To me, marriage is a verb. It's not just two people dressed nice saying "I do" and signing a piece of paper. That's just the oh so misleading, easy first step into a new way of living.
American's have this tiresome problem with control. There are always a few groups of people, some large, some not, who get bombarded with a ridiculous amount of hate/turmoil. I'm not even going to list the groups who have suffered (and pretty much still do) the past ignorance of America.
Gay marriage. This label needs to go. Marriage is marriage, genders have no changing force in the matter. Marriage is loving when society tells you "you're too good for them." Marriage is loving when you are suffering. Marriage is what I believe to be the big word that makes you keep going when you would other wise walk away feeling guilt free. Marriage is Commitment with a capital C. Marriage is perseverance. Marriage is only sacred between the two people who choose it's course in life. Marriage is more than words will ever describe.
Marriage is tied with Parent as the two toughest roles you can choose to take, because you are choosing to love harder (yes, you can love harder) than the disappointments, trials, and sufferings that come with the human condition.
America may think we are keeping it away from gay people, but we're really not. What we are keeping away from them is the "official" ceremony, a piece of paper, and a box to check on forms. Eventually, they will get this right. They will. And marriage will continue to be what is has always been, a verb.
*I know many disagree with me, but I feel the disagreements get the spotlight. This is my tiny space to disagree.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
ESL
I really, really, really, really love my job. Twice a week I get to love on some amazing kids. Kids who don't speak English, but understand love.
After a few weeks, they start to understand some words or phrases, mainly dealing with food or potty. But then after a few months, they start talking to you and sometimes its a mix of their native language and English and then I get to learn too. It's amazing how much they can communicate without having to say a word and while all kids do this, it just seems extra spectacular to me when there is no verbal understanding to begin with. Through the bond we share with them, they feel confident that we will understand or at least do everything we can to understand.
Some of the kids get real attached to me and will seek me out in the room for comfort or just to sit with. I love it when this happens.
When a new kid arrives there is almost always hard times for the next few days or weeks. I started to notice that the new moms who bring the new kids seem to feel bad if their child isn't happily playing the first day, so I have prioritized talking with them as soon as I see them and am constantly reassuring them to keep coming back, that their child will get comfortable. It just takes time.
Today I had to bring a little boy back to his mother, it was his second day and he still cried constantly. When I walked past classrooms looking for his mother I noticed that most of the ESL students are women, probably 80%. That is remarkable. I've known this is the back of my mind for a long time, but today it stuck out in a different way. These women are going to be able to teach their children english, understand their childrens teachers when they start school, interact in society easier and generally lead a better life because they are able to receive this service from the church. I was filled with a cheesy girl power sensation, and this has given me even more motivation to interact with the moms more. To talk to them more. To comfort them more.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that generally I feel important now. :)
After a few weeks, they start to understand some words or phrases, mainly dealing with food or potty. But then after a few months, they start talking to you and sometimes its a mix of their native language and English and then I get to learn too. It's amazing how much they can communicate without having to say a word and while all kids do this, it just seems extra spectacular to me when there is no verbal understanding to begin with. Through the bond we share with them, they feel confident that we will understand or at least do everything we can to understand.
Some of the kids get real attached to me and will seek me out in the room for comfort or just to sit with. I love it when this happens.
When a new kid arrives there is almost always hard times for the next few days or weeks. I started to notice that the new moms who bring the new kids seem to feel bad if their child isn't happily playing the first day, so I have prioritized talking with them as soon as I see them and am constantly reassuring them to keep coming back, that their child will get comfortable. It just takes time.
Today I had to bring a little boy back to his mother, it was his second day and he still cried constantly. When I walked past classrooms looking for his mother I noticed that most of the ESL students are women, probably 80%. That is remarkable. I've known this is the back of my mind for a long time, but today it stuck out in a different way. These women are going to be able to teach their children english, understand their childrens teachers when they start school, interact in society easier and generally lead a better life because they are able to receive this service from the church. I was filled with a cheesy girl power sensation, and this has given me even more motivation to interact with the moms more. To talk to them more. To comfort them more.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that generally I feel important now. :)
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