hi lori,

i read with great interest about your daughter and her partner coming for easter
... i believe you are doing just exactly what you should be doing ... you are
treating the two of them just as jesus would ... with loving kindness ... what
EVER would you have to gain by being ugly to your daughter's friend? ... or to
ANYONE, for that matter (i know that the idea of acting cold and distant toward
her is probably what you want to do, because you don't agree with her being your
daughter's partner ... but you can't do anything about that part) ... you're
going to hafta put your daughter's sexual orientation in god's hands -- and
leave it there -- this isn't something you can fix (and, by the way, easter
basket thing for the partner is a GREAT IDEA! ... but i'd probably avoid putting
anything "christian" in their baskets ... it might come off as being "religious"
to them) ... and this should be a day of happiness for everyone ... that's what
easter is all about: resurrection, renewal and great joy ... well, you might not
be all that "joyous" over your daughter's sexual preference, but right now, it's
time to deal with the present rather than what we want for the future ... it
shows love and compassion and it means you're accepting the girl as a person and
treating her as you would any other guest in your home ... and, it doesn't mean
that you're accepting of their relationship ... not at all! ... but they don't
needta hear that again ... they already know ... just that you're doing
something nice for them will be "thousands," as my mother usedta say ... and i
realize you're doing this because you wanna see your daughter, but you're
showing yourself to be a strong christian too -- make no mistake about it --
because this is HARD! ... huh? ... as far as your daughter is concerned, you
can't make her come back to the lord ... remember II chronicles 20:15: "be not
afraid, for the battle is not yours, but god's" ... so, praise GOD for that
because that means god fights our battles, and if we tryta advance our own ideas
in the lives of others, we just mess it all up! ... also, remember what proverbs
22:6 says: "train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he
will not depart from it" ... that's a good one ... and certainly one you should
cling to ... that means it's GOD'S job to bring our kids back to him ... not
ours! ... we can't do it anyway ... only HIM! ... okay, enuf of that ... now,
for Easter Sunday, be sure to wear something bright and cheerful to make them
think that you're happy to see 'em ... keep the conversations light -- certainly
not talking politics nor religion ... even in the slightest -- and no nosy
questions, either ... if they want to give you information about their lives,
they'll volunteer it themselves ... and BE HAPPY! ... proverbs 17:22 says: "a
merry heart doeth good like a medicine" ... it's timeta have a happy day with
your daughter and her friend ... and who knows? ... you might even find out that
you do LIKE this girl ... your daughter chose her, and we often pick friends who
are very much like ourselves ... not always, but sometimes ... and it'll do
wonders for the relationship with your daughter if you act as if you actually
LIKE the girl ... and they'll see that by your demeanor ... wonder what this
girl's favorite foods are? ... or have you already decided on the meal? ... as
long as it's not "fish" ... fish ... GAG! ... but then, i don't eat seafood ...
it's a sin ... ha ... but can you imagine havin' 'em set themselves down at the
table, and you take the lid off the entree and there's a dead FISH staring 'em
in the face ... YUCK! ... just stick to something southern ... like ham and
sweet taters ... or roast with taters and carrots and onions and also a salad
... and something REEL nice for dessert ... cherry cobblers are nice or peach
ones ... no matter there, as long as you don't serve fish ... ... ... remember,
DRESS HAPPY! ... BE HAPPY!... ACT HAPPY! ... and treat 'em as jesus would ...
you might be the only "jesus" they'll see for awhile ...


luv -
larry