I am sorry is not always easy to say
When I know I've been thoughtless and done something wrong.
I'll try to repent, to do better, to pray
That Heavenly Father will help me be strong.
("Repentance", Children's Songbook p.96)
This is our song of the week. (Thanks, Hope, for the great idea!) We've been picking a song from the Hymn book or Children's Songbook and singing it every morning and night for a week. This was Kyler's week to choose and this is the one he picked. Very fitting for a great many reasons especially in light of several things that have happened recently. My kids have made some not-so-good choices lately and thus have had need to repent. We have had some very good teaching moments and this song has been one of them. It surely isn't always easy to say that you're sorry (a lesson for me as well) but isn't it comforting to know that if we repent Heavenly Father can help us "be strong" so that we won't make the same mistake(s) again?
I was beginning to feel like I'd failed as a parent since my children seemed to be making such errors of judgment lately. Then the other day I had this thought.....of course your kids will make mistakes...WE ALL DO....that's how we learn to be better. This is something I know (or already knew) but somehow I had been too overwhelmed with the responsibility of parenting correctly that I had forgotten this important fact. It's my job as a parent to help my kids realize their mistakes and most importantly, to love them enough and teach them correctly when they do make mistakes so that they want to do better next time. The goal is not to have kids who never mess up.
And then today I got an email from someone who said that in church on Sunday it was said that if we aren't repenting every day then we don't know what we're doing wrong. How true that is.
It's often easier to look back on our trials and be grateful for them (not so easy to be grateful for them when we're right smack in the middle of 'em!). So despite all the yucky things we've had to deal with lately, I am grateful for the teaching opportunities that have presented themselves....and I am grateful that, at least for today, I don't feel like I'm a bad parent just because I don't have perfect kids.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Teaching moments
at 8:19 AM
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7 comments:
Great thoughts and ideas. Thanks for sharing!!
Oh how I needed your words of wisdom! We too have been struggling with our 'innocent' ones. It is such relief to realize I don't need to be perfect anymore than THEY need to be perfect.
Thanks...you're the best!
Jen you are a wonderful mom!!!
Trials are so hard especially when it is with one of our kids. Hang in there! I will keep you in my prayers...thanks for sharing!
Amen! Beautifully written ~ a testimony of unconditional love. Read a cute letter to God from a child ~ "Dear God, I bet it is very hard to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only 4 people in my family and I can never do it. Nan" Thank you for loving your children enough to teach them about repentance which teaches them what the Atonement is all about!
True, True, True!!!
What true words of wisdom, words that we all need to hear and ingrain in our hearts. I fear a lot of times I expect more from my kids than I do of myself... I know I'll make mistakes, I hope my kids don't make mistakes, so this is a valuable lesson for me. Thanks for sharing and being such an example.
Oh, I have felt that same way lately. It has become easier to Love the with Logic. I am so glad you have been enjoying the song a week. I love that. We need to work on getting up in the morning and doing something as a family. Most mornings I get Zach and Ranoah up and we just leave to the bus stop as Shawn is getting out of bed. I have been longing a morning Family Song and Prayer though. Thanks for reminding me of that! And you are an awesome parent!
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