Acceptance

I hate buying jeans. 

Every time I shop for jeans, I start out optimistic.  This time, I tell myself, I'm going to find the perfect fit, the perfect feel, the right price.  I load up my arms with several sizes of various brands and head for the fitting room.  I'm ever hopeful that the cheaper, store brand will be the ones I take home triumphantly.  However, as we all know, it is a rare time that I come away with jeans that I'm happy with...more often I leave empty handed and discouraged.  Is my body shape that different that the clothing manufacturers don't see the profit-potential for making jeans with smaller waistlines and curvier, wider hips?   Ugh.

I guess I just have to accept the situation as it is...frustrating.

But as frustrating as my jean shopping can be, there are more pressing issues of acceptance that claim my attention.  There are people in my life that will inevitably dislike me for whatever reason.  This is a sad fact that I have known for as long as I can remember; sometimes personalities just don't mesh and people butt heads.  What is there to do?  Ignore them?  Try to please?  Change my personality?  Be someone I'm  not?  Acceptance of the fact that I cannot please everyone is the only solution.  A hard one for me, that is.

Change is another part of life that I struggle to accept.  It happens; my place of work or worship that was a place of peace, productivity and pleasure for years has suddenly changed and I'm left with betrayal, pain and grief.  Things change...they always do.  I'm left to make the best of it, striving to accept the reality that things will not ever be as they were.

acceptance, n., the mental attitude that something is believable and should be accepted as true; refers to cases where a person experiences a situation or condition (often a negative or uncomfortable situation) without attempting to change it.

There is more to acceptance than just accepting the negative things in our lives.  Accepting the praise of others is something that is difficult for some.  It is necessary and good to allow others to show their appreciation and goodwill.  Not to be underestimated, as well, is the giving of praise to others; acknowledging the fact that I am not the best at everything...or even one thing.  Being alright with doing the best I can, even if it is not the best.  Acceptance of self can be so difficult.

But, the biggest of all acceptance is accepting others as they are.  The highest form of respect and always a good and honorable thing to do...and possibly the most difficult.  Not attempting to manipulate situations, conversations or the opinions of others to fit my world-view or personal agenda is a step toward maturity and self-control.

Could it be that acceptance of those that are different from us could be the place where compassion springs forth?  Ah, but that's another topic for another day, I suppose. 

“Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections."

“When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others.”

~Peace Pilgrim

 “A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.”

I want to accept and appreciate others for who they are.  I strive to accept the circumstances in which I find myself and want to be flexible enough to move when the LORD dictates.  And I want to be accepted...don't we all?