CUTE AS F***

“CUTE AS FU**” With the rest of the word intact, this slogan in all-caps donned the front of a baby’s onesie.  Happily sitting in the front seat of a cart in a jam-packed grocery, I passed him and his parents, today.  In shock, but in more of a hurry, I walked quickly past.  I clenched the cart and willed it forward, fighting the urge to spin around and give those parents what-for.  But I had my sweet little reader with me who would have read the words and asked what it meant.  No thank you!

Now, had my Mother seen it…!!  Mom, who was pepper and spice, yet everything nice; oh dear.  Rushed or not, accompanied or not, she would have stopped them at the check out and told them to Get. That. Shirt. Off. That. Baby. NOW!  Hahaha

I suppose I could have gotten in their faces, pointed and asked, “Do you really think that is in any way appropriate??”  I felt like telling them that was near child abuse to put that filth on an innocent baby.  But then I suppose they could have easily laughed me off, called me “old” or a “religious pain in the –“

I could have put on my witty self and said, “He is cute, but that outfit is so wrong.  F*** is a verb but it’s written here as a noun.”

I agree with free speech and yes, it is the parents’ choice to dress their child as they see fit.  But you have him in a public space and now I have to read it – and my child is exposed to it.  More than that, this innocent little baby boy is not going to understand why people are pointing at him and yelling at Mommy and Daddy.  It’s incredibly offensive.

So, the final test: What Would Jesus Do?  Had He been with me, what would He have done?  He would have loved on the baby, first of all; recognized his worth and that indeed, this little boy was cute.  But He would have confronted the parents about showing off their son without offending other people.  He would have shown more restraint than I or my mom would have, while at the same time not letting those 20-somethings off the hook.

Act in love, act in love; I’ll have to get that in my head.  I can sometimes tend to REact, without tenderness sprinkled into it.  I’ll have to be loving, but not lose my saltiness.  Now that’s a tightrope worth walking.

CUTE AS F***.  Wow.

~~~~~

Pondering points

Proverbs 15:1  “A gentle response diverts anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.”

Matthew 5:13-16  [Jesus said,] “You are like salt for the whole human race. But if salt loses its saltiness, there is no way to make it salty again. It has become worthless, so it is thrown out and people trample on it.  You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead it is put on the lampstand, where it gives light for everyone in the house.  In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven."

Matthew 18:10 [Jesus said,] “See that you don't despise any of these little ones. Their angels in heaven, I tell you, are always in the presence of my Father in heaven.”

Matthew 18:15 [Jesus said,] “If your brother sins against you, go to him and show him his fault. But do it privately, just between yourselves.  If he listens to you, you have won your brother back.

Galations 6:1  “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.”

Ephesians 4:29  “Don’t use foul or abusive language; let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is good for building up people and meeting the need of the moment. This way you will administer grace to those who hear you.”