Family, Goobing, and Prayers

I have a lot of family.
I have my biological family, my chosen family, and my forced-but-not-biological family. They all mean so much to me. My parents have always tried to make our home safe for anyone who comes in it. Anytime we don't get along with someone in the neighborhood my parents sit us down and let us know that we have to get along with them in our house. Even though we have had problems with people stealing, lying to us, and taking advantage, we still love them and we grow as better people and closer as a family as well. We never lock our doors (except around Christmas). I remember going out to Chinese food and coming back with all the lights off, but Krystena was chilling on our computer. The best part? It wasn't weird. It felt more like she had just came home from a friends house or something.

Now my chosen family? They are probably more stressful than my biological family! But no matter what they do I love them so much and I would do anything for them! Sometimes they are not the smartest of people. Sometimes they fail to see others reaching out to them and trying to love them as anything more than a pity handout, a snarky stab, or an intentional action to hurt them. It drives me crazy when they just don't see how much I love them and am trying to help! I bet my parents feel like this often.

I spent the weekend with one of my families. At first I saw that my sister was getting into trouble and I went to warn her, and her mother, about certain people that I knew she shouldn't get tangled up with. Then I saw a greater need. One of my many mothers was having a really hard time. She was feeling lost, alone, and abandoned. I felt it necessary that I stay with her and my sister until her kids got back from their dads. During this time I got the chicken pocks. Things is, I knew I shouldn't leave her at a time like this. After discussing a few personal problems with my friend (and her step daughter who has moved out but was visiting for a few hours) my mom and sister got very upset. I wasn't saying anything bad about them, just that I was concerned and lost. I got chewed out. I got eaten alive and spat on a the ground. I simply told them what I said, and that if they didn't believe me then I was sorry. The thing is, even though I didn't do anything wrong, I hate that my family hates me. I didn't know what to do. My body was tired and sore, I was itching all over, and I didn't know what I could do to help this woman who I love so much know how wrong she is. And not just about me, but about all that love her dearly.

This is what I like to call “Goobing” (g-oo-bing). There is a Disney/Pixar movie called “Meet the Robinsons” and in it there is a character called Goob. He is the villain. At the end of the movie he explains his downfall to self hatred and dirty deeds. They show him walking through school and they kids are smiling at him and waving. One says, “Hey Goob, hows it going?” Another says, “That's a really cool binder Goob!” And then the last says, “Hey Goob, want to come over tonight?” After this section of the flashback the villain sighs “They all hated me.” I feel like sometimes other do this too. They are angry at themselves and thus they don't let other people in. I didn't know what to do to help my “Goobing” mother, so I did all I could. I prayed.
While on my knees I prayed for her heart to be softened to other people. Then I had a thought. How is that softening? I don't understand this, I really don't. In the bible it says it a million times, “Softening ones heart”, but I just don't get it. To me this was strength. To me it would be easy and “soft” and “comfortable” for her to lay around feeling sorry for herself. It would take strength for her to stand up and face her challenges instead of running from them, and the part she played in creating her situation.

So I liked that thought.

Final Words♥: All trials take strength to master and all strength comes from above.