My son is 18 today plus other things
My wife's grandmother passed away this morning in Detroit, Michigan. We are all glad that we went to visit Grandma Patterson in 2002 and have great memories from that visit.
It is also my oldest son's 18th birthday today!
People say that parenting comes without a book of directions. I now understand why.
You parent from your own experience and knowledge that you pick up along the way.
And after 18 years I have a lot of exprience and knowledge. Unfortunately, the understanding has come later, after I submitted to being on anti-depressants and therapy in the last two years. Through this process I learned much about myself.
Parenting comes down to this: relationship.
If you know yourself and what motivates you then you can look at your children and ask the same question. I have four children and they are completely different and what works with one child does not work with another.
This may sound like a cliche but you must look beyond the saying.
Look at your friends and family and ask yourself: "Is my relationship with them encouraging? Do I encourage them and do they encourage me? Do I understand what makes these people happy? How can I contribute to their well-being?" Your behavior and attitudes impact those around you.
Look at the grumpy or cynical person. Do you always want to be around them? I have learned through my sense of humor that people don't like a smart aleck. I now view a "sense of humor" like salt. A little bit here and there adds flavor but too much will ruin a relationship.
God, the creator of you and me, wants a relationship with us. That is why he gave us true free will. That is why there is sin. Without sin, there is no free will.
With no free will, there is no spontaneous worship that not only glorifies God, but draws us closer to Him.
With no free will, there is no struggle and no victory in Jesus.
1 John 5:19-21
We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
It is also my oldest son's 18th birthday today!
People say that parenting comes without a book of directions. I now understand why.
You parent from your own experience and knowledge that you pick up along the way.
And after 18 years I have a lot of exprience and knowledge. Unfortunately, the understanding has come later, after I submitted to being on anti-depressants and therapy in the last two years. Through this process I learned much about myself.
Parenting comes down to this: relationship.
If you know yourself and what motivates you then you can look at your children and ask the same question. I have four children and they are completely different and what works with one child does not work with another.
This may sound like a cliche but you must look beyond the saying.
Look at your friends and family and ask yourself: "Is my relationship with them encouraging? Do I encourage them and do they encourage me? Do I understand what makes these people happy? How can I contribute to their well-being?" Your behavior and attitudes impact those around you.
Look at the grumpy or cynical person. Do you always want to be around them? I have learned through my sense of humor that people don't like a smart aleck. I now view a "sense of humor" like salt. A little bit here and there adds flavor but too much will ruin a relationship.
God, the creator of you and me, wants a relationship with us. That is why he gave us true free will. That is why there is sin. Without sin, there is no free will.
With no free will, there is no spontaneous worship that not only glorifies God, but draws us closer to Him.
With no free will, there is no struggle and no victory in Jesus.
1 John 5:19-21
We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
posted by Glen at 8:05 AM
1 Comments:
Good points Glen, I talked with Jonathon yesterday. He is a good young man and I know you and Lee Anne are proud of him.
Ron
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