccinate. We have been accused of so many things with that one. The list of things could go on and on for what I have been judged for as a parent and what I have seen others judged for. I am trying very hard to be confident in my choices but some days those hits are hard to take.

 

    Personally I have faced judgments from purely being a Christian and often times going against the grain, to my battle dealing with fibromyalgia, to some of the general choices and decisions I have made. There are times I wished people would have given me a little more patience and gentleness, a little more confidence. I also am aware I am not perfect and I have done my fair share of judging, but I'm really working on it and being aware of my own actions and reactions. 

 

     With all of the posts floating around about depression, kindness, and judgment, I truly hope people can take those posts to heart and start with themselves. For Actions Speak Louder Than Words. 

 

     "We can always do our part in letting people know they are appreciated and loved. There's no telling what effect our love can have. When we share it. "