Stupid Rules
My daughter has a rule in her home that says “We don’t use the word ‘stupid’.” Her four sons know the rule well and are not allowed to use the word at all. It is like a swear word for my world growing up. You knew what the words meant but you didn’t use them. They were not proper and didn’t belong in one’s vocabulary.
One time as I was driving her sons to the next point of the afternoon another driver swerved in front of our vehicle and cut us off. My quick reaction avoided any conflict but my feelings were ‘high’ at that moment… and I uttered, “What’s the matter with you Stupid Driver?!?” There was silence from the four boys with me… then there was a giggle... and one said in a low voice, “Grandpa said a bad word.” The next one chided in to help me understand that, “Mommy said we should never use that word.” As I was processing my new offence and the judgment that I had received, I grinned. My response was, “Sorry guys… but that driver was ‘Stupid’ no matter what Mommy says…” That brought four giggles and then outright laughter.
I knew I would hear about it later when the story went home.
I want to shout this from the roof tops at this point – bad word or not – “Stupid Rules...watch out it could try to rule your life too!”
The Story to consider…
A few weeks ago a young couple that we have been working with got into trouble and had a horrible fight. This ended up with him being in custody and they are separated with court orders to have no contact with each other. He is facing another 30 days in jail now. I wrote about this yesterday.
A number of weeks prior to this domestic dispute they were involved in what could be considered a close to death automobile accident. While creeping along the very busy #401 Highway in the heart of Toronto they came to a full stop. There was a car’s length distance between their vehicle and the one ahead. A lady moving at a high speed came up behind them and crashed into the rear of their vehicle going right under their car. That shoved their vehicle into the one ahead of them and that car into the car in front of it. The crash site was a mess and three cars were totaled. A miracle had happened and no one was hurt at all.
Now with the young man in jail she has no income. She is struggling to make a go of it but doing okay one day at a time. The money from the Insurance company is to arrive any day. She knows this and waits.
Well this week as the court made it judgment so did the Insurance company. They sent a letter with the check included in the young man’s name – she can’t cash it or draw on a deposit because the bank account is not a joint account. Yes I already know your reaction is the same as mine. Yikes!
It gets better with the Insurance company… each month they are continuing to bill them for the insurance on the car that was totaled. The Insurance company has issued a check that cannot be cashed and sends a bill that is for a car that they already have in their possession. Okay – have you got that one? “Stupid Rules.”
As the young lady looked at my wife and me with frustration written all over her face, we understand. There is nothing that we can do to help her. No contact means – no contact. If there is he can be charged and given more time. She then said the words that sum it all up, “Why do I have to use our baby bonus to pay the insurance on a vehicle that is now dead, and I have been doing this for three months..?”
“Stupid Rules.”
The resolve will come I am sure. Maybe the big Insurance company will pay back the money that she has paid out of what she doesn’t have. Maybe… but I say it again and “Stupid Rules.”
As we listened to her share with us the current events I am impressed. She states that she is not giving up. She is enrolled in college beginning this falls season. She intends to head for her social work degree. “I want to help others that are going through what I am going through now. I have to do something.”
The one thing that I know is that “Stupid Rules” doesn’t apply to her life any longer. ‘Stupid’ is replaced with ‘Smart’ and ‘Stronger’.
Hang in there little lady – we are proud of you!
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
One time as I was driving her sons to the next point of the afternoon another driver swerved in front of our vehicle and cut us off. My quick reaction avoided any conflict but my feelings were ‘high’ at that moment… and I uttered, “What’s the matter with you Stupid Driver?!?” There was silence from the four boys with me… then there was a giggle... and one said in a low voice, “Grandpa said a bad word.” The next one chided in to help me understand that, “Mommy said we should never use that word.” As I was processing my new offence and the judgment that I had received, I grinned. My response was, “Sorry guys… but that driver was ‘Stupid’ no matter what Mommy says…” That brought four giggles and then outright laughter.
I knew I would hear about it later when the story went home.
I want to shout this from the roof tops at this point – bad word or not – “Stupid Rules...watch out it could try to rule your life too!”
The Story to consider…
A few weeks ago a young couple that we have been working with got into trouble and had a horrible fight. This ended up with him being in custody and they are separated with court orders to have no contact with each other. He is facing another 30 days in jail now. I wrote about this yesterday.
A number of weeks prior to this domestic dispute they were involved in what could be considered a close to death automobile accident. While creeping along the very busy #401 Highway in the heart of Toronto they came to a full stop. There was a car’s length distance between their vehicle and the one ahead. A lady moving at a high speed came up behind them and crashed into the rear of their vehicle going right under their car. That shoved their vehicle into the one ahead of them and that car into the car in front of it. The crash site was a mess and three cars were totaled. A miracle had happened and no one was hurt at all.
Now with the young man in jail she has no income. She is struggling to make a go of it but doing okay one day at a time. The money from the Insurance company is to arrive any day. She knows this and waits.
Well this week as the court made it judgment so did the Insurance company. They sent a letter with the check included in the young man’s name – she can’t cash it or draw on a deposit because the bank account is not a joint account. Yes I already know your reaction is the same as mine. Yikes!
It gets better with the Insurance company… each month they are continuing to bill them for the insurance on the car that was totaled. The Insurance company has issued a check that cannot be cashed and sends a bill that is for a car that they already have in their possession. Okay – have you got that one? “Stupid Rules.”
As the young lady looked at my wife and me with frustration written all over her face, we understand. There is nothing that we can do to help her. No contact means – no contact. If there is he can be charged and given more time. She then said the words that sum it all up, “Why do I have to use our baby bonus to pay the insurance on a vehicle that is now dead, and I have been doing this for three months..?”
“Stupid Rules.”
The resolve will come I am sure. Maybe the big Insurance company will pay back the money that she has paid out of what she doesn’t have. Maybe… but I say it again and “Stupid Rules.”
As we listened to her share with us the current events I am impressed. She states that she is not giving up. She is enrolled in college beginning this falls season. She intends to head for her social work degree. “I want to help others that are going through what I am going through now. I have to do something.”
The one thing that I know is that “Stupid Rules” doesn’t apply to her life any longer. ‘Stupid’ is replaced with ‘Smart’ and ‘Stronger’.
Hang in there little lady – we are proud of you!
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
posted by Murray Lincoln at
Thursday, July 19, 2007
1 Comments:
Hi Murray, I just wanted to let you know that we are praying for this dear family.
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Anonymous, at 1:57 AM
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