RECENTLYI'm very aggitated right now and for the last week have been! I'm tired of being critisized by other parents who don't know what it's like to be in my household. I think it's wrong to tell someone that they are parenting wrong, if you yourself aren't a perfect parent. I don't tell other people how to parent and I don't expect others to tell me how to do it. And they especially don't know what it is like to be a stay-at-home, homeschooling family who values church, family, and children. I get so frustrated that people think they know everything about parenting. I'm a parent. I'm a parent of two and have been a parent for 5 years...but that doesn't make me an expert. And I've read Dr. Dobson, Dennis Rainey, and Lisa Whelchel. Yes, I attended a great highschool and got a good education. Yes, I went to a Bible College and studied to be a Bible teacher. But that still doesn't make me an expert. Just b/c you've read all the books, learned about the Bible, and studied works of famous Christians in history, that doesn't mean you have the right to tell others to parent or that you are even smarter than the other parents in your group
...maybe that's just me. I'm just venting!
I remember when my son, almost 20, had this close knit group of Christian friends. We were continually fighting against the things they were allowed to do and the things we felt were not appropriate for our family. Many many nights we prayed and poured our hearts to God.....feeling like we were wrong. And I have to admit, several times we relented and gave in to the pressure. And I can see some bad fruit today from that. But you know (I am rambling) God works even in our mistakes......in fact, he uses them all for His Glory!!! What a relief... Just like Moses and the fallen Patriarchs of old. All of them made mistakes that God used to further His kingdom, in spite of us.
So, if I can encourage you to keep pressing on toward to goal. Seek God with all your heart and read His word daily....because that is His blueprint for our lives and our children's lives.........and their children........and their children's children. Because that is what our purpose is. To raise up the next generation and the next and the next to be holding the convictions that you make today so God could raise up a mighty army for Him. I so enjoy reading your posts. Blessings to you. Gail :)
Whenever we go anywhere, there are so many of us, that someone ALWAYS asks why we have so many... or "oh do you have your hands full!... Since I cannot control what will come out of someone else's mouth, I asked the Lord how to glorify Him in a response... one thing He gave me was to say... "Yes, our hands are full of God's blessings!" There are others, but that's one example...
Staying at home, and homeschooling are two very unaccepted things for people now a days (unfortunately) so be prayerful and always remember why you've chosen to do both, cuz there will be "those" days. "Be strong and courageous, do not be terrified, do not be discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go..."
Blessings!
Amy
Thanks,
Amy