I went out on a limb with that post but I had no idea it would cause this much drama. I guess I touched a nerve or two or five thousand.
Here's the thing, we are ALL God's children and we need to love each other.
We come to His altar in all shapes and sizes, some with extra equipment and some not. We are called to LOVE one another. No furrowed brow or whispered distaste. I am as guilty as the next of making a snap judgement while in a house of worship. we MUST be careful not to "enter in" when things like this happen.
I received several messages and emails from people over the last twelve hours and everyones response was as passionate as my own. I understand the feelings of rejection. BELIEVE me I do.
But I also understand that doing anything in the situation I faced OTHER THAN SAYING A PARYER for that woman and whatever was in her heart would NOT be the right thing to do.
Last night in my heart and mind I "entered in". I should have followed my own advice and just let it roll off of me. I did not. I reacted out of past rejection and pain, emotional exhaustion and a sense of duty to defend and protect that is planted deeply in my heart. That is my responsibility alone alone.
We all come into our houses of worship carrying things with us that no one can see on the inside. I have no idea what that woman had gone through in her life or had experienced earlier in the day that made her sensitive to what happened in that moment.
I know that I reacted internally in a way that now I need to seek the sacrament of reconciliation.
It was my choice to post my rant. I did pray about it before doing it. Maybe I needed to pray harder.
I posted it as a reminder that we are ALL WELCOME in the house of the LORD.
I knew that there could be a conversation started among us that I hoped would be productive about how we can help one another. Let's turn a negative situation int a positive one.
It was never my intention to cause scandal. If I have in any way...I apologize.
Blessings to you all...Let's LOVE one another as HE calls us too!
How about we ALL give that whirl for awhile and see how it changes things. May Our Lady guide our way...
Mary
You did a good thing to remind us all to be more compassionate - thank you for doing that. Also, you got off your chest, something that totally could have eaten at you all day had you not done the post. Blogs like this should be a place where the writer can say things they feel passionate about - you probably saved yourself an ulcer by writing the post and being able to tell someone - it helps me a bunch to do that.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary,
ReplyDeleteAs a mother of an Autistic teenager who is mostly non-verbal and calls out in loud almost words especially when she is nervous, I understand how you felt. Our children were born with their disabilities and they are just that disabilities. They are not misbehaving and should be corrected by parents for doing the things they do because they have no other way to communicate. Yes we do try to get them to hold it down if we can but for them, at least for my daughter if she does quiet down it is not because I told her to, it is because she wanted to. Unfortunately we all have moments where our emotions take over and we stumble and fall. I do it everyday. Especially when talking with people regarding my daughter. It is hard to have patience and empathy for others when we are called to be a mom, caregiver, instructor,physician and most of all protector to our own children for all of their lives.It can be overwhelming at times, many times. Fortunately I have come to understand that I need to have more charity and patience for others, because as you and any mother of a child with disabilities knows, we walk a road that unless one walks a similar road no one can really understand the way we feel and how deeply the smallest things can hurt us and some days our patience is used up for ourselves and others before noon.
What I am trying to say Mary is confession is always good,even if it is just venial sins we confess, but please do not be to hard on yourself. You go through more in a day then most people do in a lifetime. And defending a cause that you live and breathe every second of every hour that is so deep into your heart is not surprising. I am the same way. I do try to be more charitable but most times I fail if I am overwhelmed that day. On those days I think of Peter and the Guards who came to arrest Jesus. On most days I am Peter. Though I do strive to be like Jesus, on most nights when my head touches the pillow, it is Peter who is about to go to sleep.
:)
As always my prayers are with you and your family.
Oops! Regarding the above statement:
ReplyDelete"They are not misbehaving and should be corrected by parents for doing the things they do because they have no other way to communicate" It was supposed to say SHOULD NOT BE Corrected by parents. Sorry for the typo.
People just need to understand they are not being bad, they are just being themselves the best they know how.
Communication is difficult for my daughter so she expresses herself any way she can.
Usually that is singing or yelling very loud wherever we are.
Keep fighting the good fight!