Tenderness in Parenting

Jilsyt's picture
Submitted by Jilsyt on Wed, 06/20/2007 - 4:00pm.

I read this article today, and I wanted to share it. I really needed it, and it renewed my conviction to be a better parent. It's definitely something I will re-read when I feel my abilities to parent kindly begin to wane. I realize that not all on this board are Christian, but I think the point of the article is still well made:

When I think of fathers, I think of leadership. I found a gem for fathers in Genesis the other day. Look at these two verses:

And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children [are] tender, and the flocks and herds with young [are] with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.

Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir (Genesis 33:13–14).

“The children are tender ... lead on softly ... and the children be able to endure ...”

Oh, what challenges we have as parents to “lead on softly” — not with harshness or unreasonable demands or unrighteous dominion, but softly.

[Edited for fair use. Please don't quote entire articles, folks; you'll get me into trouble. :)--Lynn]


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Anhata's picture

Darn tootin'

Submitted by Anhata on Thu, 06/21/2007 - 11:12pm.

I had a nerve-shattering day today so when DD had pretty good meltdown this evening, I could empathize completely and was, in fact, remarkably gentle with her. Smaller little aftershock meltdowns followed, still, stayed gentle. It works. And, it models lovingkindness for our families, not crime & punishment. And, for me, it heals my own "inner child" just a little bit when I apply spiritual parenting principles to my own interactions with DD. It nurtures us all.

I'll sometimes wonder with parenting, What Would [insert Holy Person's name here--I use a number of them] Do? The answer is always along the lines of the tenderness spoken of above.

Anhata
www.familynaturally.com
Your Family's General Store, Naturally

Jilsyt's picture

OOPS!

Submitted by Jilsyt on Fri, 06/29/2007 - 6:20pm.

Sorry Lynn,
I didn't realize we couldn't quote whole articles in blogs. I apologize for your having to edit.
Jillian

Lynn's picture

don't worry about it

Submitted by Lynn on Fri, 06/29/2007 - 7:57pm.

I read everything anyway, but I may not have picked the part of the article that you wanted to point out.

Lynn Siprelle, Editor

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