Ray playing in the river. He loves rivers - hates baths. Go figure.
Spice decided to make us noodles for dinner.
I guess my fear is not that He won't guide me, but that I will be too busy with my own agenda that I won't be able to hear Him when He does. I guess I am not fully trusting the atonement am I? If I do my best with what I know, He will make up the difference. My kids will find their mission and unique talents in life if they learn to follow the guidance of the Holy Ghost. We all will. I need to teach them the basics of staying in tune to that guidance and they will be okay. Better than okay - they will reach their potential. So will I. It's so simple. That is what I need to teach. That is what I need to live.
Bud with his new pet baby praying mantis.
I've sometimes wondered about the difference between "requiring" things of our children and instilling good habits in them. I think the difference is that a habit is something that is just part of a family culture - something that we are all striving to work towards and to live together. "Requiring" seems like it is something that one person makes another person do, regardless of how that person feels about it.
Bazinks asleep in a box
Another habit we are working on is immediate obedience to parents and God. I told them that obeying their parents helps them practice obeying God. We are all working on obeying promptings immediately.
That is my job. I need to teach the children how to communicate with God, how to see the lessons all around them. All things really do testify of Him if we take the time to notice.
What habits have you made the time to develop in your home to help you children draw closer to God?
Here are some videos of Ray's latest tricks:
It has been a hard balance between "training up a child in the way they should go" and not requiring them to do things. I've come to believe there are core things that in my family we are all expected to do. It is my job to help them develop those core habits before they leave home. If they don't want to do them at first they don't have to however. I continue to inspire hoping they will.
ReplyDeleteI have had success though because those core things they have all chosen to do. The youngest is 8 though so it helps as they mature! Some weren't interested until they were older than others, but even my 10 year old boy will now write in his journal daily with a reminder. (He asks me to remind him though because he now wants to do it).
Good luck implementing your inspiration and your ideas!
How I loved this post! I really feel like you and I are kindred spirits! :0) I have been where you are! I have felt these same feelings! I still feel these feelings off and on! I think that for me, I am often in awe of the confidence the Lord has placed in me. I feel a deep sense of responsibility for all in my care, and I want SO badly, to be a good and faithful servant. I LOVE this scripture: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
ReplyDeletethe evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) I have to remind myself that it's okay to hope, and that hope is not fear. It's okay to hope that we get it right! It's okay to hope that we don't fall short! Hope is part of faith. The other part of it, is the works that are involved. As long as we are working while we hope, we will not fall short! How grateful I am for a loving Father in Heaven, who sent His son to meet us wherever we are, as long as we are on a path that leads to Him!
Beautifully said! Thank you for inspiring me.
ReplyDeleteJust tonight I started reading a book I've only flipped through before: Teaching Children Responsibility, by Linda and Richard Eyre. I love the spirit of their ideas- a proactive way of "teaching" first, rather than "reacting" to our children, and all of it with the accompanying theme of coming closer to God. Among the chapters are:
ReplyDeleteResponsibility for Obedience
Responsibility for the Holy Ghost
Responsibility for Choices
Responsibility for Potential
Etc.
What I love most is the concept behind the book- they said initially they approached parenting and teaching their children with the question: "What do we want for our children?" But found that the list was so long and overwhelming- they then realized that the real question is not "What do WE want for our children," but "What does GOD want for them?" So they turned to the scriptures...and wrote three books- on teaching Joy, teaching Responsibility and teaching Charity (what they determined God wants for all of us in a nutshell.) There are so many wonderful ideas in the book.
It's interesting that your post went right along with what I was reading tonight. Thought I'd share...
On the subject of requiring things- it seems to me that requirements are made- in society and in heaven- when specific privileges are desired- even down to basic freedoms. When there is a requirement, something desirable is usually granted or sustained in return.
ReplyDeleteSo I guess our job is to determine what are privileges for our children, and whether or not good habits tie into them.
I'm not sure if I'm making sense, but that's my first impression.
Wow, great comments. Thank-you all for your wisdom.
ReplyDelete