Saturday, June 28, 2008

A Word of Advice

I've been thinking about two things.

1) Most of the time when I talk about how having two small children is tough and I don't know what the heck I'm doing, I honestly don't want someone to jump in with their "Oh, you just need to...." or "God will never give you more than you can handle", (Someone actually said that to me just recently). Because, gee, that really helps. You know? Sometimes, I'm just venting. What I really want to hear is, "You know, you are in a very hard place right now, and I want to pray for you that God's grace will be all over your life so that you can be the best mom possible to those two little boys." Or, "Having little ones is tough" is just fine, too.

2) There are times when I really do want advice. But there are very few people I feel comfortable taking advice from. If I don't know that I'm going to get a straight answer, no matter what it is that needs to be said, I don't really want to hear it. It's just wasted breath if it's not Truth. I know that when Kris tells me something, he's not going to say something just to make me feel better. He speaks with wisdom. When I talk to my mom and sister, they will tell me exactly what I need to hear, even if it's not what I want to hear.

I'm so grateful to have them in my life. I'm grateful for the other friends I have in my life who will do that for me, too, and also the ones who know how to say, "Yeah, I understand."

For all the other people, should I wear a sandwich sign that says, "I'm just venting. No advice necessary."? Or would that be a little much?

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen.

And I rolled in laughter at the "Eli's Heavy Diaper" video. I nearly wet MY pants. Ha. ha.

--Cat G.

Anna said...

Hey - I need to apologize...read my latest blog. {{hug}}

Anonymous said...

this is good...i know, i don't always want someone help me fix my problems but to just listen and relate...listening seems to be a lost art these days.

KateVonGlahn said...

I agree. I just wish people would shut the hell up sometimes!

Pajama Mama said...

HI Hannah, I snuck over here from Kate's blog and just had to say that I LOVE your layout and have already been perusing through the darling free layouts myself! So, thanks for the tip you didn't even know you gave...I've been wanting a layout change but no $$ to pay for one!

I appreciate your honest post on advice. When I was a a young mom, I'd listen to everybody's advice and was a MESS trying to do it "right"...which I never felt like I did. Now, if I get advice, I "eat the meat and spit out the bones" so to speak.

LOVE the Declarations. Very pretty.

Blessings, Jeannie

Heather said...

that is all so true! I feel the exact same way! Maybe I do need to spend some more time with my cousin! Love Ya!

Heather said...

oh my gosh, I just read Kate's comment and literally laughed out loud. I love knowing that yall are human!

Anonymous said...

Kate said hell?

HELL YES! I did a double-take!

hee hee.

:)
Catherine

Hannah Hoffmann said...

You haven't spent much time around Kate, have you, Catherine? That's one of the many things I love about her - she doesn't mince words.