" Only one who has been washed in the blood of the Lamb
can both weep and laugh at the same time, and with hearts
that are breaking in pieces scattered all over the floor say
with sincerity and honesty that it is well with my soul..."
- Gary J. Oliver
Time and time again I am shocked by my encounters with strangers who have no regard for others. I'm a realist, striving to be an optimist in this crazy world, but more and more reality smacks me in the face. Yesterday just reaffirms my anguish in yet another series of ridiculous events that cause deep wounds in my already broken heart.
I value myself as a decent parent, one who disciplines appropriately and follows through with consequences. So, when I am confronted by a store clerk about my parenting skills I am a little taken a-back. To give you a rough idea of the scene, my husband and I were choosing new glasses at the optometrist. This process was taking far too long, as this un-efficent clerk was taking her sweet time. I did my best to keep my three year old daughter occupied with games on my iphone, showing her different items int he store, etc, but, after being patient for over an hour, she was starting to get bored and rambunctious. I quietly took her out of the store multiple times to calm her down and let her know that we were in a store and that we needed to be quiet and patient. After the longest hour of my life, my hubby was finally able to take our daughter to another part of the store while I finished up the transaction. As soon as they left, this woman politely informed me with the following:
"Is she always that hyperactive? You know, I raised many kids, even crack babies, and let me tell you, behavior like your daughters just gets worse with age. You really need to think about your parenting. Maybe if she wasn't an only child, she would behave better..."
As I gaged on my words and anger searing through my brain all I could think of was WOW. Is this today's world? A world in which a laughing child in a store could cause such a problem for another parent? A world in which customer service consists of telling strangers they are bad parents?
"If God hides the reason for His works from us, and it is too high
for us to reach, let us shut our mouths;... let us glorify God and
not be ashamed to be ignorant. The true wisdom of the faithful is
to know no more than it has pleased God to show them."
- John Calvin
Lucky for her, I am a Christian woman. So I prayed for patience, quietly took the brunt force trauma to my ego, paid and left. I left the store feeling an inch tall. Not only am I a bad parent, but even worse because I only have one living child. I could have informed her that I have 2 children, that my son lives in Heaven. I could have told her to F-Off, or mind her business, but I didn't. I just prayed and took up my "Cross" yet again.
"He (the Christian believer) can say, "If I should lose all I have, it is better
that I should lose than have if God so wills:
the worst calamity is the wisest and the kindest thing that could befall me if God ordains it."
"We know that all things work together for good to them that love God."
-Charles Spurgeon
I left the store and headed to find my husband and daughter. Rattled by this encounter I started into an emotional downward spiral. Luckily we were headed to church, and I found hope and comfort in realizing clarity I am blessed with and that despite others opinions, I am proud of where I am today as a parent and a person. I just pray that the next time my daughter who tests off the charts for her age is compared to a crack baby, I'll be able to keep my cool. I really don't want to be forced to pull the "I have a dead baby" card, but I am getting close to the end of my rope.
"The only right attitude towards suffering is worship,
or humble self-surrender."
-John R. W. Stott
2011, you can't arrive quickly enough!!
This is my comfort in my affliction,
that Your Word has revived me.
- Psalm 119:50
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