I'm sitting here with a bit of a knot in my stomach tonight. Being annoyingly wide awake at midnight with a bout of insomnia, I got up to putter around on the computer and found my first horrible (for lack of better adjective) comment. I knew that it was an inevitability; sooner or later I was bound to get one. But it still felt like a punch in the stomach to get it. It was from some stranger; someone whose name I've never seen before and pray never to see again (unless he wants to apologize, of course).Needless. Hateful. So very sad.
My first reaction was to think, "What am I doing with a blog if it opens me up to evil like this?" And I thought for a moment that maybe I should just bow out, save myself the worry and heartache, and protect my family by being anonymous again. Because that hit me, too, like a ton of bricks ~ the fact that here I had allowed our name to slip into a post and on the same day I find such a comment. It's scary.
The world can be scary.
But then I remembered all the truly wonderful people I've had the opportunity to meet in this worldwide forum, up against this one loser ~ because that's what the devil is, a loser, and those who play his games are losers, too. And I refuse to give up the 99% good for the 1% bad. I'm not going to hide myself from their light, and I'm not putting mine under a bushel, either.
It's wasteful, isn't it, to throw out a whole cup of coffee for a few grounds in the bottom of the cup?
But, I've taken some precautions I probably should have taken from the beginning. I've set up my comments to be published only after I approve them, and I've determined to be more careful about our family's anonymity. (I took out the slideshow in the following post and replaced it with pictures for this reason.) And, I will begin every session at the computer with a prayer to St. Michael for his protection against evil. Dear Lord, that he will be a bastion of strength against the doors that would try to force themselves open into our world!
St. Michael, the archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. Rebuke him, O God, we humbly beseech Thee, and do thou, O prince of the heavenly host , by the Divine Power, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
16 comments:
I, for one, am so appreciative that you will still be blogging. My family and I have thoroughly enjoyed your posts, and I have learned a lot from you. God bless. Maybe if we all invoke St. Michael it will help...
What a charitable way of putting what fears we all have, as soon as we open ourselves to the world at large. It is your wisdom and Christian maturity that shows through as well. I am personally grateful that you have decided to continue to be in our midst. I would miss our "visits". They have become one of the MANY highlights of my day!!! God bless you and yours. And thank God for St. Michael the Archangel...Cathy
I'm sorry to hear about the "horrible" comment. I also recently went to comment moderation and I think I can understand your dilemma.
I'm so sorry you had that terrible experience. I don't have my comments moderated, unless I get a negative one. I think you're right to not give up. You can do so much good for others. (Like me!) Fight the bad, all the way. Thanks for not giving up!
I can appreciate your post. I, too, have had less than desirable commentary left for me even by those whom I know. It is a blessing in disguise, however. If Our Lord was the subject of such hostility I consider it an honor to be similarly scorned. I pray that you never experience such evil again on your blog just the same, however! May God continue to bless you and yours.
Please continue to be strong and try to delete the evil ones from your mind. There are always going to be people out there that want to hurt others, usually because they find no worth in themselves, but that doesn't make the pain inside us feel any less. I enjoy your blog, as do many others... Please hang in there... I will link your post and prayer to invoke St. Michael to intercede for all of us... Carol
I've had some nasty comments before, when I had my blog on myspace, and had to limit commenting to only people on my friends list.
I took a different approach though, I left the negative comments up so their ignorance and hatefulness could remain there for all the world to see. And my other commentors ripped them to shreds until the authors themselves actually had to delete their accounts to make it stop! Mwahahaha!
I'm really sorry for you Lisa, but there are plenty of nasty people out there who just like being nasty because they're so unhappy themselves. I normally just publish all the comments I get, but I think if you delete the nasty comments then at least the same people won't bug you, because they'll soon get bored and frustrated.
Be brave! God bless! And don't let them get you down.
Lisa, I forgot to mention that at my Familia meeting yesterday (Familia is an apostolate of Regnum Christi) we were discussing this Sunday's reading about the Three Wise Men. This led to a discussion on how we, as parents, can make the nativity come alive for our children. I then gave the example of how, in your home, your nativity involves the entire family. I told them about the snow, the mouse, the chapel that everyone gets to name, etc. Everyone loved your ideas on making the nativity interactive. So, you see, a group of fifteen women in the southeast fully appreciate all you have to offer. Mille grazie!!!
I am so sorry for your trouble! I am glad you have decided to keep blogging though because I really enjoy your posts. I will offer some prayers that you will have no more negativity in the future.
As one of your biggest fans I have to say I'm not all that surprised. Sorry - yes. Surprised - no.
I'm sure you have no idea how much I admire you and aspire to live my faith as you do - for Our dear Lord and for my family.
I have been watching and learning since my Dominic was born and I'm so thankful that you now have this blog. It makes watching from a distance so much easier!
May God continue to bless you (and thus the rest of us!),
Stephanie
I am sorry someone left a bad comment. That has happened to me and it truly does feel like a punch in the stomach. The timing of it was unfortunate but, as you said, you have a VERY common sur name (as do I).
I am so very glad that you are going to keep blogging. My family, my class and I check in on you guys very often! This is a place that I can come and visit and feel truly uplifted and safe. I have been able to bring my students to many posts and use them as learning lessons on the way the Internet is used in a positive way.
I am going to say a prayer to St Michael as I blog, also. That is a wonderful idea.
God bless!
I am a new blogger and was worried about opening up our family to strangers. After praying about it I think it is the right thing to do. I was also worried about that first negative comment, but thanks to you I will know how to handle it. I will pray for you and all of us that blog. We need to be here to support eachother. Thanks for staying!
It's Sunday now and I just wanted to stop by and tell you that my Mass this morning will be offered for you and your family. God bless you all as we celebrate this holy feast of "Family and Friends". For it occurred to me that the Holy Family suffered abuse, yet the "friends" kept coming. And so will we. God LOVE you! Cathy
I am so sorry you had a nasty comment, how awful!
It saddens me so much that people could think to do such a thing.
Your blog has become really special to me so I have to say that I'm glad that you have decided to continue with it, however I totally understand every one of your concerns.
I have been lucky enough never to have had a bad comment... yet. However a big part of the reason why I closed my blog off a couple of weeks ago was because I was worried something like this might happen. It was mainly because of blogs like yours that I opened mine up again. It would be sad if people like this were allowed to win. You have a great perspective on this, we shouldn't be intimidated by people that have nothing better to do than be negative and hateful.
God Bless your lovely family:0)
Suzyxx
Oh, my goodness, everyone, I am so overwhelmed by your kindness and support! I'm at a loss to know how to properly thank all of you! But, see how this proves the idea that there is so much good out here that it'd be a pity to turn away from it? I am so blessed by every single one of you. I read Cathy's overwhelmingly wonderful offering of her Mass this morning before I left, and, by her example, offered my Mass this morning for all the friends and good people who read this blog, as well as those readers (like the sad commentor) who are in special need of blessings. Thank-you, everyone!
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