A Different Perspective

I don't even know where to begin on this post. I am bothered by all the "hoopla" over what movies people are seeing and what books people are reading. I have read things that I wish I could unread. I try really hard to just overlook things that I feel will be negative or judgmental. Even when the writer proclaims to not be judging, it really still generally comes across that way. Not that I'm innocent of judgment. There have been times where I have said or done things that I immediately wish I could take back. However, I pride myself on mostly trying to be a loving, non-judging person. I love Jesus. I love people. Does this mean I agree with everything everyone does? No. But I firmly believe it is not my job to decide other people's convictions or fate. I do not claim to be perfect in my faith. I struggle every single day. I worry about doing the right thing. I pray to God to make me a better wife, mother, teacher, daughter, sister, friend. I ask him to give me strength. When I start one of my anxiety-ridden thinking sessions, I immediately pray for peace. I FEEL His presence. I have seen His works. Every day when I look at my kids and my husband, I KNOW He is real. I know His love is unconditional. I KNOW only He knows my true heart of hearts. So when I begin to feel that people are forcing their own convictions on me, it disturbs me. I read a blog today. It talked about how "Magic Mike" was not a man that women should want. My first thought was this: Well of course not. Magic Mike is a fictional character. He is not real. Along with the likes of Harry Potter, Edward, Jacob, Christian Grey, Peeta, Gale, all the Montgomery men from Jude Devereaux's novels, and any other male leading character from a work of fiction. Do these things make me want to leave my husband and search for the likes of one of these men? Of course not. I know the difference between real and not real. I want a real man. One like my Daddy, who taught Sunday school and cooked breakfast for the whole church. Who went to the store time after time and bought things for his wife and daughters that no man would really want to go and buy. Who held me when I cried. Who disciplined me when I did wrong. Who cleaned the house, did laundry, and cooked dinner. One like my brother-in-law who took four kids (2 of which were not his) to the circus. Who took us crab hunting on the beach at night with flashlights. Who takes my kids to the airport to see the airplanes. Who takes my kids to Golden Corral to eat, even though he doesn't like it. Who has always helped his sister-in-laws even though he didn't have to. One like my husband who took responsibility and was glad for it when a lot of other men wouldn't have. Who coaches his sons in baseball, even going so far as to drive 4-5 nights a week for 2 hours to do it. Who folds laundry. Who hugs his little girl and calls her monkey. Who works hard every day even when he is sick. Who loves me unconditionally even when I'm unlovable. These are all of the qualities I want. Not a fictional character with abs. I saw Magic Mike. I didn't leave the theater lusting, or wanting to find a new man. I didn't feel any differently when I came out of the theater than I did when I went in. For an hour and a half, I watched a work of fiction. When I got in my car, I came home to my real husband, my real kids, and my real life....and all was right with the world.