"I
decide to cut to the chase. ‘I’ve been thinking about marriage, and what went wrong
with mine and how I contributed to it, and about your marriage. You and dad.’ I
don’t know whether she missed the bit about what I may have done to wreck my
marriage, or if she heard it and agrees, or does not want to disagree. For a
moment, I’m disappointed she hasn’t rushed to defend me, but I know she’s too
honest for that. She’s probably been thinking for some time that I need to take
responsibility for whatever role I played in the tragedy. Mum’s very honest,
but also non-confrontational. If you push her she’ll give it to you straight,
but she won’t offer it. It is now time to push.
‘Did
dad ever cheat on you?’
‘No.’
That’s
what I’ve always believed, so I’m not surprised to hear her state it so simply
and emphatically.
‘Did
you ever suspect he was?’
Mum’s
pause shouts a thousand words.
I
hold my breath."
Lovesick
chapter 48
Everybody
puts certain people in their lives on pedestals. We all have heroes and idols,
and for many of us who have, and have pretty much always had good relationships
with our parents, either or both of them may be the object of our worship.
Later when we fall in love with Mr or Miss Right, they have to measure up to
the lofty standards our parents set for us, and if they do, then they take that
sacred seat.
We
have sporting heroes, movie and pop star heroes, and other people we know and
admire: those who inspire us to become better people. It is a very natural thing
for us to worship others. We are created for such devotion.
Problems
arise however when the people we look up to, let us down. Those who sit so high
in our esteem, are always at risk of falling, and they have a long way to fall.
If we build our lives on the foundations of the infallibility of our idols, we
set ourselves up for great disappointment.
There
is a very good reason why the first commandment forbids the worship of other
people or things, besides God.
Have
you ever lost faith in someone you idolised?
Yes, I have definitely lost faith in people I looked up to or "idolized." I think that is the whole point about NOT idolizing people because they will always disappoint.
ReplyDeleteExactly right Megan. Be inspired by people by all means but let's not put them on pedestals, eh? Thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment.
ReplyDelete