Sympathy Cards, “Barbie In The Box” and Offensives

On Saturday evening a relative passed away. He had been out of the family loop for years. I received a e-mail that said “Send Condolences to Family in care of a non family member. As I pondered exactly what defined “family”, I knew it did not include me or the other relatives we had grown up with. So not only did I have to select an appreciate card, I had to write the appropriate note.
Several days later I stood amidst greeting cards, with every imaginable flowery thought. Who writes this mess? And who would send this mess to someone? I searched up and down the isle to even find a nice looking card that was blank. There was none.

As I left empty handed, I thought how much those little gold crown cards reminded me of the Barbie in the Box. You know they are lined box by box along the shelves. All nicely tucked in their box, each one looking just a like, not one of them stand out or looks any different from the other.
Yesterday, I wrote a comment in a social network on a lady’s post. She had for two days posted information on "The Bible on Women’s Appearance!" and today she posted I Timothy 2:9 “Also [I desire] that women should adorn themselves modestly and appropriately and sensibly in seemly apparel, not with [elaborate] hair arrangement or gold or pearls or expensive clothing”
For some reason this post seemed funny to me, for several reasons – I love to poof my hair, color the gray! I am known for my “gaudy” jewelry and sometimes wild clothes. Being a southern woman it is just natural for me to. So I a funny little comment (or I thought to be funny) about not giving up my jewelry and messing with my hair.

Later in the day I receive an e-mail from this lady and I quote: "Never intended to offend anyone. You realize what I'm saying. Some women do not know how to dress modestly (boobs everywhere!!!). I could care less about the jewelry and makeup. Maybe I need to remove that verse. "

So I ask you in this world today, as we venture out to do the right thing, and make one smile and give comfort to those we do not even know. How is it that well meaning “Barbie’s” that have escaped the box and stand alone amidst the “Boxed Barbies” pleading the cause of reality must it be taken as offensive?
To this dear Barbie in the Box, to the Domestic partner of my cousin and to those who write meaningless gold crown cards I humbly apologize and wish for you the reality of being one’s own self and break free from the your box and become the real you that you were created to be.

Will you offend those around you? No doubt. Should you march to a different drum beat? As long as Abba Father is your drummer. Break free from the “Barbie Box”!