2nd Response to Anonymous

I received a reply from "Anonymous" which has been posted here! Here are my comments which you men might find valuable.....sr

Dear Anonymous

Apology accepted. Now if we can just get past the name calling (pride, arrogant), we might just be able to achieve "honest" debate. Those interested in searching for answers rarely cast stones in others directions simply for what they believe.

Your choice to remain anonymous is your right, but anonymity and anger always results in saying things you regret later.

Here are some questions and commentary for you to carefully consider and if you can lay your anger and thoughts regarding what you perceive as "arrogance" towards me on the table, you might see things that currently blind your thinking.

1. How is my approach "arrogant" when I say over and over again that these are my beliefs, thoughts, etc. I even write that..."Thoughts and beliefs are molded by healthy debate and substantive input. Wisdom comes from our creator. As I attempt to give answers, share insight and provide thoughtful essays on a variety of subjects, I will leave it to you to decide for yourself if there in any wisdom in what is written."

2. I cannot change nor alter my current state nor my financial state. I have had periods in my life when I had "need" and I have had other periods when life was free from "financial" concern. Your remarks regarding my ability to "pay" for music lessons when you are not able to do so seem "bitter" to me. Incidentally, the majority of lessons that my kids have had over the years was paid for by my father-in-law. My heart aches for others who hurt both financially and in other ways. That said, my experience and observation has been that when finances are strained, people always still find a way to learn and pursue the things that they are passionate about. Passion always trumps the lack of finances.

3. Where in my article do I state anything negative towards young ladies learning to have a good income? Its just not there. My counsel has always been that I think it unwise for young ladies to "go off to college" to pursue a degree. Colleges have one purpose and one purpose only...to help the student pursue a "Career" in the workplace, not to become a "Keeper at Home". This coupled with encouraging a spirit of "independence" and reliance upon "self" is the danger that I see and that the Bible warns of. If a young lady wishes to pursue a degree, she can do so from the home and can adequately prepare for a number of ways to make a good income.

4. Why agree with your wife that it was good for her to be a Keeper at Home, but change your mind when it comes to your daughters? Where does contentment fit into your picture? Doesn't it make sense that your daughters will attract men in the workplace who "value" their work and income they provide? To me, it is both inconsistent and naive to conclude that they will attract a man who values their desire to be a "keeper at home" when they are around men who are "in" the workplace with them.

5. Where do I pass judgement on people whose circumstances are different from my own? Are you not holding me to a different standard than you are willing to hold to yourself? You ask me to be more "sensitive" and then lash out at me calling me "arrogant", "prideful" and lacking in "humility". I can only write about the things that I know have had significance in my marriage, my raising of a family and in my life. I apologize profusely if that offends you or makes your feel inadequate. The Lord knows we have made our share of mistakes and we have paid a price as well in many ways for those mistakes.

6. Your own feelings or guilt of inadequacy will never be solved by lashing out at people who are trying to help. My intent is not to lift myself up by putting others down. I don't believe that my writings do that, but as you know, interpretation is individual. It would be best if you would read what was written, than to become so blinded by bitterness and anger that you see things that are not there.

Your comments will be taken to heart as I am sure that God has some work still left to do on me. I assure you that I do not believe I have done everything perfect and I have the scars to prove it. That said, scars provide reminders for us not to repeat the same mistakes. If we can help others avoid the scars, we then have a "true" fellowship of believers. As always, I leave it to you to decide if anything I have written here contains any wisdom....that is for you to decide.

My very best regards,

Steve Riddell