A Correction
Not everything good about parenting did I learn in church. I should say: everything I've learned about perfect parenting, I've learned (and am learning still) through my study of the Gospel of Christ. That isn't to say I'm a perfect parent. It is to say Christ is perfect. He gave a perfect example. No one else can or has done that.
My mother never made me feel unintelligent, unappreciated or unwanted. She never told me I was stupid, good for nothing or a pain in the neck. She did tell me she loved me. She told me I was the best thing she ever did.
She worked at a job making the newspaper, that was, in those days, usually only worked by men. She supported her kids without welfare or child support after the divorce. She went to work when she was ill. She went to work when she didn't feel like it. And you better not call her at work unless it was an emergency that couldn't be handled any other way, because there was always somebody who'd take a job like that from a woman in those days.
She taught me to help people who are stuck on the side of the road or down on their luck. She taught me that when the guy tries to hand you a twenty, you say the way to pay-back is to help someone else.
I've learned a lot of good things from my mother. I'm grateful to her for all those good things. I'm not grateful for having had a perfect mother, because there are no perfect mothers, are there?
When two people stand upon a path and look down that path as far as the eyes can see, they are looking in the same direction, but with slightly different perspectives. We can't see through the same eyes as another...And it's OK. Some things aren't a matter of good or bad, perfect of imperfect. Some things are just a matter of perspective.
Although I don't think my mother knows I love her, I do. Though my words spoken and written don't seem to mean as much to her as I suppose my actions do, I know I love her. My children know. My husband knows...maybe she will know the intent and full measure of my heart one day.
Sometimes I feel like some relationships can be like a campfire; very warm and cozy, until you get very close... then you can get burned if you're not careful.
It's important to know where the boundaries are in each relationship we have with others. In every relationship, we can make a mistake in being too close or too far. It's challenging to find the balance. Maybe I'll figure it all out before it's too late.
My mother never made me feel unintelligent, unappreciated or unwanted. She never told me I was stupid, good for nothing or a pain in the neck. She did tell me she loved me. She told me I was the best thing she ever did.
She worked at a job making the newspaper, that was, in those days, usually only worked by men. She supported her kids without welfare or child support after the divorce. She went to work when she was ill. She went to work when she didn't feel like it. And you better not call her at work unless it was an emergency that couldn't be handled any other way, because there was always somebody who'd take a job like that from a woman in those days.
She taught me to help people who are stuck on the side of the road or down on their luck. She taught me that when the guy tries to hand you a twenty, you say the way to pay-back is to help someone else.
I've learned a lot of good things from my mother. I'm grateful to her for all those good things. I'm not grateful for having had a perfect mother, because there are no perfect mothers, are there?
When two people stand upon a path and look down that path as far as the eyes can see, they are looking in the same direction, but with slightly different perspectives. We can't see through the same eyes as another...And it's OK. Some things aren't a matter of good or bad, perfect of imperfect. Some things are just a matter of perspective.
Although I don't think my mother knows I love her, I do. Though my words spoken and written don't seem to mean as much to her as I suppose my actions do, I know I love her. My children know. My husband knows...maybe she will know the intent and full measure of my heart one day.
Sometimes I feel like some relationships can be like a campfire; very warm and cozy, until you get very close... then you can get burned if you're not careful.
It's important to know where the boundaries are in each relationship we have with others. In every relationship, we can make a mistake in being too close or too far. It's challenging to find the balance. Maybe I'll figure it all out before it's too late.
I like the campfire analogy...its very true! I guess you could also say that if you get lazy and don't keep the fire goin' by constantly throwin' in firewood that it will eventually burn out.
ReplyDeleteYou write really well Sally. Tell Daniel Jr. that I'll try to stop by and show him my ring before I leave to see my parents in the DFW area.