Family Judgments

My parents and I got together today, mostly to discuss my move coming up, when it came up about my father's plan to win the Megabucks Lottery. I know, everyone and their mother wants to win the lottery (something my Papa has made quite clear to my father). But my dad's got this plan to get the family together in one big plot of land and start up businesses and donate to the ministry. Fantastic ideas, I think.

Then things got judgmental.

My dad made a mention of who's the most spiritual in our family. And I thought, why does that matter? We can't judge people based on their spirituality. Their strength in the Lord should be celebrated, yes, but why put down everyone else who doesn't measure up in our family? I have an aunt who's a Mormon. That religion kind of made my father say, I don't want her in our family group.

What? C'mon, really? Just because of her religion? How arrogant. Not to mention, that line of thinking is what makes people hate Christians so much (i.e. the Crusades anyone?). Then he mentioned that the real reason he didn't want her in our family establishment was because she'd hurt my mom. Again, kind of a dumb reason. Bright side was my mom said she's moved past all that with my aunt so my father said that if we did hit the Megabucks, then he would certainly allow her to live in our group. Another thing that bothered me about this, however, was my dad's always held that against my aunt.

Come again? Really? You've been married to my mother for 20 years and you haven't let it go that she and my aunt had kind of a rocky relationship back in their teens / young adult life? I guess I understand a bit; experiences like that color your perspective of people. But I can't imagine holding something like that against someone for so long. Though he did mention it wasn't a burning hatred, just something that kind of stayed with him and irked him.

Sigh. Can't choose your family, but you can learn from them. And if you can't figure out how to love them, try harder.

With love and God's blessings,
EPD