Organized Crime?

I just returned from the grocery store with my children. The older kids and I were putting our items on the conveyor belt while I talked to Molly who was sitting in the cart. A woman got into line behind us just as we were finishing and needed to wait until it was our turn to be checked out. This lady behind us started talking and at first I just thought she was talking to herself or perhaps on a cell phone. Such things are rather common these days.  After catching snippits of what she was muttering I realized her words were for me to hear. She was grumbling about overpopulation and cancer and when I choose not to turn around she got up closer to me and started calling me a breeder and accusing me of organized crime.  I lost my cool a bit and and turned to her and asked her to stop. I told her that having children is not a crime and that she should stop being so rude and keep her opinions to herself. The checker quickly caught on that there was a slight altercation going on and stepped in. The lady then went on to accuse me of somehow causing lip cancer because I had too many children.  I can only guess she was some kind of green activist who saw me as someone who, because of my many children, had such a large carbon footprint that I contributed to the global warming and therefore cancer and the end of the world.

I honestly have never had anyone so blatantly call me a criminal. 

The store manager came to calm things down and quickly took that lady to another line to check out. I was given a $3.00 discount on my purchases and we both went on our way. 

Sophie didn't quite follow what was going on exactly. She just knew it was something I was angry about and that is somehow involved them.  I had to explain that that lady doesn't like people that have children and that she thinks I am conspiring to overpopulate the earth. I then proceeded to tell the kids that that lady doesn't understand how wonderful it is to have kids and that children are a blessing not a burden to the earth.

As the kids settled in to listen to the audio book as we drove home, I couldn't help but think over the event.  It hurts to be accused of wrong doing even when you know you haven't.  I know nothing I could have said would have changed this woman's mind.  (She might have been out of her mind for all I know.) But part of me wishes I could have defended the truth more or better.  Words, to people like this, don't do anything.  All I can do is continue to live my life the way I know is right and continue to teach my children the truth and to be good stewards of the blessings we enjoy.

The cashier at the store is someone I see there all the time. We have talked about her children and grandchildren and she knows me.  Even the manager who came to deal with things has seen us there many times which, I'm sure, is why I got my little discount.  They have seen me and my kids many times.  I can be a good example to them and any others who I come in contact. 

"The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force".  The Family: A Proclamation to the World

It is sad to think there are such people out there that hold such hatred for something I consider a blessing.  All I can guess is that she never had children and needed a cause to get behind. She fell for the global warming propaganda and now feels strongly about such things. Or perhaps she was just diagnosed with cancer and needs someone to blame. For what ever reason she has for her hatred and rudeness, I only feel pity for her..... now that my feathers are done being ruffled.

"Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3)