How to Make the Hardest Choice...

I do not presume to know the answer to this 'how to', but I have to take this opportunity to elude to a terrible problem we have among mothers. When we struggle, we feed each other 'victim' food. Then, we tear down the so-called 'perpetrators', instead of building them up. There is no Christian wisdom in this habit we have as women. Allow me to explain.

Today, I was at Ulta, buying my sister her birthday present. 'It took a lot of effort to get there with all 3 kids, and Norah had just had her 6 month shots, etc....' (this is how we elude to our victimization)... STOP HERE. Now, allow me to rephrase this: When I was at Ulta today buying my sister's birthday present, the woman at the cash register said, " Oh, what beautiful children... THREE and Another on the way?!!" (The woman looked at me and thought I was pregnant)

This REALLY hurt my feelings. Really hurt. I, ofcourse, am feeling dissatisfied with my physical appearance at the moment and it really cut deep. I really wanted to cry, crawl in a hole and give up.

THIS IS THE CHOICE:

#1) I could call my husband, my friends, whoever and tell them my sad tale of woe. I can set the whole story up as it truly was explaining why her comment totally destroyed my self-esteem. I can then rip apart the character of the kind woman who said that to me. I can call her an idiot for assuming I was pregnant when I already had three kids. I could say LOTS and LOTS of un-Christian but "true" things to "make me feel better". YEAH RIGHT!!!

OR

#2) I could pray. I could view myself the way God does, realizing appearances DO NOT matter. I could know within myself that I really am doing the best I can to care for my body, or if I am not, set some reasonable goals to help ME feel better about MYSELF. Rather than proving to this woman I don't know that I am not pregnant, because it does not matter to her.
Then, THIS IS KEY, my best friend would remind me of exactly what I just wrote, remind me to not be vain, and tell me that to God, I am fine just the way I am. My BEST friend would not FEED my victimization by saying "oh poor you". My BEST friend would not feel it necessary to cut down this poor woman who is probably suffering worse than I feeling guilty because I said, "no i don't" sweetly. My BEST friend would remind me that I am beautiful and to not care for the world who maketh flesh his arm. She would remind me to be grateful for what I DO have.

THIS choice (#2), leaves you feeling joyful and with the spirit. The other choice leads you to break at least three commandments, but probably more, + feeling horrible about yourself. So, why is it such a hard choice to make?

I have a lot of friends.

How many BEST friends do we have? Are you a BEST friend to those around you?

Think about it.

I realize now what it means to be a best friend.