Wouldn't It be Great If...

The Rantings of a Frustrated Woman

So the last few weeks have been filled with some spiritual challenges.  My life is being impacted, in a negative way, by some of the people in my life and I find myself saying these words over and over:  What is the Christian thing to do?

The problem is, as a Christian, I am expected to do the right thing in EVERY situation.  I am an example to everyone around me, but honestly, there are times when I wish that I could say and do what I am really thinking!  I know this might say a lot about where my heart is right now, but I just need to have a little writing therapy and then hopefully I can move on. 

I think I would like to start my writing with the following prompt:

Wouldn't it be great if...

people did what they said they would do!  At least then I could count on some sort of action! If you say you are going to be there, then be there.  If you say you are going to do something, then do it.  People are counting on you and when you don't do your part you let more than one person down!

people would stop lying.  I hate being lied to! I would much rather have hurt feelings and the truth, than having to constantly question what is being said to me. If people don't want to tell me the truth because they believe it would hurt my feelings, then they should opt to say nothing rather than lie.  Don't they understand that when they lie to me they hurt my feelings far more than if they would have just told me the truth.   

people would take responsibility for their actions.  We become accountable at a young age so by the time we are adults you would think we would have learned how to do this!  Blaming others is juvenile and just plain wrong.  It isn't the job of anyone but you to take the fall for your mistakes.  Besides, it seems to me that if you take responsibility for your actions people are far more likely to forgive you and move on.

people wouldn't be so selfish.  How much nicer would the world be if people thought of others?  The 'it's all about me' attitude gets old quick.  Newsflash: IT"S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU!  There are other people in your life that need you to think about them and to be there for them.  Put your needs aside and do something for someone else.  You might just find that you will have more friends if you do.

people would really listen.  This is one of my biggest frustrations! So much can be learned if we just stop and really listen.  There are some very wise people in the world and there are some really stupid people in the world, if you learn to listen you will quickly learn how to identify both!

people wouldn't judge each other.  So much hurt happens when we compare ourselves to each other.  The only standard for which we should strive to live comes from a higher source.  Be the best you possible and let others be the best them possible.  It's about building up, not tearing down.

people really learned how to love!  Not the type of love the media feeds them or their friends tell them about, but the type of love that makes you want to be the best person you can be for the people around you.  

people could see the blessings in what they have.  When will the need for more possessions, money, and popularity ever end?  The realization that things will be tough sometimes seems like the end of the world now-a-days.  What happened to the ability to sacrifice and to see the blessings in every situation?  Has it been bred out of us?  It's part of growing up people, learn to deal with it!

Well I think I have ranted long enough.  I do feel a little better, maybe liberated is the better word choice.  I have been thinking and praying over these things for weeks, searching for the right words, questioning what is the best course to take to deal with these issues. I know it's not ground breaking, but writing them down did help.  I admit that a part of me still thinks; wouldn't it be great if it all just went away, but it's a much smaller part of me now than before I started!