RED SLIPPERS!

In the 1939 classic movie, The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy (portrayed by a young Judy Garland), is wearing ruby red slippers. Every trivia buff knows that!

So, why is it, that there are figurines of Dorothy wearing other than red shoes? Do people buy these china collectibles? Oh sure they do!

Why? Well, they may not have noticed until they got it home that the shoes were other than red. Perhaps they really liked the dog, “Toto” that she has in her arms. (In the movie, Dorothy’s dog, “Toto” was a Cairn Terrier, but the breed was not named in the book.)

Perhaps the figurine was a good buy. Perhaps it is a gift for someone else. Or . . . perhaps the buyer did not know Dorothy was associated with red shoes! Why should we interfere?

What motivates others is often puzzling to us. But should we really have a say in what they do? If we talk about the figurine being less than what we would choose, don’t we risk hurting someone’s feelings? Is it any of our business that they missed the red shoes? Only if they consulted us beforehand!

I am making light of this and giving you an analogy because it really is difficult to believe that other people actually voice opinions on how individuals should cope with problems in their own families. This, of course, falls into the gossip category and gossip is malicious!

Just be glad it is not you! Just be happy that your spouse did not cheat on you. Don’t suggest that a wife leave. Couples’ relationships are based on all the events they have been through together. Perhaps that one event is not totally insurmountable. Perhaps the wife has a lot of forgiveness in her heart.

We have too much information coming instantly to us these days. Sixty years ago, you would have seen a news film clip before watching a feature film at a theater. Now, the Iraq war is being played out in your living room and all the latest happenings of show business and political celebrities are reported immediately.

We used to say that until you had walked several miles in someone else’s shoes (or red slippers); you should not criticize or even have an opinion. Judge not, that ye be not judged. (Matthew 7:1, King James Version)

The world is not perfect. Our friends, neighbors and family are not perfect, nor are we.

Until such time as we are invited to advise, perhaps we need to get on with our knitting . . . or other worthwhile pastime!

By the way, in the original book, Dorothy’s slippers were silver!