lies

No, this isn't some bitter post in the "Lies!!! It's all lies!" sort of way.  Um, no.  This post is about a few societal lies I have believed, and how God has been humbling me recently and changing the way I think.  These things aren't in any particular order.

1. "As long as they're happy, I'm happy for them." It seems this is something we say because it sounds good on the surface, but it is sounding more and more like a cop out to me.  I think this makes the false assumption that happiness is the ultimate goal of life, and thus is a good excuse for sub-par choices or behavior.  I just disagree.  I think joyful content in spite of circumstances is an honorable goal that can only be achieved fully as we rest in Christ.  But making poor life and/or moral decisions, chalking it up to a pursuit of happiness, and calling it good?  Grow up.
2. Breastfeeding norms: I am a breastfeeding mom.  I didn't really imagine myself going this long (8 months in), but here I am and not looking to end it any time soon.  Admittedly, breastfeeding more than a few months in freaked me out initially.  I was a birth to 3 years healthcare/education provider for 2 years, and my coworkers who were moms seemed to think it was weird when a one and a half year old was still nursing once or twice a day... so that must not be normal, right? Wrong.  It's amazing how misinformed healthcare and education providers can be.  Here I am, admitting that I am one of them (it's not the first time, and I'm sure it won't be the last).  UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) both recommend breastfeeding for the at least first 2 years of life, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding as the primary source of nutrition for at least the first year of life, and as long as it as it continues to be mutually desirable by mother and child.  Look, I'm not saying I'm going to be whipping it out in public to feed by kid when she's 2.  Um, emphatically no.  I'm just repenting of my critical thoughts of others who have, who were doing something good and noble for their kids, and I was ill-informed and judgmental.  I think we're all a bit deceived about what is and should be normal in this regard. 
3. Our government should be responsible for fixing broken things in our society.  I think political involvement is a good and noble thing.  Truly.  But putting lots of stock in how governments turn out, policy making, etcetera ... well, how's that working out for you?  My confidence and allegiance is in a heavenly kingdom, firstly.  I know this world is broken, fight for good and light while I'm in it, and long for the day all things will be made new in Christ.
4. The point of my marriage is to make me happy.  No.  Marriage has many purposes, but happiness is not one of them.  Hear me say that I am happy in my marriage, its comfort is a grace to me, and I praise God for this.  It's just not the purpose of marriage.  Marriage reflects the relationship of Christ and the Church, is a mirror to see who you truly are (for better or worse), and acts as the context for healthy families and child-rearing.  I am floored and convicted by the faithfulness of some despite less than ideal circumstances.  A life of practiced faithfulness, that's what I'm after.  Marriage daily involves little deaths, which doesn't exactly sound like the standard American way to happiness.  But, as a favorite artist puts it, "Cause the only way to find your life is to lay your own life down, and I believe it's an easy price for the life that we have found."