| 6. | acceptance - a disposition to tolerate or accept people or situations; "all people should practice toleration and live together in peace" permissiveness, tolerance - a disposition to allow freedom of choice and behavior |
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To accept someone wholly and completely is not always easy - life is not easy- but it is the right thing to do. We may not always agree with their choices, but we should allow them the freedom to make decisions for themselves without our judgement.
Everyday it is something... people fighting over religion, fighting against or for abortion, fighting for or against same-sex marriages, fighting over racial issues...the list goes on and on.
Good Grief! Isn't it enough?! Why fight? Why argue?
People deal with good and bad coming in and out of their lives like the tides of the oceans. People want stability. They want to know that there is similarity, sameness. People fear difference. Why is this? It is ridiculous what we do to each other and ourselves when we have discord. We cause pain and stress. It is bad for our health and the health of others. Negative actions set bad examples of who we are as people to our neighbors, friends, relatives, and children.
I hate olives on my pizza, but I know many people do like them. Should I restrict everyone from getting olives on their pizza just because I dislike them? NO! That would be selfish and controlling of me.
Think of the olives next time someone worships a different God from yours; thinks abortion is the best choice for herself; falls in love with someone of the same sex.... What may not be right for you doesn't mean it may not be right for your neighbor.
Love thy neighbor as thyself.
To accept someone unconditionally is to show true love. Can we put all the judgement, selfishness, and hate aside? Can we learn to accept each other for who we are? Can we respect someone's decisions whether we agree or not because we love unconditionally?
Thanks for listening,
You can still be loving even if you don't agree. We also have a right to our beliefs and opinions, but there is no value to being spiteful to others about them. I think we in our society have lost the social skill of tact and restraint...that doesn't mean we have to accept as okay everything we see around us.
ReplyDeleteWell Said
ReplyDeleteYes, we can still be loving even though we don't agree. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and opinions. That is the point I'm trying to make. We may not agree with their opinion or belief, but we should show respect of the differences is those around us by not pressuring our beliefs or opinions upon them...letting them choose for themselves and accepting them for who they are.
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