hair shirt

It is harder than anything to see people you love hurting. And making choices that are self-destructive. Choices that effect other people you love. Hard. Super duper hard.

When I evaluate my own life as a way to get perspective, I am reminded that I have faced some tough things. Things which I survived. It helps to remember these things. At least a little.

Have you noticed how much easier it is to go through your own hell than to watch others do it? When it is your own suffering you just strap on the hair shirt and suffer it out. When it's someone else you live in the world of "what else could I have done?" Yuck.

The goal this week- breathe and pray and let go. A little bit.

10 comments

Tina | August 17, 2012 at 6:39 AM

WOW! SO there. Amen.

LisAway | August 17, 2012 at 7:17 AM

Hair shirt, huh? I had to look that one up. :) I pretty much hate hell whether it's me or someone else going through it, but I know what you mean. I often tell myself and others "Everyone gets to make their own choices", as it helps me in so many situations. Probably wouldn't work in the type of situation you're talking about, though. :( I hope some of those wrongs get righted.

Doran & Jody | August 17, 2012 at 9:10 AM

Oh...we have a bit of that going on now.

The kids are too old to slap up the side of the head and you wonder how "humbled" they must become before they will turn around.

Why don't they take advise from those that have already suffered the same?

SHEESH!!

Marianne | August 17, 2012 at 10:35 AM

I'm sorry you're struggling. I'm sorry someone you love is struggling.

Hang in there!! You know what's important and you're doing what's right, and that's about all you can worry about.

Take off the hair shirt for pete's sake, and make yourself as comfortable as you can while you wait it out!!!

XOXOX!

wendy | August 17, 2012 at 10:37 AM

good post Kazzy. I know those feelings for sure.
It is extremely painful to watch the ones we love make destructive choices.
I know that first hand.
And every day .....I ask myself, What could I have done Differently.

I guess I need to do as you said, breathe, let go, and Let God.

Unknown | August 18, 2012 at 11:14 AM

Yep. Been there. And you know how it is with us oldest kids: the impulse is to fix, fix, fix. And you just can't do that for other adults, or anyone determined to stay un-fixed.

Jenny Lynn | August 19, 2012 at 4:37 PM

It really is hard to watch our children make poor choices when we know we have taught them better. Although, I ended up learning all about God's love because of one child's bad choices. I wouldn't trade that HELL for anything. And it was 2 years of HELL!

Welcome to the Garden of Egan | August 20, 2012 at 9:32 AM

Amen!
Sometimes I'm pretty sure I didn't sign up for some of this stuff.

Love the picture of you. You look intense and ready to say....
really fast water?
YUP
big deep cliff?
YUP
bring it on!

Welcome to the Garden of Egan | August 20, 2012 at 9:33 AM

That's a line from my favorite show ever...Emperor's New Groove just in case you hadn't seen it.

Rachel Cotterill | August 22, 2012 at 11:27 AM

Definitely much easier when it's your own problem to work through. Definitely.