Monday, February 28, 2011

Traditions of our fathers

yeah about the everyday posts... just doesn't happen! Ah well, sometimes I feel like I go one step forward and two steps back. I love my kids so much, and I want to teach them, but sometimes I forget that they have to experience things one their own. I have to allow them to DO IT. I can't just protect them, and hide them from the world, or force them to do what I want them to do. Who's to say that MY way is the best way anyway? Yesterday, a child in my Primary gave a talk. It was on King Lamoni and Ammon. If you are LDS, you have all heard this story a million times. But the way in which this kid gave the talk even got me thinking. It was that good! Go figure the kid comes from what I consider to be GREAT parents!
Anyway, he started like this: "King Lamoni wanted to be a good king, but he only knew the traditions of his fathers. He hurt people when they made a mistake and killed people that didn't do what he commanded. He did not know any other way to rule his kingdom."

He told about how Ammon came and shared the teachings of Jesus with Lamoni and his people and how the people became a peaceful people IN TIME. I was reminded how important those words are. IN TIME. So often we learn a new skill, or a better way and expect ourselves to change over night. And, when we don't we beat ourselves up and then regress. Sometimes we even give up because it is not going the way that we think it should, or we are struggling with applying the lessons to our own life.

In this case I am talking about Love and Logic but it is so with so many aspects in our life. We have got to stop beating ourselves over the head, when we slip up. Think of it this way: Has any of your kids ever done this: observed other people walking, practiced once or twice, then suddenly took off running with out falling.

Um I'm going to say NO! More likely they crawl for a while, work on standing up on their own, walk one step, crawl some more, and PRACTICE a lot. But they keep at it, and add a little at a time. That is all we can do- a little at a time. I am doing so much better than I did a year ago, or even six months ago. I am aware of what I need to do, and at times I regress, and I forget. But I only know the traditions of my "fathers" so I have to retrain myself to a better way.

Thanks for reading , and I hope that I have offered some inspiration. Please spread the word, and comment if you have any suggestions for me.

3 comments:

  1. Lilly...THANK YOU. I needed to hear this and read this. I have been beating myself up a LOT lately...and I just need to stop. I know things don't change overnight...but at times it's so hard to not "expect" it kind of!?!?! I don't know...thank you for explaining this and saying it how you did. You have a GREAT way with words...and this post REALLY helped me...so thank you!!! I love you and am so grateful that I have you in my life right now...I need it...so thank you!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. That is an awesome way of thinking. Its like something that I read in a parenting magazine that said when kids are doing something we don't agree with we need to remind ourselves how old they are. Chase is only 3. Sometimes I forget that he is still learning and I put to much pressure on him. I sure am enjoying your great advice!!! Love ya, friend!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks, Lilly. I needed to read this today.

    ReplyDelete