The poem that I posted this week is one of my favorites. Perhaps because it is from my heart as a mother. Parents have such a great and terrifying responsibility in raising a child. And no matter how seriously you are about this responsibility, take it from me, one day you will look back and see mistakes and wrong turns you made.
No matter, being a parent is one of the most wonderful experiences that God has ever granted us. Once when I was going through a parenting struggle, I had a dear friend tell me, “Just love him.” I guess that is the very best advice a parent could ever receive.
Children are very resilient. When unconditional love is present, the result of a parent’s inadequacies and well-intended mistakes are less damaging, And the damage is more easily repaired. I Peter 4:8 …..for charity (love) shall cover a multitude of sins.
We are told in Proverbs 22:6 to Train up a child in the way it should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. I am not an expert. Do not look to me for advice. However, I do know that love and THE BOOK, the word of God, will get you through any situation you will ever face as a parent.
I thank God for my parents. My childhood was not perfect but there was an abundance of love that filled in all the spaces that were lacking. So much love, in fact, that I never noticed the absence of anything else. The following is a journal entry that I ran across the other day.
July 13, 2014
Today has been a good day. This is the day that the Lord hath made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.
Mom and Dad came today, and I was reading to them some of my writings. Since I am their child, they were very impressed and thought it was very good. They think if I were to publish my writing, I could win the Pulitzer Prize.
Amazing how you are so easily awed by things close to you. I think the true reality of the matter is that they were very astonished at my ability to compose a coherent sentence. Don’t get me wrong. I was very gratified by their praise. There is nothing more uplifting than someone telling you how attractive or pleasant or entertaining or talented you are, even though it be done by the ones who brought you into the world. And even though you know that any effort of yours they perceive as a mirror of themselves.
I am flattered, however, that they see that reflection as something they can look on without being repulsed. Makes one want to preen in front of that mirror and for a moment accept their opinion as truth.
But……….Am I a good writer? Truth is, I enjoy writing but I am not a diligent writer. I think I could be a good writer, but I have not been industrious enough or serious enough about the task to perfect the skill.
To suggest a diagnosis, I would say that procrastination is my big fault. If could develop a sense of urgency about honing my writing skills and ability, then possibly, even at my age, I could become a passable writer before my mental faculties begin to deteriorate.