The apple doesn't fall far from the tree

First, I want to apologize for not blogging sooner.  Life has been hectic, to say the least, and add to that the fact that I have been without a computer, it has made maintaining my blog a little difficult, but I am back now.  Now, on with the show...

It is amazing how, when times are hard, people show their true colors.  That isn't always a bad thing.  Sometimes people surprise you in a good way.  Unfortunately, sometimes people really let you down, or just reveal to you, what you knew deep down, all along. 

Over the last year I have been overwhelmed by the goodness I have seen in people, and the outpouring of support my family has received.  I have made a lot of new friends and strengthened relationships with old ones.  Sadly, I have also seen that some people were never truly my friends (or in some case 'family') and been deceived by those who pretended to want to offer support, but really just thrived off of the drama.  There have been those that I have seen fighting a constant internal battle over the situation, somehow convincing themselves they had to take an "all or nothing" approach.  Instead of "loving the person, hating the behavior" they either turned a blind eye to the behavior, thus enabling it, or abandoned people they claimed to love during their time of need. 

I am not saying it was an easy choice to make.  Most choices aren't.  And the right choices certainly are never easy.  I do not envy anyone who has had anything on the line in everything that has gone on in my life over the last year. Every person in my life, and the lives of my children, has had to make some tough choices, make big sacrifices, take an emotional beating, and watch those they love hurt/cause pain.  I do not envy them at all.  I would say, of all of the 'players' my role was the easiest (if there is such a thing).  I did not have to have that emotional battle between my heart and my brain.  There was no tug of war between revenge and morals.  Why? Because I have four children to protect.  Period.  I don't have options.  I do what is right for my kids.  That is all there is for me to do. And I will do it until the day I die!

So everyone made their choices; right, wrong or indifferent.  Some of those choices hurt me deeply.  Some lifted me up from the depths of my despair.  Some confused me.  I would be lying if I said I did not think about those who hurt or confused me.  I do.  A lot.  How do you claim to be a friend to someone or offer them support and then betray them, or just turn your back on them? I guess it truly shows what type of people they are.  I've never asked anyone to choose a side. To me, there is only one side.  My children.  The rest is just details.

I would like to say to those who hurt or betrayed me, that I hope that one day you experience even an ounce of the pain I have been through in the past year.  But that's not true.  I wish you nothing but happiness.  Your happiness/Sadness does not impact my life.  You have to deal with your own decisions and will answer to God for them one day.  I am not here to judge you.

I wish I could say that I hope someday you need me, and that I will turn my back on you like you did me, and you can see how badly that hurts.  But I can't.  Because I would be there.  And I would help you.  Because that's the type of person I AM.

::Editor's Note::
I am not here to judge anyone, just expressing my feelings.  But "not judging" someone does not mean that I will allow people to do things that hurt me or my children.  I will stand up and voice my opinion to protect my family.  That is not being judgemental.  That is being smart.  And I am not bitter.  I truly am not.  I am hoping that my words maybe reach one person who is hurting and can help them heal.  I don't hold grudges.  I just remember the facts :)