Sunday, April 01, 2012

Dear Anonymous

I am Hannah's Mom and I will do what I believe is best for her.

Please know that when you attempt to post comments like you just did all it does is cause me to pray for you so immediately after reading your comment I prayed for you and will do so again.  I don't know who you are but God does.


I make no apology for sharing my faith with my daughter.  I am her Mom and therefore do what is best for her and not sharing my faith with her would be a travesty.

Bring up a child by teaching him the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn away from it.
Proverbs 22:6 

28 comments:

  1. Sorry there are people like that out there. Good job setting them straight!

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  2. Don't understand why peopel feel it necessary to leave unkind comments on peoples blogs. I for one love following your blog. Don't let them deter you from doing so. We all need to just pray for these type of people.

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  3. (((Hugs))) I am sorry someone was not being nice. You sound like a wonderful mother. Blessings...

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  4. Hi Catherine,
    I don't know what happened but I can only take a guess. I have just posted a link to an article on international adoption that was in the Global and Mail. The article is okay, depressing as there is a big decrease in the number of international adoptions, but the number of "do-gooders" that left comments is amazing! It took me forever to read through the comments. I can only hope I one day have a relationship with a little one, although she will be at least 3 1/2 when I bring her home, like you have with Hannah. I wish I had your faith. Mine has lapsed and I begin to wonder what HE wants for me!
    Have a good week,
    Elizabeth

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  5. Catherine, you are a good example to all of us. I hope you're not planning on sending Hannah to school. She could be brainwashed into learning to read and write. And would you stop teaching her by example to be kind, sensitive and compassionate? You know she's just going to mimic your behaviour and become the kind of person you are. hee hee...I'm sorry, I had to throw a little jab at anon. :) Love you!

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    Replies
    1. LOL! Thank you friend!

      Normally I just delete the Anonymous comments like this but this time I wanted to stand up for what I believe.

      Love you too.

      Delete
  6. I am from China (but currently studying in australia), I love your blog and love the way how you give the best to Hannah, and you are such a amazing and wonderful mom. God is the best, and He knows your heart.

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  7. Don't these nasty people learn that when they mess with one they mess with an army of adoptive mums. We all stick together Anon and Catherine did not deserve your nastiness at all so back away.

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  8. Oh, my gosh! I can't believe this individual (I can't bring myself to call Anonymous a "person"--on rereading this message I decided to cap Anonymous, but another word starting with the same letter came to mind--hee hee) is still posting comments. I can't believe this individual could possibly be a mom, sending such unkind words. This is where Internet policing would be helpful.
    My mom and grandmother always taught me that if I couldn't say something nice, then I shouldn't say anything at all. Perhaps this individual missed out on this valuable lesson. Have to wonder what kind of upbringing this individual had to be such a terrible creature.
    Good for you, Catherine. Don't ever back down on your convictions and beliefs. I truly admire your amazing strength in faith.
    My adage in situations with miserable individuals is to "kill them with kindness."
    Don't worry about this individual--his/her day of reconning will come. Come to think of it, I actually feel sorry for this individual--if he/she has nothing better to do with his/her time than to write such awful comments on someone's blog, then perhaps this individual should practise some self-reflection to determine why he/she is the way he/she is.
    Hats off to you, Catherine.

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  9. Perhaps if "Anonymous" had been raised with some sort of faithful guidance, she or he would have enough conviction to stand by their judgments with the signing of his or her name (with a link to an email account) instead of hiding behind the internet. It's easy to be a bully when you can be hidden.

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  10. Hi there,

    I've been a lurker of your blog for a few years now and I just had to de-lurk to comment on this...your answer to that anonymous comment struck me as very eloquent and extremely christian in the best sense of the word. So, thank you, for showing others, no matter their faith or lack thereof the kindness that is so often nowadays lacking.

    Best to you!
    D

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  11. I had an anonymous person hit my blog a few weeks ago too. It is so easy to throw stones when you don't have to face up to what you are saying. It is absolutely none of this person's business what you do in your life. You raise your daughter the way you need to. It is no one's business but your own. It looks to me like your daughter is a beautiful, healthy, happy and smart little girl. You are a rock star mom to me!

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  12. Hey, I thought of you when my dear friend posted this Easter lesson. I thought it had a lot of good ideas in it! http://mywordseed.blogspot.com/2012/04/easter-idea.html

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  13. Giving an orphan a family draws my respect , no matter what the religion is.

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  14. I am glad you are praying for this person. They need it. I think it is so funny that the world wants us to teach our children about sex, and the way the world wants it taught, yet when it comes to religion people think it is bad! What has happened to our thought process? SInce when is it wrong to teach of sweetness, purity and love? Why can't we teach out kids about a loving Heavenly Father? More power to you Catherine!

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  15. I, too, have been reading your blog ever since Hannah has been home, as I'm an adoptive mother too, however, of a beautiful Guatemalan child. We are Jewish, and, I, too, love the way you responded to "Anonymous". Have a very Happy Easter Hannah and Catherine.

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  16. While I agree with how Catherine handled the situation--it is her blog and it is her child--in America we have freedom of speech and what comes with that freedom is the opportunity to voice one's opinion about anything. Not everyone is going to agree with the parenting choices a person makes and blogs and TV shows make it possible to air one's unfettered opinion. Some respondents like myself prefer to remain anonymous. The only time I would be concerned is if a child or parent is being physically threatened.

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    1. I agree that everyone has a choice to speak what they believe, my bigger problem was the hurtful way they chose to voice their opinion. I also feel that if you have such hurtful things to say then at least say who you are, don't hide behind 'anonymous.' If you believe it enough to take up space on my blog to state it...own it!

      Using terms like 'brain washing' and 'shoveling my opinion' are unkind terms that are not called for. This person could very well have stated their opinion in a way that they made their point but did not condemn my parenting choices.

      Their words were meant for harm, not for good and therein lies the reasoning for my response.

      I will never apologize for sharing my faith with Hannah and even though this person does not agree with that, she/he could have expressed their opinion in a much kinder way.

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    2. Yes, we have a freedom of speech, a freedom to believe whatever we want, we also have a freedom to choose. Personally, if I didn't like reading a certain blog (this directed to the anonymous commenter who was so rude), I'd quit following it whether than keep reading something that kept irritating me. Catherine, I've followed your blog since before you left for China to bring Hannah home and reading it is one of the joys of my day. It's inspiring and uplifting versus some blogs I've found that carry way too much negativism. Your blog has brought a multitude of smiles and even some laughs for me!

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  17. Is that why America is in the position they are in today? You sound entitled and the other repsonder sounded just plain bitter. If you do not like something try growing up and move on.

    Go Catherine!

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  18. I think you--above anonymous--are missing the point. We ought to be grateful that we have freedom of speech because there are parts of the world--turn on the national news--where people do not.

    This is not the freedom to bully or harass so you are missing my point. Blogs and some TV "shows" give people the freedom to say what they wish. I do not agree with the person who responded to Catherine in the manner that he or she did, but I would hate to see anyone denied an opportunity to express him or herself. Imagine yourself in No. Korea or China or Syria where expressing one's self that is contrary to the dictator can be met with death. So, while I appreciate all that Catherine does with her daughter and would not offer an opinion of it being right or wrong because frankly how she raises her daughter in entirely up to her and no one else, people can and will continue to express their feelings. It is too bad the anonymous did not offer something more constructive.

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  19. I think you yourself are missing the point. The other post responded in a negative manner plain and simple and that is what Catherine and most of us are against. We all have the right to agree and disagree to a certain extent but that responder went too far.
    I am not a Christianity fan but I am not insulting that religion as the one Catherine is raising her daughter in.

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  20. We too are praying for anonymous. We need to remember Hurting people Hurt people.

    If anonymous only realized how wonderful it is to be at peace with love in our hearts for others even those we have never met.

    There is a love and joy that fills the air when Hannah is around and I believe it comes from her heart. I also believe is comes from the teaching her mom gives to her that is from the Lord.

    Hannah acts and reacts like any other child but is ready to apologize when she realizes someone is hurt by her words. Even though she is only 3 yrs of age she speaks well and is easily understood. If she knew and understood the words from anonymous I am sure she would want to pray for them as well.

    Thanks for all the love and support given to Cathy and Hannah since this chosen gift of God came into our lives. Some of you even waited along with us over for years until Catherine was blessed with Hannah. We will continue to watch as she grows and blossoms through her childhood and beyond with her mother's and Lord's guidance.

    Love
    Mom & Dad
    Grandma & Grandpa

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Mom and Dad. Your words made me cry.

      And yes, I hadn't thought about it but I know Hannah would want to pray/pway for this person too as she's the first to call out 'Mommy! Pway!' when she hears a siren or sees an emergency vehicle. Her heart is already softened towards hurting people.

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  21. Catherine,
    I am so sorry someone used your wonderful blog for such opinions. Agreed, everyone has a right to their opinion. However, negetive hurtful comments have no place on a blog that describes a mother and a daughters journey together. As an adoptive Mom... I am too guilty of loving that child to the ends of the earth and making her a part of our family. This includes our traditions and things that have been always a part of our family are now hers to. Is this brain washing? Our daughter didn't have a family. Now, she is the centre of one!
    Catherine, your blog is a wonderful journey into to the lives of you and Hannah. You a wonderful creative Mom, to a precious little angelface! You are kind and open. Good on you for your response. In my opinion... anonymous if you don't like it... don't read it. Certainly, don't judge it. We all have choices. Chin up. With love and best wishes. Lisa

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