Speaking of Matt, it's been a long week with him in San Franciso, but I thoroughly enjoyed the time with family and friends in Columbus and Huntington! God has blessed us so much during our time in Richmond and I know it's where we're supposed to be…but it's always nice to visit those "back home" people and places!!
It was a long, but uneventful, drive home in the rain today. I got into town a little after 8 and stopped at the store to pick up a couple of things for tomorrow morning. I was approaching the milk section and there was a woman (probably close to my age) there with her daughter (maybe 5ish). The little girl was spinning around and not paying attention, so I just watched where she was going and moved past her to grab a carton of milk. She wasn't really in my way and I didn't have to push past her to reach the shelf or anything. As I was putting the carton in the basket and turning away, her mother said that if anyone tried to push her or not say excuse me that that was rude and she should feel free not to move. I realize this was for my benefit as she obviously felt that I had treated her daughter poorly. I may be tired from a LONG day of travel, on top of being 6 months pregnant, but I'm pretty sure I would remember pushing a child out of my way or squeezing past them to make my selection. I didn't say anything, just continued with my errand so I could get home. The more I think about it, though, the more troubled I become. Even if the mother felt I had been rude to her child, why would she go all passive aggressive in an attempt to put me in my place?? All she did was teach her daughter to return rudeness for any perceived slight and reinforce to me the necessity of teaching Lydia (and any future siblings) the importance of graciousness and a forgiving spirit. What happened to the Golden Rule?? If someone is rude to me, or my child, I want to strive to always model patience and turning the other cheek. I would hate for our children to think that rudeness or poor behavior is acceptable if someone else has treated you in such a way.
Now that I think about it, the best witness may have been to apologize for any unintended/perceived rudeness…then again, perhaps holding my tongue was the best course of action. Anyone who teaches their child such a lesson probably isn't receptive to attempts at reconciliation. We really need to pray for parents and for this generation of children…not that they should be doormats, but that attitudes of thoughtfulness and forgiveness would abound far more than a spirit of selfishness and entitlement.