Acceptance....In More Ways Than One

A couple of weeks ago, we were in Richmond to celebrate my nieces' 6th birthday.  We left late morning because we wanted to go to the Chesterfield Mall to look at some things.   Mom also needed to get some stuff for dinner for the long weekend (Fri-Sunday), so we decided to head over to Costco over in Richmond; we decided to head to the food court to eat some lunch there.   Mom and I were looking at the menu (well, she was because I had already decided on the salad since that's really the only gluten free thing there); a little girl came up to me, barely 3 feet away from me and started to stare at me.  I usually ignore these things, but it gets annoying to a point, especially if someone starts to following you around to continue to stare.   Then, another irritating thing is when the mom of this child knows her child is staring and she does nothing about it until my mom says "please stop staring, it's not nice".   Even, when that doesn't work, it gets more annoying.   I was actually pretty quiet that day.  When nothing worked, I decided to be a "little child" and bugged/cross my eyes out and stick my tongue out at her and then laugh at her (of course those who know me, with my NF, my tongue hardly can stick out).  She laughed with me, but for some odd reason, that tactic worked and she no longer laughed at me.    Honestly, do I have to sink that low to amuse someone ACCEPT me not based on my looks?   Of course, then there was that time this odd lady decides to "following me" in the opposing direction at Sharp Shopper just to keep staring at me, and I seriously doubt she was look at what she was buying because she kept grabbing things off the shelf glanced at it and threw it in her buggy.....that's when I play the game, "going in and out and around the aisle, acting like I'm a confused sharper"---that's always a fun game to play.  Oh, and did I share you the story about a former SUPERVISOR from a place I used to work years ago who had to audacity to say "have you considered cosmetic surgery or something like that? I'm sure underneath this, you'll be so beautiful"  Yeah, I won't get into that story in my blog.....I'll tell you all personally in an email if you are interested.   

 But really, I'm not here to vent about all these things of the past; and really,  My point is that I've learned to let things like this pass by me; but there is only so much I can take before it blows up in my heart ( I actually try to amuse myself with those "silly games")   But, I also realize it's not just looks that society takes into "acceptance".   It includes so many things..... race, ethnicity, teenage pregnancy/unplanned pregnancy/divorce, plans other people make that one may not agree with, etc, etc.... The world immediately sees that outside picture of everything; and not look into the inside (by this I mean, not giving (or dare I say judging) a person until you know the situation, or looking at a person from the inside, not the outward appearances)

I'm used to this kind of non-Acceptance from the public. It's the way of life that I remember growing up and will endure the rest of my life.   Then there is true ACCEPTANCE from people who really do care and look beyond looks......and I've made many friends.

.....and I am reminded of one Friend who have accepted me from the beginning to be my Father and me his Daughter.  For He had chosen to create me the way I am, and He had chosen me to go through what I'm going through now.

..........and for that reason.....I ACCEPT what the Lord has in store for me, though the road is rough, I shall endure with His help.