Thank you so much for this! Every word of this rings so true, especially the self-doubt about our own gifts and the discernment between a call and ego.
1. I’m struggling to think of a specific time because it seems that every time I’m convinced I can’t do something I know I’m called to, God steps in and somehow it happens!
2. PET PEEVE. I think sometimes people see the chaos and want to say something encouraging but don’t really know how to verbalize it well. Sometimes our culture as a whole can have a very negative view toward unpredictability and chaos, which are part and parcel of life in a large family (or is that just my family? 😅). But as I become better at rolling with the punches, life is so much more fruitful and joyful with each little person in our family!
3. Yes, and it has brought so much joy to our family! We attend a small parish and run the middle and high school youth group. Our kids attend with us each week, and they adore the “big kids” (and vice versa)! It’s crazy and loud, but somehow it works!
I think the “hands full” is translated based on who and what the situation is. There are times to me when it sounds like the situation you described. Saying, “wow, you really made your own bed with that many kids. Good luck with that. I would never do that.” But then there are people who use it empathetically and encouragingly, “you got your hands full but are doing great!” And then there are in the middle who just say it because that is just the most common cultural thing to say.
A guy made a comment that I was giving my baby “whiplash!” I had a toddler in one arm and then was lugging the baby in the car seat across church the parking lot back to the car. Just doing my best with my injured hip and back. It was making a swaying motion, so yes, the baby’s head was rocking back and forth in the car seat. But, The car seat is designed for high impact crashes!!! He said that and then just walked right by me and skipped his way into church before I could even process the insult. So it was the trifecta of the “hands full comment.” So it was basically “I see you’re struggling, you are also injuring your child, glad that is not me, but I won’t help, because I need to go to church.”
I forgot to mention there was a jolliness to this guy which somehow made it worse. I am sure he walked into church thinking he was the greatest Christian ever. “I am in the best mood all the time and make anyone I interact with better off for it! My suggestions are the most helpful things ever! They just saved a baby in the parking lot!”
Thank you so much for this! Every word of this rings so true, especially the self-doubt about our own gifts and the discernment between a call and ego.
1. I’m struggling to think of a specific time because it seems that every time I’m convinced I can’t do something I know I’m called to, God steps in and somehow it happens!
2. PET PEEVE. I think sometimes people see the chaos and want to say something encouraging but don’t really know how to verbalize it well. Sometimes our culture as a whole can have a very negative view toward unpredictability and chaos, which are part and parcel of life in a large family (or is that just my family? 😅). But as I become better at rolling with the punches, life is so much more fruitful and joyful with each little person in our family!
3. Yes, and it has brought so much joy to our family! We attend a small parish and run the middle and high school youth group. Our kids attend with us each week, and they adore the “big kids” (and vice versa)! It’s crazy and loud, but somehow it works!
I think the “hands full” is translated based on who and what the situation is. There are times to me when it sounds like the situation you described. Saying, “wow, you really made your own bed with that many kids. Good luck with that. I would never do that.” But then there are people who use it empathetically and encouragingly, “you got your hands full but are doing great!” And then there are in the middle who just say it because that is just the most common cultural thing to say.
A guy made a comment that I was giving my baby “whiplash!” I had a toddler in one arm and then was lugging the baby in the car seat across church the parking lot back to the car. Just doing my best with my injured hip and back. It was making a swaying motion, so yes, the baby’s head was rocking back and forth in the car seat. But, The car seat is designed for high impact crashes!!! He said that and then just walked right by me and skipped his way into church before I could even process the insult. So it was the trifecta of the “hands full comment.” So it was basically “I see you’re struggling, you are also injuring your child, glad that is not me, but I won’t help, because I need to go to church.”
SPOT ON. I do think the context matters! The last part of your comment made me laugh out loud...
I forgot to mention there was a jolliness to this guy which somehow made it worse. I am sure he walked into church thinking he was the greatest Christian ever. “I am in the best mood all the time and make anyone I interact with better off for it! My suggestions are the most helpful things ever! They just saved a baby in the parking lot!”
Hahahahaha bless his heart
A regular Luke 18:10 Pharisee