Different Ways of Seeing

When I was growing up, I believed there was only one right way to do everything.  One way to do the dishes, the laundry, my math problem, clean the toilet, print the letter a, believe about God and the list went on and on and on.  I didn't do sleepovers very often but I vividly remember one in junior high.  My friend's house was not the same kind of messy as my house.  Her parents didn't seem to talk to each other the same way mine did.  In fact, her parents weren't even around the same way mine were.  At the time, I didn't have a paradigm for different ways of living.  It didn't even occur to me that this was simply a different way of doing clean or family or communication.  It was just wrong.

Today, our family has an amazing community of friends.  My kids spend a good amount of time at friend's houses. My kids notice how Samuel's mom is different than I am and how Rahim's mom is better at this than I am.  I LOVE THIS! My kids have experienced many different types of clean houses, communicating with family members, creative expressions, talents and personalities of moms and dads.  When we talk about how families do life differently, I love pointing out the beauty and strengths and differences of my friends and giving my children other pictures and valid options for the way they may choose to live their lives someday.

I'm not sure there is a right way to do anything anymore.  Maybe there are more efficient ways, if efficiency is important to you, or more relational ways, if relationships are the most valued thing.  Maybe there are more creative ways, if creativity and free flowing form are vital to your being, or more structured ways, if order and checklists float your boat.  But who am I to say that there is a right way to fold the laundry. . .  or do I need to fold it at all?  ;)