Have you ever had someone judge you or a decision you have made and you know they did so without having pertinent facts? Have you ever had someone hold you to a standard higher than they hold themselves to–and be quick to point out your inability to meet that standard? These kinds of things can frustrate me to the point of anger sometimes. (I’m not proud of it–but it’s the truth!)
In the past few weeks I have noticed a phrase being used in our home on a regular basis, “You be you!” It’s our way of reminding our girls that they are not appointed to be the judge of every action (or lack of action) their sisters make. I can’t even count the incidents where one daughter or another has come to report the wrongdoing of a sister only to be neglecting her own responsibilities while doing so. I recently replied, “You have enough to worry about when you focus on you making good choices. Let your sister focus on herself.”
I felt good about my parenting instructions until I heard the Lord saying to me “You be You!” Wait–HE can’t be talking to me. Ooops, He is. Ouch–that hurts! Don’t get me wrong; it had nothing to do with my parenting. It was a reminder from the Lord to apply the same practice to my own life. I quickly went through the attempts at justifying the fact that I am not a judgmental person–not nearly as judgmental as “her” anyway! But little by little I began to realize ways (big and small) that I can be guilty of the same things I don’t like seeing in my daughters.
How about you? Are there times you need to concentrate on yourself more than others in this way? Do you focus on choices made by others so much that you fail to make good ones yourself? Whether it’s judging the choice to put chili over pasta instead of Fritos and cheese, or allowing a child to attend “that” concert, we could all benefit from the advice, “You be you!”
One Response
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:14 am
Glad to see your blog back in action!
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