Have you ever considered this?

[AliveInHim]

Note: I am not sure exactly where to put this post, so for the moment, it is in Chit Chat. If anyone thinks of a better spot, be my guest to suggest. If you are a mod and think of a better spot, be my guest to move this thread. I just simply was thinking about this question and thought it would be an interesting discussion -- hopefully.

I was watching the show Wife Swap today. If you have never seen or heard of the show, here is the quick run down. Two families are picked that have usually DRASTICALLY different lifestyles. For example, they have picked a woman that is VERY feminine and believes that girls should be trained to be mothers and wives and the epitome of "little ladies". The other family is all about the opposite. There are two daughters that are far from feminine. They are both actually world record power lifters. The mothers of the family move in with the opposite family for two weeks. The first week they must follow the rules of the family. The second week the new mom is allowed to make new rules. So, I was thinking about this ---

We live our lives all very differently if you really sit back and think about it. We may all eat dinner completely differently. Some families have rules about TV during the dinner. Other families don't care of the TV is on. Some families have other things -- like homeschooling vs public schooling. I am NOT implying there is one way that is RIGHT and one way that is WRONG. I am just giving examples.

So, here is my question -- Have you ever really examined your life -- your family's life even -- and thought "How would someone else would view my life?" Have you ever speculated what someone else would think? Any ideas?

Amanda

[Damaris]

Yep.

They'd be miserable.

[Queen Esther]

Yes. People would probably think my family is just weird and goofy...

[BaldJesus]

People would think my family was weird, dysfunctional, contadictory, annoying and scary.

[CaptivatedEmz1]

simple...
well thats the way i see my life, i like it that way, its the way God has made me
to alot of people in my town that would be like having no life

[AliveInHim]

Originally Posted by Damaris

Yep.

They'd be miserable.

Why do you think that? You certainly aren't miserable.

Amanda

[Damaris]

Originally Posted by AliveInHim

Why do you think that? You certainly aren't miserable.

Amanda

That's because my values are based on eternity.

No one who lives for earthly enjoyment would find 24/7 isolation in a room without any daylight to be a pleasant experience, especially when combined with a nutritionally deficient diet of extremely limited variety, limitations on exercise, hours of bed rest throughout the day, only two changes of clothes, no shampoo, lotion, soap, hair spray, deodorant, perfume, or any other personal products, and no books or paper of any kind.

I'm not trying to complain...like you said, I'm certainly not miserable. But that's not because my life is nice; it's because my joy is rooted not in temporal things of comfort but rather in Christ and eternal life with Him. That is the source of my contentedness with my life. For anyone who does not share this perspective, or even for those who do but have not yet had time to process it, living in my shoes for several weeks would definitely be "miserable".

ETA: I just realized this post could be misunderstood as parental abuse/neglect, and indeed it would be if I were a minor and my parents were the ones enforcing these restrictions. Neither is the case, and for the record my parents are wonderful and amazingly supportive of me and my health condition.

[Becca]

I think I'd be miserable Damaris! Life with no books?! How?!? :P
I dont think people would hate my life so much. I have amazing friends, my family is alright [when they arent fighting!] and I love my school... Someone else may not of course, probably someone really strict and 'proper' e.g. no TV with dinner, being home by 5 everyday on the dot, someone who hates mess would have a fit at the sight of my room!
And someone who hates drums wouldnt be allowed near my life :P :P My babies arent being subjected to neglect :P

[JesusPrincess]

hehe! lol. I know how everyone views my family - they say it straight to our faces!! lol. We are very weird but accepting and friendly to others. At least that's everyone in my family - except me! lol. hehe! I swear I was adopted half the time! lol. Naw, I love my family! Even if they are really odd!

[Chearnaigh]

i do this a lot! but u shouldnt care about what other people think if ur happy with the why ur life is u dont need anyone elses judgement