Summer allergies (or cold), Sunday Afternoon, Quiet House

So I worked in the yard all day yesterday attacking the 3-4 foot high weeds that were taking over the flower beds in the front yard with the family. I usually do not have terrible allergies, but something out there hit me hard. Throat itchy, eyes itchy, watery eyes, runny nose...lasted all day and all night. Woke up this morning achy too. Thought if I could just get up and going I would be fine --- wrong. So I bathed the baby -and made sure everyone else was ready to go, and DH came home for the Church Meeting he had and picked up the kids.(We usually meet him at Church.) This has left me alone in a quiet house. I cannot remember the last time this house was quiet this summer!

Drank a few cups of tea, took a shower and rested. The troops will be home in about 30 minutes. I still feel achy and not so hot - but I cannot stay in bed all day. I wonder if I have a combination allergies and cold or what!

The other day I emailed some family members a quote from a book I am reading. Not one person responded. DH says that maybe people are thinking I am trying to be a "Holier Than Thou" attitude towards them. I don't get it. I am sharing things I have read and learned because I am excited about it. I figure they already know what I have read - but it is always good to hear things again. Anyway, I was really frustrated by the thought that that could be the case. I mean why is it ok to send political, humorous, or even gross stuff through your email to friends and family - but if it religious or uplifting or makes you think it is being pushy or holier than Thou!?!

I love to learn new things and new ideas. I love to even learn them from friends of other faiths. I think there is way more that unites us than divides us.

But it got me thinking....yes, I know I do that a lot. =)
Why is that politics and religion are things we tend to shy away from in speaking to our friends and even family about? Why is it so heated if we do not see things the same? Why can't we listen to each others points of views and respect our differences? Why must the majority of people feel like they have to make you see their way and have to have you agree with them - or they get mad and even very angry at you?

I would love it if my family and friends emailed things they had read and come across while studying a topic. It would be a welcome moment to learn something new or a different point of view. I mean - I don't know about everyone else - but being a SAHM and working my business full time in the Summer - I do not have the time to read and study everything that I would like to. SO if someone happens to get excited about something they have learned - please share! I may not agree with that point of view - but then again I am open to listening to it and may be persuaded to seeing things differently.

I guess being that I am usually slow to take offense ( and I wasn't offended by what my DH suggested - jut confused by the possibility of it being true) I am confused by how people get so upset when someone says something they take offense to. I think in most cases people do not mean to offend - and rarely even realize that they have. SO it is the person taking the offense that has chosen to be upset and angry over what is being said. Does that make sense?

I feel like I am rambling - so off to bed again I go.