11/30/2006

without a foot to stand on

Can I just say that I really dislike quotes like this one:
"I complained because I had no shoes until I saw a man who had no feet."

Ahem, but what is that saying about men (and women) with no feet??? That they exist as morality lessons for all those shoeless joes out there? Or as objects of pity for all those folks whose closets are so full of shoes that they don't have enough space to keep them in???
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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

You make a good point in your questions, but I think you are giving too much credit to the person who said that. You are assuming that they have actually given some thought to it and what it could mean.

Personally, I think it is one of those “cheerleader” quotes that are supposed to make people perk up and think their life is not hard. It is sort of like the times when you are talking to someone while you are having a hard time and they tell you a story about someone who has it worse. In their twisted way they are trying to make you feel better-as if you are some sadist who gets pleasure from someone else being miserable. For me, I just get depressed that someone else out there feels worse than I do at that exact second.

5:43 AM
Brooke said...

I have a hard time with the way people talk about gratitude when there are comparisons too. I probably became more aware of it because of you, Jana. I remember having conversations about this very thing with you before and have since noticed in church talks and lessons, and in many other conversations too, that this is the main way people talk about gratitude. I found myself cringing a lot this month in particular.

Jana, what do you think is the best way to remind others about and talk about gratitude?

12:49 PM

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