One of the hardest things as a parent...

Last night and today my heart has been heavy for my 16 year old daughter. In our house you are simply not allowed to disrespect or flip attitude to an adult...period. I believe wholeheartedly that we must always keep a cap on our emotions, keep our character and dignity in check, no matter the situation. I wish I could say that I am quite perfect at doing this, but not always. It took me a long while to realize that even if I was being wronged or if my integrity was being compromised based on untrue statement that I simply do not have the right to respond negatively. It is my responsibility as a Christian to be the bigger person and the better person. You would think all adults get this and try to act appropriately, right? Not so. I received a phone call from an adult saying my daughter had shown some disrespect and the way it was explained I had no doubt that she did. I also had the knowledge that this adult was not willing to see that they may actually have some fault in the situation and in turn made my daughter looks as if she were in the wrong about a situation. As hard as it was, I contacted my daughter at school, and had to tell her that she had to go apologize for the disrespect. I tried to explain that she was not accepting fault for the situation at hand, that she was only taking responsibility in handling herself incorrectly when confronted. Fortunately she did take responsibility for the attitude and disrespect and she went to apologize. The adult responded very smugly and did some other not so adult things as well. This is indeed one of the hardest things to do as a parent. 1) I want to teach her to always maintain her character and dignity. One of the quotes she loves regarding her purity is "I can be like them in a second, but now they can never be like me" I had to use this with her explaining that anybody can be rude, smug, dishonest and/or negative, but NOT everyone can handle themselves with character and dignity. 2) I wanted to go and totally act without dignity and character to defend my daughter! Talk about praying over this. I went on to explain that today she needed to be sure that she approached this adult with a hello and kind words and a kind attitude just as she has done most days for a while now.

In the midst of all this I also learned a very sad thing. I am AWFUL about reacting with anger when my feelings are hurt. I realized a few years ago it is much easier for me to be angry than it is for me to feel hurt. My daughter cried last night because another adult involved believed the wrong/bad thing that was said about her. The root of all of the issue was that someone she trusted, respected and truly adores didn't give her the benefit of the doubt, didn't say, "that doesn't sound like her" Did I pass this on to her - to get mad instead of accepting that people are going to hurt your feelings sometimes.

Then I also had to explain to her that regardless of whether or not these two adults every asked for forgiveness that she needed to forgive them now and not let the bitterness of unforgiveness take root in her. So hard.

These were such huge lessons, adult sized lessons for her to face and learn at such a young age. I had to learn this all on my own as an adult so from that perspective I am glad she is learning young as it will make her such a better adult.

I have been challenged by this to be sure I live in the ways that I have explained to her are right and Christlike.

Don't fight your children's battles for them, teach them how to do battle themselves using the Word and instruction of God.

Okay, that's my blog for this week!

D. J.

Imaging

I am still on my Norman Vincent Peale reading kick. I have just about finished reading the Power of Positive Imagining. Last night as I prayed I was imaging the people I was praying for receiving what I was requesting for them. Somehow it comforted me to see the picture of God answering my prayers as I was praying for them. I know He is always working on them, but the human part of us wants to see it, by imaging it I get to see it. I prayed about something last night and my husband brought up the need this morning - my first response was tension in my body - but I very quickly released it when I imaged what I imaged last night and put my trust back in God. It's a very neat principle. It's like taking your faith to a higher step. We are undergoing some significant changes right now and really stepping out in faith in a couple of areas. Being able to image the concerns as non concerns as answered prayers keeps me focused on trusting God. Truly trusting God. I dare you to try it! I also dare you to get one of his books and read it! Until next week! D. J.

Here's a thought - Faith and Pride

A week ago Sunday I was doing a 9 mile walk/jog in preparation for my first half marathon on May 1st. About 1/2 way through my knee began to hurt. Oddly enough, it hurt more when I walked. I was not sure I was going to be able to finish my training for the day. I kept pushing on. About 7 miles into it I decided to text my husband because I really did not know if I was going to make it. He encouraged me but was willing to come and get me if I needed him to. I completed my training. I immediately sat down and put ice on my knee. The next day, it was still pretty tender. I ran 2.5 miles Tuesday night, I can run pain free but walking really hurts. Wednesday - tender. Thursday I run another 2.5 no problem, except when I walk. Friday I think it's getting better. Run Saturday in a 5k race, new personal best time! Saturday night the knee starts popping when I walk, Sunday the pain is worse. Sunday at church I wanted to go forward and ask for prayer for healing, but I held back. I didn't ask because I thought my request was rather selfish. First of all, I didn't want to go to the doctor. I didn't want to tell the doctor that I am a runner and training for a half marathon because I am still a big girl - I didn't want to be embarrassed. I also did not want him to tell me I could not or should not do the half marathon. Second, I want my knee healed so I can do the half marathon. I know God can and will heal but didn't think my motives were right. So I began contemplating on this. God WANTS to heal me...He doesn't want me to be in pain...but does He care about my half marathon. Sunday it got a bit worse and by Monday morning it was popping with almost every walking step I took and when it popped it shot a pain through my knee. I called the doctor. I admitted I was a runner at my size and that I was training for a half marathon. Amazingly - it didn't knock him off his doctor stool! He just looked at my knee, asked me some more questions, and then prescribed some meds and a follow up visit before the race and said if we needed to we could put a shot into my knee to help at that time. WOW! Yesterday I started the medicine, put a knee support on for the day, I did not go run (because I didn't feel good) and my friend prayed for God to heal me knee and I agreed with her in this prayer. TODAY - minimal pops, minimal pain. You be the judge - one day of medicine and a knee support or GOD. I am leaning towards God. Something in my spirit said to me - D. J. not wanting to go to the doctor for those reasons are issues of pride, you faced those issues which opened the door for God to heal. I think it's pretty darn neat! Thank you God for healing my knee! Til next week. D. J.