Greetings Dear Reader,
Part of my morning was spent watching my nephew play basketball
for his middle school. The drive to the opposing
team’s gym was a long one but I wanted to support my nephew. We took our seats midcourt and midway up the
risers.
Not two minutes into the game a parent of one of the players
on the other team started “coaching” his son.
His tone was angry and aggressive. His words were demeaning and
demanding. He was berating his son as if
lives were at stake in a middle school basketball game. This continued the entire game.
As much as I wanted my nephew’s team to win, I was relieved
for the sake of the other boy that the opponents won. I have been pondering this all day. When did it become allowable for us to berate
children in front of others? What is
that makes us miss the opportunity to be encouraging at every turn?
In contrast, I listened as my brother and sister-in-law
cheered for my nephew’s team. They
loudly expressed the pleasure at the progress the team has made this
season. They did not just cheer their
son. The entire team received praise for
doing the best that they could.
As I work at becoming lovingly unoffendable, I realize that
idiot parents will be a hard row to hoe.
I will, however, turn this soil and plant new seeds of loving
understanding. I had to make sure that I
did not take up offense at this misguided father. I had to attend to see just what loving parents
my brother and sister-in-law are. This
must extend further, however.
I must see that I journey through a world where people hurt
each other constantly. I have to guard
against increasing that hurt, mitigating it where I can, and forgive those who harm
me. It is vital that I not take offense
when I am not even part of the interaction.
It is these small things that can turn my tide to one that flows in kindness,
mercy, and grace always.
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer
who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner.
He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”
(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Contacts for Aramis
Thorn:
#aramisthorn
Bookings: aramisthorn@aramisthorn.com
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