Letter of disappointment
Dad,
I am still astounded at your response today. I understand and respect that you believe I am living a life of sin. I realize that you do not want your children to go to hell. When you asked me not to "Influence" your adult daughter I was taken aback. Then I remembered talking to her, and she had told me that she was studying with you concerning her faith. I wrote off this request as you did not want me to try and change her faith. I also assumed it was that you did not want me trying to convince her to call me Rose or sister. It seems I was mistaken and you felt that my tagging her in the following post was Influencing?
"Alright I have been tagged.... So here it goes! If I didn't tag you, please don't be offended. I tried to pick people who would play along!
All too often... we women, find it easier to criticize each other instead of building each other up. us women are a lot stronger then putting each other down.
Challenge accepted! Upload 3 pictures of you.. ONLY you. Then tag as many gorgeous women to do the same. Build yourself up instead of tearing yourself down. Share the beauty!!! I tagged you because I think you are beautiful inside and out.❤"
"I just untagged Mary from your latest post. Please remember what I asked of you and what I believe you agreed to with me.. Thanks! " Was what you sent back. I sat and listened to so many of your lessons as a child and took many of them to heart. Several lessons stand out in my mind, but today I was reminded about two of them.
First was a sermon where Sunday morning in the Anthony church building you wore a tee-shirt and jeans bring a point that everyone should be loved. Not loved by how they dress, but all as children of God. It was James Chapter 2 If I remember correctly. While I am under no illusion that you intended this to be extended to the realm of wearing dresses I do remember mom suddenly being able to wear pants to worship.
I also remember Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing."
I want to share with you exactly why I tagged Mary in my post today. It was the message the post was trying to express, that we should be building each other up, encouraging one another. So, I guess you were right. I was attempting to influence her the same way I have done for years. Encouraging her that It is ok to be herself, that she should feel beautiful both Inside and Out. And that She should share and encourage other people to feel the same way. That is one influence that I will not give up.
With love,
Rose Cummins
