Keeping it Real

Life was never meant to be easy. We all have trials. One of my favorite bits of advice is: "There's no problem so big that complaining won't make it worse."

Passive-aggressive . . . but true.

So I really do try to stay positive. I hope I have not been annoyingly so. (One of my beloved young friends did ridicule me for being "happy all the time.")

But if I have ever given the impression that my life is amazing or perfect or whatever, I have failed to paint you the real picture. And maybe that's for the best, because who really wants to know everything?

Suffice it to say that life is hard. For everyone. For me, right now.

We all have something. Hard-working people have financial problems. People with great marriages have difficult children. People with obedient children have difficult marriages. People have personal struggles with depression or addiction. The list goes on.

Today I struggle with my role as the mother to children I love with all that is in me.

Can I give them what they need?

Did I say the right thing? Am I too negative? I am to Pollyanna-ish?
When do I push? When do I back off? When do I hold feet to the fire, and when do I just show compassion?
 
One thing I do know: God has blessed me with four of His children to love and to teach and to guide.

My deepest desire is that I'm not letting them down . . . that I'm not letting HIM down.

I am a work in progress and I have a long way to go.

I hope I never come off as self-satisfied or condescending. I don't have the answers. I hope you never hear me back-handedly complimenting myself; if I do I give you permission to back-handedly knock me into next week.

There's nothing that annoys me more than people complaining about how wonderful they are; so beautiful, so creative, so smart, or whatever that it interferes with normal life. Or complaining how their gifted little Johnny or Jane gives them trouble; one time they made a B on a report card. Or how their boutique / antique Halloween decorations have been reduced to only 10 boxes. Boo freaking hoo.

But I'm a great listener to your real-world problems. We all have them, and we all need support, because people don't bond over their perfections.

(If so, I would have no friends at all.)

So that's what's on my mind. And in my heart.

Thanks for listening. Thanks for being there. I know you're there, even if I can't see you. I know I'm not alone.