I don't have a problem with tattoos. I know that some people feel that it is defacing the temple that is your body but I don't really see that. I mean I get it but I don't really think that if God is weighing the pros and cons of what you have done with your life he is going to be bothered by the fact that you drew on your skin. It is my opinion that it is more your heart and soul that he is interested in but I digress.
Why do people get tattoos? It is kind of like getting wallpaper in your house only with wallpaper you can take it down and redo it and tattoos are not going anywhere. Sure you can have them surgically removed but that hurts like all get out! I am all about a photo or the name of a loved one. A date or something that reminds you of an event, bring it on but why would someone put a grocery list on their leg? I wish I was kidding. On a woman's thigh in line at the County Clerk yesterday....It read Bread....Milk....Eggs....Shampoo. That just seems bizarre to me. What is the point of that?
That's just it though...I don't have to understand. It is not my position to be judge and jury for this overly forgetful woman who apparently likes french toast and clean hair. It is a tattoo it does not make her more or less of a person. She is loved by God just as you are.
We are all the same in God's eyes, he loves us all the same. It doesn't matter how many bible studies or missions you have organized. It doesn't matter if you have, in your mind, done something so horrible that you think no one can ever forgive you. God can! God will! You are loved no matter what the world makes you feel like. You might have gotten a little off track but you are never too far that God can bring you back in.
If you like tattoos go out today and get one somewhere that you will see every day that says God loves me for me! All you have to do is give him your heart! You are loved friend!
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
The Friendship Olympics.
Another issue I have with friendships is the fact that with some people it feels like no matter what you are telling them about your children their children have done that very thing and they have done it 14 times better.
These women do not fall highly on my friendship list either. When I meet a new friend I do not immediately tell her everything about my family. I am certainly not going to talk about their accomplishments for fear that it might come across as bragging. I am going to make small talk and keep the conversation focused mainly on what this new friend and I might have in common.
To be quite honest it takes me quite awhile to feel comfortable enough to tell anyone other than family about the accomplishments my family has because I don't want to come across as pompous or arrogant.
If I say to you my son was selected for the Math Olympics was does that do to you? Do you think Wow, good for you your son went to the Math Olympics? or Do you go the self loathing route of What have I done wrong that my son isn't good enough in math to go to the Math Olympics or do you turn it on me and think to yourself What a braggart this woman is telling me about her son and how fabulous he is at Math, what a horrible woman.
What is wrong with us that we can't just celebrate the accomplishments of others without making it about ourselves? God has created each of us so very differently. There are many many tasks on this huge planet that need to be accomplished and if we are all the same how on earth will they every get completed?
Today I want you to evaluate your friendships. How many are sincere? How many are based completely on keeping up appearances? Are you the type of friend that feels like no matter what someone tells you about their children you have to be one better? Sit back, relax, let a friend be better at something than you are. Celebrate that with her. Be encouraging and sincere. I guarantee it will feel fabulous! You don't have to be the best at everything no matter what the world says!
These women do not fall highly on my friendship list either. When I meet a new friend I do not immediately tell her everything about my family. I am certainly not going to talk about their accomplishments for fear that it might come across as bragging. I am going to make small talk and keep the conversation focused mainly on what this new friend and I might have in common.
To be quite honest it takes me quite awhile to feel comfortable enough to tell anyone other than family about the accomplishments my family has because I don't want to come across as pompous or arrogant.
If I say to you my son was selected for the Math Olympics was does that do to you? Do you think Wow, good for you your son went to the Math Olympics? or Do you go the self loathing route of What have I done wrong that my son isn't good enough in math to go to the Math Olympics or do you turn it on me and think to yourself What a braggart this woman is telling me about her son and how fabulous he is at Math, what a horrible woman.
What is wrong with us that we can't just celebrate the accomplishments of others without making it about ourselves? God has created each of us so very differently. There are many many tasks on this huge planet that need to be accomplished and if we are all the same how on earth will they every get completed?
Today I want you to evaluate your friendships. How many are sincere? How many are based completely on keeping up appearances? Are you the type of friend that feels like no matter what someone tells you about their children you have to be one better? Sit back, relax, let a friend be better at something than you are. Celebrate that with her. Be encouraging and sincere. I guarantee it will feel fabulous! You don't have to be the best at everything no matter what the world says!
Truth or Fluff?
Can we discuss something that has been bothering me lately?
I am the type of person that from the outside probably looks like I have tons of friends and is very social. Want in on a big secret? I totally don't and I'm totally not. I'll tell you why.
I am horrible at lying. If I don't like something you say or something you do I am not the type of friend that is going to tell you what you want to hear. If I have a vested interest in our friendship I am going to tell you exactly what I am thinking and if I don't I am going to avoid you like the plague. I'm not proud of it, I'm just telling you the truth. Funny thing about that is that people don't like the truth therefore, I don't have a whole bunch of people that hang around for long periods of time.
Take your appearance for instance, you know like the times when you have been cleaning all morning haven't had time to take a shower or even brush your hair when you realize it is time to go pick up the kids from school? I am the type of friend that is going to say something like are you ok? or some other sort of joking remark. I am not the type of friend that will say you look so cute! No, I don't! I know I don't! I know that I look about as horrible as I possibly can so why on earth would you lie to me and tell me I look cute? Unless of course you mean Completely Ugly Too Extremes. Then by all means Yes, I'm totally cute.
In that brief off handed remark, which I'm sure was meant to make me feel better you have single handedly lost my trust. I will no longer feel comfortable enough to tell you anything of any value. I can't trust you to tell me the truth.
I can count on one hand the amount of women in my life that I am completely comfortable with baring my soul to. God has blessed me with their friendship and I only hope that I can return the gift to them. Today I want you to be the type of friend you would like to have today. Be sincere. Be more concerned about their feelings than your own. Be a friend.
We are called to love one another. It's our job. :)
I am the type of person that from the outside probably looks like I have tons of friends and is very social. Want in on a big secret? I totally don't and I'm totally not. I'll tell you why.
I am horrible at lying. If I don't like something you say or something you do I am not the type of friend that is going to tell you what you want to hear. If I have a vested interest in our friendship I am going to tell you exactly what I am thinking and if I don't I am going to avoid you like the plague. I'm not proud of it, I'm just telling you the truth. Funny thing about that is that people don't like the truth therefore, I don't have a whole bunch of people that hang around for long periods of time.
Take your appearance for instance, you know like the times when you have been cleaning all morning haven't had time to take a shower or even brush your hair when you realize it is time to go pick up the kids from school? I am the type of friend that is going to say something like are you ok? or some other sort of joking remark. I am not the type of friend that will say you look so cute! No, I don't! I know I don't! I know that I look about as horrible as I possibly can so why on earth would you lie to me and tell me I look cute? Unless of course you mean Completely Ugly Too Extremes. Then by all means Yes, I'm totally cute.
In that brief off handed remark, which I'm sure was meant to make me feel better you have single handedly lost my trust. I will no longer feel comfortable enough to tell you anything of any value. I can't trust you to tell me the truth.
I can count on one hand the amount of women in my life that I am completely comfortable with baring my soul to. God has blessed me with their friendship and I only hope that I can return the gift to them. Today I want you to be the type of friend you would like to have today. Be sincere. Be more concerned about their feelings than your own. Be a friend.
We are called to love one another. It's our job. :)
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