"People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that's holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then they leave. And thank God for it" (Eat, Pray, Love p. 149).
Over the past year, I've lost someone that I'd consider my soul mate. They are not lost in the sense that they are gone--but rather, lost in the sense that I see them often, and yet, we've become so detached from each others lives. In fact, so detached that we can't even connect on the deep stuff...the deep stuff that used to fill our every conversation. It's been painful. Deeply painful. Is it easier to lose someone who dies? or someone who is still alive? I never thought to "thank God for it" because I've been too busy praying for a return.
But, because of the loss of a soul mate, I believe another has come in... and I do "thank God for" that. But I still miss the first like you wouldn't even believe.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Grocery Store Moms
I have learned a lot about parenting--thanks to teaching and going to Walmart. From teaching, I learned that after you meet the parents--everything makes sense. If you absolutely love a child, you find (9 times out of 10) that the parents are phenomenal people. If a child has temper problems, cusses, or other similar bad habits...they learned them from their parents.
Then I go to Walmart, and learn even more about parenting. In one aisle, you have the child who is throwing a temper tantrum and the average shoppers are staring at that situation wondering if the child's scream is louder than the parent's yell. But then, I turned the aisle, and saw the most precious thing. A mom was pushing her son (who was sitting in the child's seat in the cart) and was leaning over so she was eye-level with her son. They were talking quietly, and then the mother took both hands and cupped them around her son's face and kissed his forehead. It was the most tender, loving action...especially compared to what I just had seen.
Parenting: dictatorship or an exercise of grace?
Then I go to Walmart, and learn even more about parenting. In one aisle, you have the child who is throwing a temper tantrum and the average shoppers are staring at that situation wondering if the child's scream is louder than the parent's yell. But then, I turned the aisle, and saw the most precious thing. A mom was pushing her son (who was sitting in the child's seat in the cart) and was leaning over so she was eye-level with her son. They were talking quietly, and then the mother took both hands and cupped them around her son's face and kissed his forehead. It was the most tender, loving action...especially compared to what I just had seen.
Parenting: dictatorship or an exercise of grace?
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