4.21.2011

What's Wrong With Our World?


Okay, maybe it is just me. Most of the time I try my best just to let things go. I try hard to stay positive. Maybe it was because as I went out to get my morning newspaper, a woman that lives around the block from we was walking away from my trash can. She was walking two large dogs and decided to put their poop, that was in a clear plastic bag, in my trash can. Couldn't she have just carried it to her own trash can? I let it go. I try REALLY hard to "choose" my battles. I knew I was going to have my little ones today, so I started my paperwork early. This morning I sent out an "E-Mail Express" to my customers that have signed up to receive our emails. It was simple, just letting everyone know we would be open between the hours of 10am to 3pm on Easter Sunday. Yes, I included a picture of an Easter bunny. But it was a funny bunny! I said something like "after your Easter egg hunting you can come shop with us, and be home in time for your Easter dinner". I didn't mention church or religion on purpose. It can be a touchy subject, and I try to avoid sensitive subjects in my business. But after awhile, how much is a person suppose to digest? I got this email below:

"We are sad and disappointed that  your are not respecting of Easter as even Target the national chain store is also recongnizing the importance of this day to 90% of the United States population by being closed on this special day. Easter is the most important Christian day of the year. More important then Christmas. We will be at Church celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ not shopping! If it weren't for Easter and Christmas I am sure you would not be making alot of money based on my experience working retail. I get it.

Just so you know this Country was founded on Christian principals. I highly recommend you check out Wallbuilder.com and their American Heritage Series by David Barton to learn more about this Country of ours it really clears up alot of ignorance about many topics.

Easter is not about bunnies and eggs. I am always curious what people teach their kids what Easter is all about after they have outgrown the bunny and easter basket phase.

Please take my off your email list! Thank you and God Bless you."

Well, I don't think this customer used spell check or re-read her email before sending it, I'm just saying. She did sign her name but out of respect for ALL my customers, including her, I did not post it.  I guess my being open for five hours on Easter made her mad! What has been eating at me all day is she has NO idea what my beliefs are. How does she know I'm not at church for a Sunrise Easter morning celebration? She doesn't know! How does she know what I've taught my children? Does she care? No, not really.  The email just gave her a soap box to stand on. I did manage not to respond, but it amazes me what people will do and say in the name of religion. The whole thing with the Fred Phelps people holding protests at gay military men's funerals. I'm sorry, and I don't want to offend anyone, but have a heart, or a little respect for a family during a time of loss. My God is all loving, accepts people for who they are without any judgement passed on them. "Because Nice Matters", that is part of my God. You treat people the way that you would expect to be treated. You have compassion for others, you extend a hand to help someone back up when they are down! I look at my little grandbabies innocent faces and I hold a great deal of HOPE in my heart that our world will straighten itself out. I HOPE there will be no more emails that portray our first black President as a monkey! I HOPE the world finds more compassion, cares more for others, and I HOPE with all my heart that we become a kinder and gentler world very soon! 

18 comments:

  1. Sorry, you weren't treated kindly...I am a Christian and the loving kindness of Christ is what we are called to portray.

    Have a Happy Easter, Lezlee

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  2. Oh,my! If this woman didn't like your store being open on Easter, she could exercise her freedom of opinion by NOT coming to your store on Easter! I am constantly amazed at thoughtless people who attempt to cram their personal beliefs down others' throats! The tone of her letter to you did not say Christian to me. What happened to kindness and respect? What happened to "do unto others"?

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  3. I would say you really didn't need her as a customer with a closed mind as that.
    All I can say is Have you seen the trailer for "I AM"
    I really hope this lady or man has and she comes to realize how she has left her mark on the world.
    sheessh!
    Take care Sue, I will continue to support your store. I love how it is an open minded place!!!

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  4. Don't worry about it Sue. Although I am Christian not everyone is and we don't get to dictate to others. I think the problem is that some people view THEIR beliefs as governing law. Very small minded.

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  5. Sue, she should have backed her comments with scripture. Instead of using her own opinion. Scripture does make the subjects clear. I think that some of you missed that she ended her comment with a nice positive. God Bless you,(Sue). That is a loving request for you.

    I enjoy your blog very much. Thank you for your post. Have a nice weekend. sandi

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  6. Sue, I'm not in a "church" right at this time. We eat out on Easter Sunday with out kids, and because we want to spend the day together we go to Antique Malls and enjoy shopping. When Christ died He redeemed us from "the Law". I hope this person doesn't need to buy an extra carton of eggs on Easter or a bag of ice for their get together. Don't feel bad about your decision to be open. It's your decision.
    Have a blessed and wonderful Easter!
    hugs and lots of love,
    Debra

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  7. Thanks Debra! What I love about you is that your faith & life you live are an example for others. You are "real" and sincere and I have a tremendous amount of respect for you. I appreciate your kind words!
    Take care,
    Sue

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  8. I do believe if everyone minded their own business and took care of their own families this would be a better place to live in. In my experience people like this that preach to everyone else aren't the nicest people themselves and I for one wouldn't want them shopping in my store anyways.

    Hope this doesn't ruin your easter weekend. Hope you have a good one spent with family and friends:)

    Kathleen

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  9. It irritates me to no end how some people can use religion to defend their actions. Christ teaches us to not judge, to turn the other cheek, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. He did not condemn. He drank from the same cup as the sinner. I work for a church, I am a Christian and I would never speak to whether I think this woman was acting "like a Christian" but I do know that if you want someone to hear you, especially when preaching or witnessing, you have to speak WITH them, not AT them. And her "God Bless You" at the end was certainly not a positive! It was a prayer for your soul! Good grief!!

    I'm really sorry you had to receive that letter. You didn't deserve it.

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  10. Sue, I was so sorry to read this account of the response you had to your email. Such meanness is uncalled for and is very hurtful. I know that feeling - we recently had to deal with it in our own business.

    I have no patience with people who profess faith, and yet unleash anger and nastiness onto others who may or may not believe as they do. Not one 'religious' teacher - Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, or others - EVER espoused treating people hatefully in the name of faith or religion. God is love, not hate.

    Have a wonderful Easter celebration, Sue!

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  11. Remember Sue, "MIND OVER MATTER"
    you shouldn't MIND because ignorant statements from people like her don't MATTER.
    Have a blessed Easter Day with your beautiful family, however you choose to spend it.

    Hugs,
    Irma

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  12. I'm so sorry that you had to experience that. When Christians become "Legalistic" about the Scriptures, they miss the whole reason why Christ was crucified for our sins. The whole point is that we cannot ever be or do everything perfect enough to earn a place in Heaven. Christ paid the price on the cross and we are free. That includes free to work on Easter if we want to. What the Lord does not like is people who walk around thinking they're the perfect Christian and putting other people down. People like her tend to push people away from excepting the Lord in the first place, because who would want to be like her? She sounds miserable and not well biblically educated. Please don't think we are all like her. I agree with you-nice matters! I hope you have a very blessed Easter Sue! Mary :O)

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  13. Well...I probably shouldn't but...I'm going to anyway (just a warning)!!! I'm a Christian...have been for years. Am I perfect....NO!! But, where I go to church we don't choose two days out of the year to be thankful for what Christ does for us. We take time EVERY Sunday to thank him for his sacrifices. We should be thankful every day for what he's done....and what God continues to do. People tick me off....2 days??? Really??? Sorry, for the rant...but I did warn you!!! lol

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  14. You're a better woman than I am. I have no restraint. I would have had to respond, and just as rudely as your "customer". I try to stay away from touchy subjects like religion as well, but when those people are rude enough to "cram their beliefs" on others... well I think they deserve a response just as rude. But like I said, I have no restraint. And I don't believe they deserve the respect, if they cant respect others.

    And those protesters - their posters say it all. Their GOD - "Hates". Their church must be a very happy place, huh. If there was ever a church that needed burning! Ignorant people shouldn't be allowed to breed.

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  15. Happy Easter...after church, Easter egg hunts & lunch with the family what a fabulous way to end my day-shopping at Country Roads!
    Just saying....

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  16. And what business is it of hers, anyway? I always wonder what these intolerant people think they are doing? They are forgetting "and the greatest of these is love." So sorry you had to get that email. Things like this are so upsetting.

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  17. I am sorry she sent you that hateful email. I owned a shop called Mulberry Cottage, in Torrance, for 16 years before I sold it a couple of years ago. I would get ugly notes every once in a while that would be hurtful, one person got quite upset that I would wish people "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays". You run your business as you see fit and don't worry about the very, very few you cannot please.
    We love your wonderful store!
    Debbie Johnson

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Your words are always appreciated, thanks!