You confuse people, and that’s not a bad thing.
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After I tie up some loose ends today, I’ll be heading out to a Southern Blogger Retreat. I’ll be speaking on how to deal with online negativity and attacks by what we refer to as “trolls”.
The term “troll” is one we use to call a person who seeks to case derision, upset, chaos, and general problems across the board. Did you know there are people who actively seek to do this? Crazy to think about, isn’t it? If you are reading this thinking “But why?” then I have good news – you are not one of them! I often have bloggers come to me when this happens to them and ask why the troll did it, expressing that they just don’t understand what would motivate someone to behave that way and I always tell them “You can’t understand that, because you are not like that and this is something you wouldn’t do.”
But you know what? The flipside is also true. When you are a good hearted person who seeks to help others, when you love and put your family first, when you do any number of things that you feel led by the Holy Spirit to do, people who don’t live their lives the way you do look at you and say “Why? Why would they do that?”.
Why would you work so hard for so little when there are other ways to “get” money? Why would you sacrifice something you’d like to have now just because you are saving for something twenty years down the road? Why would you give up your hard earned vacation to take your kid to a competition they want to participate in even though it’s not something you enjoy? Why would you put the happiness of others before yourself and how could that possibly bring joy to you? The questions are endless.
There are so many things that you do in your life which seem commonsense to you but baffle the mess out of many people watching.
Keep doing them.
If they don’t understand, let them watch in stunned confusion. Let them see the end results. Let them see the joy, contentment, fulfillment.
Let them see that there is a greater and deeper meaning to life than just living on the surface of things.
Let them see ancient wisdom working in ways that human reasoning cannot explain.
We are often confused by some people and the world around us.
Live in such a way that they are just as confused by us.
And if anyone asks you “Why?”, tell them.
John 8:12
Needed this today as many ladies at church have decided they do not want to do things nicely for the Christmas Luncheon and it just didn’t make sense to me why they didn’t want to make things nice to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Thanks for the encouragement to carry on even if I and another lady have to travel the road alone. We know we won’t be alone because God will be walking beside us.
And that is the best company to have walking with you Marsha!!!
Well said Christy! I am often dismayed at the things that people say online. It’s sad that people expend so much energy being negative.
I am thankful that there are lovely people like yourself who are kind and are a light in an often dark world!
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
Thank you so much Janene, you sure know how to brighten a day!! May God Bless you and yours!!!
Thank you so much for this!!! I really needed it today. Thank you for being a “good egg”!
🙂 Have a blessed day Debbie!!
Christy, you are a true light on the internet! I love reading your posts whether recipes or stories, all of them. You encourage me, my fellow sister in Christ! God Bless!!
Thank you so much Aileen, I hope your day is blessed!
Beautifully said. Thank you for this mornings post. With all the harshness in this world I am grateful we have the fruits of the spirit to lift us up and live by when the world knocks us down ( Galations 5: 22-23 ) and fellow believers to come alongside and encourage us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you.
Amen Wendy!!
Seems so obvious, doesn’t it? But it’s true. There are some people who are nasty because that’s the only way they know how to be, and the opposite is true as well. I work in retail, and handle more than my fair share of meanies every day, but I know it’s not me. It’s nothing personal. They are just miserable people, and after my shock at their behavior wears off, I remember that it must be sad to go through life so angry and unhappy. Same thing when I see the trolls online. I can’t imagine being so unhappy that I want to spread my crankiness around.
I am so sorry. I’ve been there. My first Christmas in retail was a very abrupt awakening to human nature. I wrote a post about one man who used to literally throw money in my face at a credit union I worked at: https://www.southernplate.com/2011/07/yoohoo-ice-cream-and-how-to-love-mean-people.html .
Hang in there. You are a light and lights shine in the darkness!
Thanks for this post. I need reminders that there are lovely and loving people on the net.
And the cobbler looks yummy!
Thank you for being one of those lovely people, Jane!