friends

(this has been in my draft folder for months... 

I'm not sure why I never published it.  So, here it is:)

HMMMMM......   

"I'm thinking, I'm thinking, I'm thinking, and now I will tell you!"  

(a quote from one of Grace's favorite movies- Winnie the Pooh)

I've been doing a lot of thinking about friends and friendship.  I've been thinking that from an outside perspective, I might seem like a rotten friend.  I'm terrible at phone calls.  I'm not really into the social scene.  I like my space.  But that doesn't mean I don't like you.  It doesn't mean that I'm not your friend.  It doesn't mean that I don't think highly of you.  I doesn't mean that I don't ever want to hang out with you.  I often think it's an introvert/ extrovert clash, but I don't really want to make excuses.  

So here's what I want to say:  I love genuine people.  I love caring people.  I love laid back people.  I love kindness & thoughtfulness.  And since this is what I respect, admire, and hope to receive from others, I have come to realize that I need to GIVE it if I want to GET it.  I'm not making any promises to transform into someone I'm not.  I'm going to still be me.  A "me" that is aware.  A "me" that doesn't get caught up in drama or finger pointing or mudslinging.  A "me" that will remain true to myself.  Simply me.      

Because my daughter is watching.  

Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

For in the same way you judge others,

you will be judged, 

and with the measures you use, 

it will be measured to you.

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye

and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

How can you say to your brother, 

'Let me take the speck out of your eye', 

when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye,

and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

(Matthew 7: 1-5)

~~~~~

Do no judge, and you will not be judged.

Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.

Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Give, and it will be given to you.  

A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over,

will be poured into your lap.

For with the measure you use, 

it will be measured to you.

(Luke 6: 37-38)