I have been thinking about this one for a LONG time. I have noticed and increasing lack of taking responsibility for one's actions the past few months. There is always a "but" followed by an excuse of why things haven't gone your way. I have noticed it more with the presidential election coming up.
Let's take the president, for example. Of course, he is going to be attacked on his record for the last 3.5 years in office. Whether he were a republican or democrat, it is just how elections go. The other side is trying to find fault with what you've done or not done in order to sway votes to their side. This is NOT something new, nor is what I'm about to say. Please, President Obama, take some responsibility! You inherited a crappy economy, and wars that were years old, we get it. We were there too. You made some serious promises 4 years ago and let's just face the facts that you didn't get the majority of it done. Let's stop blaming former President Bush and pony up to say, the job was harder than you thought. I get you need another 4 years, but I'd have a lot more respect for you if you didn't continue to lay blame on everyone else. The fact is, you aren't giving my children or even yours a strong example of what taking responsibility is. I truly believe that every president inherits something crappy from the previous one. But let's put our big kid undies on and do the job we're supposed to do rather than blaming others.
We don't have to look far to find a celebrity who is blaming someone else for their fall. The pressure was too much, etc. To this, I say, Really? Like none of us regular folk experience pressure. Listen, you chose to be in the lime light - you take it and know you're being watched by millions or you explode under the pressure. I get that it is hard, life is hard, but what you do with it is your choice. No one put the drink and the keys in your hand and if you did make stupid choices, say that you made stupid choices. Let's take a little responsibility for our actions.
I'm not at all saying that I am innocent in all of this. I want to get mad and blame others too (most of the time my husband, sorry A!) but I am trying really hard not to because my children are watching me. They are doing what I do. They are saying what I say. They are little sponges, soaking it all up and then waiting for your next move. I am actively trying not to lose my patience at the end of the day of yet another single parent week. I am trying to say, yep, I forgot or yep, that was my fault. The most humbling thing you can do is to apologize to your child and ask for their forgiveness. Wow! You soften yourself to them, you become even more of a real person, and they see that everyone messes up. But in that moment of messing up, I could chose to say it's because you kids are driving me nuts and I have a huge headache and dishes piled up in the sink, or, I could simply say "I'm sorry, forgive me."
You know, Jesus taught forgiveness like no one else. He was there, being nailed to a cross, enduring the insults from the soldiers and passers by. Luke 23:34 gives Jesus' reply, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Wow! Jesus didn't need to take responsibility for any wrong doing as he was perfect. We however, are not, but can surely take this lesson in forgiveness.
There is always someone watching us, whether we are celebrities, politicians, or regular people. Students watch teachers, coworkers watch each other, children watch parents. We all watch celebrities and politicians. I know this will go nowhere other than the handful of people reading but I'm just asking that we all take some responsibility. And it isn't a bad thing to ask for forgiveness either. My kids are watching you and their future will be impacted by what you decide to do - are you going to lay blame or take the responsibility?
No comments:
Post a Comment