I am offended all day long every day at home, work or wherever I may be by Facebook posts, television commercials, magazines, billboards, emails, and even conversations. Yet, I must keep silent, lest I dare offend someone else.
My beliefs are important to me. I hold myself to certain standards not because I think I am better than anyone else, but because it is one of the ways I honor God. That is my choice and my life. Does everyone conform to that? No. Do I expect them to or try to force them to? No. Do others have to agree with me and applaud my choices and embrace me? No.
Let me explain something that I know to be true. I can disagree with your manner of dress, your language, your choices, and the lifestyle you choose to live and I can still love you. I am not bereft of love or compassion because my belief system is different than yours.
How do I know this, you might ask? I will tell you. I love my children more than anyone in this world other than my husband. However, I do not agree with all of their choices. In fact, at times, there are quite a few things I am in disagreement with them over. They know this and they also know I love them deeply. They also know when I mention something them that I am concerned about that I do it out of love, looking back to my past and ahead to their future, because I have learned a few things about this thing called life in my almost 50 years. Love isn’t always accompanied by blind agreement and coddling.
I guess I will step off my soap box for now. It just bothers me that the very people who are the ones yelling “don’t judge” are the first ones to label me or anyone else that doesn’t share their beliefs. I call that hypocrisy.
I think this is the first post I have ever done that could possibly garner negative comments. That should show you something about my feelings on confrontation and disagreements. I detest dissension.
I just had to get this off my chest and now I feel better.
Long walks and dark chocolate 
Read this again sister and all I can say is well put!!!! Brillant! I am blessed to have you as my sister! I love you!
Thanks, love you too!
Beautifully said!!!
Thanks, Crystal 🙂
Thanks for sharing your heart, Amen to good words. Blessings ; )
thank you!
I feel the same way. I’m not perfect, far from it. Sometimes I do offend, but it’s not intentional. Ever. Some have said I react too slowly and don’t say enough. I say, “You didn’t know me in my younger years.” I’m smarter now. I’m proud you cared enough to let this out. And, I understand it.
Thanks so much for your input, glad you enjoyed!
I very much agree. I am completely capable of listening and being respectful of another’s point of view, beliefs, and opinions, disagreeing with them, and still liking/loving those people. It bothers me no end the pervasive attitude I see about many topics where people demand respect and tolerance of their perspective, yet those same people do not think that anyone who has a differing opinion/dares to disagree, particularly if a religious viewpoint is involved, is entitled to that same courtesy; instead, they are often judged, vilified, disrespected, called derogatory names, mocked, etc.
Yes! Thanks for reading, commenting 🙂