Interesting reading up on possible links between ADD and OCD. I never would have considered it. I wouldn't classify myself as ocd- I certainly don't have rituals like washing or checking, and Lord knows i am not a neat freak.
Also the underlying thought patterns seem to be different, but I can say with certainty that portions of my day/week etc are very carefully inscribed into my mind out of fear of forgetting, or fear of -insert ADD characteristic-.
When I am forced to shift gears or re-write the plan, especially on the fly, I really fight panic. I become fearful (terrified actually) of dropping the ball or letting something slip.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Going In Deep
I suppose there could be many reasons for blogging, and if I'm honest with myself, I have no idea what my reason is, aside from maybe a half-assed desire to put myself out there without having to really look people in the face and put myself out there. Brave, right? Also, I just love to write, and I can never seem to find a pen, let alone a piece of paper that doesn't have Iron Man or Batman drawn on it in thick marker. So I blog.
But today I have a reason. I'm going in deep, and it has a purpose. Life is complicated, and as Glennon Doyle from Momastery puts it, brutiful. A combination of brutal things and beautiful things which can't completely be untangled. They weave together and make our story what it is. And the most key ingredient in our brutiful story is our attitude. Unfortunately I often let my attitude color my story a little or a lot more darkly than I need. It is a process I have been working on my whole life, and need to continue to work on. At times my shades are a little rosier, and at times they are a little dingier and in need of a good wiping off. But there is some back story that I think needs to be opened up to the world. Not because I need any sympathy - sympathy is certainly not over-rated, its just not what is needed in my case. What I need is the reminder to make the best of the beautiful times so that they shine through into the brutal times to remind me what I'm here for. The reason I want to shed light is because I think I often give the world the impression that the so-called "brutal" parts of my existence are external struggles that I must contend with, when in reality, the gifts I have been given by God including my husband and my family, are the beautiful parts of my life.
My brutal is an ugliness that comes from the inside. This may be the hardest thing I have ever chosen to be open about, but I believe I owe it to the people that I sometimes, or often, tear down when the emotions inside of me become tornadoes with a will of their own. Namely my husband. Dan is not perfect. But if he had been perfect I never would have taken a second look at him. I don't want perfect. I don't like perfect. Perfect is fake. What Dan is, is real, genuine, loyal, sensitive, and loving. But he is a man. And men are not like women. If you want to know about the conflicts the differences between men and women create, read Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. Our real problems come from deeper inside of me. Those who know me know that I am a pretty functional, though often spacey and emotional person. You may think other things of me, but you have been kind enough to keep those things to your self. Thank you for that.
I am fairly functional. But from my pre-teen years on I have struggled with deep bouts of major depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD and PMDD. All of which can somewhat overlap eachother and become muddled to the point that I have decided that in general, the diagnoses we and our Dr's give ourselves are not helpful for any purpose other than to help narrow down medication needs. I have caught myself often getting too wrapped up in the labels, but I think the best way to look at them is to remember that almost all of us have some form of something if we really want to look hard enough. It is all a sliding scale, and it should only be important to your Dr, and maybe your teachers, and only in the event that you need medical intervention, which, if you do, you should not be ashamed of. But now that you know these things about me I am no different that I was before.
What I want you to understand is that I am trying my hardest to learn how to keep the people I love out of the path of my storm. Sadly my husband lands in its path most often. The fact that he has stood by me and weathered those storms for 9 years now should tell you something of his character. I love him dearly, and he is my even keel, much as my mother was when I was in my late teens and early twenties. I think that while being a stay at home mom has been one of the most profound blessings of my life, it has also been one of the most difficult times for me in learning to manage and regulate and maintain schedules, emotions etc. In the corporate world I thrived. I showed up, I followed protocol, I had resources to assist with organization when needed. There was structure, there were not only accolades given for doing what you were asked to do, but when I could go above and beyond, just like in school, I was able to receive even more validation. I think those things really held me together in school, sports, and the work world, and I think I am learning to manage without them at home, though a little bit more slowly. I do look forward to someday entering the workforce again in some way and finding a venue to knock peoples socks off so that I don't need to seek validation elsewhere (like through sewing lol).
For me these days, the things that are most difficult aside from remembering to take the medication that keeps me from forgetting to get my children to brush their teeth and take a bath, and that helps me to make the best of my beautiful days, which is the majority of them, is that when the world crashes down, I can't trust my own emotions. Some days I feel I have the right to be angry at something, and the next minute I realize it could just be a reaction to medication, lack of medication, too much gluten, not enough sunlight, pms, and even if its none of the above, the people close to me will likely attribute my emotions to those things anyway. And so down the rabbit hole.
Do you want to know what God has given me to ensure that I never give in? Everything I need. I know that may sound like part of the crazy, but I believe with all of my heart on my most sane of days that this is a fact. I have attempted suicide twice. Both times in my teens. Both times with a well thought out plan. Both times the key to my plan went missing at the last minute. I believe God intervened so that my life would be saved. Then my nephew Kenny was born, and I loved him so much that I was terrified every day that something would happen to him. It still brings tears to my eyes to even think about. I have never mentioned this to him - he is now 16. But his life saved mine several times, because I knew I could never let my nephew who I loved so much, down. And then more nephews came, Caleb, Lyle, Braden, and the love grew and God had placed a net beneath me. Then I moved far away and the net became a little harder to feel. Until somehow I realized that every time I hit that rock bottom low point, if I could just hold out for 3 days, I would wake up and the world would be right again. And that three day rule has continued to work. I believe it is my gift from the Lord because I prayed many times for his help. I have truly feared that I would not be able to live out my days because of this depression, and I believe he has given me the tools to conquer it one day at a time.
So why else am I telling you all this (all 5 of you, ha!)? I don't really know, other than maybe someone who reads this needs to find hope that they can make it through too. Maybe God has a reason for not taking it away completely, but He will help you get through it.
To my friends who I have allowed close enough to walk with me through the good and the bad days (Faith, Dan), thank you. To any who I may have frustrated with a distance kept, please know it has nothing to do with you. I am protecting you from a level of neurosis you really probably don't want to deal with, lol.
For those of you who read through all of this and now wish you could un-read it, when I find a button for that I'll be sure to include it in each post, but for now, thanks for reading... and lets all just pretend we didn't see this... mmmmkaaaaay?
But today I have a reason. I'm going in deep, and it has a purpose. Life is complicated, and as Glennon Doyle from Momastery puts it, brutiful. A combination of brutal things and beautiful things which can't completely be untangled. They weave together and make our story what it is. And the most key ingredient in our brutiful story is our attitude. Unfortunately I often let my attitude color my story a little or a lot more darkly than I need. It is a process I have been working on my whole life, and need to continue to work on. At times my shades are a little rosier, and at times they are a little dingier and in need of a good wiping off. But there is some back story that I think needs to be opened up to the world. Not because I need any sympathy - sympathy is certainly not over-rated, its just not what is needed in my case. What I need is the reminder to make the best of the beautiful times so that they shine through into the brutal times to remind me what I'm here for. The reason I want to shed light is because I think I often give the world the impression that the so-called "brutal" parts of my existence are external struggles that I must contend with, when in reality, the gifts I have been given by God including my husband and my family, are the beautiful parts of my life.
My brutal is an ugliness that comes from the inside. This may be the hardest thing I have ever chosen to be open about, but I believe I owe it to the people that I sometimes, or often, tear down when the emotions inside of me become tornadoes with a will of their own. Namely my husband. Dan is not perfect. But if he had been perfect I never would have taken a second look at him. I don't want perfect. I don't like perfect. Perfect is fake. What Dan is, is real, genuine, loyal, sensitive, and loving. But he is a man. And men are not like women. If you want to know about the conflicts the differences between men and women create, read Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. Our real problems come from deeper inside of me. Those who know me know that I am a pretty functional, though often spacey and emotional person. You may think other things of me, but you have been kind enough to keep those things to your self. Thank you for that.
I am fairly functional. But from my pre-teen years on I have struggled with deep bouts of major depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD and PMDD. All of which can somewhat overlap eachother and become muddled to the point that I have decided that in general, the diagnoses we and our Dr's give ourselves are not helpful for any purpose other than to help narrow down medication needs. I have caught myself often getting too wrapped up in the labels, but I think the best way to look at them is to remember that almost all of us have some form of something if we really want to look hard enough. It is all a sliding scale, and it should only be important to your Dr, and maybe your teachers, and only in the event that you need medical intervention, which, if you do, you should not be ashamed of. But now that you know these things about me I am no different that I was before.
What I want you to understand is that I am trying my hardest to learn how to keep the people I love out of the path of my storm. Sadly my husband lands in its path most often. The fact that he has stood by me and weathered those storms for 9 years now should tell you something of his character. I love him dearly, and he is my even keel, much as my mother was when I was in my late teens and early twenties. I think that while being a stay at home mom has been one of the most profound blessings of my life, it has also been one of the most difficult times for me in learning to manage and regulate and maintain schedules, emotions etc. In the corporate world I thrived. I showed up, I followed protocol, I had resources to assist with organization when needed. There was structure, there were not only accolades given for doing what you were asked to do, but when I could go above and beyond, just like in school, I was able to receive even more validation. I think those things really held me together in school, sports, and the work world, and I think I am learning to manage without them at home, though a little bit more slowly. I do look forward to someday entering the workforce again in some way and finding a venue to knock peoples socks off so that I don't need to seek validation elsewhere (like through sewing lol).
For me these days, the things that are most difficult aside from remembering to take the medication that keeps me from forgetting to get my children to brush their teeth and take a bath, and that helps me to make the best of my beautiful days, which is the majority of them, is that when the world crashes down, I can't trust my own emotions. Some days I feel I have the right to be angry at something, and the next minute I realize it could just be a reaction to medication, lack of medication, too much gluten, not enough sunlight, pms, and even if its none of the above, the people close to me will likely attribute my emotions to those things anyway. And so down the rabbit hole.
Do you want to know what God has given me to ensure that I never give in? Everything I need. I know that may sound like part of the crazy, but I believe with all of my heart on my most sane of days that this is a fact. I have attempted suicide twice. Both times in my teens. Both times with a well thought out plan. Both times the key to my plan went missing at the last minute. I believe God intervened so that my life would be saved. Then my nephew Kenny was born, and I loved him so much that I was terrified every day that something would happen to him. It still brings tears to my eyes to even think about. I have never mentioned this to him - he is now 16. But his life saved mine several times, because I knew I could never let my nephew who I loved so much, down. And then more nephews came, Caleb, Lyle, Braden, and the love grew and God had placed a net beneath me. Then I moved far away and the net became a little harder to feel. Until somehow I realized that every time I hit that rock bottom low point, if I could just hold out for 3 days, I would wake up and the world would be right again. And that three day rule has continued to work. I believe it is my gift from the Lord because I prayed many times for his help. I have truly feared that I would not be able to live out my days because of this depression, and I believe he has given me the tools to conquer it one day at a time.
So why else am I telling you all this (all 5 of you, ha!)? I don't really know, other than maybe someone who reads this needs to find hope that they can make it through too. Maybe God has a reason for not taking it away completely, but He will help you get through it.
To my friends who I have allowed close enough to walk with me through the good and the bad days (Faith, Dan), thank you. To any who I may have frustrated with a distance kept, please know it has nothing to do with you. I am protecting you from a level of neurosis you really probably don't want to deal with, lol.
For those of you who read through all of this and now wish you could un-read it, when I find a button for that I'll be sure to include it in each post, but for now, thanks for reading... and lets all just pretend we didn't see this... mmmmkaaaaay?
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
A Mile In Their Shoes
So, I can be a whiner. I know this. And I don't like it. But I fight a little battle in my head (loooooony!) regularly between the side of me that wants to share and the side that doesn't. So, since Facebook is a little more in your face, I figure I can say what I want here and those who can read it and take it with a grain of salt are welcome to, and those who would rather not can avoid it easily.
That being said, I gotta tell you what happened to me last night. I literally had an asthma attack. I don't have asthma. I thought when I was a kid that I had exercised induced asthma, which I always thought might be a little bit of 'you're-just-outta-shape' asthma. Last night confirmed it for me. What I had as a kid, was not asthma.
I can totally deal with being sick. It happens. You get to lay in bed a little, lay low, all that stuff. Of course I don't like it, but I try not to worry to much about it. I generally don't go to the Dr until well after I should, but I also go to the Dr a lot since my body doesn't seem to fight off infection well. Whatevs. I was sick all day Monday. Dan left the house putting Maddox in charge since I was pretty much lifeless on the couch. That resulted in a lot of messes, a lot of Easter Candy being eaten, and fortunately no real drama.
So I'm in bed texting a friend when I realize the weight on my chest is feeling heavier and heavier. I decide to take a super hot shower and sit in the steam to clear things up a bit. I was pretty sure it would work. Its what my mom did with me as a kid growing up whenever I had croup. Which was a lot. So I wasn't too worried. But something happened while I was in the shower. I had another coughing fit, but suddenly it was more of a bark than a cough, and suddenly I couldn't breathe without it sounding and feeling like I was gasping for breathe. And then I realized I was gasping for breathe, and I panicked which of course made it worse. I banged on the wall of the shower, and Dan was down in no time. I literally felt like my esophagus/throat was going to collapse like a balloon with the air being sucked out of it. I don't know how else to describe it. It took everything I had to keep from ripping at my chest in a panic. Enter Dan. He was able to help me calm down and after several sobbing failed attempts, take slow breaths. We sat there trying to decide if I needed to go to the ER. How much was from panic? Did I have pneumonia? Would I be able to drive myself? Would he need to call 911, and for a few seconds I prayed that he would because I just wanted something on my face getting air into my lungs stat. But his calm and persistence paid off. We got my breathing under control enough that he was able to walk away and just check on me in a few minutes. And by the time he came to bed, Nyquil had calmed me down (knocked me out), and I was able to get some sleep.
I woke up still feeling like a truck was parked on my chest, but I made an appointment and got in to the Dr. I might be a little dramatic... only a little... but I kinda thought they were going to tell me I have pneumonia and either give me breathing treatments, or in my more dramatic (read:Hypochondriac) imaginings, I saw myself being admitted to the hospital. I wasn't surprised that when the Dr checked me out she saw that I was basically a mess who just wanted to go back to bed. But what did surprise me was that she noticed that my ears and neck and face were swollen, and that I had had, and was possibly still having the effects of an asthma attack brought on by allergies. And that the buildup from the allergies had also caused basically a sinus infection. She said that something had blown into the area that was messing with all of her allergy and asthma people. It makes sense that whatever this allergen is, isn't the norm because I really have not struggled with allergies in TX until the last couple weeks.
While she was surprised that I hadn't ever been diagnosed with real asthma, she and I were both comfortable believing that this was probably a one time, perfect storm situation. We will of course be keeping an eye on the allergens, and be wary of another bout of allergic reaction, but what I have come out of from this, is a brand new understanding and empathy for those with asthma. I have had to deal with it once. How many times have others, and children dealt with it. Felt like they were literally going to die. I was not going to die, but its the closest I have ever felt to it.
All in all, I got some good drugs, and I'm going to be just fine in no time. But it was such a big experience for me that, while I don't want to go around boring the whole world telling them about what "happened" to me, upping my neurotic-hypochondriac-whiner rep, I still wanted to share it. May not be a difference, but oh well. :) Nyquil is now coursing through my veins and calling me to bed, so I will obey and sign off.
That being said, I gotta tell you what happened to me last night. I literally had an asthma attack. I don't have asthma. I thought when I was a kid that I had exercised induced asthma, which I always thought might be a little bit of 'you're-just-outta-shape' asthma. Last night confirmed it for me. What I had as a kid, was not asthma.
I can totally deal with being sick. It happens. You get to lay in bed a little, lay low, all that stuff. Of course I don't like it, but I try not to worry to much about it. I generally don't go to the Dr until well after I should, but I also go to the Dr a lot since my body doesn't seem to fight off infection well. Whatevs. I was sick all day Monday. Dan left the house putting Maddox in charge since I was pretty much lifeless on the couch. That resulted in a lot of messes, a lot of Easter Candy being eaten, and fortunately no real drama.
So I'm in bed texting a friend when I realize the weight on my chest is feeling heavier and heavier. I decide to take a super hot shower and sit in the steam to clear things up a bit. I was pretty sure it would work. Its what my mom did with me as a kid growing up whenever I had croup. Which was a lot. So I wasn't too worried. But something happened while I was in the shower. I had another coughing fit, but suddenly it was more of a bark than a cough, and suddenly I couldn't breathe without it sounding and feeling like I was gasping for breathe. And then I realized I was gasping for breathe, and I panicked which of course made it worse. I banged on the wall of the shower, and Dan was down in no time. I literally felt like my esophagus/throat was going to collapse like a balloon with the air being sucked out of it. I don't know how else to describe it. It took everything I had to keep from ripping at my chest in a panic. Enter Dan. He was able to help me calm down and after several sobbing failed attempts, take slow breaths. We sat there trying to decide if I needed to go to the ER. How much was from panic? Did I have pneumonia? Would I be able to drive myself? Would he need to call 911, and for a few seconds I prayed that he would because I just wanted something on my face getting air into my lungs stat. But his calm and persistence paid off. We got my breathing under control enough that he was able to walk away and just check on me in a few minutes. And by the time he came to bed, Nyquil had calmed me down (knocked me out), and I was able to get some sleep.
I woke up still feeling like a truck was parked on my chest, but I made an appointment and got in to the Dr. I might be a little dramatic... only a little... but I kinda thought they were going to tell me I have pneumonia and either give me breathing treatments, or in my more dramatic (read:Hypochondriac) imaginings, I saw myself being admitted to the hospital. I wasn't surprised that when the Dr checked me out she saw that I was basically a mess who just wanted to go back to bed. But what did surprise me was that she noticed that my ears and neck and face were swollen, and that I had had, and was possibly still having the effects of an asthma attack brought on by allergies. And that the buildup from the allergies had also caused basically a sinus infection. She said that something had blown into the area that was messing with all of her allergy and asthma people. It makes sense that whatever this allergen is, isn't the norm because I really have not struggled with allergies in TX until the last couple weeks.
While she was surprised that I hadn't ever been diagnosed with real asthma, she and I were both comfortable believing that this was probably a one time, perfect storm situation. We will of course be keeping an eye on the allergens, and be wary of another bout of allergic reaction, but what I have come out of from this, is a brand new understanding and empathy for those with asthma. I have had to deal with it once. How many times have others, and children dealt with it. Felt like they were literally going to die. I was not going to die, but its the closest I have ever felt to it.
All in all, I got some good drugs, and I'm going to be just fine in no time. But it was such a big experience for me that, while I don't want to go around boring the whole world telling them about what "happened" to me, upping my neurotic-hypochondriac-whiner rep, I still wanted to share it. May not be a difference, but oh well. :) Nyquil is now coursing through my veins and calling me to bed, so I will obey and sign off.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Unanswered calls,
Questions still hanging.
Waiting for you
And the silence is clanging
Ringing around in my ears
clouding my mind.
Shattering self worth
I've worked so hard to find.
I've come at you with anger
I've come to you with tears
I've screamed to break your silence,
I've cried so many years,
I used to try so hard to please
to be someone you'd finally see,
But it was never good enough
to make you look one time at me.
I told myself I could just change
I'd be the one you wanted
but I'm tired now, it didn't pay
and you, still empty, haunted.
So we circled awhile
out of each other's way
drifting in and out
of an endless stream of days.
Going throught the motions
keeping our routines
but I'm tired now, its hasn't paid
but I don't know what that means.
I've come at you with anger
I've come to you with tears
I've screamed to break your silence,
I've cried so many years.
I've come to know I'll never
feel needed, loved and warm,
So now I pray for strength to stay
and live with what is done.
Questions still hanging.
Waiting for you
And the silence is clanging
Ringing around in my ears
clouding my mind.
Shattering self worth
I've worked so hard to find.
I've come at you with anger
I've come to you with tears
I've screamed to break your silence,
I've cried so many years,
I used to try so hard to please
to be someone you'd finally see,
But it was never good enough
to make you look one time at me.
I told myself I could just change
I'd be the one you wanted
but I'm tired now, it didn't pay
and you, still empty, haunted.
So we circled awhile
out of each other's way
drifting in and out
of an endless stream of days.
Going throught the motions
keeping our routines
but I'm tired now, its hasn't paid
but I don't know what that means.
I've come at you with anger
I've come to you with tears
I've screamed to break your silence,
I've cried so many years.
I've come to know I'll never
feel needed, loved and warm,
So now I pray for strength to stay
and live with what is done.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
On Being Open
I have never been good at the games people play in social life. I opt to surround myself with people who will say what is on their mind, and allow me to do the same. People who, like me, do our best not to offend, but who keep ulterior motives off the shelf. I've found that I am just not any good at doing it any other way. This also means that I keep my guard up, instinctively, until I have tested the waters a bit.
But here in blogland it is different. I still aim to be open and honest, but I have to accept that not everyone who reads what I have to say will appreciate it. But I have to be ok with that. On this blog, I have already opened myself up far deeper and wider than I have to most people in person. In fact, all but one or two. So here's what I ask. Take me for what I am. My blog "personality" and my IRL personality are essentially the same, but writing is a passion and a release for me. Something I love to do whether anyone wants to read it or not. Maybe you feel I share too much here, or even in person, and that's ok with me. You don't have to read what I write. But everything I write comes from deep within me, and I don't think there is anything good that comes from false pretenses. I have a lot of things in my past, present and future, and while I don't feel the need to share it all with everyone, I have a feeling that if I continue to blog, much of it will be mentioned here and there, in bits and pieces, and I'm ok with that.
Everything in my life that has happened to this day, has been part of shaping who I am today. And as life continues to unfold before me I will continue to be shaped by it. I refuse to let circumstances from the past, or any that may come my way, to make me be afraid to be who I am... and since I am pretty reserved in person, I guess maybe this blog is my way of opening the doors a little. Letting a little light in, one step at a time. Toughening up my confidence in who I am as a friend, a wife, a mom, a woman, a Christian who maybe doesn't seem like a lot of the other Christians out there, a daughter, a "writer", a creative being, etc etc etc.
So should I end this speech with a "tadaa!!" a "thanks", or what??
How about just hasta la vista, I gotta pick up my babies!
But here in blogland it is different. I still aim to be open and honest, but I have to accept that not everyone who reads what I have to say will appreciate it. But I have to be ok with that. On this blog, I have already opened myself up far deeper and wider than I have to most people in person. In fact, all but one or two. So here's what I ask. Take me for what I am. My blog "personality" and my IRL personality are essentially the same, but writing is a passion and a release for me. Something I love to do whether anyone wants to read it or not. Maybe you feel I share too much here, or even in person, and that's ok with me. You don't have to read what I write. But everything I write comes from deep within me, and I don't think there is anything good that comes from false pretenses. I have a lot of things in my past, present and future, and while I don't feel the need to share it all with everyone, I have a feeling that if I continue to blog, much of it will be mentioned here and there, in bits and pieces, and I'm ok with that.
Everything in my life that has happened to this day, has been part of shaping who I am today. And as life continues to unfold before me I will continue to be shaped by it. I refuse to let circumstances from the past, or any that may come my way, to make me be afraid to be who I am... and since I am pretty reserved in person, I guess maybe this blog is my way of opening the doors a little. Letting a little light in, one step at a time. Toughening up my confidence in who I am as a friend, a wife, a mom, a woman, a Christian who maybe doesn't seem like a lot of the other Christians out there, a daughter, a "writer", a creative being, etc etc etc.
So should I end this speech with a "tadaa!!" a "thanks", or what??
How about just hasta la vista, I gotta pick up my babies!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The Post In Which I Start Out Aimlessly Babbling And End In A Rant
I bore easily. Not to say I don't have enough to do, its more like I don't have enough that I want to do. I have even fewer things that I want to finish once I've started them. I. Just. Get. Bored. With. It. I like to think its because I'm super smart or something, like my brain is moving so fast that my body just can't keep up. Nope. But I do get distracted a lot.
What was I saying?
Anyway, crap, I forgot about what I was going to blog about today. Seriously. I actually distracted myself. I considered rambling on about the Craft Ninjas of Collin County thingy that a few of my friends and I are getting started, but since there are going to be no fewer than 24 people in my home, and I'm going to have to actually clean said home before they get here, I'd really rather not talk about it. Don't get me wrong, I'm completely and totally excited, and I know it will be amazing, especially in the long run. But at the moment I'm more in a place of terror than peace about it. I'll get over it.
Hmm, ok, I got it. I'm going to spill my beans about the Gay Marriage Civil Rights Jazz that is going on in the Supreme Court right now. That'll stir the pot, cuz I know for a fact my opinion is more liberal than my family for one.
Here's the thing. well, there are a long of things, but first off, the issues going before the court at the moment are not about wether or not gay couples should be allowed to get married. Right now that's a state by state thing. What we're talking about it wether or not gay couples who have been married in a state that has previously legalized gay marriage, are entitled to insurance, health and other benefits that a straight couple is entitled to. I don't understand why this is not ok. I know some would argue that they don't want their tax money going toward the social institutions that end up paying out to these families in addition to the straight ones, but wow, that is a hell of a dangerous path to go down. Are they less deserving, less human, less valuable simply because they live a different lifestyle? Hello slippery slope! Regardless of sexual orientation, all people should be entitled to the security that insurance and other benefits provide to families.
Next, here's where I'm probably going to offend the other side. While my views continue to morph, I still believe that homosexual relationships are not in God's plan. However, I know and have known lots of gay people and some that I care about deeply. And I don't feel like they have to change to be a part of my life. Their sexuality is part of their life, but its not what defines them. Just a piece of the puzzle, a piece that really doesn't affect me at all. I don't necesarily want to throw the "sin" word out there, but even if I did, don't I sin? Haven't I walked down a million paths that were clearly not the ones God had paved for me? Hasn't he met me where I'm at every single time and offered me grace and love? Right there. Not on condition of change, but right where I'm at. Forgiven. And yes, I do believe that true repentance for outrights sins requires a desire to change, but I don't think we always know or feel, big picture the things that need to change all at one time. We take baby steps. I believe God walks us one step at a time, and can and does do the same thing for lesbians and gays who love Him. Its not our business where in our walk they are. If or when God is going to ask them to "change." There is a big IF in there.
Which leads me to another point. Good grief I'm rambling on! Since when did God or Jesus reach out to anyone by shunning them. Shutting them out and belittling them. NEVER. He sat down with the prostitute and chatted with her. He invited himself over to dinner with Zaccheus. He sent away the people who wanted to stone the adulteress. PEOPLE YOU ARE THROWING STONES HERE! STOP IT! For real! Wether you believe homosexuality is wrong or not, I think of anything in scripture that makes it any worse than what you and I do on a daily basis. And thank God for grace. Literally. Isn't that what we want? To share and spread God's grace? His love and forgiveness? That was what and how he preached. The Ten Commandments are real and true and should be followed. But Jesus made it clear that more important than any of those things is LOVE. LOVE. And that if you do anything, do it with love or don't do it at all. Seriously people, look into your heart and see that you are not treating gays and lesbians with love. You aren't treating them as your brother, sister, neighbor. You are treating them as sub-human and dispicable, and Jesus NEVER treated anyone that way. Never. Because, for one thing, it does not work toward His ultimate purpose of drawing His people to Him. And by HIS PEOPLE I mean all who love him. Gays, straights, baptists, adulterers, porn addicts, alcoholics, gossips, tax collectors, etc. We are all His children, and he wants ALL of us to learn and know of his love and grace. But anger, resentment, discrimination, those things don't show God's love. In fact, they are no part of who God is.
Look around for someone in your life that is gay, and see the world through their eyes. See the hardship they have faced, regardless of wether it is a choice or not. If it is a choice they have made, it sure hasn't been an easy one, and I can guarantee they have payed a heavy price for their choice. Its not our job to dole out that heaviness. We are to be God's arms and legs of love and service. Be an ally, not a heavy chain pulling them away from the light of God's love. And don't ask them to change. I'm sorry, but that is between them and God.
What was I saying?
Anyway, crap, I forgot about what I was going to blog about today. Seriously. I actually distracted myself. I considered rambling on about the Craft Ninjas of Collin County thingy that a few of my friends and I are getting started, but since there are going to be no fewer than 24 people in my home, and I'm going to have to actually clean said home before they get here, I'd really rather not talk about it. Don't get me wrong, I'm completely and totally excited, and I know it will be amazing, especially in the long run. But at the moment I'm more in a place of terror than peace about it. I'll get over it.
Hmm, ok, I got it. I'm going to spill my beans about the Gay Marriage Civil Rights Jazz that is going on in the Supreme Court right now. That'll stir the pot, cuz I know for a fact my opinion is more liberal than my family for one.
Here's the thing. well, there are a long of things, but first off, the issues going before the court at the moment are not about wether or not gay couples should be allowed to get married. Right now that's a state by state thing. What we're talking about it wether or not gay couples who have been married in a state that has previously legalized gay marriage, are entitled to insurance, health and other benefits that a straight couple is entitled to. I don't understand why this is not ok. I know some would argue that they don't want their tax money going toward the social institutions that end up paying out to these families in addition to the straight ones, but wow, that is a hell of a dangerous path to go down. Are they less deserving, less human, less valuable simply because they live a different lifestyle? Hello slippery slope! Regardless of sexual orientation, all people should be entitled to the security that insurance and other benefits provide to families.
Next, here's where I'm probably going to offend the other side. While my views continue to morph, I still believe that homosexual relationships are not in God's plan. However, I know and have known lots of gay people and some that I care about deeply. And I don't feel like they have to change to be a part of my life. Their sexuality is part of their life, but its not what defines them. Just a piece of the puzzle, a piece that really doesn't affect me at all. I don't necesarily want to throw the "sin" word out there, but even if I did, don't I sin? Haven't I walked down a million paths that were clearly not the ones God had paved for me? Hasn't he met me where I'm at every single time and offered me grace and love? Right there. Not on condition of change, but right where I'm at. Forgiven. And yes, I do believe that true repentance for outrights sins requires a desire to change, but I don't think we always know or feel, big picture the things that need to change all at one time. We take baby steps. I believe God walks us one step at a time, and can and does do the same thing for lesbians and gays who love Him. Its not our business where in our walk they are. If or when God is going to ask them to "change." There is a big IF in there.
Which leads me to another point. Good grief I'm rambling on! Since when did God or Jesus reach out to anyone by shunning them. Shutting them out and belittling them. NEVER. He sat down with the prostitute and chatted with her. He invited himself over to dinner with Zaccheus. He sent away the people who wanted to stone the adulteress. PEOPLE YOU ARE THROWING STONES HERE! STOP IT! For real! Wether you believe homosexuality is wrong or not, I think of anything in scripture that makes it any worse than what you and I do on a daily basis. And thank God for grace. Literally. Isn't that what we want? To share and spread God's grace? His love and forgiveness? That was what and how he preached. The Ten Commandments are real and true and should be followed. But Jesus made it clear that more important than any of those things is LOVE. LOVE. And that if you do anything, do it with love or don't do it at all. Seriously people, look into your heart and see that you are not treating gays and lesbians with love. You aren't treating them as your brother, sister, neighbor. You are treating them as sub-human and dispicable, and Jesus NEVER treated anyone that way. Never. Because, for one thing, it does not work toward His ultimate purpose of drawing His people to Him. And by HIS PEOPLE I mean all who love him. Gays, straights, baptists, adulterers, porn addicts, alcoholics, gossips, tax collectors, etc. We are all His children, and he wants ALL of us to learn and know of his love and grace. But anger, resentment, discrimination, those things don't show God's love. In fact, they are no part of who God is.
Look around for someone in your life that is gay, and see the world through their eyes. See the hardship they have faced, regardless of wether it is a choice or not. If it is a choice they have made, it sure hasn't been an easy one, and I can guarantee they have payed a heavy price for their choice. Its not our job to dole out that heaviness. We are to be God's arms and legs of love and service. Be an ally, not a heavy chain pulling them away from the light of God's love. And don't ask them to change. I'm sorry, but that is between them and God.
Monday, March 25, 2013
I try not to look in the mirror often. As little as possible in fact. At this point in my life, with three small children, the sad truth is that I am pretty sure I have, at one time or another, gone days without actually looking myself in the mirror. I know. Bad. Brushing my teeth? Yes. Every day. Without fail. But I close my eyes while I brush. No joke. That or run out to see which kid is hitting who or breaking what while I try to reach my farthest back teeth and order children around all at the same time through a bubbly toothpaste filled mouth before having to run back to the sink to spit. I know. Bad.
The truth is I can’t stand to look in the mirror, and I don’t relate to the image it portrays either. That women in there, she isn’t me. She ate me up or something and I’m stuck inside her belly rolls and chin fat and cankles. She has smothered me really. Or at least that’s what I tell myself when I find one excuse or another to stay on the couch or sew silly dolls instead of go to the gym or take my husky Yukon on a walk. My legs, my real legs used to do amazing things. In fact they were always one of my best qualities.
At 6 feet tall my legs were always long and lean and toned with chiseled calf muscles that carried me from high school and college sports through my final athletic feat, a marathon. 26.2 miles. The proudest day of my life. One I would never have been able to achieve without those beautiful calves. And without my mom’s well-meaning incredulity when I told her I wanted to run one. I’ve never been much of a finisher, so her doubt was well founded, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let someone tell me I can’t do something. And so I did. And my mother was my greatest cheerleader and ally through the training process. She’s good like that.
But that’s when this fat lazy old lady with wrinkles and lumps and blotches started to swallow me up. She was sneaky that one, moving in little by little. She kept telling me I deserved to let my body rest and recover just a little bit longer after that marathon. After all, I had worked hard and deserved a little rest, didn’t I? Just a little longer?
That was 9 years ago. Between then and now I got married, moved across the county to California, had three kids cut straight out of my belly, moved again to Texas where it’s just too damned hot most of the time to exercise, took up sewing, and that was that. Now those beautiful calves are lumpy cankles. The knees are surrounded by layers of soft stuff. What is that soft stuff? My legs have never had soft stuff before!?! The scar on my belly is one thing I never feel self-conscious about. Mostly because I can’t see down there over my baby belly. Nope, not pregnant again, just never stopped looking like it. Maybe I just want to trick my body into having that healthy baby glow too?? It doesn’t work, FYI.
I think I'll go sew a doll...
The truth is I can’t stand to look in the mirror, and I don’t relate to the image it portrays either. That women in there, she isn’t me. She ate me up or something and I’m stuck inside her belly rolls and chin fat and cankles. She has smothered me really. Or at least that’s what I tell myself when I find one excuse or another to stay on the couch or sew silly dolls instead of go to the gym or take my husky Yukon on a walk. My legs, my real legs used to do amazing things. In fact they were always one of my best qualities.
At 6 feet tall my legs were always long and lean and toned with chiseled calf muscles that carried me from high school and college sports through my final athletic feat, a marathon. 26.2 miles. The proudest day of my life. One I would never have been able to achieve without those beautiful calves. And without my mom’s well-meaning incredulity when I told her I wanted to run one. I’ve never been much of a finisher, so her doubt was well founded, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let someone tell me I can’t do something. And so I did. And my mother was my greatest cheerleader and ally through the training process. She’s good like that.
But that’s when this fat lazy old lady with wrinkles and lumps and blotches started to swallow me up. She was sneaky that one, moving in little by little. She kept telling me I deserved to let my body rest and recover just a little bit longer after that marathon. After all, I had worked hard and deserved a little rest, didn’t I? Just a little longer?
That was 9 years ago. Between then and now I got married, moved across the county to California, had three kids cut straight out of my belly, moved again to Texas where it’s just too damned hot most of the time to exercise, took up sewing, and that was that. Now those beautiful calves are lumpy cankles. The knees are surrounded by layers of soft stuff. What is that soft stuff? My legs have never had soft stuff before!?! The scar on my belly is one thing I never feel self-conscious about. Mostly because I can’t see down there over my baby belly. Nope, not pregnant again, just never stopped looking like it. Maybe I just want to trick my body into having that healthy baby glow too?? It doesn’t work, FYI.
I think I'll go sew a doll...
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