Wheat and Tares

I don't know about you, but I think this world is freaking nuts! The simple things I learned as a kid are lost in society. We are in a time where the wheat is being separated from the weeds. I used to think that detecting who's who would be a bit harder. It's not. If you take a step back and look at people with childlike eyes, the core of who people are is unmistakable.

Take a gander at the goings on in the world. I'm not just referring to war and economy; I'm talking about family and friends. The corona- mania really brought a lot to the forefront. People I once admired for their faith walk, intelligence, heck, even common sense.....well, it went to the waste side. What replaced their faith in God, intellect, and common sense? Fear, hate, and judgement. I would like to say that when the pandemic ended that the nonsense did too, but that would be a lie. No longer could people hide behind words and be trusted in integrity or character. The actions of them made us all aware of what they were made of, that is, as long as we were paying attention.

Right now, I'm writing this amidst a tough time. My dad died a few weeks ago. We were enmeshed to an almost unhealthy level, but I knew him better than anyone to the point that it freaked him out when I could read his thoughts. The family dynamic for as long as I can recall has been severely toxic. When I started enforcing boundaries and rejecting my old role in the family, it led to me not engaging with the siblings. Now, after years, I am face to face with what they are and probably who they always were. They are face to face with someone new. It ain't pretty.

Siblings that were angry about politics, corona, and any other imaginary offense they had against me had grown into a full-blown war. Of course, the same characters that did the blame game, shame game, and other manipulations are still doing what they've always done, but this time, I'm not looking past it in hopes that they are better people than they realistically are. Benefit of the doubt no longer exists. I was stupid for too long with my pie-in-the-sky thinking of what a family needs to be. I grew up. Better late than never, right? So, from here on out, what I have been shown is what I go on. And I am observant.

They aren't fooling anyone else either. They lost their cover and buffer of exposure: me. If only they knew that dad had their number and warned me of what was to come when he died. I had "hopium" in them; he definitely did not. He told me to "watch your a** Andrea, they're going to come for you". My biggest disappointment was in the sister that I did my damnedest to protect. She became the worst offender in the same toxic family I tried my hardest to shield her from.

Wheat and tares in the Bible are the illustration given as representation of the people of God growing alongside the garbage that will be thrown into a fire because it's useless. I'm not the one saying some people have good use and some are garbage; God is. The point is, whether we are good food, or stinky rotten leftovers, we have to realize it's our choice! We choose who to be and who to follow. Some people serve a good God, and some serve their own father, the father of lies, satan. It's true that we are all made in the image of God, but we don't all share His character or follow His examples.

The longer we live, the easier it is to see the truth of our government systems, economic structures, and our friend and family dynamic. It's heartbreaking to see people so blessed with talents, gifts, and abilities waste it on greed, malice, and things of this world that fade like morning dew. Be careful out there. Keep your eyes open and your heart guarded. Be the wheat; useful and good.