All In My Chili

So today, I was toodling along, minding my very own business, and this happened.

That’s what I get for looking at Facebook.

*sigh*

All in my chili…..

It’s true, isn’t it?

If I can’t or don’t try to stop something from happening, how can I depend on someone else to change it? And get angry when they don’t?

I can’t.

Mama used to have a rule about us not asking someone to do something for us that we weren’t willing to do ourselves.  It was probably to prevent sibling abuse, but yeah, it’s a good rule for life, I think.

I can’t sit back and see an injustice happening, do nothing, and then get angry over and over that it continues to exist, frustrated that “someone” isn’t stopping it. Not when I’m not making a move to stop it myself.

What I allow will continue to happen.

I can’t put up with someone mistreating me, ignoring my feelings, or disrespecting me–all the while shaking my head and hoping it will stop.

What I allow will continue to happen.

I can’t bury my head in the sand, continue homeschooling my littles, and ignore the woes of the children who are in the public school system and hope that the world will be a better place someday.  What is happening now won’t affect just those children in the schools, it does and will affect all of us.

What I allow will continue to happen.

Now that I know better about things like modern-day industrial slavery and fair trade, I cannot make purchases of certain things, turning a blind-eye to how they were made.

For if I do, the slavery will continue to happen.

The decline of our educational system will continue.

The abuse and wear and tear on my soul will continue to eat away at who I am.

The injustices, so many of them in this world, will continue, and those suffering at the hands of another, will be right that their voices aren’t being heard, feeling that their lives maybe just don’t count as much.  Not if I’m not willing to speak up for them.

The things in this world that can be lost if we allow it–

love, kindness, innocence, peace, freedom, wisdom, knowledge

a soul,

a life

Mama also had another quote she’d toss at us from time to time.  I dug around and couldn’t find the source of the quote, but that doesn’t detract from its truth.

If I don’t like the way things are–the situation in the world, in this country, in my community and even in my own home–then I have to accept that if it is to be–if change is to happen–it must begin with me.  If I don’t make an effort to change what I see that isn’t right, it will continue.  And I also have to realize that if it continues…..

and I have been too busy or afraid or lost to take a step…..

it continues because I have allowed it to.

A tough pill to swallow tonight.

Like I said, they’re all in my chili, stirring me up tonight.

What is it that you are being called to change–to stop allowing?  To keep from continuing to happen?

Whether it’s fighting social injustice or a taking a stand to end bullying or making a request that clothes be turned right side out before being put in the laundry–it all matters.  If it brings peace to the world, go for it.

One step at a time, one person at a time, we can make a difference.

I know it’s a cliche’, but there is truth rolling around in there as well.

Reminds me of lyrics from  the song our teachers worked so hard to teach us to sing when we were practicing for our Eighth Grade Graduation.

“Let there be peace on earth

And let it begin with me…..”

Amen.