Last Saturday, I was driving the car with
Lottie, who was in the back backseat when she
spoke up and said to me:
"Mom, a girl in my church class said she thinks you look funny."
Then I asked,
"Why do you think she says that?"
Lottie was quiet for a minute, then said:
Probably because sometimes it looks like you have grandma arms".
* * *
Then we talked about being nice to everyone, even if they
hurt our feelings, belittle what we believe in, or speak unkindly
about us- or the people we love.
I love the idea that no one can offend us.
Being offended is something we choose to be.
"When we believe or say we have been offended,
we usually mean we feel insulted, mistreated, snubbed, or disrespected.
And certainly clumsy, embarrassing, unprincipled, and mean-spirited
things do occur in our interactions with
other people that would allow us to take offense.
However, it ultimately is impossible
for another person to offend you or to offend me.
Indeed, believing that another person offended us is fundamentally false.
To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted
or imposed upon us by someone or something else."
* * * * * * *
UPDATE on Claire in Samoa:
Her group took a break from working on hiking, swimming,
and attend a rugby match.
She also wrote us a handwritten letter, and her service group leader
took a photo of it and e-mailed it to me.
It was just about the sweetest thing I ever read.
She is really truly happy and working hard.
She is a little homesick too. That sounds like my girl.
