I've often thought,
I could be a perfect mother if I had perfect children.
I could be an ideal wife if I had an ideal husband.
I could serve often and well if I didn't have to work, or be sick, or have too many kids.
I could be so valiant if I were in better circumstances.
Life sure seems to get in the way of our wanting to do all the right things.
Maybe, just maybe, that's how it's supposed to be.
Anyone can drive a car down a straight road.
But it takes focus, skill and experience to negotiate curves, roadblocks and traffic.
I've come to believe that it is in common, everyday living that we develop character.
We may spend our days mopping floors, working on an assembly line, changing diapers, sitting in a photo booth, or sick in a hospital.
Whatever our circumstances we have opportunities to develop Christ-like characteristics of love, kindness, patience, devotion, holiness.
It is not for us to walk an easy road, but to be pure among the impure, to choose the right in the midst of storms, to be valiant in the dark.
Every day, choices.
Every day, shaping a character.
Every day, molding an eternal identity.
"Hell is not a place full of fire and brimstone and little red figures with pitchforks. Hell is the understanding that if I was sarcastic to my daughter when she was a little girl, she will be sarcastic to my grandchildren, and it will be my fault. Hell is the realization that every time I tell a lie because the truth is embarrassing, I am voting to make this a more deceitful world for my family to live in.
"And heaven is not harps and wings and bright sunshine. Heaven is the awareness that every time I did something good, even if nobody thanked me for it, and every time I held back the angry word and resisted temptation and nobody could possibly have known how hard it was for me to do that, the world is changed by the good thing that I did. Permanently changed for the better." --Rabbi Kushner
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
a place where I can write whatever is on my mind with no expectations of brilliance, profundity or even interest. a way to share my life, how I feel and what I have learned. a chance to find the real me because that is more important than the laundry and cleaning out closets.
Free Blogger Templates by Leelou Blogs |
Design Elements by Just So Scrappy |
Dedicated Servers and Colocation
Sponsored by Colocation America
4 comments:
Excellent thought. I fear my own personal hell of regrets, especially with my children.
I was already struggling a little with not being a good enough mother. I think this sobering thought from Rabbi Kushner, as well as your expounding on it, will help me to be better.
I think about this idea, in much less articulate terms, EVERY day! It is the little things I am supposed to learn to cope with! However, I was creating a very elaborate and comfortable hell for myself when I read this quote and now I know I should go be nice instead of snappy and mean. I was inconvenienced but I'll get over it! Thanks a lot! (In my roll the eyes, I liked stewing kind of way and in my sincerely grateful kind of way!)
i printed this quote and stuck in on my mirror.
thanks for taking the time to post this.
Post a Comment