Who's responsible for who?

When a child is born who is responsible for them? The parents are of course. They are responsible to keep them fed, sheltered and all around care. A loving parent takes on those responsibilities without even a thought. I'm not saying children don't try the patience. Even with that thought the parent continues to the best they know how. Those loving parents train them to be responsible people. The goal is to train them so they can go into the world when they are old enough and make a great contribution to society. We count it a privilege to have these little ones for a number of years under our care. We do the best we know how, then leave the rest in God's hands. They become adults then what? Are you still accountable for their behavior? I don't believe we are. They do not ask us to make all of their decisions. Even if we try the chances are they will not listen. They will quickly say "I am adult now and I can do what I want". Even though we feel bad when they made bad judgements we are not responsible. They might try to give you us guilt trip by tell us it is all their fault. I believe they might do this so they don't have to except responsibility for their actions. It is much easier to blame someone else for your mistakes than to take the blame yourself, that is true for all of us. But everyone is accountable for what they do and say. As they are adults we need to continue to love and accept them but that doesn't mean we have to approve of their wrong behavior.  When they were a child we didn't approve and it should not change. People should not judge us because of our adult child's wrong behavior. If they must judge than give it to the party responsible for the actions. There are times a parent still feels that if they would have done something different maybe their child wouldn't have made wrong decisions. But as a parent we cannot allow that to overshadow the respectable job we have done. We are not perfect just like our children are not. If God is not telling us their behavior is our fault than don't let anyone else. We are each held accountable for our own actions in the sight of God and that is what counts. God loves us in our imperfections as we should love others with theirs. You are responsible for you and no one else. We should stop blaming and start excepting the consequences of the decisions we make. The only way I see of making wholesome choices is by allowing God to direct you in the right way. Have a great day allowing God to help with your decisions.

What have you learned?

I have just finished reading a wonderful book it is a classic, "Hinds' Feet On High Places" by Hannah Hurnard. (It can be purchased on Amazon) It described the struggle a girl named Much-Afraid. She has been trying to reach the high place. The Good Shepherd helps her along the way also he gives her two companions to assist on her journey. In spite of the assistance the trails of life were not taken away. Family members and town people keep trying to trip her up and make her stop her quest but she keeps pushing forward. The whole book is very much like the struggles we face in our life's journey. She finally makes it to the High Place and the Good Shepherd asks her what she learned. Her response is what I would like to share right from the book. "First," said she (Much-Afraid). "I learned that I must accept with joy all that you allowed to happen to me on the way and everything to which the path led me! That I was never to try to evade it but to accept it and lay down my own will on the altar and say, "Behold me, I am thy little handmaiden Acceptance-with-Joy.' Then I learned that I must bear all that others were allowed to do against me and to forgive with no trace of bitterness and to say to thee, 'Behold me-I am thy little handmaiden Bearing-with-Lover," that I may receive power to bring good out of this evil."  These words are great ones for us to keep in mind. We will face struggles but the key is to overcome, don't allow them to keep you down. Keep pushing forward. We all can do it, many before us have and so can we. What will you answer be when someone asks you "what have you learned?" Have a great day.