SND

The friendship and love between Francoise and Julie did not start out as just that. It sounded like there was a lot of disagreements with one another, and it was their commitment to their same beliefs that drew them together. A lot of our hallmarks were somewhat described in the first paragraph, and it is interesting to read that it was the French that somewhat influenced these beliefs. 

While reading about Francoise’s life, it is not quite what I had pictured her life to be. She was raised by her grandparents, although her parents lived with her siblings nearby? Why was she the only one that wasn't raised by her parents? 

Another funny point is the tax reform mentioned. I mean it sure does sound similar to tax issues that are so alive and breathing today. Looks like we still have not figured out the perfect equation to taxes. I supposed tax will always be an issue, because there will always be people who are unhappy and those who are not. 

Francoise’s dad was an enlightened nobleman but still enjoyed having HIS peasants. I mean that occurs even in today’s society. It may not be exactly like that, but there are many people who love to help others, but not at the cost of their own money.  There are a lot of people who want to help others, but they do not necessarily change their lifestyle. What is also surprising is that Francoise’s dad was an atheist, but Francoise ended up in a boarding school ran by nuns. 

Her upbringing and the world she lived in cultivated her beliefs and molded her into the person she became. She witnessed her grandmother helping others, she realized that in school she was only being taught how to do household chores, and she was living in a world dominated by men. Not only that but she was actually part of a family that was considered elite or having aristocracy, and the difference between those experiences and the realities of those less fortunate brought her to awareness. She ended up leaving a life of sophistication and decided to become a nun. 

Julie on the other hand was not completely opposite of Francoise, but she was born into the middle class. She was part of the group that paid most of its taxes, sound a lot like today. The middle class did not have a lot of influence, but it was their strength in numbers that lead them to victory. Julie’s family was still able to send her to school to receive education. There was a fine line between people who could and couldn't afford education. However, religious education was important for this class and the poor. Religious education was the only thing that was available for the masses, since higher education required money. Julie realized that there were so many poor children unable to learn, and so she wanted to somehow make it so that these kids would get that quality education. 

Julie also went through a lot of what students go through today, and that is going to school while working. A lot of students take on some financial responsibilities of the family, and it does create stress. All the added stress and what happened to her father lead to the demise of her body. She was young and completely bedridden. 

Two different women come together in such an unlikely way. They found themselves in the same place, but with different backgrounds. It was through Julie’s teachings and beliefs that caught Francoise’s eyes. From the sound of it, Francoise was not fond of physical weakness, but when Julie started to teach— her spiritual strength shined. We often judge people by appearance or first glance, but this just shows how important it is to put aside differences and to listen to one another. It isn't about who is right or who is wrong, but just simply being open to other possibilities. This can certainly lead to friendship and in their case lead to the founding principles for the new nuns.