After reading the title of this post, you are probably thinking I am going to start ranting and raving and name calling about a certain event that has happened in the life of my family a few months ago. Well, sorry to dissapoint but I'm not. Why not? Truthfully, I just don't see the point. No matter what I write, people are going to believe what they want to believe and those who truly know and love my family already know the truth and stand by us.
A few months ago, my father was forced to resign from his position as music minister that he had been for the past 15 years because a couple of men got their panties in a wad. My father is a very honest and loving man and when he saw things happening that he didn't think were right, he spoke up. Was he disrespectful? absolutely not. But there are some people in this world that don't like being told what they did was wrong. I have not been able to tell the truth of this because my father was threatened that if he spoke anything about why he left, his severance package would be terminated. The people who made this decision, were people whose homes I grew up in and whose children I was friends with.
This event has completely disrupted my parents lives in ways that words just can't explain. My father won't sing in church anymore and my mother can't bring herself to play the piano. I am deeply saddened by both of these because I grew up hearing them use their musical talents and now my daughter might not ever be able to. Am I upset by what was done? OF COURSE!! But I'm not going to give these "men" any leverage to hurt my family anymore by calling names.
So back to the title of this post, what does it mean? Well, when Nick and I started dating, he loving compared my family to the mafia and I have to agree. He didn't mean that we do illegal things or kill people, but was referring to how close we are. When you mess with one family member, you mess with us all. So in this case, when these "men" allowed Satan to work in their lives and disrupt my family's lives (because Satan is the one responsible for this!), not only did they mess with one bull, but they messed with at least 20 of them. I will leave the math up to you to determine how many horns are prepared to strike.
I love my family with everything I am. I will do anything for my family and they know that. Does a part of me want to go up to these mean-spirited people and kick them in their man-hood? Yes. But honestly, if you can treat people like this, then you aren't really that much of a man anyway. One day these people will have to answer to God himself about their actions and I have a feeling they will pee their pants in fear. I have no doubt that they know what they are doing is wrong, but they are allowing "power" to control their actions, not their true hearts. I thank everyone who has been true friends to my parents and have actually stood up for them. I also thank everyone for the prayers and ask that they continue because this isn't something that is going to be gotten over any time soon. Right now, all I can do is pray for my parents & family and know that God is in control of all circumstances. I will continue to do everything in my power to make my parents smile every once in a while because as Francesca Battistelli said in her song "Angel By Your Side"...."if I can bring a smile back to your face, for a moment, you'll forget all about it."
To all of my family, I love you more than words can express! We WILL get through this together!
With all my love,
Natalie
Thank you so, so much my girl. I am so thankful for family and friends that believe in us. As I learn of things weekly of people that have been encouraged to turn against us and not believe in our innocense, I sometimes want to throw my hands up and run. But I do know there are people here that still love us and more importantly a God who always has my back. I pray someday the music will be back.
ReplyDeleteI love you!!!