"The Lord directs and encourages certain outcomes in our lives without being the least bit authoritarian or limiting our choices." ~Grandpa Bart
This is a phrase that Grandpa Bart left on a post of mine a few days ago -- I can't stop thinking about it because this is exactly where Philip and I feel like we are in our stage of parenting with our oldest right now (or I should say, we WISH we were)
Those of you whose teens are "grown" are probably giggling a bit -- but we are seriously getting down in the trenches with this idea of "encouraging righteous independence" and boy he is too -- well he's all for independence at least.:) We don't want to force (well let's face it, as much as we want to, we can't), we need to allow choices and yet we have to set limits -- ah, such a balancing act.
I'm glad our Heavenly Father has shown us the way and I'm glad I have a father in law who is wise enough to remind me to look to my Heavenly Father in times of need.
2 comments:
Every time I want to force my kids to do what I think is right (which is probably at least once a day, sadly), I think of a blog comment I saw once: "that was the other plan." Always freezes me in my tracks. Respect of agency is so difficult, requires so much more work and prayers than coercion, but when I stack my whiny fearfulness up against the knowledge of whose idea coercion really is, I do a much better job at trusting and encouraging. Good luck with your own journey. From my vantage point you're doing awesomely well!
Have a lesson on Mutual Respect for all the kids at FHE and Garrett won't think he's being singled out but it's a great philosophy for children AND parents. We equally respect each other, ie, trust, responsibility, expectations, chores, attitudes, etc., etc. Figure out some play acting to do or not...maybe you have great ideas of your own. Love you.
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