I have many days when I feel like my ability to extend grace and mercy has completely run dry.
So. Darn. Human.
I love blogging. I really do. For the most part it has been a fabulous experience for me. I love sharing my heart, my family, my photos, my hopes, and my dreams on these pages. But blogging absolutely does not come without its trials and challenges; most of those being an opportunity for me to learn and grow and become more like Christ, of course. Still, there are times when I ask myself, “Is this all worth it?”
I often think about how wonderful it would be for bloggers to NOT have to put comment moderation on. And perhaps some day I will get there–to that place where I feel like I can allow wicked, mean, blasphemous, and ungodly comments to be there for public viewing. But I’m not there yet. I am still of the firm belief that they have no place on this, a Christian blog. So I continue to hit the delete button faster than I even get to the end of reading revolting comments.
For the most part, I am very able to extend much grace and mercy to those who feel that they have to bring their wicked words to this or any other blog for that matter. I read about this stuff happening often in the world of blogging. I know that for those of us who blog publicly, it is just part of the deal. You open up your life and your heart–and you attract the negativity from ones who have absolutely nothing better to do with their days than sit at a computer and spew hatred. It’s life in a fallen world, I guess. Now, I’m not talking about disagreeing with respect. I totally welcome comments that disagree on my take on things that I write about. I never started blogging in the hope that everyone would agree with my opinion. That would be ridiculous. We are all different and see things uniquely. Disagreeing respectfully is totally different to spitting out hatred as some obviously love to do.
Grace and mercy.
Yes, most of the time, I can extend much grace and mercy. I can see these people through the eyes of my Savior and truly say, “Forgive them, Lord, for they know not what they do.” I don’t care what people say about me or my hubby. We know who we are in Christ and stand before an audience of ONE. The words will never harm us personally. We laugh about some of the asinine things people come up with.
But oh my goodness gracious, when the comments that get sent my way are a vicious personal attack on my children who have special needs…that’s when my grace and mercy tends to run out. That is completely unacceptable and pathetic! Even in a sinful world–attacks on children who have any kind of special need are totally uncalled for. They are wicked, malicious, and completely evil. What kind of human being feels that it is perfectly acceptable to call a child with Down syndrome horrid names? I just do not understand. I don’t understand how someone can even think that it is okay to do that. IT IS NOT OKAY! It is sick.
It is not okay to ridicule any child, let alone one who struggles in this life.
It is not okay to call children who have special needs the most awful names under heaven and earth.
It is not okay to sow hatred–especially when innocent children are their target.
It is not okay to say things about those who are unable to fight back. It is cowardly!
IT IS NOT OKAY!
I have thought about this post for a while. I tried to let it go. But Anthony and I are the ONLY voices for our children who do not have a voice. We’re IT. We’re their advocates. We’re the ones who will fight to the death on their behalf. We are all they have in this life. When it comes to this stuff, I will not and cannot be silent. I AM their voice. And this is not okay.
I do have to wonder about these people who come and sow their hatred here. I mean, would they say the things they comment to my face? Would they? Would they look my beautiful little five year old girl with Down syndrome [who has endured five years of hell on earth] in the eye and call her “frightening” to her face? Would they? Do they truly get such extreme pleasure out of the evil that comes from their hearts? Or, are they just so broken themselves that they have to find someone else to hurt (always anonymously, of course)? I have come to the conclusion that stalking blogs sure has given people like this a way to intentionally hurt others and stay nameless. No name, no face. How sad when they have to stoop so low to include children in their heinous endeavors.
How dare they mess with God’s beloved children? That’s dangerous ground to walk on.
I cannot help but weep for my angelic little girls. To know that this is the kind of thing they will have to deal with their entire lives breaks my heart. I can only imagine what it does to the heart of their Father in heaven. Oh my goodness, how did the world ever stray so far from His ways? Sadly, this is life. It is what the world has become. I fear that things are only getting worse and worse.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Though I know that I will never be able to protect my children one hundred percent of the time, I for sure will do everything I possibly can to ensure that words like the ones I have read being commented NEVER find their way to my daughter’s ears (or their hearts). Never! I will go to the ends of the earth to ensure that they are safe and protected from people such as these.
Our children with special needs deserve respect–just like any other child. They are fearfully and wonderfully created in the image of a God who does ALL things well.
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45
