April 2006

Week One

"Tell me, I'll forget. Show me, I may remember. But involve me and I'll understand."
~ Chinese Proverb

Week Two

"'A gift of appreciation doesn't have to cost a lot. In fact, it doesn't have to cost anything. There's one rule, though. It does have to come from the heart."
~ Esther Davidowitz

Week Three

"Such is life! We are brought near persons we love or who do us good for a time; and then they part from us, or we are parted from them. We gain friends and lose them; out of sight; we have blessings and forfeit them; all is change...and all this to teach us to trust alone in Him Who changeth not; to use faithfully all He gives us."
~ E.B. Pusey

Week Four

Oh God, make me a better parent. It is the most important job in the world...

  • Help me to understand my children, to listen patiently to what they have to say and to respond to their questions kindly.
  • Keep me from interrupting and contradicting them.
  • Give me the courage to confess my sins against my children and the generosity of spirit to ask them for forgiveness when I know I have done wrong.
  • Forbid that I should laugh at their mistakes or resort to shame or ridicule.
  • Oh Lord, reduce the meanness in me.
  • May I cease to nag. When I am out of sorts, help me, please, to hold my tongue and keep my temper under control. Blind me to the insignificant shortcomings of my children and help me to see the good things they do.
  • Give me a ready word for honest praise. Make me ever mindful that they need the nurturing that comes with encouragement and appreciation for their small successes.
  • Help me remember that my children are only children so that I may not expect from them the judgment of adults.
  • Allow me not to rob them of the opportunity to wait on themselves, to think for themselves and to make their own mistakes.
  • Forbid that I should ever punish them as a means of ridding myself of anger and frustation. Help me to exercise reason and control.
  • May I grant them all wishes that are sensible and give me the courage to withhold a privilege when I know it might do them harm.
  • Make me fair and just, considerate and companionable, so they will have genuine esteem, respect and affection for me.
  • Make me fit to be loved and imitated by my children, for this is the greatest compliment of all.
~ Author Unknown


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