Perhaps no comments yet because your readership is collectively gobsmacked by your piece on our precious children with addictions. I’ve come back to it 3 times already and recognize the utter depth and breadth of the difficult topic, the challenge, the lived experience. Whether we readers see the Lord in others or not, the very least (and often best) we can do is to do unto others as we’d have done unto ourselves. For me, that is the gold standard and to my eye you persevered in finding that angle of repose for your family life. Hard work, that.
I missed a NYT call for submissions on this, drat. They are no longer taking submissions. I'm betting that they were swamped. The people who call him Lord are often brainwashed to use tough love (must be held accountable!). Accountable to whom? Those who mistakenly believe it's a "choice" and that "they" can quit if only they'd just (fill in blank.). Unless you've witnessed the remarkable changes that occur when you stop finger pointing and instead foster connection (i.e. love), it's hard to wrap your head around. I had to wait decades for one son to go into recovery. The other two may never go there but it's up to me to love not judge.
I love this piece, Linda. LOVE IT. My kids are not addicts, but they are transgender, which the churches we grew up in would also say is one of those tough love situations. "Just kick them out and turn your back on them until they realize the error of their ways. It might seem harsh, but you have to know you stand on the word of God above all else.' Sorry. No. That's not how this works. That's not how any of this works. That's not how Jesus did it. Not at all. I don't want to be tough as shoe leather.
Just yesterday, a neighbor dressed me down because my son who lives here had a friend over and they sat out in his car. She bleated that it was obviously a drug deal and she KNOWS my son has been on drugs in the past few months. "We're watching you," she said after jabbing her finger at the air proclaiming that there are CHILDREN on this block and telling me the friend can't park on our street. Look for another essay about how self-proclaimed do-gooders are watching all of us. That love, all right. NOT.
Thanks for reading my stuff, please pass the word to those who might like it too.
Perhaps no comments yet because your readership is collectively gobsmacked by your piece on our precious children with addictions. I’ve come back to it 3 times already and recognize the utter depth and breadth of the difficult topic, the challenge, the lived experience. Whether we readers see the Lord in others or not, the very least (and often best) we can do is to do unto others as we’d have done unto ourselves. For me, that is the gold standard and to my eye you persevered in finding that angle of repose for your family life. Hard work, that.
Excellent piece, xo LNBB
LNBB,
I missed a NYT call for submissions on this, drat. They are no longer taking submissions. I'm betting that they were swamped. The people who call him Lord are often brainwashed to use tough love (must be held accountable!). Accountable to whom? Those who mistakenly believe it's a "choice" and that "they" can quit if only they'd just (fill in blank.). Unless you've witnessed the remarkable changes that occur when you stop finger pointing and instead foster connection (i.e. love), it's hard to wrap your head around. I had to wait decades for one son to go into recovery. The other two may never go there but it's up to me to love not judge.
Thanks for your support,
xo, LBB
I love this piece, Linda. LOVE IT. My kids are not addicts, but they are transgender, which the churches we grew up in would also say is one of those tough love situations. "Just kick them out and turn your back on them until they realize the error of their ways. It might seem harsh, but you have to know you stand on the word of God above all else.' Sorry. No. That's not how this works. That's not how any of this works. That's not how Jesus did it. Not at all. I don't want to be tough as shoe leather.
Sherry,
Just yesterday, a neighbor dressed me down because my son who lives here had a friend over and they sat out in his car. She bleated that it was obviously a drug deal and she KNOWS my son has been on drugs in the past few months. "We're watching you," she said after jabbing her finger at the air proclaiming that there are CHILDREN on this block and telling me the friend can't park on our street. Look for another essay about how self-proclaimed do-gooders are watching all of us. That love, all right. NOT.
Thanks for reading my stuff, please pass the word to those who might like it too.
Stand Your Ground on Love.
Linda