麻豆约拍

I recently caught part of a TV documentary about author Sue Townsend. It inspired me to reread听 鈥淭he Secret Diary of Adrian Mole. Aged 13 戮鈥�

It鈥檚 a story of growing up, of learning about human frailty, of infidelity that is most obvious in the bedroom, but plays out in housework and in the myriad ways partners take each other for granted.听

Initially blind to the adultery of his mother, Mole is quick to criticise his father, and to see the attractions of their neighbour, his mother鈥檚 new lover, Mr Lucas.

Mole is unsympathetic to the overworked and unappreciated Mrs Lucas. He fails to see why she or his mother would feel undervalued, or need more than housework to give life purpose. Mole never notices that as he gets on with taking responsibility in household tasks and caring for an elderly neighbour, he is growing up.

We laugh because he is fictional,; we smile because he is young. But we听 like him because he is us. His double standards may be ours.

Like Adrian Mole, I complain about what I suffer, but am blind to the feelings and daily struggles of people around me. Growing up is all about learning to take those into account, and to care for the people whose hard work provides for my wellbeing. Some are here, some are across the world. All deserve to be treated fairly.
听
Open our eyes, O God, to the people around us. Help us see their hunger for love and appreciation; help us to be thankful, helpful and generous at every opportunity, so that we feed kindness and starve selfishness; set us free to set others free, by the power of Christ, who sees and values us more than we know or value ourselves.

Amen.