We went to lunch at Mas Margaritas on Sunday like we always do. And someone ordered shrimp tacos. Again.
Why in the name of all that’s cheesy and good would anyone ruin a fine Mexican dining experience with seafood?
Did I just confuse, irritate, or anger half of you? I hope so.
Because most of the choices we make in life are not right or wrong. But we often act like they are.
There’s obviously nothing wrong with shrimp just because I don’t like it. And there’s nothing wrong with my chicken fajita salad even if you think that it’s a sorry and sad substitute for a chimichanga.
I think we’re all adult enough to realize that I am fully capable and competent to thoughtfully consider the ramifications of my lunch order, and so is my shrimp-loving amigo. You wouldn’t seriously give me a hard time for choosing corn tortillas if you prefer flour.
But what about other choices our friends make? How quick are we to look down on them, judge them, criticize them to their faces (or behind their backs) for the decisions they make regarding:
- Employment
- Spending or saving
- Extra curricular activities
- Schooling
Why in the name of all that’s cheesy and good would anyone choose to _____________?
- Work outside the home/stay home with their kids?
- Go on another vacation/care so much about college savings?
- Travel for club sports/Choose less competitive options?
- Public school/private school/home school? (don’t make me name names…of schools). 🙂
If we can trust each other’s decisions about whether to go with a cheese quesadilla or Diablo’s Hellfire Special, including ALL the consequences of that decision…can we not give each other enough credit to thoughtfully consider the options and the reasons why we do the more important things that we do?
It makes me think of young Daniel in the Bible. Exiled in Babylon: a crazy, indulgent, godless society. He asked for the grace to be able to choose his own lunch. He didn’t go on a crusade to cancel or defame or ban or boycott shrimp in all of Babylonia.
We all choose what we choose because we think it’s best, obviously. Better than the other options, obviously. And obviously some choices matter a lot more than lunch.
However, I’ve lived long enough now to see many godly parents raise their families very differently from how I raised mine and who (shocker) still have successful, godly, fully-functioning adult children to release into the world. For real. My way isn’t the only way, it turns out. I liked it. I preferred it. It was better to me than shrimp. But it was still just a choice.
Let’s learn to trust and sincerely respect each other on matters of preference, even when others choose wildly differently than we would!
“Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Therefore do not be anxious saying what shall we _____________…but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…”
Jesus, Matthew 6
(I took a little liberty there from the gospel of Matthew, but I think it’s faithful to Jesus’ idea of placing our worries in perspective and in His care).
Still a shrimp-hater, 🙂
