November 4, 2008

Graciousness (10 Comments)

Filed under: Life — The Spider Herself @ 4:40 pm

PathI have a new friend. Aren’t you all proud of me? Now I have about 12 readers of my blog, maybe. Actually, she doesn’t always read my blog- that is until I nag her to death about it. “Have you seen my post? Did you read it? What did you think? Huh? Huh?” You should be glad you don’t live close to me?

But I digress. We, this friend and I, have talked about how there are people in our lives who have the knack of saying negative things right off when we tell exciting/good news. They are the people that take the wind right out of your sails.

The good news: I dyed my hair purple!

The response: You getting ready for Halloween a bit late, aren’t you?

The good news: I’m pregnant!

The response: You know how that happens, don’t you?

Note: Just to stop the rumors in their tracks- those were totally hypothetical conversations. I do not have purple hair nor am I pregnant.

I wondered at the time how many times I do such things to other people especially with my tendency to see the negative side of things so much.

I got my answer this last Sunday, and it ain’t pretty.

I walked into the nursery with the girls a few minutes past when Sunday School should start. A lady commented that we were there early today. I was a bit flustered because I had hoped to get there earlier than we did and said that very thing. She kindly said that she hadn’t meant to offend but was trying to be an encouragement. I thought- geez! could I have been any more ungracious?

Then, after pot luck, one of the ladies told me she had put my left over rolls into an old hot dog bag for me. Instead of saying a simple “Thank you!”, because I was thankful, I said “oh I had some bags over here.” Talk about spitting on people’s kind gestures.

It’s those small things sometimes that show us our true nature. And if I mess up on the small things- how will I handle the big ones?

Graciousness. Something to long for.

10 Comments »

  1. OUCH! Good message there. And for a second, I thought you’d gone purple lol.

    Comment by Audra Marie — November 4, 2008 @ 5:53 pm

  2. Laugh. That is why I put in the disclaimer. I’ll leave the bright hair colors and pregnancy to other, more sassy, people. 😉

    Comment by JustMe — November 4, 2008 @ 6:09 pm

  3. Can’t imagine who would be crazy enough to add purple to their hair. Insane people. 😉

    Comment by Audra Marie — November 4, 2008 @ 6:11 pm

  4. No kidding……..purple, bah! Now red, hmm…that might look alright with a little purple mixed in???

    Anyway, yes, OUCH is right! It’s one of those instances where we steal a blessing from someone else by not being gracious and instead being critical. Like when someone says you look nice and you answer, “gee, I thought I looked like a dog today” (no offense to any dog owners out there). It kinda makes them think they’ve got bad taste in looks or something?

    Thanks for this Char…very true! 🙂

    Comment by Elizardbreath — November 4, 2008 @ 8:03 pm

  5. Oh, and I’d like to add that I think purple and pregnant is WAY over the top.

    Comment by Elizardbreath — November 4, 2008 @ 8:04 pm

  6. LOL, I am afraid it is a family trait. I think we actually caught most of it from the older brother through osmosis, but a good portion is also genetic.

    Recognition and admission are a big part of the battle to overcoming this affliction.

    But both of your examples show where you felt bad because you accept personal responsibility for your stuff and you were mad at yourself because you hadn’t taken care of it yet and somebody else reminded you. Just remember that they are just trying to help and aren’t just trying to point out your responsibilities.

    Comment by Captain Random — November 4, 2008 @ 8:45 pm

  7. Purple AND pregnant- now that would be pretty sassy! 😉

    Yes, Captain Random (you changed your name) you nailed it. I do take some of those things as criticism, that I somehow have failed. Asking for help or accepting offered help is not a weakness and being gracious about it is a strength.

    And the Older Brother is a master at the odd, unexpected and droll comments.

    Comment by JustMe — November 4, 2008 @ 8:55 pm

  8. Well, I figured if the Colonel could use his rank, so could I. 🙂
    So now you have Colonel Panic and Captain Random. Pretty cool, eh?

    Comment by Captain Random — November 4, 2008 @ 9:50 pm

  9. Very cool.
    Random Panic, just what I need.
    Your Canadian heritage is showing, eh.

    Comment by JustMe — November 4, 2008 @ 9:53 pm

  10. Anyone for some “Chaos” thrown in with our Random Panic? 🙂

    And “ouch,” Char, your post hits mighty close to home… The Boy, The Otter, and Miss Sunshine all have their work cut out for them. *sigh*

    Comment by Col. Panic — November 5, 2008 @ 10:37 am

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