Expectations

Do what you do.

This is what a friend told me.  I told him that someone said I wasn’t “what she expected”.   She said she had been reading my blog and she expected something different. 

Here we go again with the expectations…

When I was in driver’s ed in high school, our teacher put the word ASSUME up on the board.  He then broke it up and said, when you ASSUME, you make an ASS out of U and ME.  I’m sure many of you have heard that before but don’t you love it?  It’s true and easy to remember!

We all assume.  We think we know what someone will think about a topic because they are a woman or a man.  We think we can pigeonhole everyone who says they are Christian or Jewish or atheist.  We think we can determine what people think or what they will act like based on where they live or if they like the Cubs or the White Sox. (Really.)

Maybe that’s the lesson.  Maybe God introduces us to people who challenge our stereotypes and our assumptions.  Maybe we are supposed to surprise each other.  It’s definitely more fun that way! 

Think of how many times we hold ourselves back because that’s not what we “should” say.  That’s not what we “should” do.  Who says?  

I remember someone said to me once that she wasn’t sure if she wanted to be a Christian because then she’d have to stop having fun.  SAY WHAT???

I saw a lady with an awesome sticker on her motorcycle helmet.  It said, “I ride a motorcycle and I love Jesus.” 

My friend just introduced me to a blog you should checkout.  It’s called Parisienne Farmgirl and you can find it at  http://www.parisiennefarmgirl.com/

One of the things she writes in her bio is “Drop a cuss word and mention how much you love Jesus in the next sentence and I am prone to want to be your best friend.”  Ha!  I love this.  

I also love the song “Heart Like Mine” by Miranda Lambert.  She sings,

I ain’t the kind you take home to mama

I ain’t the kind to wear no ring

Somehow I always get stronger

When I’m on my second drink

 

Even though I hate to admit it

Sometimes I smoke cigarettes

The Christian folks say I should quit it

And I just smile and say “god bless”

 

Cause I heard Jesus he drank wine

And I bet we’d get along just fine

He could calm a storm and heal the blind

And I bet he’d understand a heart like mine

 

Amen, right? 

Here’s the song if you want to listen.  It’s good.  I think you’ll root for this girl.  She’s familiar.  She’s real. She’ll have you singing along in no time. 12 Heart Like Mine

©2011 Sue Bidstrup, Great Big Yes™ All Rights Reserved